How To Spend A Perfect Weekend In Lively College Station, Texas
Most people know that College Station is home to Texas A&M University, but the city is also one of the best places in Texas to dine, sightsee, shop, relax, and learn a bit about world history. Yes — all that surprised me, too! Though Aggieland is the city’s baby, College Station is much more than a college town — it offers a variety of attractions and unique experiences for people of all ages. It’s also known for its friendliness: You’ll be greeted with an enthusiastic “Howdy!” wherever you go. The residents are always willing to lend a hand or offer their recommendations.
College Station is about 95 miles from Houston and roughly a 3-hour drive from Dallas. Whether you’re looking for things to do on a weekend getaway or checking out the university for your future college student, College Station is in full swing. Here are several attractions and experiences in the city that you should consider.
My stay was hosted by Visit College Station and Cavalry Court. All opinions are my own.
Things To Do In College Station
In College Station, not only can you get creative with your hands, eat delicious food, shop at some nice boutiques, and stay in a quaint hotel, but you can take self-guided tours of several attractions to learn more about world history. As I was planning my trip, I realized that one of my favorite Sunday-morning shows has a store in College Station, so I made The Texas Bucket List my first stop and the King Ranch Saddle Shop my second stop. While I was there, I learned that President George H. W. Bush, Barbara Bush, and their oldest daughter are all buried in College Station. I had a surreal visit and was in awe practically the whole time I was there.
George H. W. Bush Presidential Library.
Although the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum was closed when I was there, we did walk the grounds, where we saw a piece of the Berlin Wall, the gravesites of the former president and his wife, and a beautifully manicured lawn with gorgeous blooming flowers. That alone made my heart happy.
Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.
The designers of the Veterans Park & Athletic Complex originally envisioned a space where families could come out to enjoy picnics, baseball games, and playgrounds. But they later realized it would be the perfect outdoor site to dedicate to veterans of our nation’s major wars. Today, the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial is one of America’s finest collections of war memorials. You’ll see life-size statues, a Wall of Honor, interpretive panels, and memorial sites here.
You can visit for free to catch a baseball game and take a tour of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial. Quite honestly, I knew very little about the wars that went on in our day, and I felt a bit overwhelmed as a long-time resident of College Station took us around, talked about the wars, and described every statue out there, even Rosie the Riveter. It was a surreal moment for me. I might have shed a tear or two. I can’t wait to go back and see the 9/11 Memorial they are working on.
Pro Tip: The paved trails around the memorial are great for running or walking your dog. There are plenty of benches along the trail, and there are restrooms on-site.
Texas A&M University.
A public garden with more than 7 acres of gorgeous seasonal flowers, an abundance of greenery, and a little river running through it, The Gardens at Texas A&M University offers quite the space to enjoy some fresh air and nature. Bring a picnic to enjoy. While perusing the website, be sure to look for special events happening throughout the year. Admission is always free, and parking is free on weekends.
Shop And Spa In Century Square
Just outside of Cavalry Court at Century Square, where I stayed, is a world of shopping. The popular King Ranch Saddle Shop makes its home in the square, as does the Galleria Spa Salon Boutique, voted the best day spa in the Brazos Valley for 16 consecutive years. You’ll also find Lucchese Boots and many other upscale shops and boutiques.
The writer at Basecamp Farms.
Just outside of College Station is an outdoor venue where you can cut your own flowers, explore a flower shop, take a tour, and sign up for a photography session among the big, beautiful sunflowers the farm is known for. You can even try your hand at making your own dried flower wreath. Basecamp Farms is a place to unwind, feel the grass between your toes, and take in the sunshine.
Explore Lick Creek Park
If you’re a nature buff, Lick Creek Park is the place to wander. Its nature center is a 2,400-square-foot facility with meeting rooms, outdoor classrooms, an amphitheater, native plant displays, and a monarch butterfly garden. You’ll enjoy nature to the fullest on the park’s paved and natural trails, watching for resident birds, butterflies, and snakes.
Experience The Northgate Entertainment District
If nightlife is more your style, then check out the Northgate Entertainment District. When the evening rolls around, this area is hopping with eclectic venues. Head to the world-famous Dixie Chicken, the oldest bar in town, and Bottle Cap Alley, where kids and adults alike can throw their caps on the ground. Where else could you do that and not get in trouble?
In addition to coffee at Stella Southern Cafe, lunch at C&J Barbeque, dinner at Solt, and drinks at The Canteen Bar & Grill, I recommend these restaurants in College Station.
1860 Italia
1860 Italia is a great place for oven-fired pizza, but also for bruschetta and grilled salmon with lemon and herbs, which is what I had. I could have had it the very next day as well — it was that delicious! If dessert is in order, plan to share the biggest piece of chocolate cake known to man. The four of us could not finish it! One lucky wife got to enjoy the rest.
Steak, wine, and whiskey — take your pick, or go for all three! The Republic Steakhouse is open for dinner, and reservations are highly recommended. I also highly recommend the oysters, a glass of wine, and then steak if you’re looking for a nice meat meal.
Sal’s Garpez
I always want to eat where the locals do. Sal’s Garpez is one of those spots. It’s a local dive inside a gas station serving authentic Mexican food: breakfast tacos. Dine in or take yours to go; either way, you’ll have to wait — it’s that good. Look for the Shell at Highway 6 and Harvey Road.
Primrose Path Wine Bar
Primrose Path Wine Bar is a quaint place to go for lunch or dinner in a pretty setting. Get ready to be dazzled by the charm and by the beautiful chandelier hanging over the bar. You’ll enjoy the complete wine list, whiskey list, and artisan cheeses and charcuterie trays.
Gate 12 Bar and Grill.
Gate 12 Bar & Grill offers great food and an amazing view of the planes taking off and landing at College Station’s only airport. When we were there, we saw at least 10 planes coming in for a landing. The chocolate cake was divine. Ask for spoons for the whole party and share it — it’s rich!
While College Station offers the usual chain hotels, it also has some of the best boutique hotels I’ve ever run across. It may be tough to reserve a room for a time when a big event is going on, so if you’re planning a visit, book early.
Cavalry Court, an urban resort with a relaxed vibe and luxury amenities, is located in Century Square. You can splash in the pool, play in the courtyard, have a bite to eat in the adjacent Canteen Bar & Grill, and walk to the shops. A laid-back and fun scene is what you’ll find at Cavalry Court, where I was hosted. Relax on the patio while sipping handcrafted toddies from the bar, and enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday nights. You’ll also find complimentary bikes to ride.
The George
The George, a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel where luxury meets rusticity, is directly across from Cavalry Court. In the lobby, there’s a wall of books arranged to look like the Texas flag. You’ll enjoy the finest of things here, and you can even shop for luxury items in the gift shop.
Vineyard Court
In the heart of College Station, Vineyard Court, a much-loved boutique hotel, can house you and your entire family in one of their designer suites fit for a king. They are the only College Station hotel with a dog park, and all dogs stay for free.
Pro Tip: You won’t meet a stranger in College Station. If you need guidance, just ask, and you’ll get your answer and then some!
Destinations Texas United States
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. Her travels include many road trips through Texas and beyond. Kim is raising her grandson and takes him and her Yorkie/Shih Tzu mix doggies on as many trips as possible. When she’s feeling the love, she lets her darling 82-year-old mother come along as well. But her favorite way to travel is solo. When Kim’s not writing, she is hiking through nature and camping in the woods in a cabin full of amenities.
Texas is home to some of the most ruggedly beautiful wilderness in the Southwest. You’ll discover diverse flora and fauna across Texas forests, canyons, and rivers, all protected by Texas Hill Country state parks. On a trip to the Texas Hill Country, you can take a swim in cold spring waters, go horseback riding across rolling plateaus, hike the rugged canyons, wade in babbling creeks, and tube, kayak, or float in rivers and lakes. Plus, you’ll find some of the best fishing available for Guadalupe bass, large and smallmouth bass, catfish, perch, and more.
This summer, to beat the heat, let’s explore the top five Texas Hill Country state parks near beautiful lakes.
When I think of Guadalupe River State Park, I look forward to tossing in a tube and floating down the Guadalupe. Located 30 miles north of San Antonio, Guadalupe River State Park is west of Canyon Lake. The park backs up to Honey Creek State Natural Area, a Nature Conservancy-protected area only open for official tours on Saturdays. No pets are allowed here.
You can camp in the Cedar Sage or Turkey Sink camping areas; there are 85 shady spots for campers and RVs with water and electricity hookups. The Wagon Ford Walk-In Tent Area offers nine sites for primitive tent camping, with sites 90 and 91 being closest to the river. Daytime picnic tables are located right on the river, with plenty of parking space. Pets are allowed on 6-foot leashes. Besides tubing, you can canoe, kayak, paddle, fish, swim, and bike. Family fun includes geocaching, hiking, rock climbing, and stargazing along the scenic river.
The picturesque river flows over four natural rapids and is lined with giant bald cypress trees and two steep limestone bluffs. Hike in the forested bottomland or along trails lined with oaks and junipers that fill the upper limestone plateau.
If you like bird-watching, hike through the woodlands that provide a nesting habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. Watch for wildlife like deer, gray foxes, coyotes, skunks, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, armadillos, and other smaller animals. You can download a field checklist featuring several hundred bird species.
The Texas State Parks Store in the Headquarters Building at the entrance sells ice, firewood, T-shirts, camping accessories, and books.
Pro Tip: Did you know that the Guadalupe River is one of the top 100 trout streams in America? It is also the southernmost trout stream in the United States. The bag limit is one trout over 18 inches caught with an artificial fly or lure per day. The river is stocked each winter by Trout Unlimited and Texas Parks & Wildlife. Because public access is limited, the best way to fish in the Guadalupe River is to float on a stable raft with room for two anglers and a guide. Book your date well in advance, since dates fill up fast during the winter months. There is no summer fishing for trout.
Pedernales Falls State Park comprises 5,212 acres situated along the banks of the Pedernales River, with 6 miles of river frontage flowing over giant slabs of limestone in Blanco County, 30 miles west of Austin. The river can be turbulent, but most of the time, you’ll find it tranquil, a great place to relax and commune with nature. In drought conditions, the river may not be flowing at all. But at other times, you’ll need to watch for flash flood warnings.
Fun Fact: Pedernales is pronounced with an extra r: PUR-der-nal-ehz. The name comes from the Spanish word for the flint rocks characteristic of a riverbed.
Make your reservations online in advance and print out your voucher, since there’s no way to pay at the gate. The park has a new access gate with time-controlled codes to limit traffic, but this gorgeous place is always busy with visitors floating, kayaking, and rafting.
You can camp at one of 69 sites featuring electricity and water, fire rings with grills, and shaded picnic tables, and there is a clean new bathroom and shower facility nearby. Campsites 11 and 13 are very deep and set back from the road, with lots of space between neighboring sites. Reserve your spaces ahead of time, since they book from one to five months in advance. You can also hike 2 miles to 20 primitive campsites with chemical toilets; no pets or ground fires are allowed in this area.
Pedernales Falls is a great mountain-biking destination, with more trails than you can hit in a day. Most of the courses look like old ranch roads-turned-park roads. You’ll see wildlife like deer, foxes, squirrels, roadrunners, and armadillos.
Pro Tip: The Texas State Parks Pass ($70) is good for one year and includes unlimited access to 89 state parks for you and your guests, as well as discounts on camping (with some restrictions), deals on park store purchases, and equipment rentals. Check out the Texas Parklands Passport for seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities.
Kids can become Junior Rangers and earn badges that grant access to the Junior Ranger Activity Journal.
Download a trail map here with access to more than 40 miles of trails.
Inks Lake State Park, Texas Hill Country.
This Texas Hill Country gem, located an hour northwest of Austin, boasts colorful pink granite hills, sparkling water, and astounding sunsets. Inks Lake State Park offers 22 cabins and nearly 200 lakeside campsites with playgrounds at the picnic and camping areas.
Spend the day swimming, boating, waterskiing, fishing, or scuba diving. Rent paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, life vests, and paddles at the park store. Besides camping, you can enjoy backpacking, geocaching, picnicking, or hiking (there are 9 miles of trails through shady forests and across rocky hills).
The Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail features waterfalls, scenic views, a wildlife-viewing station, and one of the state’s best-kept secrets: the Devil’s Waterhole swimming hole, where Spring Creek meets the lake. The pink rock formations are Valley Springs gneiss, metamorphic granite rocks almost a billion years old. These gneiss rocks support rare microhabitats for unique plants, wildflowers, grasses, mosses, lichens, and ferns.
Fish for sunfish, catfish, and bass at the two fishing piers, where you’ll find fish-cleaning stations and boat ramps. You do not need a fishing license to fish from a pier or the shore in a Texas state park.
Pro Tip: Be sure to visit the 150-acre Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery, bordering the Colorado River between Inks Lake State Park and Longhorn Caverns State Park. You’ll see 30 ponds — ranging in size from a quarter of an acre to 1.5 acres — raising Gulf Coast striped bass and paddlefish along with a population of the endangered Clear Creek gambusia.
Horseback riding, Hill Country State Natural Area.
You can explore more than 5,000 acres of tranquil creek bottoms, rugged canyons, and picturesque plateaus on this former Hill Country ranch northwest of San Antonio. Hill Country State Natural Area offers multiuse trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking. You’ll find only primitive camping here at walk-in or hike-in campsites with vault toilets, but no showers or running water.
A lodge that sleeps nine is available with a kitchen and bathroom. Horse stalls are located nearby. Horseback riders can reserve an equestrian campsite or the group camp with a barn, nine stalls, water for horses, and a vault toilet, but no showers.
Nearby Bandera, the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” offers dude ranches, rodeo events, and kayak and tube rentals on the Medina River.
Blanco River State Park near Austin, Texas.
Take a cool dip in the spring-fed Blanco River just an hour west of Austin at Blanco State Park. The park parallels a mile-long stretch of river where you can swim, fish, paddle, or boat. Come for a picnic lunch, afternoon swim, or weekend camping adventure.
Fish for largemouth and Guadalupe bass, channel catfish, sunfish, and — during the winter — rainbow trout stocked by Texas Parks & Wildlife. Remember, you don’t need a license if you fish from the shore in a state park.
For camping, choose from 29 sites with electricity, water, shade shelter, fire rings with grills, and nearby restrooms. The off-season runs from November through February.
You’ll find lots of red-eared slider turtles here, basking on logs and rocks. You’ll also see green herons, cricket frogs, Gulf Coast toads, leopard frogs, and squirrels. Other wildlife include deer, cottontail rabbits, and gray foxes. Four bats species also call the park home: Mexican free-tailed, Eastern red, cave myotis, and tricolor.
A Texas state park visit offers just about everything you’d want from a trip to the Texas Hill Country: hidden swimming holes, rolling hills, wooded canyons, spring-fed rivers, and magical sunsets, all in a place where time slows down and life is just a bit sweeter.
Source: https://www.travelawaits.com/2666738/college-station-tx-best-things-to-do/
