We aren’t sure what summer vacation will look like quite yet, but we know one thing: we miss meeting Texas travelers in our great little city. When you are ready to  hit the road this summer, here are five Brownwood must do’s that you can’t miss!

The Pecan Bayou Paddling Trail opened in 2015 and we are excited to hit the waters again this summer! The peaceful 7.2-mile looped waterway is lined with majestic Pecan trees and rife with wildlife. Go big with the full stretch or pick a smaller loop – you can choose from a 3.2-mile upriver look and a 4-mile downriver loop to the dam and back.

“Fishermen and women take note. The bayou teems with large and smallmouth bass, crappie, brim, and catfish. Birdwatchers will gloat to fellow birders over sightings of heron, kingfishers, Eastern bluebirds, woodpeckers, and egrets. Eastern screech, great horned, and barred owls snooze from tree branches. Winter brings its own variety of winged visitors including Northern pintails, mallards, blue-winged teal, nuthatches, creepers, flickers, and sapsuckers.” – Texas Hill Country 

Kayakers can be put in at Fabis Primitive Park or Riverside Park in downtown Brownwood. Directions to Fabis Primitive Park: From Hwy 279 in Brownwood turn north onto FM 2125. Go 1.9 miles and turn right into Fabis Primitive Park. Follow the park road to the Paddling trail sign and boat ramp.

I think that we can all agree that mom and dad deserve a night away. Stash the kids with the grandparents/aunts/uncles and head for some peace, quiet and luxury at our gem of a B&B – the Star of Texas. With walking trails, fire pits, hot tubs, patios and decadent gourmet breakfasts, you shouldn’t even need to leave your room.

Tip: for anyone who had to cancel their nuptials, Star of Texas is a heavenly elopement option. If you are ready to make up for lost time, reach out to Debbie Morelock to see if you can’t tie the knot over an indulgent stay.

Even the most avid cooks among us are ready to hand the pans to someone else. We can’t wait to get back into a dining room that isn’t in our own home! We’ve got some really tasty local eateries in town to indulge in – enough for a meal out for two weeks!

We can’t wait for a salad at Steve’s Market and deli, a Studebaker’s burger, the amazing Underwood’s rolls that keep coming tableside, burritos and coffee from Common Grounds Coffee House & Deli,  the scratch creation of the day at the Turtle, street tacos from Tr3s Leches. All of it! And while we’re out, we’re going to cheers at a proper happy hour over beers at Pioneer Taproom and Teddy’s Brewhaus and vino at Spirit of Texas Winery. Don’t forget dessert – head to Railroad Cafe for an old-fashioned shake!

Photo: Carrie Elle Blog

We all need fresh air and there is no better place to combine adventure, activity and comfort than the Hideout Resort. Take the kids to Lake Brownwood State Park just a few minutes away for some morning hiking, then let them splash away in the pool as Dad plays a round of golf and you indulge in a book. Order room service, watch sunsets, and relish open spaces and Texas hospitality.

“Who doesn’t love a good pool in Texas during the summer months? The pool is a gorgeous, infinity-edge pool that spills into a much smaller pool below. The lower pool was small and pretty shallow, making it a great kid option.” – Carrie Elle Blog 

We are excited for the beautiful Lyric Theatre’s programming as they have announced their full schedule! We are keeping our fingers crossed that we can send the kids to their summer theatre workshop and catch dinner and a show on the scheduled production night.

Kids out of the house for a bit and a night out? Everyone wins! We’ll be looking forward to supporting the theatre with a much-needed night out come fall.