A weekend here is the perfect place for a girlfriends getaway or an outdoor experience or two. Aside from wine, this charming small town is also known for its boutique shopping, German heritage (evident in many of the restaurants), and the impressive National Museum of the Pacific War. Whether youre looking for some interesting places to stop by on a road trip or simply want to get away from the stress of big-city living for a while, these are the best Need some vitamin sea? Stroll around Henkel Square and Rummel Square, grab a slice of pie from Royers, and drop by St. Martin's Catholic Church, the world's smallest active Catholic church. But before you venture to Palo Duron Canyon State Park to explore the impressive natural landscapes, grab some food and learn more about Canyon's history at the Historic Downtown Square and the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Back in the day, George Strait played here a time or two. This small town outside of Austin is the News, Politics, Culture, Life, Entertainment, and more. Here on Lone Star Travel Guide, we have detailed guides to most of the towns on this list, so be Follow her adventures on Instagram @cindybrz. South Llano River State Park is a little-known gem in Texas Hill Country. Despite its minuscule size, Luckenbach is an established country music hot spot, with a well-known dance hall that boasts a regular rotation of high-quality live shows. This is one town I cant pass without checking out the local antique shops! Settled by Czech farmers, the town of Ennis boasts an adorable historic district, an annual polka festival, and great Czech food. An ancient cavern that dates back to prehistoric times, Longhorn Cavern is rife with carvings and sinkholes, plus the stealthy history of a gunpowder manufacturing facility during the Civil War. The most popular place in Northern Texas is Dallas. Canton is an easy day trip from Dallas, but if youd like to stay overnight, there are a few bed and breakfasts in town. 20 Most Charming Small Towns In Texas To Visit In 2021 San Antonio has a little, er-a lotof everything. The town is known for its mild climate, beautiful beaches, and variety of outdoor activities. North of Alpine is the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, also a great place to go for a stroll and learn about the local desert critters. Whether youre interested in history, shopping, or hanging out in nature, youll have countless activities to choose from. For a real Texas experience, take in a few of these small towns with big charm on your next road trip through the state. If youre planning your trip for November, you may get a chance to visit the famous Terlingua Chili Cookoff, where thousands of people arrive to witness a battle for the best bowl of red a.k.a. Head over to De Leon Inn if youre looking for a cheap place to stay and grab a bite at Woodys Place to sample some awesome American Barbecue. We want to inspire you to explore new destinations, discover new experiences and savor the journey. This is a great place to gather your girlfriends for a weekend getaway to tour the wineries. Texas is a huge and diverse state that's steeped in culture. Wine enthusiasts can head down State Highway 290 for numerous wineries showcasing Texas wines. What's your favorite small town in Texas? Photo by Tiffany Hofeldt. But the town's deep Irish heritage is not its only standout feature. However, the miners left in the early 20th century, and the town was largely abandoned. Her travels include many road trips through Texas and beyond. The first Blue Wave Certified beach, its a mile-long playground of sand, sunshine and turquoise tides. Its home to a quaint downtown, fabulous eateries, the Grapevine Mills Mall, the Gaylord Texan Resort, and lots of popular festivals. Cindy Brzostowski is a freelance writer focusing on travel and other lifestyle content. Tear it up at the legendary Luckenbach Dance Hall, and stay overnight at one of the dozens of charming bed-and-breakfasts just 15 minutes away in Fredericksburg. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and swimming, or explore the many shops and galleries downtown. Over the years, Marfa, a small town with around 1,800 residents, has gained popularity as an oasis for art lovers. You'll find 10 Cadillacs with their front ends buried in the sand, all lined up in the middle of the desert and coated in decades of spray paint. Known as the Irish capital of Texas, this central Texas small town has a robust and diverse population with a number of great local artisans and history to explore. It is also home to the Marfa Lights, mysterious orbs of light that have been spotted in the night sky for centuries. Dance the night away at the Historic Gruene Hall, where country music legends like Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard used to perform, tube down the Guadalupe and Comal rivers, and satisfy your sweet tooth with local handmade treats at the Great Texas Pecan Co. Each spring break, thousands of young Texan teenagers and young adults make the pilgrimage to South Padre Island. One of the best places to stay in the town is a bed and breakfast called Spoetzl Haus. Situated just 30 minutes outside of Texas's capital, Austin, San Marcos is a charming town that houses Texas State University and the San Marcos River. If you're planning on visiting, always reserve a spot, because this place fills up! Book a wine tour if no one wants to skip out on the tasting. Most of the best towns in Texas have their own free local history museums, county parks, excellent antiquing, and plenty of outdoor attractions. Saint Marys Catholic Church is known as the Queen of Painted Churches, but St. John the Baptist Church and Sts. 8 Best Weekend Roadtrips from Dallas, Texas, 9 Best Texas Scenic Drives for Enjoying the Lone Star State Countryside, 10 Luxury Cabin Rentals in Texas for a Pampered Getaway, 10 Cozy Romantic Getaways in Texas for Couples, The 8 Best Texas Lake Camping Destinations. With more than 268,000 square miles, Texas offers lots of room to roam. Bring your friends and a massive vehicle, because you will all leave with something! Youll probably be tired from all the driving so lay your head down to rest at the La Quinta Inn, it is very central within the town. The town is a little under 2 hours north of Austin and just north of Waco. It is full of quaint boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and delicious restaurants. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. A scenic drive is a great way to cover some ground and see the jaw-dropping scenery of Colorful Colorado. (And if I missed your favorite, drop it in the comments!) It is 2 hours southwest of Dallas and two hours northwest of Austin. Located only one hour from San Antonio, Bandera is close to two state natural areas and has great trails for hiking, bicycling, or even horseback riding. Whether youre drawn to Marfa for its creative vibes or its inexplicable phenomena, theres no denying that its a truly unique place. Yes, weve mentioned that everything is bigger in Texas about a billion times. The town also has glider flying, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens, and Fort Davis National Historic Site. The glimmering BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Houston, a traditional Hindu temple in Fort Bend County, causes many visitors to do a double take. Or, you can go downtown to do some shopping, take a gander and a few historic buildings, and see the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. Her work has appeared in. There are a vast number of very nice bed and breakfasts in town in case you want to extend your stay. Just up the road at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, meander down nature trails while passing bison and longhorn, tour historic cabins built by a German immigrant, and visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, where park rangers in period costumes show what life on the farm was like in the 1800s. Related read: 12 Unique Places to Stay in Texas. Texas small towns. Goose Island State Park, located near Rockport, is another major attraction. WebSee prices here. It is undoubtedly one of the most charming small towns in Texas! visit the Pandhandle Plains Historical Museum; Explore hotels near the Caverns of Sonora, Explore hotels near the South Llano River, city tour with stops at Mount Bonnell & state capitol, explore San Antonios natural bridge caverns, South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center. The Gristmill Restaurant, located in the towns original cotton gin, is another must visit attraction. Store House Market and Eatery. You can learn more about our editorial policies, The 6 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Texas, The 6 Best Islands in Texas for an Unforgettable Vacation, Sunshine & Solitude: Best Backpacking Routes in Big Bend National Park, Sea Life Center Dolphin Educational Boat Tours, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, The 10 Best RV Campgrounds in Austin, Texas, USA Today Readers Choice best historic small town in America, 10 Best Hikes in Texas for Top-Notch Lone Star State Scenery, 9 Awesome Cabin & Cottage Rentals Near New Braunfels, Texas, Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love, 9 Best State Parks Near Houston to Escape the City, 6 Awesome Campervan Rentals in Houston, Texas, 12 Enchantingly Romantic Getaways in New Mexico, 10 Awesome Weekend Road Trips from St. Louis, Missouri, 5 Best Day Trips From Boston for Scenic New England Getaways, 10 Unforgettable Destinations for Glamping in Arizona, 7 Charming Glamping Spots in Texas Hill Country. Visit the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum to see an authentic Laredo home for the 1830s. We should mention that its also a particularly great place to cool down when the thermometer reaches 100 degrees, as its known to do in the summertime. The town has a very small population of just 3 people and is only about an hour north of San Antonio which makes it a great place to stop for a day trip. During the summer months, you'll find locals tubing down the lazy river and sipping beers. Find Texas road trip ideas and itineraries. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is acclaimed for its floral displays, sculptures, seasonal events and education programs. Rockport is also home to a number of art galleries, shops, and restaurants. For a bit of nature, check out the Hamilton Pool Preserve, formed by thousands of years of water erosion, which created the collapsed grotto, canyons, and 50-foot waterfall. And though compact, these picture-perfect small towns pack in big-time appeal, with festivals, great hiking, wineries, art installations, historic edifices, and stunning beauty everywhere you turn. There are many enchanting rocks in Texas, however, the towering 425-foot pink granite dome thats the crown jewel of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area really takes the cake. Dont let the distance deter you. Their shuttered shops and derelict homes are perfect for exploring. From one end of Main Street to the other, Boerne offers visitors a wide range of unique shops, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and wineries all year long. Dont be surprised if you hear the word howdy a hundred times! If you love large festivals, you may want to visit in May for the Main Street Fest or in September for GrapeFest. While Texas is full of small towns, my list here consists of towns Ive visited a time or two and remember fondly. Grab some ribs and brisket at Riverport BBQ, and look for excellent souvenirs in theJefferson General Store. Georgetown offers lots of cute wineries and a prettylagoon parkjust a stone's throw from downtown. (And if I missed your favorite, drop it in the comments!). Small towns in Texas make for great summer vacations, winter holiday destinations, weekend getaways, and romantic escapes in the Lone Star State. The rest of us should probably just watch in amazement from a safe distance. Just outside of the Texan city of Amarillo is a comfy little North Texas town with a special charm and frontier feel. The town also has great hikes and nature trails, a theme park, and even aquarium activities with sea turtles and dolphins. The town is located right on the banks of Caddo Lake. Canyon is actually closer to major cities outside of Texas than inside. Share in the comments! Its stunning Victorian homes are unmatched in the Dallas region, and if you love antiquing, youll be spoiled for choice: Waxahachie is located on the Texas Antique Trail, Antique Show Trail, and Vintage Market Trail. When Kim's not writing, she is hiking through nature and camping in the woods in a cabin full of amenities. Inland hikes, gator spotting, marshland kayaking, and more - Houston, Texas, is surrounded by excellent state parks with activities for everyone. For good seafood in the area try Fins Grill and Icehouse to sample the catch of the day. The 66-acre horticulture haven hugs the shores of White Rock Lake for blooms with a beautiful waterfront view. The city is home to a number of art galleries, studios, and performance spaces. When you're done, quench your thirst atTwisted X Brewing Co. for craft beer. Explore the Lone Star State with Enchanting Texas Travel Blog. My Husband and I have two weeks in Texas, Our plans are : Dallas / Fort Worth, driving down to. With views so good, you wont even care if you go a few strokes above par. The Cave without a Name is one of Boernes most popular attractions. Marathon, Texas. The courthouse, which anchors the historic town square, was built in 1893 and is still in use today. On the fringes of Big Bend National Park in West Texas isTerlingua, a former quicksilver mining boom-and-bust town. Amarillo is located on historic Route 66, deep in the Texas panhandle (although Route 66 doesn't technically pass through Amarillo anymore, thus the word "historic"). You may have heard of the town from the hit country song Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) by Waylong Jennings. When its time to eat, youll have your pick of delicious local establishments, but both The Leaning Pear and Wimberley Cafe come highly recommended (expect a wait at both.). Seven different regions mean diverse topography abounds, including rolling hills, grasslands, and natural springs in beloved Hill Country; vast canyons and desert mountains in the Big Bend area; hundreds of miles of coastline, as well as estuaries and barrier islands on the Gulf Coast; and towering pine forests that mingle with swamps in the Piney Woods. Visitors can explore the historic buildings many of which are on the National Register of Historic places, shop for antiques, and enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants. Towering 781 feet above Austin, Mount Bonnel, also known as Covert Park, is one of the highest points in the area. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. The Old Wild West towns appeal to those seeking Texas history, excitement, and adventure. A quarter-mile trail takes you to the pool, where you can spot golden-cheeked warblers and other bird species along the way. Touring the gorgeously groomed historic gardens of Bayou Bend, the former home of Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg, feels like stepping back in time to a regal and refined era. Bordering Big Bend National Park and situated along the Rio Grande, it offers spellbinding west Texas scenery. Its not just the impeccably manicured hedges, flower beds and fountains that are impressive. Out here, its all about taking things slow and enjoying the expansive Texas landscape (and skies). I have found many unique antiques there, and the last time I went, I stocked up on artificial flowers. You can also do a trip hiking or camping in the Davis Mountains, or cycle through them on a ride through the Scenic Loop.. An epic road trip through these small Texas towns is a great way to see the state. Road warriors will enjoy driving along the Devil's Backbone, a scenic highway that runs through Wimberley and the surrounding towns. Theater fans will love Shakespeare at Winedale, which holds performances of the Bard's plays in the spring and summer. Modern-day visitors can delve into Jeffersons history by joining a tour, whether that be on foot, by carriage, on a riverboat, or on the historic railway. Founded in 1836, it was one of the earliest towns in Texas and served as the capital of the Republic of Texas for a brief period of time. Climbing to the summit will test your endurance, but the pay of commanding views of the city and Lake Austin feels like a proportionate award for all that effort. This street is long, so if you plan to walk it, be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. 13. An artsy and photogenic little dot on the map in west Texas, Marfa draws creative types (and, yes, many social media content creators) with its giant indoor and outdoor art installations, exhibitions at Ballroom Marfa, breathtaking arid scenery and, of course, the phenomenon known as the Marfa Lights. It is a little under two hours from San Antonio and about an hour and a half from Austin. You wont want to miss the painted churches, Model Airplane Museum, and homemade German sausage and schnitzel. 18 Best Weekend Getaways from Houston, Texas, 14 Cant-Miss Things to Do in Austin at Night. Sign up for Weekend Wanderer and join thousands of readers getting epic travel ideas weekly. A recent awareness of public art campaigns is bringing art walks, arts & crafts festivals, beautiful public art pieces, murals, sculptures, and intriguing architecture to many of these Texas small towns. Schulenberg is also very easy to reach as it is in between and almost equidistant from Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, no more than an hour and thirty minutes from each. Terlingua Ghost Town was once home to more than 2,000 people. Wimberley is one small town with a pair of great attractions: two of the best swimming holes in all of Texas. Here you can do some snorkeling, relax on the beach, or visit El Christo de Pescadores, a giant metal statue that speaks to the rich history of fishing in the area. Along with the championship game on Aug. 27, there are Johnson City is known for its quaint downtown area, which features a variety of shops and restaurants. Port Aransas happens to be the only established town on Mustang Island, a barrier island along Texas Gulf Coast. Take a walk along Hancock Hill Trails where you can see the desk a metal desk dragged out into the wilderness by college students so they could have a scenic place to study. There are numerous German restaurants and shops in the city, as well as a Bavarian-style brewery. As the name implies, the town of Dublin was founded by an Irish settler. Granbury is a short drive from Fort Worth and has a wonderful lake to play on. Did we miss out on any amazing small town in the Lone Star State? From desert art installations to kayak trips through the bayou, here's where to enjoy small-town charm in Texas. The 2023 Little League World Series will go from Aug. 16-27. Best for:A road trip stop along Route 66. Located in one of the hilliest parts of Texas, Llano is awesome for travelers who like hiking, sightseeing, and relaxation. Lake Jackson is next-door to Clute, Texas, another small town with the Center for the Arts & Sciences in the front of Brazosport Community College. The US state of Texas is home to many wonderful small towns-set in the vicinity of big cities. Amanda Ogle is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in travel, food and drink, sustainability, and general lifestyle topics. Don't leave the town until you grab a slice of some of the best pie in Texas from the legendary Bluebonnet Cafe. Visit the former president's boyhood home, where he lived from the age of five until his 1924 high school graduation. Port Isabel is a small town located on the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Texas. Its also an epic spot to go hiking and biking or catch the sunset. In 2018 it was believed to have only 59 people. There are also plenty of opportunities to shop for handcrafted goods, listen to live music, and take in the breathtaking scenery. Between Austin and Houston, you'll find the tiny town of Round Top, known for its epic antiques show that occurs bi-annually. It is a little over 4 hours from Albuquerque and Oklahoma City. Its not the official town slogan, but it does give you an idea of what makes this small town, founded in 1887, so special. While the Caverns of Sonora have been touted as one of the most beautiful snow caves on the planet, its also not a place that many people outside of Texas know about. Jefferson, Texas is a small town with a lot of character. This historic town was the last stop on the railroad for adventures traveling west into the wild frontier. Known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, Bandera was a staging area for some of the last major cattle drives of the late 1800s the Great Western Cattle Trail ran from here to Dodge City, Kansas, in its heyday. The Sea Center Texas, with its fish hatchery and ponds, plus a wild-life marsh outside is a wonderful attraction as are the huge aquariums and touch-tank inside the Center. Its also a fabulous place just to slow down and unwind. Jefferson was an important river port for the state and a critical supply point for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The seedling originated from a tree on the White House lawn that was planted when former President Andrew Jackson was in office. Some of the best small towns in Texas offer everything from spring wildflowers to summertime watermelon festivals, homemade apple pie in the fall to Polar (Do we need to say it again? One Saturday every month from March to December, vendors set up hundreds of stalls at Wimberley Market Day, the largest outdoor market in the Texas Hill Country. You can wander through the cute and tiny shops of downtown or even take a tour of a local farm! Come here to see some gorgeous open vistas in the Davis Mountains. Its also home to many award-winning bed and breakfasts that are packed with charm. Thats it. This Texas-size expanse in Brewster County covers the entire Chisos mountain range, a huge portion of the Chihuahuan Desert, Santa Elena Canyon and natural hot springs. Lake Jackson's many parks and numerous trees have earned it many awards, and outside of the town is the relics of the sugar mill and plantation that gave the town its name, as well as the "Enchanted Oak" that symbolizes the town. Welcome to the mythical, legendary Texas Hill Country. Travel writer and road trip enthusiast of My Traveling Roads, Kim Croisant, is a proud native Texan passionate about seeing the world by car, plane, train, RV any way she can. Remember when we said Texas was big? 8 Best Small Towns in Texas You Have to Visit - Travel Check out the more than 5,000 acres of plateaus and canyons at the Hill Country State Natural Area or spend the day kayaking along the Medina River. With its plentiful farm-to-table dining options and charming historic architecture, Georgetown is one of Texas's cutest towns. Shopping is another popular activity in town, and youll find plenty of cute boutiques in the towns downtown Wimberley Square.

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