| Wanna be a cowboy? That's an easy order to fill | | | | programs. During the peak summer months, |
| in Bandera, Texas, nicknamed "The Cowboy | | | | expect a minimum stay at many ranches. |
| Capital of the World." In this community, located | | | | Rodeos: Bandera is also synonymous with rodeos. |
| 50 miles northwest of San Antonio on TX 16, you | | | | One favorite held every Tuesday and Friday |
| can't toss a horseshoe without hitting a dude | | | | through the summer is at the Twin Elm Guest |
| ranch, rodeo ground, western wear store, or | | | | Ranch. For professional action, check out the |
| dance hall. | | | | Cowboy Capital PRCA Rodeo, held in May. |
| Bandera's Western heritage is a big draw to | | | | Honky Tonks: Another city might call them |
| today's travelers but its roots date back to the | | | | nightclubs, but there's nothing fancy about |
| founding days of Texas. Bandera Pass, located | | | | Bandera; this town proudly calls their downtown |
| twelve miles north on TX 173, was first the site | | | | bars honky tonks. Live country music can be |
| of numerous battles between the Spanish | | | | found most nights. One of the best known is |
| conquistadors and both Apache and Comanche | | | | Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar. Don't miss the |
| Indians. According to one local legend, a flag (or | | | | sawdust-covered floor (to encourage plenty of |
| bandera in Spanish) was placed here to mark the | | | | boot-scootin'). Also on Main Street, the Cabaret |
| border between the forces. | | | | Dancehall has shook to the sounds of country |
| Today the Wild West atmosphere lives on both in | | | | music for seven decades and often hosts many |
| town and in the surrounding dude ranches. | | | | big name acts. |
| Whether you'd like to "cowboy up" for a few | | | | Cowboys on Main: During the warm weather |
| days at a dude ranch or just grab some boots | | | | months, downtown Bandera is transformed with a |
| and dance to Western tunes along Main Street, | | | | Saturday event called Cowboys on Main. |
| Bandera has plenty of opportunities to get in | | | | Scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. right on Main |
| touch with your inner cowboy. | | | | Street, the event features horseback riding |
| Dude Ranches: Bandera is well known for its | | | | cowboys, storytellers, trick ropers, musicians, and |
| many dude ranches, the perfect way for you and | | | | a lot more. The event is sponsored by the |
| your family to experience life as a cowboy for a | | | | Frontier Times Museum's Living History Project. |
| few days. Properties like the Flying L Guest | | | | Save some time for a sop at the Frontier Times |
| Ranch, the Mayan Ranch, Dixie Dude Ranch, and | | | | Museum. The museum dates back to 1927 and is |
| Twin Elm Guest Ranch will keep you busy with | | | | a good place to learn more about Bandera's early |
| horseback rides, hayrides, fishing, cookouts, and | | | | days through cowboy paraphernalia, Native |
| more. You don't have to have any previous riding | | | | American arrowheads, and prehistoric artifacts. |
| experience to enjoy the ranches. Typically the | | | | For more information on vacationing in Bandera, |
| guest rates include three meals a day as well as | | | | call the Bandera Convention and Visitors Bureau at |
| Western entertainment and even supervised kids' | | | | 800.364.3833 or 830.796.3045. |