On a typical Saturday evening in the early 1940s, the sidewalks along Center Avenue in the heart of downtown Brownwood filled with folks walking to one of the half-dozen movie theaters to watch films like Casablanca and Paris After Dark. Many of the moviegoers were Army trainees at nearby Camp Bowie. The end of World War II brought much of Brownwood’s activity to a halt as the population of almost 80,000 began its precipitous drop; today the population is around 18,600. And while the town may not return to its 1940s population levels, many new businesses are bringing vibrancy to Brownwood’s downtown streets once again.

It’s no big secret that there are so many cool places to visit in Texas – the list is endless.

After reading about some neat things to do in Brownwood, Texas, we decided to head off for the weekend and see what this small town had to offer. If you’re looking for an easy weekend trip from the DFW area, consider Brownwood. We chose to stay at the Best Western Plus Riata – the location was close to everything we were going to do and the staff was sweet, definitely have no complaints.

As 2020 faded in the rearview mirror (hallelujah!), many of us thought of taking a little getaway (finally!) — someplace uncrowded and slow-paced, where we could recharge in nature, enjoy some good food, see a few sights.

For me, Brownwood came to mind.

I last visited almost 10 years ago, to write a story for this magazine. Revisiting my favorite places and seeing what had changed would be an added bonus to the much-needed respite.

The town remains open and welcomes visitors, but some things are a bit different than before. As with all things these days, this trip required a bit more planning — such as reserving a day pass at the state park and ordering takeout food online at mealtimes.

Two Brownwood restaurants—one of the city’s oldest and one of its newest—have received overwhelming customer support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two establishments, Underwood’s Cafeteria and Teddy’s Brewhaus, each face unique challenges at the moment, but have risen to them to provide care and comfort for their community of nearly 20,000 located about 70 miles southeast of Abilene.

Underwood’s Cafeteria, established in 1946, is well known for its fried chicken, ribs, beef steak, and homemade rolls. But instead of queueing to dine in, customers pick up or drive through to get their fix. Beneath their giant sign depicting a bell-ringing cowboy, customers taking advantage of the take-out service—sometimes driving from as far away as Fort Worth and Wichita Falls— have created an unusual parking lot environment, according to co-owner Paul Underwood. “And, you know, they eat a meal on the back of their pickup truck out front,” Paul says with a chuckle.

During our trip to Brownwood, TX we had the pleasure of staying at the Hideout Golf Club Resort. We loved how close it was to the city and all of the things to do, while also feeling like a retreat with everything we needed on property and views of the golf club from our window. This resort is perfect for someone looking for a golf retreat in the Texas Hill Country or a family wanting to spend time together.

After spending a few days exploring the charming city of Brownwood, Texas I’ve put together a list of what to see, do and eat around the city. It’s the perfect destination for a weekend getaway.

We visited Brownwood, TX as guests of Visit Brownwood for a media tour. All opinions are my own.

Texas seems to have endless small towns with plenty of charm and I recently visited one of these towns. My son and I recently took a 2 hour road trip to explore Brownwood, Texas.

Situated in the Texas hill country, with plenty of beautiful scenery and wide open spaces. It may be a small town, but it has a plethora of dining options and entertainment for all.

My Texas small town tour continues (so many small Texas towns to explore!) in a town called Brownwood. I’m sharing some of the best things to do in Brownwood, Texas, with y’all today. From restaurants to outdoor activities to where to stay, I’ve got lots of info that will help you plan your trip to Brownwood!

A busy work week behind us, my husband and I headed west from Fort Worth late on a Friday afternoon for a relaxing weekend of dining and adventure in Brownwood. “You can eat chicken-fried steak here in Cowtown without driving 150 miles,” our confounded friends at home suggested.

Undeterred, we wheeled onto Center Avenue in the Brown County seat at suppertime, pulling up to The Turtle for what I’d long heard was a revelatory gastronome’s experience. Just as we might in the city, we popped first into The Turtle’s narrow wine-and-cocktail space, the Enoteca, for a pre-dinner adult beverage.

Last week I told you guys all about my family’s trip to Brownwood, Texas – a small town near Lake Brownwood, and today I want to follow that up with more info about our stay at The Hideout Golf Club and Resort. The Hideout is located in Brownwood, and it’s a family-friendly resort option near the lake with cabins, RV hookups, and really good food.

We stayed at The Hideout for free one night as guests of Visit Brownwood. You can see my full Brownwood story here. This is something I wanted to write about additionally, since I found myself searching for this information online and couldn’t find it…so I thought I’d write it up myself!

Located in the heart of Texas, Brownwood is a charming Hill Country community which is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. Its pleasant downtown area, in the midst of revitalization, with a welcoming atmosphere, is as vibrant for its shopping as its dining. Brownwood is a place to explore and pass some time milling about the stores and enjoying the deliciously busy restaurant scene. Not only that, but the city is also being put on the map for the wine and craft beer industry.

Before I got pregnant with Bryce, we traveled often. I can’t tell you how many random trips we would take throughout the year. Quinn and I would book flights and trips on a whim then just explore everything we could. The year I got pregnant was the big year of Zika and my OB suggested I didn’t travel to many of the places we had planned that year so our travels were put to a halt.

Once Bryce was born, we decided that our travels weren’t going to stop because we had a baby. While traveling with a child is much different than traveling with adults, I have discovered traveling in a whole new light. I’m constantly looking for small towns with charm to discover. The amount of hidden gems in small towns around Texas is astonishing. I’m quite bummed I didn’t start discovering them earlier with intention.

Renee Carrathus doesn’t know how her dad came up with the recipe for the sausage she serves at Smitty’s Bar-B-Que in Brownwood. Smith “Smitty” McArthur Jr. traveled widely during his time in the Air Force, going as far as Germany, but that sausage sure tastes like a Chicago hot link. Maybe he picked it up there, I told her. Or maybe he never stopped trying to perfect it—just as he made adjustments to the barbecue sauce in the opaque squeeze bottle and the hot sauce disguised as ketchup that sits next to it on the table.

Brownwood—When driving through the little big town of Brownwood, it’s hard to miss the old cowboy calling people to the table at Underwood’s. Take a few minutes to see what all the fuss is about at this fine establishment that’s been around since 1946. If you do, you’ll be happy you heard the imaginary ringing of that bell!

Just take it from many of their loyal customers.

Brownwood, Texas — a small town two and a half hours Northwest of Austin that is full of hidden gems, incredible people, and tons of delicious eats. I was so excited to finally explore this cute town that I have heard so much about. I got to bring my best friend along and also got to spend some time with friends of mine that are locals, which was a huge blessing. Brownwood was honestly so fun to adventure in and surprised me with its quirkiness, charm, and photographable spots.