During Spring Break, I got a wild hair. I’d like to say that I’m a totally methodical person (and I am) EXCEPT for when it comes to travel. Man, once I get an idea and it involves leaving my house, there’s not a whole lot that can stop me.
Going into Spring Break, I had zero plans. And I mean ZERO. In fact, the first two days my son and I just watched tv and cooked together. But then I was driving one day and I saw them…BLUEBONNETS! As everyone in Texas knows, they’re beautiful and only here for a few short weeks, so we cherish them! And seeing them on the side of the highway got me thinking, “I wonder if there’s more in Brenham and Chappell Hill than here?” Well, thinking led to googling and googling led to planning and before I knew it, I had the whole day planned and my parents and grandfather were coming with us and we were leaving the next day (I told you I was impulsive when it comes to travel).
So if you’re looking to get away and you’ve only got a day or so, here’s my recommendations on those things you must do when traveling to Brenham, TX to see the bluebonnets.
Eat at some tasty restaurants. We tried a new Latin restaurant downtown called Las Americas Latin Cuisine and it was delicious! Empanadas, skirt steak, and pupusas are all on the menu, so you’re sure to find something for everyone’s tastes.
Antique Rose Emporium. This beautiful 8-acre garden has free admission, but it is a retail garden, so if you find a plant you can’t live without, you can purchase it there!
Visit Bluebell Ice Creamery. Give me all the ice cream! No, but really this is a neat place to take the kids (or just yourselves, no judgment). If you’d like to see how the ice cream is made and packaged, the observation deck is open Monday through Friday from 8am-2pm, but the visitor center has much longer hours. They are closed on weekends though, so make sure your trip includes at least one weekday. When at an ice cream shop, get some ice cream! I love the fact that even though they have tons of people flocking in to see the ice cream, they’re aren’t trying to rip people off. A cup of ice cream is just $1, so you can get a fix of your favorite flavor or try something new (Krazy Kookie Dough anyone?). And you can get your very own Bluebell hat for free too!
Washington on the Brazos. You can see where the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico was signed. Plus, there’s nice places to camp, hike, let the kids play on the playground, and stretch your legs a bit after a drive. It’s got free admission and is open daily.
Pet the Mini Horses. The nuns at the Pax Christi Sisters have a retreat center that allows guests to stop in and pet the miniature horses. My kiddos loved running with them along the fence line and we got to see the sisters feed them too. They’re so small and cute!
Lavender Farm. This is such a beautiful and aromatic stop! Make sure to check out the fields of lavender from March-November, on Thursdays through Sundays.
Feed the Alpacas. Peeka Ranch was probably our favorite thing to do on our trip (well, maybe except for the diabetes-laced ice cream stop). The ranch is a short drive out of town and everyone that worked there was so incredibly sweet! This farm has free admission, but don’t forget to support their business by purchasing a little something to take home with you.
Texas Cotton Gin Museum. While you’re in Burton, TX with the alpacas, head down the road a bit and visit the Texas Cotton Gin Museum. The museum is closed on Sundays and charges admission for adults ($6) and students ($4).
Fireman’s Park. If the kids need to stretch their legs and you need some sanity, check out their local parks! Fireman’s Park has a playground, but it also has an antique carousel you can ride on the weekends!
Bluebonnet sightings. In April, you’ll want to attend the official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas in Chappell Hill, Texas where the wildflowers are everywhere! But if you’d like an actual location to see the bluebonnets, check out this website where they update the status of the flowers pretty regularly.
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