The cheapest vacation you'll ever take

Tubing on the Guadalupe River

Some of the best fun you will have is right here in Texas.  The small, plush and historical town of New Braunfels is not only full of entertainment but picturesque in its setting.  This German themed town centers on the Guadalupe and Comal rivers and only takes five hours to drive to from Dallas.  Thousands of people come every year to float these rivers made from natural spring waters.  The Comal River is mild and has a tube chute that is fun for adults and children, whereas the Guadalupe River flows faster.  River rides can range anywhere from two to eight hours depending on where you drop.  Tubes come with or without a bottom and run $15 a tube but include a shuttle to drop in and be picked up.  People bring a variety of different things on the river with them-coolers, dogs, waterproof radios, canoes, etc. 
The most affordable and rustic avenue to enjoying New Braunfels is camping, as the Guadalupe has a vast number of camp sites.  Crazy L and L, for example, has electricity, water and showers.  Camp sites are $25 a night with room for about 4 four person tents and two cars. 
New Braunfels is also home of the #1 rated Water Park in the world, Schlitterbaun.  Tickets are $37.98 for one day and $57.98 for a two day pass.  Schlitterbaun incorporates the Comal River into many of their tube rides.  The park has two different sides to it, new and old.  The new side has thrill-seeking rides that you would find at a typical water park and the only known water “coaster" (pictured).   The old side has more relaxing rides such as the tube rides with ride times lasting up to twenty minutes long.  River water is used to operate all of the rides and a few of them dump you out into the Comal.  www.schlitterbahn.com

For night time entertainment, venture into historic Gruene town located on the water.  Gruene hall is a popular place for live entertainment.  New Braunfels has a lot of locally owned Mexican food restaurants that are worth eating at.  The cuisine is more authentic than the Tex mex we are used to in the Dallas area.