City of Cedar Park joins Texas Hill Country Passport tourism program

Participants can pick up a passport at Cedar Park City Hall, the Austin Steam Train Association, or any of the locations involved in the program, which includes The Williamson Museum and the downtown Square in Georgetown as well as the San Marcos Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead in Dripping Springs.

“Each place to visit is unique and each stamp you get is unique,” Krampitz said.

The Texas Hill Country Trail is one of the 10 trails designated by the Texas Heritage Trails program in 1968. Krampitz, chairwoman of the Texas Hill Country Trail board, said the hill country trail is currently the only heritage trail with a passport program.

“It’s great for a summer project with kids,” Krampitz said. “Or even for date night activities. The locations are all within a day’s drive.”

Those who visit 18 or more locations in the program can send in their stamped passport to be redeemed for prizes such as tours, culinary experiences, tickets to shows or outdoor experiences.

Joanne Nelson, executive director for the Texas Hill Country Trail, said she was anxious to get the program off the ground.

“We wanted a new and fresh project,” she said. “It’s interactive; it’s more than just a marketing piece you pick up and read. And it’s been fun to see completed passports start coming in.”

Thirteen of the 19 counties in the Hill Country region are represented in the passport with activities—many of which are free—such as going to a visitor’s center, and others include paid experiences like museums and cave tours.

Each location in the passport is a member of the Texas Heritage Trail Program and purchased a spot in the passport. Krampitz said keeping prices low was a priority in the program to inspire visits to lesser-known locations that usually do not have advertising budgets.

The program is set to run through the end of 2017, so participants have enough time to fill out their passport. For a local start in the Cedar Park area, the Austin Steam Train offers train rides on vintage flyer trains as well as a railroad museum and historical depot.

Texas Hill Country Passport 830-739-1362 www.txhillcountrypassport.com [email protected]