Archives: Daytrips
North Padre Island
Belton, TX
Victoria, TX
San Saba, TX
Laredo, TX
Port Aransas, TX
Mt. Pleasant, TX
Glen Rose, TX
Right in the middle of the Paluxy and Brazos Rivers, lies this old-fashioned town, and I mean really old-fashioned — it’s the Dinosaur Capital of Texas! Whether you’re exploring prehistoric footprints, walking among fake dinos or roaming around with modern beasts, you’re sure to have a roaring good time in Glen Rose.
FOOD
To eat like a local, grab a bite to eat at The Green Pickle, a local burger joint that also serves a mean breakfast. Stop in for loaded hash browns and a grilled flaky honey bun smothered in butter in the morning or a jalapeno burger and live music in the evening.
If you’re still craving something sweet, hit Pie Peddlers on the Square for a warm slice of pie. Choose between 15 freshly baked pies including Raspberry Rhubarb, chocolate and pecan, and pair your pie with a Nutella milkshake from the Shoo-Fly Soda Shop next door. A match made in dessert heaven!
After a day of trippin’, you’re sure to feel ravenous — luckily Loco Coyote is the perfect place for a hefty appetite. With moist barbecue, fried fish and burgers bigger than your face (my favorite is the Jack Daniels Burger topped with fried pickles, onion rings and brisket), you’ll be stuffed and happy in no time. There is usually a long wait for this local hot spot, but hanging out with folks is just part of the fun at this joint!
CULTURE
While Jurassic Park doesn’t actually exist, the next best thing is Dinosaur World. Throughout this theme park, you can walk in the life-sized shadows of fake dinos, and learn about the real beasts that used to roam this land. There’s even a guided “fossil dig” and saurus-themed playgrounds.
At Fossil Rim, you can get up close and personal with modern day beasts on a safari. Feed all kinds of wild animals in their natural habitat from giraffes to rhinos from your own car window! What makes this Wildlife Center even cooler is that it’s helping to reintroduce endangered species back into the wild.
Learn about a different point of view at the Creation Evidence Museum which challenges the mainstream idea that dinosaurs were extinct long before humans walked the earth. Museum Owner Karl Baugh believes that dinos and man co-existed, and has collected several artifacts that support his theory. Exhibits of interest include human footprints displaced by dinosaur footprints, human artifacts found in the totally wrong layers of stone according to science and even a Noah’s Ark recreation that shows dinosaurs on the ark.
If you’re in town on a weekend in September and October, make time to watch “the greatest story ever told” performed in a new way in The Promise. Since 1989, this musical production has been bringing the story of Jesus Christ from birth to resurrection to life for thousands of folks. From an amazing set to outstanding cast, The Promise is a must-see when you’re in Glen Rose.
OUTDOORS
Walk in the footprints of actual dinosaurs at Dinosaur Valley State Park. The thousands of footprints left by Texas dinosaurs in this park tell new stories about these giant beasts and their way of life. However, the dino tracks aren’t the only awesome thing about this state park — the Paluxy River, which flows through the park, is perfect for swimming and finding even more dino-print discoveries.
Palestine, TX
This town isn’t in the Middle East (it’s actually on the edge of East Texas) but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. Whether you’re eating a greasy burger at the local diner, searching for hidden falls at the park or hunting for wild hogs in the woods, there’s always something to do in Palestine, TX ( pronounced Pales-TEEN).
CULTURE
Head to the old high school for a lesson on history at the Museum for East Texas Culture. Exhibits tell about early life in Palestine, when this small community was put on the map by the invention of the steam engine in the 1800s. There’s even a log cabin to explore in the gym!
In the woods of this East Texas town is the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility where giant 1000-foot-tall balloons are launched into space carrying important goods. Tour the facility to learn all about the awesome things these folks contribute to science!
FOOD
When you get hungry, head to the Hamburger Bar for a delicious meal at the same bar folks have been stepping up to since 1942. No need for those fancy toppings like kale, eggs and the like, these cheeseburgers are simple, old-fashioned and delicious — just as burgers were meant to be.
Hit up Pint and Barrel Drafthouse in Old Town Palestine for an extravagant meal served with craft beers and great conversation. From BBQ bacon cheese fries to a Sandwich with pulled pork, fried spam and bacon, there’s no shortage of artery-clogging, cheesy, greasy and oh-so-tasty pub grub at this local favorite.
OUTDOORS
Hidden deep in the trees surrounding Wolf Creek Lake at the Palestine Community Forest is a hidden grotto with a waterfall that’s mesmerizing when it’s flowing. But whether or not you’re lucky enough to see the falls, the land surrounding it is just as breathtaking, with multiple nature trails twisting through the tall pine trees. You’ll find the lake and forest southeast of the Palestine Municipal Airport off CR 420.
This area of Texas is a prime spot for hunting the wild hogs that roam the local farms, and nothing is more adrenaline-pumping than hunting for these giant beasts in the dark. Brian Bedre of Night Vision Hog Hunting will set you up with a rifle and thermal-imaging device, and take you out for one wild night of hunting that also benefits the local farmers by keeping their crops safe from the hogs.
San Antonio, TX – Downtown
While it’s fun to explore off-the-beaten-path treasures, Downtown San Antonio is proof that sometimes the road most traveled can be the road best traveled. In this part of town, you’ll find a mixture of some of Texas’s most important historical sites mixed with an amazing culture and, of course, all the touristy-fun you could hope for.
CULTURE
While you’re in San Antonio, visiting the most iconic site in Texas, the Alamo, is a must. At the mission, you’ll learn about the siege of the Alamo where a few men sacrificed everything for the Republic of Texas and why we still “Remember the Alamo” today. Pay your respects to some of the bravest men in Texas and retrace the events of the battle.
Continue your lesson about the Texas Revolution at the San Fernando Cathedral, where you’ll find the few remains of the Texas heroes who died in the siege of the Alamo, including Travis, Crockett and Bowie. After the battle, Santa Anna ordered their remains burned and scattered, but Juan Seguin gathered them and hid them in this cathedral.
Right in the heart of town is the 1749 Spanish Governor’s Palace, the last remnant of the Presidio San Antonio de Bejar that was built to secure Spain’s claim on Texas from France. You’ll get a glimpse into the luxurious life of aristocrats on the pre-Texas Spanish frontier.
When you visit the Historic Market Square, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a Mexican dream. With imported and Texas-made goods, it is the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico and you can find everything from authentic Luchador masks to handmade leather goods.
Grab your spare horns and head to the Buckhorn Saloon to trade your horns in for a cold beer, a tradition that started with the original owner Albert Fredrich when it first opened in 1881. Yet, the cow horns hanging over this bar and restaurant aren’t the only strange things you’ll see here — check out the museum of curiosities in the back to see eight-legged lambs, shrunken heads and more!
Across the street from the Alamo is The Menger Bar, the oldest continually operated hotel west of the Mississippi, built in 1887. It used to be a tough cowboy bar and Teddy Roosevelt’s top spot for recruiting for Rough Riders, but it’s since calmed down and now you can stop in for a cold drink or a scoop of Mango Ice Cream.
FOOD
When you get hungry for some classic Tex-Mex, head to one of the most iconic restaurants in Texas, Mi Tierra. As you sit down to eat to the sound of music from the roaming mariachi band, you won’t know what’s more beautiful — the thousands of lights hanging from the ceiling or the plate in front of you piled with homemade cheese enchiladas smothered in chili con carne and made from a recipe that’s been around for 75 years. After your meal, don’t skimp on the flaky pastries from the bakery.
If you like your Tex-Mex with an eclectic twist, head to The Esquire, a local gem since 1933. Saddle up to the longest wooden bar in Texas for unique dishes like Tacos con Papas (mashed-potatoes-filled tacos) or pork empanadas that have been soaked in Big Red.
OUTDOORS
No trip to this part of San Antonio would be complete without a trip to the Riverwalk. Stroll down the banks lined with a never-ending fiesta of shops, music and food or sight-see this Texas classic by boat for a whole new perspective.
Boerne, TX
Located in the Hill Country just northwest of San Antonio, this little German burg is full of lots of unique adventures that might seem random, but all together they form one epic day trip!
CULTURE
Stop by the “Happestrause” (that’s German for “Main Street”) for all kinds of shops and eats. Inside Carousel Antiques, you’ll find Fickle Pickles, where you can shop and snack on homemade pickles at the same time! At Son of a Brave, you’ll find beautifully crafted Native American Indian jewelry — which comes from and benefits the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi Tribes.
On the first floor of the Boerne Public Library, you’ll find the Low German Bible, which dates back to 1614 and is one of only 6 remaining Bibles of its kind. It’s based on Martin Luther’s original translation during the Protestant Reformation.
Join the locals at the Boerne Shooting Club, for this German tradition that dates back to 1864. The range is full of guns, targets and shooting games that’ll bring out the competition in anyone. It is a member’s only club, but they welcome all at their many events, and memberships are open too.
FOOD
On Main Street, head to Soda Pops for behemoth burgers in a retro 50’s diner, and save room for a super sweet treat because next door at the Sugar Shack is a whole new world of sugary goodness. Enjoy a chocolate banana milkshake at the ice cream counter, and munch on all the candies of your childhood in the candy shop.
Though Mary’s Tacos may seem small from the outside, there’s a reason it’s always packed — it serves up BIG flavor in BIG tacos. With fresh salsa, homemade tortillas that are never more than 10 minutes off the griddle when you get them and delicious fillings that are named after their customers. It’s taco nirvana.
For a truly strange and yummy experience, head to Random, which is exactly how it sounds! Part outdoor beer garden, part gourmet food truck park with yard games, a playground and even a giant bouncy thing — there’s something randomly fun for everyone here!
OUTDOORS
Visit the Cibolo Nature Center to wander through a wide open prairie land, a wetland marsh, a woodland forest and a post oak savannah — all within a few feet of each other! You can even float through the gently flowing Cibolo Creek to cool off on a hot day or just stick to the trail along its banks when it’s too cold for a swim. Make time for one of their many programs and to visit the Herff Farmstead for hands-on learning.
Outside of town, you’ll find Cave Without a Name that’s one of the most beautiful caves in Texas. It’s full of wondrous formations, and was actually discovered by three children. And as for that name (or non-name), it was decided when the owners ran a contest to name the cave. When one entrant said, “That cave is too beautiful for a name” – it stuck, and the rest is history.
