highlight: history
Gruene, TX
Lake Jackson, TX
Graham, TX
Blanco, TX
Blanco is that little town in the Hill Country that you could drive through in 5 minutes, or spend a week exploring. Those that are in the know travel here to spend a day or longer diving into the history, blue water, and food. To download the episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.
CULTURE
The first thing most notice when they visit Blanco is the Old Blanco County Courthouse which was built in 1886. While it looks very official, it only served as the county courthouse for 4 years, because in 1890 the authorities moved the county seat 14 miles up the road to Johnson City. Today this old building serves as a museum, a gathering place, and a movie set. If you walk upstairs into the courtroom, you can feel the presence of Rooster Cogburn (aka Jeff Bridges) from the 2010 film “True Grit.”
If you love movie history or just history in general, then you’ll want to head to the Blanco Buggy Barn Museum which showcases over 100 different buggies from around the globe. Many of the buggies have been used in films such as “Gone With the Wind,” “There Will Be Blood,” and “Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” It’s amazing to look at how the technology progressed during the era of horse-drawn transportation. If you arrange it early, the owners will take you on a buggy ride around town.
Blanco’s biggest modern-day contribution to Texas culture is to the growing Texas craft beer scene. If you’re into craft beer, then you’ve heard of Real Ale Brewing, or at least Firemans #4, it’s most popular variety. Many don’t realize that it’s brewed down a dirt road in the heart of Blanco. They offer great tours of their facilities and brewing processes on weekends but even if you don’t take a tour, you can visit their tasting room and sample one (or more) of their dozen or so brews. I highly recommend sampling some of their barrel-aged “Mysterium” series, where they let beer sit in wine and whiskey barrels. It comes out completely different.
If you’re more into Texas wildflowers than Texas beer, then you’ll be happy to know that Blanco is the “Lavender Capital of Texas” and during the summer months, you can visit lavender fields to pick your own puffs of the purple stuff. I highly recommend Hill Country Lavender. Not only do they offer a really great picking experience, but they also sell all of their lavender products on site, so you can stock up on sleep-inducing and bug-repelling lotions, creams, and soaps.
Lastly, there’s a hill country tradition that exists ONLY in a number of small German communities across Texas. It’s 9-pin bowling, and is done in private bowling clubs. It’s different than traditional 10-pin bowling in that the pins are set up in a diamond and bowlers get extra points if they leave the middle one standing. It’s very fun but hard for an outsider to experience. UNLESS – you are in Blanco on a Saturday night, when the Blanco Bowling Club is open to the public. Make sure to call ahead and let them know you are coming, as they’ll need to make sure a pin-setter is on site. This is such a rare game that there are NO machines to do the work, so high schoolers earn extra cash setting up pins after folks knock ’em down.
FOOD
No trip to Blanco would be complete without a trip to the Redbud Cafe on the square. This local favorite mixes fresh sandwiches, baked cookies, and craft beer to become the most charming cafe-bakery-bar combo in Texas. They make perhaps the best reuben sandwich I’ve ever had, and in the winter they make amazing potato chip cookies. Seriously, try them.
If you’re in the mood for Bar-B-Q, then make your way to Old 300 BBQ. This is a very Texas kind of joint smoking up brisket, sausage, ribs, pork loin, and more over live oak wood. You’ll love it. If you’re in town on a Saturday, you can sample their special “Akaushi” beef brisket made from an amazing flavorful and rare bovine breed.
OUTDOORS
The biggest outdoor attraction of Blanco is definitely the Blanco River where folks do everything from swim to paddle to fish, and just generally relax beside the calming blue water. The river flows right through the middle of town where you’ll find Blanco State Park – the best place to jump into the Blanco.
Nacogdoches, TX
Nacogdoches may be the oldest city in Texas, but that doesn’t mean it feels old and crusty. Modern “Nac” is full of youthful energy pouring in from Stephen F. Austin University. And you’ll discover much more than history in this historic town.
BUT – if you want to dive into the history of this town, start off at the Stone Fort Museum, a recreation of the first permanent structure in Nacogdoches built by the town’s founder Antonio Gil Y’Barbo. Next, pop over to the Nacogdoches Visitor’s Center to learn about the “9 flags of Nacogdoches.” (Yes, this town tops the State of Texas by 3 whole flags). To visit some of Nac’s historic structures, try the Sterne-Hoya House, Durst-Taylor House, and the Old University Building. After this you’ll be dying to step back in time and experience history for yourself. So head to Millard’s Crossing, a historic, hands-on village. You’ll never be more thankful for your home’s washing machine.
As you get hungry, I recommend a 14 oz “Cowboy Steak” from CC’s Smokehouse, about half of an inch thick and cooked on the flat top grill. You’ll love it. For dinner, the best place in town is Hotel Fredonia. But don’t be fooled, the food at this hotel isn’t just for weary travelers. This is the local hang out. Grab an upscale experience at J. McKinney’s Restaurant. Or take the more casual approach at the Nine Flags Bar & Grill.
If you’re looking to get outside into nature, there are two great options. The first is a casual stroll through the SFA Garden Arboretum (especially beautiful in Spring when the azaleas bloom). And the second is an adrenaline-pumping experience at ZipNac, offering a zip line adventure, high above the ground. Weeeeeeee!!!
Van Horn, TX
While there are hundreds of great towns in Texas, there is only ONE “Top” and it sits about 60 north of the town of Van Horn inside Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Guadalupe Peak sits 8,749 feet in the sky. A trip to the top covers approximately 8.4 miles, takes 6-8 hours to hike, and includes 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Whew! But for those willing to make the hike, it is the ultimate trek in Texas. My advice is to bring lots of water, check into the visitor’s center for updated trail information, and enjoy the journey. It is amazing! For those who can’t make this hike, the park has a number of other places to explore, including some trails that are even handicap-accessible.
Before or after your hike, if you have the energy, make sure to explore the town of Van Horn. The best place to dig into its history of cattle, mining, and railroads is the Clark Hotel Museum, a quirky museum full of artifacts and knick-knacks that isn’t to be missed. Walk upstairs if you are brave enough. The other place to learn a bit of history is by visiting Hotel El Capitan, built in the 1930’s and designed by famed architect Henry Trost. This is, by far, my favorite place to stay before or after a massive hiking trip.
Hiking certainly works up an appetite. I recommend some signature huevos rancheros from Pappa’s Pantry, or a plate of West Texas Tex Mex from Chuy’s Restaurant. Chuy’s is known for its food, but also because NFL Hall-of-Famer John Madden put it on his epic “Haul of Fame” list as one of the best places to stop for road trip grub. Enjoy!
