Out in the hill country of Texas, between Austin and San Antonio, lies the town of San Marcos.

At first glance, it seems like an average place, but once you venture into it, you find it holds so much.

It's home to art, unique restaurants, cafes, and, most notably, Texas State University.

Being between two very cities overflowing with creativity and culture, it's easy to see how much of that seeps into the town's life. From the people, to the shops, you will never find a place as unique as San Marcos.

Having a brother who lives in San Marcos means that he knows all the best spots and things to do, and it means always finding something different when I visit.

If you find yourself visiting this hill country town – or even live there and need something to do – here's a few things to do to get the full San Marcos experience.

1. Dos Gatos Kolache Bakery.

Dos Gatos, located on N LBJ across from campus, is the go-to breakfast spot. It has just about every kolache imaginable – both fruit and meat.

There's fillings like pepperoni and swiss, chorizo and cheese, and even a Polish sausage with sauerkraut and mustard, if you feel like trying something new for breakfast. If you're not convinced on that alone, they have Biggie Smalls on their toile pattern wallpaper.

2. Tantra Coffeehouse.

Tantra is the kind of place you go to because it's good, even if you feel totally out of place. Every person there, from the customers to the employees, has a facial piercing, tattoos, and some artsy style haircut. While there's definitely a common style among everybody there, it's a must for visiting San Marcos.

They have a wide variety of teas and coffees, and even Italian creme sodas (the lavender one is pictured above). There's also an outdoor seating area next to the store, where people can bring their dogs, and everyone loves meeting a cute dog.

3. Paper Bear Heartworks Co.

Paper Bear is a quirky little shop, which everyone should visit at some point. It's full of novelty toys, gifts, and unique little knick-knacks. It's the perfect place to get little toys for kids – or yourself – pick up a humorous pair of socks, or even an ironic magnet for the fridge.

It's a great little place to wander around and pick up a few things you never knew you needed.

4. A Texas State Bobcat football game.

I'll be honest, the Bobcats will probably lose and there won't be a lot of people there, but it's an experience. When in San Marcos during football season, it's still a good idea to go see a game.

There's beer at concessions, a great marching band, and it's still a great way to spend an afternoon and support those Texas State Bobcats.

5. The river.

Whether you're looking to float all day or just to dip your toes, the river is an awesome place to spend some time. There's plenty of places to go to get to the water, and there's probably going to be some dogs wherever you choose to go.

It's a wonderful place to spend some time and enjoy the weather out in San Marcos.

6. Pie Society.

Pie Society is better known as the Illuminati pizza place. All of their pizzas have mystic names, and magical toppings. They feature a few different pies to get by the slice every night, or you can just order a massive one and take home some tasty leftovers.

Everything on the menu sounds absolutely amazing and it is. The appetizers, pizzas, and drinks are going to make for a perfect dinner.

7. Glass bottom boat tours

The tours are offered through the university's aquatic education center which aims to protect and provide clean water for the environment and others. It start at just under $10 for a 30 minute tour and has upgrades to take longer tours and see more of the wetlands.

The basic tour runs daily and is a great way to kill some time and learn about the aquatic life of San Marcos. It's super interesting and cool to see what's lurking below.

8. Outlet malls

While an outlet mall doesn't sound super exciting, it's another convenient way to kill time. You can browse the stores of two neighboring outlet malls and find some great deals while you're there. There's just about any store you could imagine, so anyone can find a place to roam around for a while.

What are some things you enjoy doing in San Marcos, TX?
If you've been to any of these places, what do you think of them?