5 Best Shopping in Gruene, The Hill Country

If Gruene Hall is king of the town, the Gruene General Store is its queen. Parts of the building date to the 1850s; the soda fountain is a 1950s time warp. You can find all sorts of unusual Texas gifts, cards, and foods. The store closes by 6 pm on Sunday.

The Buck Pottery building hosts its own workshop, where customers can watch as some of the beautiful earthenware is created by the artists. Unique pieces from a number of local artists keep this family-run shop a main attraction.

Grab a souvenir T-shirt, bumper sticker, or cap at the downtown mercantile known as Cotton-Eyed Joe's. The aforementioned fanfare comes in a variety of styles and colors, and the shop is open until 9 or 10 pm, even on Sunday.

Antiques lovers should duck into Gruene Antique Company, where more than 8,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles await. It's open until 9 pm.

If you're heading out into the Hill Country for a wine tasting, stop here to get a sampling of what's ahead by the taste or glass. Or you can hit this store up on your way back to pick up bottles of your new favorites.