highlight: prairies and lakes
Graham, TX
Bryan-College Station, TX
If you arent an Aggie, you might consider a day trip to Aggieland worse than community service. But believe it or not, there is more in College Station than just lots and lots of Aggies. But if you are headed to Aggieland, you might as well make a stop by the campus of Texas A&M University to see Aggie traditions such as the Century Tree, the statue of Sullivan Ross, and Kyle Field. On the north side of Kyle field, youll see the tombs of past Reveillies complete with private score board so that mascots past wont miss a single touchdown. While on campus, visit the George Bush Presidential Library. George Bush 41 wasnt an Aggie, but loved the Aggie tradition so much that he put his Presidential Library on campus.
And one thing every college town has is great grub. College kids need to eat, and BCS provides. Near campus, you might want to grab a burger and beer at the Dixie Chicken, the kind of establishment Aggie legends are made of, complete with full bar, dominos, and rattlesnake cage. Or check out Laynes Chicken Fingers, a place so passionate about its golden fried chicken fingers that all it serves are chicken finger baskets and chicken finger sandwiches. I also highly recommend grabbing a Snuffy burger at the Chicken Oil Company in Bryan (order it Death style if you want to dance with danger), and Mr. Gs Pizzeria in downtown Bryan serves up a mean calzone.
Lovers of class and other fine things might want to head to the renovated Downtown Bryan for some shopping and food, or to the Messina Hof Winery, one of the most-decorated in the state.
And finally, for outdoor lovers, Lake Bryan is a great place to go swimming, or to mountain bike along its 20 miles and miles of well-kept trails.
Luling, TX
This is a town known for two things: Bar-B-Q and watermelon. Youd be hard pressed to think of two better things to be known for. According to Texas Monthly, Luling is home to some of the best BB-Q in the Lone Star State. And they are right! Luling City Market is one of Texass most-storied BB-Q joints serving up 3 meats and only 3 meats: brisket, sausage, and ribs. Across the street sits Luling Bar-B-Q a relative new-comer in Luling, as its only been around for 30 years. Try one or try them both, but make sure to save room for watermelon which can be bought just across the street at the Luling Farmers Market.
If you do buy a watermelon, Id recommend taking it down to Zedler Mill to crack it open and enjoy it on the banks of the San Marcos River at this old renovated mill and one of Texass best swimming holes. Or if you want to go a bit further, head to Palmetto State Park, and eat your watermelon in the river or while exploring its unique hiking trails full of Palmetto palms.
Other attractions in Luling worth checking out include the Central Texas Oil Patch Museum, and Lulings Pumpjack Zoo Tour with oil pumps decorated as everything from quarterbacks to killer whales.
Shiner, TX
Before the beer, there was the town. The town that made the beer. Shiner, TX. Home of the folks that have been brewing Shiner Beer for over 100 years. And, yes, they will let you move here. The main event in town is to take a tour of the famous Spoetzl Brewery. The tour is free and ends with free samples in the hospitality suite. But they are just tastings so for a full pint, visit Howards, a gas station with a secret beer garten.
Since you came down here for the day, you probably want to eat. For lunch, head to . (I cant help you here, more beer?)
Smithville, TX
Lots of things float in Smithville. Hope, Smoke, and YOU on a road bike when you visit Smithville.
Smithville is a picturesque and quintessential small town which is why its been the setting for tons of motion pictures. However, none made Smithville more famous than 1998’s Hope Floats starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr. Sights from Hope Floats, Tree of Life, and many others lie all around town. The Smithville Chamber of Commerce can point you in the right direction for a self-guided tour. And Pockets Grille has tons of local movie memorabilia. In town, youll also want to see Smitty who was once the largest gingerbread man in the world. He sits at the end of Main St. and is often dressed for the seasonal holiday and weather.
Outside of town in the nearby community of Winchester is a delicious steakhouse and post office called Murphys Steakhouse. It isnt to be missed and often has more customers than the entire community of Winchester has residents. Folks come for miles to eat at Murphys and you should too. After dinner, wash it down with a scoop of Blue Bell from the Winchester Depot and a ride on an old carousel ride just outside the door. Sadly, Zimmerhanzels Bar-B-Que where we ate in the episode is shut down.
Also not to be missed is the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History in the town of Rosanky. This unexpected car museum has over 100 antique and collectible automobiles. Its incredible.
And finally, if you want to spend some time outdoors, head to Buescher State Park. You can also bike to Buescher via Bastrop State Park.
Brenham, TX
Brenham is more than just Blue Bell. Dont believe me? Check it out for yourself. However, lets not pretend. Brenham IS Blue Bell too. And to explore the sweetest side of Brenham, head to the Blue Bell Creamery for a tour and a scoop to learn how the little creamery in Brenham got its start and went from producing 2 gallons a day to thousands.
For something more substantial in your stomach, how about a $100 hamburger? Sound delicious? For a hundred bucks, it better. Well the good news is that the burger doesnt actually cost $100 it is only worth $100 to folks who are willing to fly to the Brenham Municipal Airport just to eat it and who have voted it the Best $100 hamburger in the USA. Try it for yourself at the Southern Flyer Diner a 50’s themed diner complete with poodle skirts, jukebox, and homemade cookin. More good news they have a parking lot, so you can leave your private jet at home (if you want).
While in town, check out Brenhams Historic Downtown, with shopping and good casual eateries like Must Be Heaven for soup, sandwiches, homemade pies, and (of course) Blue Bell. You might also want to make a stop by the Pleasant Hill Winery to sip on a glass, or for something a bit odd, the Monastery of St. Clair, operated by nuns who raise miniature ponies. NOTE: the Monastery will close at the end of May 2011. So, go quick if you want to check this out.
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop is a city tucked away along the winding Colorado River and lost within the Lost Pines.
To appreciate Bastrop, it is mandatory to exit Highway 71. Or else youd miss the three crown jewels of Bastrop: (1) the Colorado River, (2) Bastrops historic downtown, and (3) the Lost Pines.
For a first stop, Id head straight downtown. Grab a giant Chicken Fried Steak and sip sweet tea from a mason jar at Maxine’s on Main. Then head over to Lock Drugs, a old pharmacy , and wash it all down with a hand-dipped Blue Bell milkshake from their old-fashioned soda fountain. Downtown is also a great place to do some shopping, antiquing, and maybe grab an old-fashioned shave from John’s Barber Shop. Also, dont miss the chance to spit off the bridge. Be sure to ask a local for details on this one. For the best food outside of downtown, hit up Roadhouse where I highly recommend diving into a Jalapeno-Cream-Cheeseburger. You wont regret it.
If you seek the natural side of Bastrop, take a trip down the Colorado River along the El Camino Real Paddling Trail, a six mile trail winding around the city and finishing up at the Lost Pines Recreational Trails. Rising Phoenix Adventures would be happy to set you up with a kayak or canoe. You can also head to Bastrop State Park to see the famous Lost Pines a group of Loblolly Pine trees that got separated from East Texas during the ice age and are now permanent residents of Bastrop.
Killeen, TX
Many see Killeen as a military stop, but few see it for the Central Texas hotbed of history and food that it is.
After soldiers explore the world, many come back with appetites for the foods of the world and so Killeen has an amazing collection of foreign restaurants. My favorites are C&H Hawaiian Grill, Partin’s Jamaican Bakery, Korean Kitchen, and the Chinese Dragon.
For the history of Fort Hood, check in at the gate, then proceed to explore the many artillery fields with tanks, guns, and helicopters, then head indoors to explore the 1st and 3rd Cavalry museums, honoring two of the decorated divisions stationed at Fort Hood.
To explore the outdoors, head to BLORA or Chalk Ridge Falls below Stillhouse Lake.
And if the military base and museums make you hungry for warfare, head to Mandatory Fun Paintball Field.
Waco, TX
To most, Waco is a highway. Nothing more. A pass-through, not a destination. But to those who are willing to look a little deeper, Waco is much, much more.
FOOD
Kick your day off with a caffeine jolt to the mouth at Common Grounds, a locally-owned coffee shop. Common Grounds has all forms of caffeine to fuel your day trip from classics like cold brewed coffee and espresso to specialties like iced coffees with peanut butter and chocolate.
At Health Camp, they’ve got the three main food groups: Burger, Cheeseburger and Bacon Cheese Burger. If it’s soy burgers and salads you want…you won’t find them here at this 60-year old, ironically-named burger joint on the circle. Just delicious burgers and fries. And for a definitely-not-healthy dessert, try their frozen custard that comes in amazing flavors like Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, Toasted Marshmallow, Peach and more!
Hit up Tony DeMarias Bar-B-Que for some fantastic BBQ…well, if you arrive before they sell out. If you want pizza and secret hideouts, look no further than Poppa Rollos. You can try one of their specialty pizzas or create your own…and behind a secret door near the phone booth you might just find a bar.
One of my favorite things to do in Waco is grab a cold one and relax at George’s Restaurant. It’s been serving up chicken fried steaks and homecooking since 1930.
OUTDOORS
Other stops in Waco include Cameron Park, which has some of Texas best mountain biking and beautiful views of the Brazos and Bosque Rivers. And while you’re at the park, check out the Cameron Park Zoo to say “hello” to the bears, giraffes and elephants. They even have Komodo Dragons!
Right off I-35 is Texas’s Oldest University, Baylor University. Take a stroll around Baylors campus to check out Baylors Bear Habitat where they keep the mascots and also stop by the famous Pat Neff Hall.
CULTURE
If a university tour has you in the mood to learn, Waco has museums for every kind of curious tripper. History buffs should check out the Texas Ranger Museum. Science junkies should head to the Mayborn Science Museum on the Baylor University Campus.
Sports Fanatics can head to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. But everybody should go to the Dr Pepper Museum to learn how the oldest major soft drink on the market was invented in Waco. And dont miss the old-fashioned soda fountain at the end where you can enjoy a frosty glass of Dr Pepper or an ice cream float.
Mineral Wells, TX
For years, people have been CRAZY about Mineral Wells and for good reason too. Whether you stop in to drink some of its healing waters or maybe just take in the gallons of history around each corner, this town will have you satisfied by the end of the day.
CULTURE
To really understand the special kind of crazy surrounding this town, youll want to visit Downtown Mineral Wells where tucked away in a parking lot, youll find the well that started it all. Tired of traveling to other towns for fresh water, James Lynch dug his own well in the 1900s. After drinking from it, he noticed that he felt healthier than he ever had. People traveled from near and far to get a taste of his healing water and so Mineral Wells was built.
Sadly, all of the wells dried up but one. If youre hoping for a taste of the crazy, you can find it at the Famous Mineral Water Co. The company bottles the water from the remaining well and sales this liquid vitamin in water bottles and sodas.
While youre in town, you should also check out the hauntingly beautiful Baker Hotel and Crazy Water Hotel. Both were built during the crazy water hay day to accommodate the massive crowds that flooded into town just for a taste of the healing waters. And both, which are still standing today, were abandoned after all the wells dried up.
Just outside of town, youll find the Fort Wolters which was the largest base for helicopter pilots during the Vietnam War. You can learn about this well-known base just a little further down the road at the National Vietnam Museum. In the museum, you can see the iconic UH1 (or Huey) Helicopters that pilots learned to fly here or pay your respects at the Vietnam Memorial Garden, a half-scale replica of the memorial in Washington D.C.
For some good, clean fun, head over to the Laumdronat Washing Machine Museum to learn about the evolution of the washing machine. You can also do your laundry because it is a full-functioning laundromat as well.
OUTDOORS
If you enjoy climbing, then youll definitely want to take a shot at the Penitentiary Hollow in the Lake Mineral Wells State Park. This is one of the most unique places to climb in Texas because instead of climbing up it, you top-rope down the towering sandstone into the crevices beneath. It is fragile when wet, so it is closed when it rains. Legend has it that this hollow was named after the jail kept in its crevices. For an amazing bike trail, check out the Lake Mineral Wells Trailway in the state park, a 20-mile path on an old railway line that used to connect downtown Mineral Wells and Weatherford. Plus, Garner, TX, is a nice pit-stop along the way!
You can frolic in flowers at Clark Gardens, a 35-acre botanical garden with every kind of flower and greenery you can imagine. And for all the train-fanatics, theres a model train set that includes a mini Mineral Wells and Baker Hotel!
You can time-travel back to the dinosaur days by digging for fossils at Mineral Wells Fossil Park. While you have to supply your own shovels, you can take home any dino bones you find.
FOOD
When the hunger hits, head to Dees Hometown Diner in Cool, TX. Dees may not be your average small town diner, but it is dee-lish. On the front of the menu, youll find the typical cowboy chicken-fried fare, but on the back is a wonderland of Lebanese delights. Dee serves up everything from stuffed grape leaves to falafel.
If you want a meal thats sure to last you for at least two more, head to Marys Café for the biggest chicken fried steak youve ever seen. Seriously, this steak is the size of Texas, and youll want to be sure to wear some comfy pants to devour this dinner.
Fort Worth, TX
Come along to Cowtown the city of Cowboys and Culture. Youll be glad you did. There are many, many parts of Fort Worth, but here are some highlights.
Fort Worth is famous for the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. This is a must-see place, especially for out-of-staters who want the Texas experience. Get a history lesson at the Stockyards Museum. Walk amongst the greats at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Ride a bull and do some shopping at Stockyards Station. Take a ride on a horse of your own at the Stockyards Stables. See a real rodeo every Friday and Saturday night at the Stockyards Championship Rodeo. And finally you can honky-tonk the night away at Billy Bobs Texas, the worlds largest honky-tonk. If youre hungry at the stockyards, grab a Love Burger for the Love Shack owned by celebrity chef Tim Love. For a steak, head to the legendary Cattlemens Steak House, serving it up the same classic way since 1947. For even older Tex-Mex, look no further than Joe T. Garcias Mexican Restaurant just outside the stockyards. Since 1935, Joe T.s has been serving delicious food and draws a crowd big enough to fill its 1,600 seat patio.
If you are cowboyd out, then its time for some culture a the Fort Worth Cultural District boasting some of the finest art collections in the world. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art holds incredible Remington and Russell western pieces that you might expect in a place like cowtown; however it also holds an American art collection as diverse as our country. For art outside the U.S., the Kimbell Art Museum contains paintings and sculptures from the best of the best, including Michelangelo, Picasso, Frida, Van Gogh, and Monet. You wont believe it. And then finally, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth holds a vast collection of artwork that will blow your mind. I highly recommend checking out all three if you have time.
These are just some highlights. I didnt even mention Downtown. There is so much to explore that Ill leave to you. Check HERE for more information.
