The Hill Country of Texas is a natural playground for outdoor lovers. Caves, parks, rivers and lakes are generously scattered throughout the region and serve as excellent opportunities for team-building events or downtime activities.
For a full day of fun in the sun, groups can head southwest of Austin to Kerrville and discover the Kerrville-Schreiner Park (830.257.7300; www.kerrvilletx.gov), a 517-acre recreation area along the Guadalupe River. The park features picnic sites, dining halls, a butterfly garden, a ranch house, an amphitheater and sports courts. The local kayak concession Kerrville Kayak and Canoe (830.895.4348; www.paddlekerrville.com) offers a large fleet of kayaks, canoes and paddleboats for those who want a little more adventure than a softball game can provide.
While kayaking takes a bit of skill and coordination, anyone can enjoy tubing down the river. Groups can check out the beauty of the San Marcos River with the San Marcos Lions Club Tube & Taxi (512.396.5466; www.tubesanmarcos.com). This cool, clear river is spring-fed and home to eight endangered species, making it a nature-lover's delight. Low-level rapids by the dam give tubers a bit of a thrill while they relax and admire the passing landscape. Tube rentals include a shuttle ride, and the service welcomes meetings.
The top side of Hill Country is gorgeous, but there's even more natural beauty underneath those hills. One of the most popular spots between New Braunfels and San Antonio is Natural Bridge Caverns (210.651.6101; www.naturalbridgecaverns.com), which offers a variety of tours designed to show off the delicate formations and the caving experience. There's even a lantern tour in the mornings that allows visitors to explore the half-mile tour route only by lantern light, just like the first cave explorers, and an in-depth Hidden Passages tour that requires caving gear. Other amenities include a zip line on the surface and meeting space.
The Don Strange Ranch (210.434.2331; www.strangeclimb.com) in Waring just outside San Antonio features an Adventure Challenge ropes course with activities geared toward team building. There are also four zip lines participants can ride once the day's work is done. Planners can combine these activities with kayaking, meals and even overnight accommodations for a total team package.
—Beth Bartlett