9 Stunning Small Towns In Texas
Texas is one of America鈥檚 most famous destinations for being the country's second-largest state in both landmass and population. The state also boasts an outstanding cowboy culture, southern charm, hospitality, and rodeo heritage, having hosted one of the 海角社区's first rodeos in 1883. Hence, a visit to Texas is an immersion into the natural elegance, heartwarming hospitality, rich cultures, and fascinating cuisines that the South is known for. While Austin and Houston often steal the spotlight, the state is staggering, and across its expanse are beautiful small towns to explore. From Alpine, nestled high up the hills and home to the Big Bend, to the gorgeous coast of the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) in Rockport, check out these stunning towns in Texas.
Johnson City
Johnson City, the county seat of Blanco County, is a small town of many interesting draws, including a historic, presidential site. It is home to President Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park, featuring the birthplace, ranch, home, and grave of the 36th president of the US. After exploring this site, stop by the Pedernales Falls State Park to paddle, kayak, canoe, and swim in the Pedernales River. The park also offers other activities like camping, birdwatching, and hiking the Twin Falls Trail, among other trails.
Wildlife lovers can visit the Exotic Resort Zoo to see various animals on a guided safari tour or a drive-thru safari. The zoo is home to over 700 animals, including antelope, gazelles, and red kangaroos. Afterward, relax with delicious wine at some of the town's best wineries, such as Texas Hills Vineyard, Untamed Wine Estate, and Crowson.
Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs is a wine lover's paradise and playground for outdoor junkies. This small town of just below 5,000 people boasts many wineries and breweries for wine, beer, and even vodka-sampling expeditions. Some of these include Family Business Beer Company, Bell Springs Winery, and Dripping Springs Distilling.
Outdoors, the nearby Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of the most fascinating outdoor destinations in Texas. The 232-acre preserve features a picturesque jade green pool formed by a 50-foot waterfall, which serves as a popular swimming hole in summer.
Meanwhile, on the route to the pool, Milton Reimers Ranch Park is another stunning attraction, featuring a canyon along the Pedernales River. Visitors can climb the cliffs to admire the river and descend to swim or fish in the water.
Port Aransas
Port Aransas is the only developed town on Mustang Island, one of the most naturally stunning barrier islands in Texas. This town is a paradise of water-based adventures, and visitors here can start with Port Aransas Beach, which has six miles of delicate sand beach for sunbathing, promenading, picnicking, and swimming or boating. Mustang Island State Park presents an additional five miles of pristine sand beaches to explore while offering other great things like campsites, trails, fishing spots, and wildlife-watching opportunities.
Alternatively, visitors can recline at the IB Magee Beach Park to enjoy picnics with ocean views or make it a long experience by camping. For those who would love to fish, the Horace Caldwell Fishing Pier is a prime spot for fishing in town. Elsewhere, visit the Port Aransas Arts Center to explore creative works of art.
Rockport
Rockport is a pretty, small beach town that visitors will struggle to leave once they arrive, especially on a summer vacation. The town lies on the shores of the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) in Aransas County and hosts all forms of water-based recreational pursuits like boating, fishing, kayaking, and swimming. Experience these activities at the Rockport Beach Park on Aransas Bay, which has an 800-foot fishing pier, playgrounds, picnic areas, and boat ramps. Also, the town is home to the Texas Maritime Museum, featuring various exhibits, including fishing and pirate artifacts, reflecting the maritime history of the Texas coast.
For more history, visitors can tour the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site to see an 1877 mansion built in the Second Empire style. Afterward, explore paintings, jewelry, and photography at the Rockport Center for the Arts. Also check out the nearby Big Tree, which is one of the biggest and oldest live oak trees in the 海角社区, estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old.
Wimberley
Wimberley is undoubtedly one of the most stunning small towns in Texas that punches more than its weight in tourism. The town is a haven for outdoor buffs with many attractions to explore like the nearby Blue Hole Regional Park. This park is a hot spot for picnicking, hiking, and swimming in a blue hole flanked by cypress trees. The hole is fed by the charming waters of Cypress Creek, which is located in a nature preserve with trails winding through trees and along the creek.
Wimberley also hosts the Old Baldy Hiking Trail, a unique path that takes hikers up 218 rock steps and offers 360-degree views of the Wimberley Valley. For history, the Wimberley Valley Museum unveils the town's historic past, including its early settlers. Before leaving, art lovers can stop by Art on 12 to see local, regional, and national artworks.
Alpine
Alpine sits at 4,462 feet above sea level in the heart of the Chihuahua Desert, with Davis Mountain to the north and Chisos Mountain to the south. However, it is remarkable for being the heart of the Big Bend, as it is near the Big Bend National Park. This park protects the largest area of the Chihuahua Desert landscape and ecology in the US, including more than 1,200 species of plants and 75 species of mammals. Hiking is the most popular activity here, and some top trails include the Lost Mine Trail and the South Rim Loop, both of which offer incredible views of the area鈥檚 landscape, like the Chisos Mountains.
Meanwhile, history lovers can visit the Museum of the Big Bend to learn more about the region's natural environment and human history over the last 11,000 years. Art lovers can visit the Curry Studio and Gallery to see various sculptures, paintings, and figurines or explore downtown to see various colorful murals.
Granbury
Granbury is a laid-back and charming destination within Hood County that boasts the perfect mix of historic and natural attractions. Visitors with a thing for history can begin with a tour of the town's historic sites, such as the Hood County Courthouse, built in 1890, and the Granbury Railroad Depot, built in 1914. Furthermore, the town is home to the 1885 Hood County Jail Museum, where tourists can glimpse into jail life in the 19th century and get scared by haunted stories.
For outdoor buffs, the Lake Granbury Marina in town is a beautiful spot to embark on boating and kayaking trips across Lake Granbury. There are more water-related adventures at the Granbury City Beach Park, which offers a swimming beach, a spray park, picnic pavilions, and kayak and tube rentals to explore the lake. In the meantime, visitors can always enjoy thrilling movies at the Cinergy Cinemas, or taste wines at Barons Creek Vineyards Tasting Room.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is a stunning small town in Gillespie County with a rich history and a long list of attractions to match. After its establishment in 1846, this area saw an influx of German settlers and today, the Pioneer Museum offers a more detailed history of those early years. The National Museum of the Pacific War is another interesting establishment in town today, where visitors will get to see Pacific War and WWII artifacts and interactive exhibits, including a Japanese Garden of Peace. Fredricksburg also hosts the Fort Martin Scott State Historic Site, which preserves one of the first frontier Army forts in Texas, which was used from 1848 to 1853.
Furthermore, the town is home to the Old Tunnel State Park, which serves as a seasonal home to more than 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats. The best time to see these insectivores is from May through October, and the park also has picnic sites, a half-mile nature trail, and clear skies for stargazing. Visit this park when in town and then proceed to enjoy delicious wines at some of the best wineries in town, such as Grape Creek Vineyards and Barons Creek Vineyards.
Belton
Belton is a charming small town that serves as a recreational melting pot in Bell County. First off, the town hosts the Leon River, Nolan Creek, and Belton Lake, all of which provide exciting adventures and scenery. While the Heritage Park along the Leon River offers a fishing deck and a massive green space, the Yettie Polk Park on Nolan Creek features walking trails, picnic tables, and sports facilities. However, the mother of all outdoor attractions in this town is Belton Lake, as it is home to several parks, including the 89-acre Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area, which has a gorgeous beach suitable for swimming, a boat launch, and a fishing dock.
The recreation area also has campsites, picnic areas, and trails for biking and hiking. Offering more adventures in Belton is the 260-acre Miller Springs Nature Center on the Leon River, featuring wetlands, forests, and prairie land, and over 10 miles of trails winding through the diverse terrain.
As for history buffs, the Bells County Museum in town is a must-visit as it features interesting exhibits reflecting the area鈥檚 rich natural, cultural, and industrial history, including a Moustache Tea Cup Collection and Paleolithic-era artifacts like lithics.
Visit these stunning small towns in the Lone Star State and discover new paths to happiness. These towns embody authentic southern charm, culture, and hospitality while boasting incredible adventures on the shores of the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) or across the state's diverse landscapes, such as deserts. Moreover, they are the perfect escapes from the noise of big cities like Dallas and Houston, as they offer warmth, serenity, and proximity to undisturbed nature.
