Before you journey to this quaint northern Hill Country town, you’ve gotta understand that this town is NUTS — well, they’re nuts about pecans, anyways. The Pecan Capital of the World (a well deserved title since they’ve got 8 pecan orchards), this town is also full of world class cuisine, beautiful nature and some of the friendliest folks around!
Culture
Regency Bridge
Head outside of town to drive over the Regency Bridge, for a historic and harrowing ride. Built in 1939, this bridge is the last drive-able wooden suspension bridge in Texas. It’s seen everything from wagons to cattle drives and now cars…and as the wooden bridge moves under the weight of your car, you’ll feel a thrill like no other.
Once you get to town, it’s time to go NUTS, and while there are 8 different pecan orchards, I suggest you start at Millican Pecan Company, owners of the Mother Pecan Tree where E.E. Risien first created the famous Texas pecan. While the tree, itself, is on private land, you can get a plethora of nutty products like pecans by the pound, pecan logs and milk chocolate Carmallicans (aka heaven in chocolate-covered caramel pecan form).
On Main Street, you’ll find that the heart of this small town is bustling with shops and eateries. Try dozens of flavored olive oils at San Saba Oil Company like Habenareo Infused, Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Infused olive oils.
Purchase custom boots at Harry’s Boots, whose five-store-wide selection of handmade boots, jeans and hats has been attracting customers since 1939.
This famous 400-year-old oak tree is just 5 minutes outside of town and was a popular spot for many settler weddings and Indian meetings.
Head to Main Street and slow down with a glass of some of Texas’s finest wine at the Wedding Oak Winery, which is named after the famous Wedding Oak Tree.
Outdoors
To walk off all those pecans, hit the 2 miles of paved trails at the San Saba Nature Park. Not only is this park speckled with towering pecan trees, but you’ll also discover a serene spring-fed creek and the intricate ruins of the town’s first watermill.
Food
This restaurant has moved to Lampasas since we filmed our episode. Here in Texas, there’s nothing we love more than Tex-Mex and barbecue — and Young’s Burritos and BBQ is mixing these in the most delicious of ways. Order a burrito filled with moist brisket, crisp pico and spicy verde sauce at this family-owned joint for possibly the most Texan meal on the planet!
If you’re tired of the usual Texan fare, La Citta Pizzeria’s got you covered. This English-owned joint serves up cheesy authentic Italian pizza pies. I suggest the outrageously tasty Cowboy Pizza, which is a pepperoni pizza piled with chili cheese tots. It’s so insane, it works!
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San Saba, TX
