Don't Miss The Bronze Beaver

Truly a Texas icon, this famous attraction in New Braunfels, Texas, is not to be missed.  While it's one of many convenience stores in Texas, it lives up to the Texas saying "everything's bigger in Texas.  The newest and biggest in the chain, to date, is in nearby New Braunfels, TX - passed through by all travelers coming from points north like Austin, Dallas, Waco, by way of interstate 35.  It's storefront is graced by the famous mascot, a cartoon beaver, reproduced as a bigger than life-size copper statue. (You'll want to snuggle up to Buc-ee for a photo op before you leave.)

Buc-ee's is the 26th in this Interstate Highway chain of convenience stores, the first of which appeared in Lake Jackson in 1982.  It's hard to decide on ONE best thing about Buc-ee's.  Is it the 84 toilet, spotless restrooms for which they won the coveted America's Best Restroom Award?   Some may ooh and ahh over the 80 soda dispensers.  Travelers and truckers are often impressed by the 60 gas pumps to guarantee a wait free experience at the pump. (A side note: not all the pump lanes are designed for big rigs.) For me it's the addictive product for which they are famous, "beaver nuggets."  These tasty tidbits are the 

perfect combination of sweet, salty and carmely, corn things...chewy yet melt in your mouth like bits that are bagged up and place by the thousands on a wall the length of a football field. Foodwise you can also find hundreds of varieties of snacks, among them their signature varieties of fudge, jerky and kolaches (sweet yeast buns with both Polish and Czech root usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture.)

 The nonfood inventory ranges from bear-proof coolers and deer feeders to beachwear and artwork, not to mention a wide range of items monogrammed with Longhorn and Aggie emblems.  This newer location brags a farmers market and an indoor area for hunting equipment and 35 registers to get help you spend your money faster.  A worthy memorial purchase is one of the multitudinous colors of Buc-ee's T-Shirts.  The whole experience must be seen to be believed. 

You can find this renowned roadside attraction at 2760 IH 35 N., in New Braunfels, TX.  Take the I-35 exit 191. On the northbound I-35 Frontage Rd just south of FM 306. The beaver statue is outside the north entrance to the store and Buc-ee himself is plastered on signs along the highway miles before you arrive.  Even if you're a little to the east or west of I-35, Buc-ee's is well worth the detour. 

"I'll take a dozen of these, please."

 

 

 

If you can pull yourself away before it gets dark, a couple more attractions nearby that you may want to check out are the Natural Bridge Caverns, the Animal World and Snake Farm, just 8 miles down the road and an oddity to bring your camera along for - Seguin, Texas' "World's Oldest Largest Pecan," only 9 miles away.

 

 

 

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV