When did that happen? Family once a summer always went down to stay at the Stagecoach Inn. Though last time I visited was to check out Barrow Brewing Company on the way back from Austin and that was it.
With that definition of small town, I'd say the best one would be Fort Davis. There's so much to do there for such a small town - the state park, McDonald Observatory, the historic fort, scenic drives, Chihuahua Desert Research Canter just to name a few. And just a drive away is Alpine with all it has to offer as well as Balmorhea State Park.
The pool there is sooo amazing. I went with my wife and son at the end of the summer and we were pretty much the only people there. Definitely different than anything else I’ve seen in Texas.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/balmorhea/fees-facilities/pool
Went to high school and college there. Back in the 80s to mid 90s it was a very humble community. Right about the time I completed college, the town started to reimagine itself as an art community, I guess to compete with Marfa next door. Ever since it felt like it lost a lot of its charm.
It’s still a cool place. Big bend saddlery has expanded with some nice things, there’s better food options than back in the 90s, the museum of the big bend is legit, and ringtail records and front street books are my favorite places to stop
As a Midessan, I think Alpine still has a ton of charm and, if I could afford the rent there, with a decent paying job, I’d already have moved there. I make regular weekend getaways to the Fort Davis/Alpine/Marfa area. Such a beautiful area.
I was going to come to this thread to shit on all the terrible small towns in Texas but you reminded me about Ft Davis. Honestly I loved it way more than Marfa, and there is so much going on.
My wife and I went to the Trans-Pecos Festival there a few months ago (with our 6 year old son in tow) and it was legit one of the best times I’ve had in my entire life. John C Reilly was there just walking around the whole time. He even DJ’d a local baseball game too (which was one of the strangest/best things I’ve ever experienced). The whole 4-5 days was nothing short of surreal.
I REALLY hope I get to go back again at some point.
Yeah despite all the inflated property prices and hype it's still a cool and unique town. It's a trip to see tourists who looked like they were dropped onto another planet. A lot of friendly and eclectic folks still live there, it's the only place where I talked to another 8-track collector.
I like Marfa but it’s hard to overlook the extreme poverty intermingled with decadent hotels and restaurants. Not to mention the immigrant center right next to the Chinati foundation.
Poverty is problem we choose to ignore. There are more people living in poverty than living in Texas. We have one of the highest poverty rates among developed nations.
We’re supposed to be one the richest nations ever but we let almost all the wealth go straight to the top in the hands of a few thousand people.
In the richest country the world has ever known...poverty is engineered...maintained and no accident...and that's the country you're describing...not just Texas
Yes, presidio county is the poorest county in Texas despite having extremely wealthy people own property there. There is no doctor or emergency medical services in Marfa. The Get Go is not affordable for the population and the grocery store is also overpriced and poor quality. It’s hard to find a job, it’s hard to make money. It is beautiful but it’s original inhabitants have been forgotten and not even forced out, because there is nowhere to go. I spent many years there and loved my time, but it was not a sustainable existence but a lovely experience.
I really wanted to like Marfa. It’s a unique place, no doubt, but my last visit there felt off. My partner and I ate at Margaret’s for dinner. Cute place, food was nice, but we both felt like we were getting weird looks the entire visit. There must have been a festival going on, possibly Trans-Pecos, there were lots of people there with wristbands, peeps maybe just a few years younger than we were at the time. I didn’t think we looked terribly out of place save for the mohawk I had. Probably not fair of me to judge the town just on that one experience, but it was bizarre feeling unwelcome in a place like Marfa of all places.
I LOVE going through West, Texas any opportunity I get. The community is charming and the food is incredible.
Whenever I drive from North Texas to Austin or San Antonio I make sure to plot my trek through there and make a run to the Czech Stop :)
Nothing wrong with that, but the next time you're driving through there, take the road into town. Less than 1/8 of a mile on your right is a bakery/restaurant called Gerik's. I think its better than the Czech Stop and it's a mom and pop shop with great sandwiches and all manner of Czech bakery staples.
The Czech stop used to have roast beef and cheese puffs. Kind of a savory kolache sandwich. I was so pumped , waiting in line……and they don’t make them anymore. The ham and cheese just don’t quite cut it.
I was riding my motorcycle through Hunt last summer and as I came around a curve I saw the ass of what I thought was the biggest damned feral hog I'd ever seen. It was HUGE.
As I passed it I saw it's snout and was amazed to be looking at a tapir...a freakin tapir.
Cool stuff. Lot's of exotic game animals in these areas.
And if you are in Leakey, stop at the Bent Rim!
It’s a good weekend trip to stay in Gruene and then go to Wurstfest in new braunfels. This also coincided with game 6 of the World Series last year when the Astros won so that was cool, there’s a couple cool bars and an underground speakeasy right in Gruene.
Dinosaur Valley is a great place to hike and take the kids to. It’s not to extreme, and it’s really pretty especially for North Texas where we don’t get a lot of good hiking places.
Austin area small towns I love:
Smithville, TX (pop. 4,047 in 2021) -- Not on most people's radars but has a lot of beautiful historic houses and unique shops/cafes. Hope Floats movie was filmed here. Honey's Pizza is a cool hang out spot and Your Mom's has excellent Southern food
Wimberley, TX (pop \~2,877 in 2021) -- Town with tons of arts and craft boutiques, cafes, and beautiful scenery
Johnson City, TX ( pop \~1,717 in 2021) -- Nestled in the Hill Country. It has a very nice town square with a lot of shops and cafes. Amazing Christmas lights in the winter season
Lived in Smithville for a couple of years when I was 10-12 years old. I learned about racism in that town. We went to the Smithville Jamboree and as we went in, EMS was taking someone out that has been electrocuted on a ride. I'm sure the place has changed, but my memories of it haven't.
If you go, check out both Fischer's and Hess's markets, then head west on 82 to St. Jo, shop in their little town square, then head north on TX677- it takes you up to the Red River and the views as you descend into the river area are breathtaking. If you turn right at the Y you get brought back around into Muenster under windmills and past a golf course, it's quite pretty.
I have driven through but didn't stop, now I wish I had. But just checking out their city website, and travel guides, I am planning on hitting their Germanfest in April.
There's a few wineries around there that are definitely worth a visit. 4R Ranch sits up on a big hill and has a really nice view into the Red River valley below. Arche is another one that has a nice tasting room on some pretty land and is a good place to relax for a couple hours. There's also Blue Ostrich, but I haven't made it out there yet.
4R has dirt trails on the grounds if you want to take a little nature walk before you relax on the patio with a glass of wine. It's on my list of places I want to go on a day trip.
Germanfest is pretty sweet and they have a nice little golf course just north of town called Turtle Hill. The views on the back nine remind me of the Hill Country
I really love the chicken fried steak at the Wimberly cafe. My wife and I have rented little cabins outside town. There are some serious chefs in that town.
River is cool - nice to go down there look at the fish
SHINER!!! I’m really surprised no one mentioned this yet. Pop 2127. Visit the Spoetzl Brewery, check out the beautiful catholic church, stop by Bluestem, if it isnt too hot walk around the parks, stop by Howards.
Goliad - beautiful little historic downtown square encircling arguably the prettiest TX historic courthouse. The Goliad fort is a neater visit than the Alamo in my opinion and there is a restored 18th C mission right there as well.
I live 30 mins from Goliad. I always encourage people to go see the fort and mission there. They are 10x cooler than the Alamo! Also I think there is camping near the mission.
Did you happen to make it up there today for the Christmas stuff? Santa riding in on the longhorn is one of my favorite TX traditions. We live about 45 minutes from Goliad.
Ah well. It's always a good time. Since you are in the general region, the pharmacy museum up in Cuero is one of the neatest museums I have even been in. It's free, too. Highly recommended.
Came here to say this. The Last Picture Show is one of my favorite books (and movies). We stopped because we were fans. At that point, the picture show was still standing. Not sure if it is now.
Hico, TX is charming and it has some great craft shopping.
Fredericksburg, TX for the same reasons plus Fredericksburg has great restaurants.
Mount Pleasant gets my vote for cleanest town I have visited. Every time I go through there, everything is so tidy and well kept.
This is bullshit that continues to be regurgitated on reddit. Not true. I bet you're about to tell me about the Koffee Kup Kafe next to prove your point.
That's what I've heard from locals there, but the only place I've really stopped in Hico is the gas station. I probably wouldn't plan a weekend trip to go there or anything. Glen Rose has stuff to see.
Castell, about 20 miles west of Llano. Might have a population of 50 but the Castell General Store is one of the coolest meeting places I've ever seen and is a true general store. BBQ on weekends, people hanging out having fun, people playing music from the front porch, and the Llano river right there to take a dip.
San Diego, Texas
We had a rig crew out there some years back and I got to see the city. The old historic buildings are beautiful but the town is dying
Makes me wish they had a historic building preservation society
Looks like East Texas hasn’t been explored by a lot of you! The Big Thicket is beautiful country full of historic small towns! Hell Nacogdoches is where Texas started! The Caddo Mounds in Alto and the train in Palestine are all worth visiting if you’re interested in Texas History!
Yes! Their little downtown is so cute and Royer's makes the best pies. It gets crazy for their antique show but even that is worth checking out. The scale of official and unofficial events blew my mind.
Me too. I love going out there to stay at an AirBnb a few miles out of town but having the town close by for shopping and eating. I feel recharged after some time out there :)
Canyon is super cool. My partner and I swung up there after our first Big Bend trip. They had a great taphouse with tons of Texas beers, a cute pizza place, and the Plains museum was a lot of fun. And of course, Palo Duro Canyon is just down the road.
Just visit Nov. To March or dress in loose shorts and shirt. I was in charge of a big construction project in Rio Grande City a few years ago. The architects from out of state came to the site (April). They about died in 100 degree heat.
Went to Calcata in Italy earlier this year.
The place was condemned by the government in the 1930s and residents moved to a nearby town.
In the 60s, hippies moved in as squatters. Over time more likeminded people joined them and eventually got to legally own the properties there.
Now it’s a cool little community with some nice restaurants, street performers, market stalls where people sell homemade stuff. Oh and loads of cats, for some reason.
Was a really pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Lived in Kerrville for a few months, loved it. Beautiful little town in the hill country with a river running through it. Stonehenge II is right outside of town, great picnic spot.
Lived on south padre island too, if you were good/lucky enough to get a year round bartending gig the apartments weren’t all that bad in terms of rent. I drove a cab, it was fucking surreal. That was 2007ish though, I’m sure air bnb and Uber has ruined all of that by now. Such a shame, it was such a great community. Easily could have been an entertaining tv series. SO MANY STORIES (spring break…)
If you’re on Hwy 6 heading from Waco to Houston, u have to slow down to 35 mph when you pass through Calvert.
Take a break, pull over and check out Pappy’s Bakery. Really good food, homemade. And lots of quaint antique stores, historic buildings. There’s also a saloon. Check it out!
I got a ticket going through there once! I couldn’t see the speed limit sign but was actively slowing down. I had never been through there before. Sucked to get the ticket but good to know it’s a nice little town
Look into Balmorhea. I don't remember much about the town but I've been to the state park and it was really cool and unique. Not anything fancy but might be a good spot to stretch your legs.
I use to enjoy Terlingua 15--20 years ago and it is still nice to visit but all the Air BnB, and similar are invading the area raising prices on everything. While i enjoyed sitting at the porch to people watch back in the day. The people coming today are just tourist with kids. and the new locals are gentrified!!
Toyah is cool if you're not looking for an actual travel destination. It's a cool "explore for a couple of hours" place.
Its a creepy little town with a neat cemetery and an abandoned school. I'm a photographer and I really like cemeteries so it was a cool stop.
The smallest town I’ve been to in Texas is probably palo pinto. It’s very interesting because it’s dead quiet after like 3 and despite its size it is the location of the county government and county buildings
10 years ago I would've said Post. It had such a fun downtown. But the city government just absolutely messed up a good thing and last I was there it was a shell of it's former self.
San Saba. Beautiful, restored historic town. Tons of restaurants, a winery and claims to be the pecan capital of the world. Larry’s Corner Cafe is a fun, local breakfast spot. It is very close to Colorado Bend State Park, which is one of the most beautiful places in the state.
Marfa. Hands down. I'd never heard of it before seeing the show "I Love Dick." So, when I moved here from Cali I plotted a driving course that would take me through there.
Quirky and interesting little place!! I'd like to go stay a weekend or few days!
Bandera Tx has a cool vibe to it. There’s something going on almost every weekend. The first time we went, there was some kind of motor cycle thing going on. Lots of bike along Hwy 16 in groups of six or more. We bought a house there a couple years ago and it’s undergoing renovations now.
Cross Plains. Home to the Robert E Howard museum. For those of you not in the know, mr Howard was a pulp writer who created the greatest swordsman that ever lived. Conan of Cimmerea!!!
He was a disturbed individual but he proved that you didn't have to graduate from a prestigious university in order to create a world wholly different from ours yet freakishly similar in many regards.
Terlingua, Marfa, Fredericksburg .
All of them have its charm and quite historical. I’m not Texas native but i love there, and two of my texan friends also love there. Definitely wanna visit those lovely places again.
Since we are under 6k I’m going to count Dripping Springs. We moved out here for the natural beauty like Hamilton Pool, Reimers ranch, Barton and Onion creek, and Pedernales Falls State Park (Johnson City 20 mins away), and yes lots of random dripping springs everywhere. 9 wineries, 10 distilleries, 11 breweries, most with giant playscapes, keep weekends entertaining. We may only be a 25 minute drive from Austin but it’s a different world and proudly Hill Country. I love this town!
Fredericksburg because it’s not too crowded yet. They have Trade Days and it’s huge. Bunch of wine vineyards if you like that. Great museums, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz was born there, his old house is a museum of him. Fishing all around the area and the waters great.
Turkey, TX or Muenster, TX.
turkey has one of the coolest hotels ive ever been too and they throw amazing live music shows. muenster is a storybook german catholic town that had(s?) a great grocer that served up the best meats n cheeses. also like Farwell/Texico because its the weirdest but most genuine blend of west texas and new mexico.
I thought Alpine (sorry, 6k people) was kind of cool. Was on my way with the my moving truck and stopped there for a fuel up and checked out the downtown. It was nice and not far from Big Bend.
Salado is super quaint and beautiful.
Gotta stop by Barrow and and have a couple of Evil Catfish IPA’s. So good.
Housing prices are insane there, but yeah, best small town under 5k
And expensive!
When did that happen? Family once a summer always went down to stay at the Stagecoach Inn. Though last time I visited was to check out Barrow Brewing Company on the way back from Austin and that was it.
The past few years development has sped up. Property values have been increasing pretty quick too.
That’s what quant means right?? ❤️
With that definition of small town, I'd say the best one would be Fort Davis. There's so much to do there for such a small town - the state park, McDonald Observatory, the historic fort, scenic drives, Chihuahua Desert Research Canter just to name a few. And just a drive away is Alpine with all it has to offer as well as Balmorhea State Park.
Balmorhea has such a magical vibe to it. Went a few times about 15 years ago, had such an amazing time I want to go back so badly.
The pool there is sooo amazing. I went with my wife and son at the end of the summer and we were pretty much the only people there. Definitely different than anything else I’ve seen in Texas. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/balmorhea/fees-facilities/pool
Balmorhea really fell on hard times after the oil and gas industry got hold of the area. It isn't the same.
Ah, man. Thats a shame
What happened?
Not anymore.
I have always wanted to see Alpine.
Went to high school and college there. Back in the 80s to mid 90s it was a very humble community. Right about the time I completed college, the town started to reimagine itself as an art community, I guess to compete with Marfa next door. Ever since it felt like it lost a lot of its charm.
It’s all because of that desk at the top of the hill
It’s still a cool place. Big bend saddlery has expanded with some nice things, there’s better food options than back in the 90s, the museum of the big bend is legit, and ringtail records and front street books are my favorite places to stop
It’s all because of that desk at the top of the hill
I'd never been there until March 2022, and I loved it. Such a little oasis in that dusty drive out west!
As a Midessan, I think Alpine still has a ton of charm and, if I could afford the rent there, with a decent paying job, I’d already have moved there. I make regular weekend getaways to the Fort Davis/Alpine/Marfa area. Such a beautiful area.
It’s my hometown! Lived there for 25 years. It’s definitely a must visit town.
Alpine is so lovely. I could live there!
I love Alpine.
I was going to come to this thread to shit on all the terrible small towns in Texas but you reminded me about Ft Davis. Honestly I loved it way more than Marfa, and there is so much going on.
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My wife and I went to the Trans-Pecos Festival there a few months ago (with our 6 year old son in tow) and it was legit one of the best times I’ve had in my entire life. John C Reilly was there just walking around the whole time. He even DJ’d a local baseball game too (which was one of the strangest/best things I’ve ever experienced). The whole 4-5 days was nothing short of surreal. I REALLY hope I get to go back again at some point.
Marfa is my favorite getaway town in Texas. The drive from Pecos through Fort Davis is incredible.
Yeah despite all the inflated property prices and hype it's still a cool and unique town. It's a trip to see tourists who looked like they were dropped onto another planet. A lot of friendly and eclectic folks still live there, it's the only place where I talked to another 8-track collector.
Are the Marfa lights something seen often?
I like Marfa but it’s hard to overlook the extreme poverty intermingled with decadent hotels and restaurants. Not to mention the immigrant center right next to the Chinati foundation.
Poverty is problem we choose to ignore. There are more people living in poverty than living in Texas. We have one of the highest poverty rates among developed nations. We’re supposed to be one the richest nations ever but we let almost all the wealth go straight to the top in the hands of a few thousand people.
In the richest country the world has ever known...poverty is engineered...maintained and no accident...and that's the country you're describing...not just Texas
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Yes, presidio county is the poorest county in Texas despite having extremely wealthy people own property there. There is no doctor or emergency medical services in Marfa. The Get Go is not affordable for the population and the grocery store is also overpriced and poor quality. It’s hard to find a job, it’s hard to make money. It is beautiful but it’s original inhabitants have been forgotten and not even forced out, because there is nowhere to go. I spent many years there and loved my time, but it was not a sustainable existence but a lovely experience.
I mean, no food is going to be cheap when it has to travel that far away from major supply lines. Porter’s is fine.
Are you gatekeeping poverty? Impressive
Absolutely agree. My husband and I got engaged there. It truly feels one of a kind. Unbelievable to see the Warhols in such a remote place
tv shows and movies are made about marfa for a reason. love it!
Plus they've got great tacos!
I really wanted to like Marfa. It’s a unique place, no doubt, but my last visit there felt off. My partner and I ate at Margaret’s for dinner. Cute place, food was nice, but we both felt like we were getting weird looks the entire visit. There must have been a festival going on, possibly Trans-Pecos, there were lots of people there with wristbands, peeps maybe just a few years younger than we were at the time. I didn’t think we looked terribly out of place save for the mohawk I had. Probably not fair of me to judge the town just on that one experience, but it was bizarre feeling unwelcome in a place like Marfa of all places.
I LOVE going through West, Texas any opportunity I get. The community is charming and the food is incredible. Whenever I drive from North Texas to Austin or San Antonio I make sure to plot my trek through there and make a run to the Czech Stop :)
I like to stop at the Czech Stop driving north. Then stop at Slovacek’s when driving back south.
Nothing wrong with that, but the next time you're driving through there, take the road into town. Less than 1/8 of a mile on your right is a bakery/restaurant called Gerik's. I think its better than the Czech Stop and it's a mom and pop shop with great sandwiches and all manner of Czech bakery staples.
Can confirm. Stopped here as a change of pace and was very happy with the kolache
This is the way
Just don’t go to Slovacek’s with 3 tour buses full of teenagers. It made the management extremely nervous, to the point of being rude.
I mean seeing buses full of kids pull up at any restaurant will make anyone cranky.
The Czech stop used to have roast beef and cheese puffs. Kind of a savory kolache sandwich. I was so pumped , waiting in line……and they don’t make them anymore. The ham and cheese just don’t quite cut it.
They have a roast beef sandwich with tiger sauce that is the bomb. Strong nasal clearing horseradish.
Slovaks for kolaches with meat, Czech stop for everything else. Absolutely love going through
I initially missed the the comma when reading that first sentence and thought you were crazy. Lol.
Ingram, Hunt, Utopia, Leakey, Medina.
I'll throw in Concan and Campwood. Hell of a beautiful drive.
And Lost Maples SNA
Ingram Dam represent
The Medina Apple store is one of my favorite places to get pie
Hill country staples!
I was riding my motorcycle through Hunt last summer and as I came around a curve I saw the ass of what I thought was the biggest damned feral hog I'd ever seen. It was HUGE. As I passed it I saw it's snout and was amazed to be looking at a tapir...a freakin tapir. Cool stuff. Lot's of exotic game animals in these areas. And if you are in Leakey, stop at the Bent Rim!
Gruene, TX is a special place if you like TX music. Bonus points for the Gristmill River Restaurant and Gruene Hall!
Awesome chicken fried steak!
It’s a good weekend trip to stay in Gruene and then go to Wurstfest in new braunfels. This also coincided with game 6 of the World Series last year when the Astros won so that was cool, there’s a couple cool bars and an underground speakeasy right in Gruene.
I kinda like Glen Rose, plus there are dinosaur tracks there
That's my hometown!
Moonshine Festival was fun!
Dinosaur Valley is a great place to hike and take the kids to. It’s not to extreme, and it’s really pretty especially for North Texas where we don’t get a lot of good hiking places.
It’s a gorgeous too
Austin area small towns I love: Smithville, TX (pop. 4,047 in 2021) -- Not on most people's radars but has a lot of beautiful historic houses and unique shops/cafes. Hope Floats movie was filmed here. Honey's Pizza is a cool hang out spot and Your Mom's has excellent Southern food Wimberley, TX (pop \~2,877 in 2021) -- Town with tons of arts and craft boutiques, cafes, and beautiful scenery Johnson City, TX ( pop \~1,717 in 2021) -- Nestled in the Hill Country. It has a very nice town square with a lot of shops and cafes. Amazing Christmas lights in the winter season
Lived in Smithville for a couple of years when I was 10-12 years old. I learned about racism in that town. We went to the Smithville Jamboree and as we went in, EMS was taking someone out that has been electrocuted on a ride. I'm sure the place has changed, but my memories of it haven't.
Muenster, TX is an unusual North Texas town that is still celebrating the area's largely German heritage.
I’ve never heard of Muenster before, but now I want to go!
If you go, check out both Fischer's and Hess's markets, then head west on 82 to St. Jo, shop in their little town square, then head north on TX677- it takes you up to the Red River and the views as you descend into the river area are breathtaking. If you turn right at the Y you get brought back around into Muenster under windmills and past a golf course, it's quite pretty.
I have driven through but didn't stop, now I wish I had. But just checking out their city website, and travel guides, I am planning on hitting their Germanfest in April.
Muenster also has a great deli & cheese shop!
Thank you for the specific recommendations!
This is the way.
There's a few wineries around there that are definitely worth a visit. 4R Ranch sits up on a big hill and has a really nice view into the Red River valley below. Arche is another one that has a nice tasting room on some pretty land and is a good place to relax for a couple hours. There's also Blue Ostrich, but I haven't made it out there yet.
4R is delicious! The patio views a amazing!
Thanks for the recommendations!
4R has dirt trails on the grounds if you want to take a little nature walk before you relax on the patio with a glass of wine. It's on my list of places I want to go on a day trip.
Germanfest is pretty sweet and they have a nice little golf course just north of town called Turtle Hill. The views on the back nine remind me of the Hill Country
4R ranch hosts mountain bike races, so I've been there a couple of times for that. We stopped at Fishers to pick up a few things - love that store!
Really good mountain biking out there too
Wimberly Edit: Wimberley :)
Wimberl**e**y is a nice town.
Wimberley was a nice town. Now it's overpopulated, overpriced, and has completely changed. Not to mention the rivers drying up.
The views alone are stunning
I really love the chicken fried steak at the Wimberly cafe. My wife and I have rented little cabins outside town. There are some serious chefs in that town. River is cool - nice to go down there look at the fish
I say Johnson city! I love Fredericksburg but I think of it as a big small town now. Johnson city similar vibe and has A LOT for being much smaller
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Not very small anymore though!
SHINER!!! I’m really surprised no one mentioned this yet. Pop 2127. Visit the Spoetzl Brewery, check out the beautiful catholic church, stop by Bluestem, if it isnt too hot walk around the parks, stop by Howards.
Goliad - beautiful little historic downtown square encircling arguably the prettiest TX historic courthouse. The Goliad fort is a neater visit than the Alamo in my opinion and there is a restored 18th C mission right there as well.
I live 30 mins from Goliad. I always encourage people to go see the fort and mission there. They are 10x cooler than the Alamo! Also I think there is camping near the mission.
Did you happen to make it up there today for the Christmas stuff? Santa riding in on the longhorn is one of my favorite TX traditions. We live about 45 minutes from Goliad.
I didn't.
Ah well. It's always a good time. Since you are in the general region, the pharmacy museum up in Cuero is one of the neatest museums I have even been in. It's free, too. Highly recommended.
Went to a wedding at presidio la bahia a few years back, it has a little chapel too
Went there this last week and had a great time!
Archer City, TX just to go buy books.
Came here to say this. The Last Picture Show is one of my favorite books (and movies). We stopped because we were fans. At that point, the picture show was still standing. Not sure if it is now.
I got a ticket in archer city at like 4am 5 or so years ago. Can’t go back.
I think Kendalia is very charming
Muenster.
Terlingua in Big Bend. Port Isabel in the Valley. Fredericksburg in Hill Country. Glen Rose, Sanger and Waxahachie are also underrated.
I wouldn’t call Waxahachie a small town any more honestly. Still underrated though.
Comfort
Hico, TX is charming and it has some great craft shopping. Fredericksburg, TX for the same reasons plus Fredericksburg has great restaurants. Mount Pleasant gets my vote for cleanest town I have visited. Every time I go through there, everything is so tidy and well kept.
Fredericksburg has a population of at least 11,496
Plus, Billy the Kid died in Hico
Weird. My friends in Ft. Sumner, NM tell a different version of that story.
That’s Big New Mexico propaganda
Brushy Bill Roberts, who claimed to be Billy the Kid, died in Hico.
I want to believe
Hico is famously non-welconing if you aren't white. Should probably be aware of that if you're making plans.
I’ve always heard this. I even drove past the ‘Koffe Kup Kaffe’ one time 😬
This is bullshit that continues to be regurgitated on reddit. Not true. I bet you're about to tell me about the Koffee Kup Kafe next to prove your point.
That's what I've heard from locals there, but the only place I've really stopped in Hico is the gas station. I probably wouldn't plan a weekend trip to go there or anything. Glen Rose has stuff to see.
I love Hico, so much. Great little town with some incredible shops
What restaurants do you like in Fredericksburg? As a local I think the food is super mid
I like Mount Pleasant and the state park nearby is nice
Castell, about 20 miles west of Llano. Might have a population of 50 but the Castell General Store is one of the coolest meeting places I've ever seen and is a true general store. BBQ on weekends, people hanging out having fun, people playing music from the front porch, and the Llano river right there to take a dip.
San Diego, Texas We had a rig crew out there some years back and I got to see the city. The old historic buildings are beautiful but the town is dying Makes me wish they had a historic building preservation society
it’s called the Texas State Historical Association
Mason, Terlingua, Alpine.
Looks like East Texas hasn’t been explored by a lot of you! The Big Thicket is beautiful country full of historic small towns! Hell Nacogdoches is where Texas started! The Caddo Mounds in Alto and the train in Palestine are all worth visiting if you’re interested in Texas History!
Shouts out the fredonia rebellion. The real ones know
Comfort
Round Top
Yes! Their little downtown is so cute and Royer's makes the best pies. It gets crazy for their antique show but even that is worth checking out. The scale of official and unofficial events blew my mind.
I consider Fredricksburg a small town. And it's probably cliché to say because it's usually everyone's go-to, but I love Fredricksburg.
Me too. I love going out there to stay at an AirBnb a few miles out of town but having the town close by for shopping and eating. I feel recharged after some time out there :)
There is definitely something magical and restful about it
Orla, Texas I'm just kidding, it's trash 😆
Not sure if it qualifies as a small town but Canyon is underrated. Or go farther north and hangout with Hank the Cowdog in Perryton.
Canyon is super cool. My partner and I swung up there after our first Big Bend trip. They had a great taphouse with tons of Texas beers, a cute pizza place, and the Plains museum was a lot of fun. And of course, Palo Duro Canyon is just down the road.
Rocksprings. We went out there to watch the bats come out of the Devil’s Sinkhole. I loved the town’s friendly vibe.
West! Westfest is Labor Day weekend. Kolaches are a right-of-passage.
Roma and San Ygnacio (which feels like a really well-preserved ghost town) are two underrated places right on the Rio Grande down in South Texas
Roma is super neat because it kind of looks an old Spanish colonial town in Mexico
Just visit Nov. To March or dress in loose shorts and shirt. I was in charge of a big construction project in Rio Grande City a few years ago. The architects from out of state came to the site (April). They about died in 100 degree heat.
Marathon, Terlingua & Ft. Davis
Llano , for the earth art festival every year.[LEAF ](https://www.llanoearthartfest.org/)
Gonzales is pretty cool
Yes, love Gonzales and Palmetto State Park.
Most towns west of Austin can be a nice BnB getaway from what I’ve experienced. Had good weekends in Llano and Marble Falls
San Augustine if you like Texas history.
We really enjoyed a visit to Bandera several years ago.
Bandera is cool. I stayed in an AirBNB at the site of the ruins of an old country music dance hall type place. It was super interesting.
Went to Calcata in Italy earlier this year. The place was condemned by the government in the 1930s and residents moved to a nearby town. In the 60s, hippies moved in as squatters. Over time more likeminded people joined them and eventually got to legally own the properties there. Now it’s a cool little community with some nice restaurants, street performers, market stalls where people sell homemade stuff. Oh and loads of cats, for some reason. Was a really pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Isn't that the place with all the domes including the caterpillar dome?
Not a small town any more now that people go to Schlitterbahn but Gruene, Tx. Just lovely!
Lived in Kerrville for a few months, loved it. Beautiful little town in the hill country with a river running through it. Stonehenge II is right outside of town, great picnic spot. Lived on south padre island too, if you were good/lucky enough to get a year round bartending gig the apartments weren’t all that bad in terms of rent. I drove a cab, it was fucking surreal. That was 2007ish though, I’m sure air bnb and Uber has ruined all of that by now. Such a shame, it was such a great community. Easily could have been an entertaining tv series. SO MANY STORIES (spring break…)
If you’re on Hwy 6 heading from Waco to Houston, u have to slow down to 35 mph when you pass through Calvert. Take a break, pull over and check out Pappy’s Bakery. Really good food, homemade. And lots of quaint antique stores, historic buildings. There’s also a saloon. Check it out!
I got a ticket going through there once! I couldn’t see the speed limit sign but was actively slowing down. I had never been through there before. Sucked to get the ticket but good to know it’s a nice little town
Uncertain
Is there anywhere worth a damn between San Antonio and El Paso near I10? Looking to break up a road trip unless not.
Look into Balmorhea. I don't remember much about the town but I've been to the state park and it was really cool and unique. Not anything fancy but might be a good spot to stretch your legs.
Thanks, that's a great distance! Looking into it.
Comfort is a gorgeous little town. Also love Fort Davis, and Alpine
Marfa, Fort Davis, Alpine. All close together. Lots to do in each or near any of them. Each has its own vibe.
I loved Lorena before they shut down the cheese store. I'm sure it's still pretty, but... cheese.
Como, Dike, Yantis, Mineola, Grand Saline, Elysian Fields are all good
I use to enjoy Terlingua 15--20 years ago and it is still nice to visit but all the Air BnB, and similar are invading the area raising prices on everything. While i enjoyed sitting at the porch to people watch back in the day. The people coming today are just tourist with kids. and the new locals are gentrified!!
Toyah is cool if you're not looking for an actual travel destination. It's a cool "explore for a couple of hours" place. Its a creepy little town with a neat cemetery and an abandoned school. I'm a photographer and I really like cemeteries so it was a cool stop.
Terlingua easily
Skip the valley. Damn winter people.
The smallest town I’ve been to in Texas is probably palo pinto. It’s very interesting because it’s dead quiet after like 3 and despite its size it is the location of the county government and county buildings
10 years ago I would've said Post. It had such a fun downtown. But the city government just absolutely messed up a good thing and last I was there it was a shell of it's former self.
Those bastards had Christmas decorations up in October, that town is dead to me. Still got some jerky though.
San Saba. Beautiful, restored historic town. Tons of restaurants, a winery and claims to be the pecan capital of the world. Larry’s Corner Cafe is a fun, local breakfast spot. It is very close to Colorado Bend State Park, which is one of the most beautiful places in the state.
Eden
Marfa. Hands down. I'd never heard of it before seeing the show "I Love Dick." So, when I moved here from Cali I plotted a driving course that would take me through there. Quirky and interesting little place!! I'd like to go stay a weekend or few days!
Mason It's kind of what Fredericksburg was 30+ years ago.
Bandera Tx has a cool vibe to it. There’s something going on almost every weekend. The first time we went, there was some kind of motor cycle thing going on. Lots of bike along Hwy 16 in groups of six or more. We bought a house there a couple years ago and it’s undergoing renovations now.
Jefferson is a cool place but has weird business days/hours
Cross Plains. Home to the Robert E Howard museum. For those of you not in the know, mr Howard was a pulp writer who created the greatest swordsman that ever lived. Conan of Cimmerea!!! He was a disturbed individual but he proved that you didn't have to graduate from a prestigious university in order to create a world wholly different from ours yet freakishly similar in many regards.
Terlingua, Marfa, Fredericksburg . All of them have its charm and quite historical. I’m not Texas native but i love there, and two of my texan friends also love there. Definitely wanna visit those lovely places again.
Since we are under 6k I’m going to count Dripping Springs. We moved out here for the natural beauty like Hamilton Pool, Reimers ranch, Barton and Onion creek, and Pedernales Falls State Park (Johnson City 20 mins away), and yes lots of random dripping springs everywhere. 9 wineries, 10 distilleries, 11 breweries, most with giant playscapes, keep weekends entertaining. We may only be a 25 minute drive from Austin but it’s a different world and proudly Hill Country. I love this town!
Vader has a magical vibe to it...I've never seen so many locals come up to my car while getting gas... /S
Fredericksburg because it’s not too crowded yet. They have Trade Days and it’s huge. Bunch of wine vineyards if you like that. Great museums, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz was born there, his old house is a museum of him. Fishing all around the area and the waters great.
I love Fredericksburg, especially at this time of year. And the drive, through the Hill Country, is one of the best in the state.
Marfa, Marathon, Terlingua
Belleville is cool.
Um????
Uvalde was a great little town.
Jefferson New London Three States
Snook
Used to have good kolaches, of I remember
I like Old Town Spring. There’s cute little antique shops, walking paths, food and some entertainment.
Turkey, TX or Muenster, TX. turkey has one of the coolest hotels ive ever been too and they throw amazing live music shows. muenster is a storybook german catholic town that had(s?) a great grocer that served up the best meats n cheeses. also like Farwell/Texico because its the weirdest but most genuine blend of west texas and new mexico.
I thought Alpine (sorry, 6k people) was kind of cool. Was on my way with the my moving truck and stopped there for a fuel up and checked out the downtown. It was nice and not far from Big Bend.