Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.
Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.
Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedApr 10, 2023
How long is the drive from Brenham to Waco?
The direct drive from Brenham to Waco is 128 mi (206 km), and should have a drive time of 2 hrs 31 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Brenham to Waco, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with College Station, as well as top places to visit like DiIorio Farms Partnership/Farmers Market and Pleasant Hill Winery, or the ever-popular Krolczyk Meat Market & Drive.
The top city between Brenham and Waco is College Station. It's less than an hour from Brenham and 2 hours from Waco.
1
College Station
College Station is a city in eastern Texas. It’s home to the main campus of Texas A&M University. On the campus, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 41st U.S. president. It includes a replica Oval Office and a slab of the Berlin Wall. The Sanders Corps of Cadets Center traces the history of the student military group, and exhibits medals and vintage weapons.
Most popular city on this route
4 minutes off the main route, 36% of way to Waco
Best stops along Brenham to Waco drive
The top stops along the way from Brenham to Waco (with short detours) are Dr Pepper Museum, George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and Blue Bell Creameries. Other popular stops include Waco Mammoth National Monument, Cameron Park Zoo, and Kyle Field.
1
Krolczyk Meat Market & Drive
Butcher shop
Shopping
Gas station
Meat products store
Gift & Specialty Shops
I had jerky, dried sausage, and sausage sandwich. It was all really good, and priced well. Friendly people inside. Cool spot to stop
Asdf 1234 — Google review
After 25 years of shopping here, i had the worse experience ever. The employees are very rude and disrespectful of customers and very confrontational. Owner laughed at me when I was expressing my experience. Will never shop here again. Workers do no use gloves to handle meat. GROSS.
Judith Washburn - Bliss Quilter — Google review
What has happened to Krolczyk sausage? It used to be our favorite, but definitely not anymore. The sausage has gotten so dang SALTY.
So we cooked a link tonight, and it's been several months since we last cooked Krolczyk's because it was salty.
We just cook it over open fire and make sausage wraps with tortillas, so there is no salt added on our end.
Ended up with half a link that was not eaten because it's so salty...
Krolczyk, we are highly highly disappointed and will not recommend your sausage to anyone again.
Lisa Abke — Google review
This is my favorite place for sausage and steaks. Employees are very pleasant and helpful. They have all kinds of yummy treats 😋 Do stop for a visit. You won't be disappointed.
DKS — Google review
Best sausage omg I love stopping there going out my way to get their sausage. Great meat market inside. If you love pork homemade sausage that's the place to stop. Been stopping there for years. Y'all get over there n try the fresh meat they sell.
Mary Gibson — Google review
Best dang po-boys in texas. I live in their area and go there almost every day. Chase them po-boys with a cold LoneStar and you'll be full & happy.
Charles Harrell — Google review
We live in Beaumont Texas and go by here several times a year to purchase bacon and sausage**deer sausage for sure. Went by on December 26, 2021 for our usual buying spree. Everything was great as usual except the bacon. Fried some today. Thinner than what we get. Have you changed your bacon supplier? We will still stop here. Good stuff!
John Hubacek — Google review
We have been coming here for years!! Our old neighbors are friends of the area. You just can't beat them. Wonderful people, great food. We've never left without a smile.
Sarah Adair — Google review
First I would like to say the customer is great! I drive from Houston for the smoke turkey jerky (add the smoke jerky to your greens, yummy)
and the fish water catfish, the best! I wish Krolczyk would add smoke turkeys for the Thanksgiving & Xmas. Just wishful thinking.
Love the fresh produce at Dilorio Farms and I love supporting our local farmers! Though they have a wide variety of tasty pickled veggies, I tried my hand of making several jars of homemade bread & butter pickles with the pickling cucumbers I purchased here. Yummy! Wide variety of fruits & veggies. They also have some meats and cheese and nuts, and some plants and decorative items.
Lynn J — Google review
This place has been a must-stop road trip destination for my family since I was a little girl. I loved bringing my son to continue the tradition of picking up tasty treats for the road! The selection of fruit and vegetable chips was seriously impressive!
Rachel Robertson — Google review
Most of the local homegrown farms are delivering their products right here. End of July is perfect. Best watermelon and cantaloupe I've purchased in a long time. Some prices are fair some were a little high. I had to throw away the roasted salted sunflower seeds because they had a funky smell but it was only $2.15 for a large bag. That was the only negative. This is my go-to place for fruits and vegetables. Don't forget to check their freezers for fresh-picked beans and peas that are frozen.
Mark McMahon — Google review
Relaxed atmosphere. I hit them up a few times a week for fresh vegetables. They have dried fruits and nuts as well as some cold items. The front of the building is outdoor plants. Inside they have a selection of house plants, pots and garden decore. All the plants I have bought so far I grew successfully. If you need soil, mulch or firewood you can find that here, too. Small Town business. Buy local
Stacy Griffith — Google review
Interesting place to stop off the main highway. They have some hard to find produce like fresh shelled peas. They also have a large and varied amount of houseplants and planter pots. When I stopped, there were baby turkeys and ducks. 😁😍
Liz Pool — Google review
This is a great, mostly indoor farmer's market that rivals the big produce markets on Airline in Houston. They have a huge variety of everything! From plants to produce to dried beans, rice, snacks, jams & jellies, and more. It is worth a trip to get some great looking produce!
Jason Jones — Google review
Great produce at great prices!! The homemade jams and jellies are incredible. You can get any kind of beans you like here fresh or fresh frozen.
Now is the time to get gigantic pumpkins!!
Robert Reed — Google review
Saturday bought watermelon $11.99
When got home 1 hour away. Cut it open it picked early, sour, 1/4 white instead of red because not developed. Sunday returned to market with pictures. They picked out another watermelon got home .. it just as bad….
David Hold — Google review
Great place. A young man helped me pick out a watermelon. I cut it today and it's amazing! But the ladies restroom is not clean at all.
Kim Evans — Google review
My family has been going to Dilorio's for generations of decades. My grandmother is from Hearne, TX, my grandfather is from Calvert, TX, and we have friends w/property in Navasota. My grandmother started us to going there as a family. Now, it's tradition. And we do not NOT go if we're going to"the country." I ALWAYS buy watermelons there as I'm addicted to this superfruit and the Hempstead area has some of the best in the country. This past weekend, after the family reunion, on the way home, we stopped for these melons, pineapples, mangoes, coconuts, cane syrup, and fig preserves.
There is so much to try, and everything is always fresh and delicious. If you're in the area, make the stop! You will not be disappointed!!
Raquel Eldridge — Google review
Great place to shop locally and get some fresh fruits, vegetables and plants. They have a wide selection of things. The employees were nice and helpful, except for the cashiers, when checking out we got no acknowledgment and were a little busy chatting about personal drama. Some of the bagged good they have like the nuts need to be better rotated and the bathrooms were a little bit on the dirty side and you couldn’t lock them. Besides that it’s an excellent place to get your fruits and vegetables or even some baby chicks and ducks.
The people here are really friendly and the owner is an ex engineer turned wine maker that is able to talk about the process at a very technical level. It isn't that big of a place but it feels relaxed and the wine tasting is like a little adventure, moreso than at most wineries I have been to. They actually had a white port, something I never even considered would be brought into existence and after tasting it I wondered why I've never tasted it before. I am sure there are some wine snobs shaking their fist and rueing the day, but it was very tasty nevertheless. The most interesting part of the tasting is when they presented two of the same wines with the only difference being what they were aged in, either oak or stainless steel. The difference was amazing and we almost got into an argument over which was the superior aging media.
Marcus Lamb — Google review
We had such a lovely time here. We didn't do a winery tour instead we just got a bottle and enjoyed the weather outside. The wine was very nice and we were able to walk among the flowers. It's a dog friendly place. Our dog enjoyed it there too!
G C — Google review
The owners were great and I enjoyed to tour they provided. It was the 25th year anniversary for the winery and we had a great time. They have some really good texas wines.
Justin Yanta — Google review
Best experience for us. We visited this place when they had their grape stamping event going. We enjoyed that event where they offer you picking grapes and later stamping them. It was very new and unique experience for us. Surprisingly once to you are done stamping, you can have them printed on a t-shirts provided by them. It was really a great deal. We also got a chance to taste different types of wine. This a really a nice place to have a fun one day visit.
Janhavi Hirlekar — Google review
Lovely experience, the wine was delicious and the owners really knowledgeable and friendly. It was a nice quick getaway in a this beautiful Winery. Would definitely like to come back
Jocelyn S — Google review
Nice vineyard, the view is great and the service is good.
The con is they don’t sell food unless you buy a Groupon ticket and reserve one week ahead.
Laura Morello — Google review
Awesome people that run the winery. They offer a variety of wines to drink while you enjoy the nice view of the hill country.
Angel Lopez — Google review
Excellent tour, very good wine.
Thomas Immenschuh — Google review
We loved the view from the deck! A very enjoyable place to sit at!
We had an awesome experience. They allow you to watch the factory floor from an observation deck up high (behind windows)…which is super cool. They were packaging all sizes of ice cream from the single serve to the giant ones they must sell to ice cream parlors. The gift shop is great as well. They have typical Blue Bell merchandise like t-shirts & mugs and they have a few extra cute things like baby toys & ball caps. The $1 scoops of ice cream are plenty big and they offer a lot of flavors at any given time. We tried Mocha Almond Fudge, Moo-llennium Crunch, Cookies n Cream, Peachy Peach, and Blackberry Cobbler. So good! It’s a great place to take the kids. They even give out little paper blue bell hats. We would highly recommend this place!
Jon and Amanda Lewis — Google review
Iconic creamery that can't be missed! Pay attention to the hours and what is open on weekends (no museum or observation deck). The creamery closed at 4pm the Saturday we visited. We got there at 3 and had enough time to have ice cream and see the shop. Plenty of seating even though it was very busy. You get your ice cream first and then line up to pay. Credit cards are accepted. It's only $1 for a BIG scoop! They had two flavors that are currently not available in the store, Happy Tracks, and Salted Caramel. The country store was smaller than I expected and is just at one end of the creamery. They have Blue Bell branded merchandise and other things as well. I bought a great ice cream scoop. The creamery is upstairs but there is an elevator straight ahead when you go in the doors.
Christine Larson — Google review
$1 a scoop! So many delicious flavors, some are only available at the creamery. We had a fun time. There’s a little Bluebell history museum too which is cool.
Em O — Google review
We took a day trip to Brenham and, of course, had to stop here. The ice cream shop and gift shop were nice, as well as the observation deck. It was cool to be able to see the ice cream being packed. It was definitely worth 30 minutes to stop and check out.
Jeffrey Hyde — Google review
We had a great visit. You can see all the history and their is an observatory where you can see the production (no pictures there). The gift shop has all kinds of cool unique items. Then the best part is the actual ice cream! It’s only a $1 a scoop! It’s a good size scoop too.
My one suggestion is it would be cool if they did flights where you could choose three flavors for a price. I’ve seen that at other creamery’s. It’s easy to go get another scoop though.
Anyway, great place to visit I recommend!
Andrew Roberts — Google review
Blue Bell Creameries was a delightful experience. I came on a Friday afternoon so it was busy. I didn't find out there was additional parking until after I parked so just a heads up, if you have trouble getting a spot in the front, there's additional parking to the right of the building. I made it in time to see the Conservatory Deck and it was a nice group working dillegently and a few folks interacted with some of us above by waving and playing rock paper scissors. They have a great selection in the gift section and a lovely garden outside in the front. The ice cream was perfect for a hot sunny day. 10/10
Iris Reyes — Google review
Perfect place to come with the kids, there is a small museum about the creamery and how they make ice cream (no fee), and there is an observation deck in the second floor, with windows so you can see the ice cream machines and the packing machines, also the people working there, very interesting! (No fee!) also there is a small store for souvenirs and you can buy ice cream ($1 each) with lot of flavors they don’t offer at the supermarket. Would be a nice place to come for a field trip or any day to get out to the country.
It’s open mon-Friday only. Masks required to enter.
Nat Lamb — Google review
Really fun visit to the plant where Blue Bell ice cream is made. You can only walk upstairs to the Observation Area, but it is nice to see everyone in their sanctuary white scrubs packing boxes and moving cartons around. Small museum in the Visitors Center is worth a stop because there's a five minute movie of production in progress. Ice cream cups sold too, for only $1 scoop. Good road trip stop.
Kyle McCarthy — Google review
I can’t get enough of Blue Bell’s Fun and Enjoy Ice Cream! The quality is top-notch, and the price point of $1 per scoop is incredible. Whether you’re craving something classic or adventurous, they have a flavor for you. Treat yourself to a scoop (or two)!
BadAss Chick — Google review
Went during spring break and it was super packed! But it was still great! The observatory is only open til 2, so get there earlier because finding parking is a good 10-15 minutes depending on if you go during a busy time. Their ice cream scoops are only $1 as well and they give you a good 3 scoops in their cups which is nice. You can also order a platter of all the flavors as well. The workers working the ice cream parlor weren’t the most welcoming and I’m assuming because of how busy it was.
Ariana Longoria — Google review
This place is beautiful! The museum and observation deck were closed because we visited on Saturday, but we still had plenty to enjoy. There was a small but cute baseball museum downstairs and beautiful spacious ice cream parlor and gift shop upstairs. Generous scoops for $1. Highly recommend!
Margaret Willoughby — Google review
Fun family favorite!! I enjoyed this little day frip from San Antonio. We got here at about 10 am and used very clean and large restrooms to refresh us from the drive.
Next was the Visitor Center. There is a history of Blue Bell to explore and read. There were very sweet people behind the Information booth who answered any questions that we had. The history was reading, it would have been nice to have some interactive things where we could push a button for it to read to us. I have a child who is dyslexic child, but I would read it to myself and them summarize for her. We did take some fun pics in the 2 areas where pics were available. We loved the paper hats to wear!
We then took some pictures at the first delivery car and then the cow statue.
After thar, we looked through the baseball coach hall of fame. Finally, we went upstairs to the observation deck!! Watching the workers package my favorite ice cream was super cool! Adding the oreo cookie pieces to the cookies and cream was super cool to see. They were also packing the big packages of strawberry for ice cream shops. The last thing I saw them packing was the single serve cups of chocolate ice cream. Seeing them measuring and packing the cartons was so cool!
We then went shopping in the store and found some really cute items to take home.
My favorite part was getting ice cream! $1.00 per cup. We tried the peach, Krazy Kookie, Lemon Pie, Dr. Pepper float. They were all super tasty and enjoyable.
This will probably be another fun thing to come to just to see what kind of ice cream they have changed the items to. I would love to come back.
Heather Johnson — Google review
After much anticipation, we were finally able to visit the legendary Blue Bell Ice Cream shop in Brenham, Texas. The opportunity to taste several ice cream flavors exactly where they are produced was fantastic. The ice cream was COLD and of course wonderful, and I had a nice time at this location. Particularly given how HOT it was outdoors at the time, it was the ideal relaxing setting.
Smarty Gee'elle — Google review
$1 bowls of ice cream!!!!! So good! They call them scoops but as you can see in the pictures, they are very generous with their “scoops”. We tried all the flavors, so worth the stop. BTW they stopped doing tours but you can still go up steaks and view through windows inside on how they make the ice cream. They also have a museum where it shows the history of the company and facts about the ice cream. We found out new favorite rest stop.
Anthony Escobar — Google review
Omg! All you icecream lovers have to come! It's a super cute! In the visitors center you get to learn the history of Blue Bell. The have photo ops for the kids. From there we walked to another building. When you enter they have a baseball memorabilia. You can take the elevator or stairs to the 2nd floor where you enter the ice cream parlor. You choose the ice-cream you want and they charge $1 per scoop with no tax. I tried the peachy peach and the mango. Super delicious! On the side of the parlor they have a gift shop. Really neat and cute items! Further along the hallway they have the observation deck. From the deck you get to watch the employees make and package ice-cream. The observation deck is open M-F 8am-2pm. The rest is open M-F 8am-5pm. There are absolutely no pictures or videos on the observation deck. Please be respectful. There is an employee there keeping an eye and answers questions. The outside they have a free library inside a truck, you give a book and take a book. They also have bronze statue of the cow and girl blue bell logo along with the first refrigerated truck. There is no fee to enter the facility. Overall it was a nice experience. If you are in the area I highly recommend you stop by and check it out.
Crystal Valdez — Google review
Fun few hours. Museum and observatory are free. Then finish up at the creamy with dollar scoops that are a good size!
Neal Steinhour — Google review
A step back into time. Loved the experience with my family. We are from Oregon, so it's nothing like the Tillamook cheese factory , but it's great in its own ways. The tours were not open when we went on Monday of spring break 2024. But you can't beat $1 scoops! Good size scoops, too. I made the mistake of getting 3 for myself. But for my family of 6, we spent a total of $8 and gas to have a great hour or so. The history is pretty cool, too. The gift shop is pricey but to be expected, with scoops being so cheap. They had I formation on the local mural scavenger hunt in the old Town town which we were looking for info online and didn't find but here it was in the visitor center. So we will be doing that on another day. Highly recommend.
Tiffany Heffelfinger — Google review
Absolutely must stop by if your from Texas and love blue bell. This place had so much history and things to look at I was impressed! They even have 1 dollar ice cream scoops and honestly they give you way more than! 10 out of 10 I’ll be back again.
Michael Rangel — Google review
So I first went to Blue Bell, bout 30 years ago as a young lad. Came back today and it was a fun little trip to the past.
Dollar scoops of Ice cream can't be beat.
But I felt like there was more to do when i was younger.
If you take your time, maybe kill an hour here. Otherwise 25/30 minutes to do everything.
Ash Rudel — Google review
Blue Bell is one of the crown jewels of Texas and coming here with my family was an absolute delight. At the Visitors Center we learned about the company's origins and history. The we went to the Observation Deck and Ice Cream Parlor. It was great to be able to take a glimpse at the process of how Blue Bell makes ice cream for us. At the Ice Cream Parlor you can't beat the price of a $1 a scoop (it's a cup-full of ice cream which I thought was great for the price) plus they let you sample flavors if you need to do so to decide what you're getting. I highly recommend the Lemon Pie flavor 😋 👌. Overall, we spent about an hour and a half there and had a great time. Definitely arrive as early as you can to beat the crowds.
Rosie Arcelay — Google review
Great place to visit! You can watch them package ice cream and have a scoop (or 2, or 3) for $1 each. Blue Bell!
Lawrence Aleman — Google review
Super fun place. Ice cream is $1 per scoop and you can watch them make the ice cream. Two different "museum" type of areas. Not open on weekends. would highly recommend if you like ice cream
Museum telling the story of the independent Republic of Texas, which existed 1836–1846.
Truly one of the best historical experiences of my life. I left another review on my experience at Washington on the Brazos Visitor Center page, so this review will be dedicated to the Star of the Republic Museum. If you come here you have to experience the entire grounds.
The museum details the entire history of Texas with excellent information and presentations. I was heavily impressed by how state of the art this museum is. I soaked up so much information here and loved the entire two stories of history. This museum is perfect for all ages, seasoned historians, and anyone who wants to learn more about Texas History and life during the times.
I highly recommend adding Star of the Republic Museum as well as Washington on the Brazos to everyone's bucket list of history.
Andrew Carlisle — Google review
Fantastic experience. Learned a lot about the history of Texas Independence at Washington on the
Brazos River. Beautiful and informative with interactive areas and even live animals. It's a must visit.
Silvia L — Google review
We ran out of time but I am going back. Great staff very friendly. Great place to take in some history and a walk
Wick — Google review
Happy Birthday Texas 2023!
We arrived at the park around 10:00 am so that we could see the parade. Parking was well organized and handicap parking was available.
The weather was perfect for the outdoor event. Food trucks and craft vendors offered a variety of options.
My main objective for this trip was to see and photograph the beautiful murals created by artist and native texan, Russell Cushman. According to some information I have received, it is very likely that the murals will be removed from the museum when the museum is upgraded in a future $34 million remodel.
What a shame! If you have not seen the murals be sure to visit before the remodel begins. These murals were lovingly created by the artist, stroke by stroke, and beautifully reflect the Washington area of days gone by.
Cindy Malota — Google review
Amazing place to go. There is a log of great history. They also have a lot of great historical art. This museum is very kid friendly and has a giant child playing area. I decided to build a cabin! Very fun and informative. There is also a good movie the plays every 45 min or so. The staff are very kind and always help if you have a question. Very great place to go and learn about Texas.
Katelyn Meredith — Google review
Every Texan should make the pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Republic. As with the US, the founding fathers of Texas put their lives on the line when they declared Independence from Mexico. And you can see where it all went down right here!
A fantastic experience, a wonderful museum and a beautiful park. Highly recommended!
John Pozadzides (John P.) — Google review
We've been here a few times and it's always fun. Seeing old stuff and how people used to do things back in the day. It's always funny when you read on how terrible their medical stuff was. There's tons of stuff to learn and see in the little museum! There's also a little scavenger hunt you can do which is a great thing for any age. There are bathrooms inside the building and you can also get a free postcard at the front and a stamp book for historical places in Texas. Again definitely a nice little calm outing for the family are just yourself.
Coushatta Rene — Google review
Great jewel to visit. So much significant Texas history. A must visit. The staff are super friendly and the tickets are dirt cheap. We will go definitely go back again.
Techs — Google review
Great place to learn some Texas history. The artifacts and displays here are of various varieties. This place is great for families and couples, there was even a school trip here when we went. The artwork is beautiful and the movie was interesting. Would recommend to friends!!
Washington-on-the-Brazos is an unincorporated community along the Brazos River in Washington County, Texas, United States. The town is best known for being the site of the Convention of 1836 and the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Wikipedia.
4.5
(171)
Texas 77880, USA
7
Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site
Museum
Sights & Landmarks
Architectural Buildings
Historic Sites
Chandlor (our guide/interpreter) was outstanding and the place was clean and very cool. Lots of historic artifacts and interesting fun facts.
Mallory Jones — Google review
Beautiful historic site. You can tour the place on your own or take a guided tour. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. You can give a donation for your tour. There's also a stagecoach to take pictures on.
Carolyn Lamb — Google review
Fanthorp Inn is only open on the weekends. You can tour the Inn as well as a stagecoach. The historical interpreter is very knowledgeable and told great stories on the history of the inn.
Merideth Oliver — Google review
This place is a pretty cool visit, while brief, it is what you make of it. We were lucky enough to get the nickle tour from a period dressed gentlemen who was very nice and seemed to enjoy his job. While the place is free to visit, they do ask for donations, especially for the tour. The stories of its history are interesting and delightful to hear. Use your imagination and you'll enjoy yourself. The stagecoach was pretty neat to see and sit in. We were told by a local that they give horse drawn wagon rides but since we were there not to long before it was closing down for the evening, we only got to sit inside and take pictures. Still, we enjoyed ourselves. We also walked across the street to pay our respects in the small cemetery.
joe blow — Google review
This place is wonderful and I am so looking forward to upcoming events each month, especially the day after Thanksgiving.
Glenn Schiller — Google review
Amazing place, amazing people, fantastic way to learn about history while enjoying the outdoors! This is a hidden gem! Don't forget to ride the Stagecoach!!!
Niki Henson — Google review
Worth the drive. The gentleman who works is great. He told us some wonderful stories and gave us some history. He made you feel like you there when the history was made. Amazing place and wonderful history. Greatly appreciated the tour.
Alicia Turner — Google review
Chandler was our educator for the day, and was extremely informative. It is a beautiful site and so rich with history. I will definitely be going back❣️
Seasonal amusement park recreating a Texas Christmas village with hayrides, light displays & events.
We visited the amazing Christmas experience for the 1st time on Friday 12/16/22. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the bathrooms, given the large crowds. The detail and thoughtfulness that went in to every light display and activity is greatly appreciated. So much to do for the children! Good food with lots of options. We’ll be back next year!
Leslie Carrigan — Google review
Great time with the family. Love this place for an interesting evening.
Negative point: They did not stick to the parking time frame for people so it got over booked and we had to not only wait, but they tried to put us all the way far away. Fortunately after refusing and waiting 15 minutes, they were able to find a semi-suitable solution.
Positives: lots of cool things for the kids to do with the parents. Nice for the hay ride. Don’t imagine if we didn’t have preferred status for the lines.
Frank Luongo — Google review
We had an enjoyable time in Santa's Wonderland some years back. I took pictures and now I have the chance to upload them here in Google Maps to get people excited to add in their Christmas visits this amazing sight with gazillion of lights. Just save up for the pricey cost but once you're there, it'll be worth it. Well, that's how we felt when we were there. Hopefully you too will have happy, enjoyable time there come December.
Leah Socorro Cayanan — Google review
Beautiful place, the whole family will love it. Go with time because the parking line is big as the entrance and for some attractions as the ride of the light. First time and I will start coming every year. Live music. The souvenir store are beautiful. The play are for the kids are great too. Great, you have to go to enjoy with the family. You will make beautiful memories.
Jenny V — Google review
Great Magical Experience! It was my family's first trip to Santa's Wonderland, and everything was wonderful! The crowds we not a big issue since we came early in in the season I believe. Lines were very reasonable, except the Hay ride, which we purchase a express pass for, and I highly recommend you do cause the line for that can be extremely long. The kids loved the snow play areas and of course the snow tubes. Overall the experience was wonderful and we can't wait to come back next year. If you can come early on in the season or during the week, I am sure your experience will be great as well. We parked at Oak Post Mall and took the shuttle from there, which made it very easy to get in and out of the park. I suggest getting there right at opening as well so you can enjoy everything because this place is pretty big.
Daniel Garcia — Google review
Prices were reasonable. This place gets packed quickly. Come early for parking and checking in. They do bag searches and use metal detectors. Lines get long. Wear warm and comfortable clothing because you will walk alot. We went down the tube shoot and played with snow. We also took a picture in the snow globe. There's so much to do! You can walk to see lights, go ice skating or hang out at the petting zoo.
Lynda Ramos — Google review
What an outstanding place to visit! Loved every moment with my family here. I truly recommend buying your tickets way in advance to take advantage of the reduced pricing. Cost of food wasn't too bad. I do recommend going straight to the haystack ride first, since this line can get quite long. A lot of fun things to do with the kids and family. If you are in the proximity of College Station, I recommend this place 1000% during the holiday season.
Ashley Taylor — Google review
This is a great place to bring the family to enjoy the food, hay ride, music, and the lights. You can also shop in a few stores and pick yourself up a little something or for someone you care about. You can ride a tube down a small snowy hill. We definitely enjoyed our time there and will go back again.
Boston M — Google review
Super magical. Especially when the sun goes down. Plenty of sights to see and several things to do. Real snow, ice skating, trains ride, smores over fire, a couple big bounce house, horse ride, sleigh right to see the light park, meet Santa, write letters, food and more! GET THERE EARLY! Parking can get crazy on busy days and later in the day. This will not be a cheap trip! If you want to enjoy everything then it's going be very expensive for the average family. Some things are free, but most are not! Make sure you have sturdy wheels on the wagon for kids. Many gravel roads including parking lot. Food court can get crazy crowded. Overall great experience. Summer sale happening soon. I'm getting tickets early to save a few $$
Darius Kimble — Google review
Very busy. We reserved our ice skating time slot which was helpful. We ended up paying for the fast pass for the hay ride which reduced the wait time to about 15-20 minutes. That was a smart move because the line was horrendous. The hay ride was really cool, they did a great job. We waited about 50 minutes for the snow tubing for a 15-second ride. Not really worth it. We didn't get to do most things because we spent so much time in line. It was cold once the sun went down so bundle up!
Lanette Ferguson — Google review
Excellent in every single area! There is so much fun for the entire family. So, so much to see and do, and ea. The Christmas lights and the entire area are gorgeous with constant Christmas music. The site is enormous. The price is a little high and the food a little expensive too. It’s better to arrive 1 hour before opening to enjoy everything. Going to the Hayride first is better so there are no lines. There are some free and paid photo opportunities for the family. The shops are well stocked so there’s something for everybody. There’s also a big fire pit where you can sit and feel cozy. Overall, the place is a great place for the entire family, the only thing, is it’s a little too much walking for grandparents.
Francisco Lujan — Google review
Great outing with the family 👪 great lights. looks like they've been adding on every year. and the food at the Cajun place (we had shrimp and chicken pasta) was out of this world!!! It's just getting a bit pricey. we would not have come this year if it weren't for the free passes and food vouchers; which is sad because we have come from 6 years (covid year excluded) 4 stars for price
NextLevelKatyTx — Google review
Pretty amazing! My family and I had a blast. The food and live music were great. I do suggest to buy parking reservations online for the two on site parking lots because we bought the blitzen and had a hard time finding the car.
Natasha Recio — Google review
2022! We can’t wait to go again this year. Everything was fun! I do recommend eating before hand. We were starving and the food lines were LONG! Also bundle up and bring snow gloves for the snow pit.
natalie Ortiz — Google review
Santa Wonderland truly exceeded our expectations! From the enchanting music band to the dazzling lights and elaborate Christmas decorations, every moment was filled with joy and festive cheer. The attention to detail in the lighting setup was impressive, creating a magical atmosphere that captivated both young and old. The variety of activities provided a delightful experience for everyone, making it a perfect destination for families and friends alike. Our visit was nothing short of spectacular, and we left with hearts full of holiday spirit. Santa Wonderland deserves a resounding 5 stars for delivering an unforgettable Christmas celebration!
Melad Abedalla — Google review
Awesome!!! Excellent in all areas!! So much fun. There is such much to see, do, eat and drink. I felt emerged in Christmas time. The Christmas lights and displays are gorgeous and plentiful along with constant Christmas songs. This place is huge. The food is expensive so I recommend to eat prior to arrival. Plan to arrive 1 1/2 hour before opening. Register early for the first parking slots. Parking fills up fast. We went on a low attendance night before the school Christmas break so the crowd was small and we saved money too. Go to the Hayride first. The line get very long quickly or buy an express pass. The snow tubing is close to the Hayride. Both are very fun for all ages. There are a lot of free and paying photo opportunities. I loved visiting the shops and walking trails. Santa's Village is grand. The fire pit was cozy. The snow and ice skating area is fun and beautiful. There is such more that can be said but this is the short version . This place is a great place for all ages including dates. Be prepared for enjoyment overload!!!
Daphne S — Google review
Very nice very organized and well managed!
Starting with parking lots. There are three options VIP right by the entrance. Prancer for oversized vehicles. And Blitzen for all types of vehicles and little bit walking distance from the entrance.
All parking can be purchased ahead of time online and it’s separate from the tickets.
Free parking about 10 miles away by the mall and there is a free shuttle.
Design was perfect and many activities is there
Nice huge dining area but the food was terrible. Hope we can see some improvement on next year.
Place was very clean. Beautiful lights and nice live music.
Definitely a must see
drakkarama — Google review
Beautiful place to take kids. My kids enjoyed a lot. We arrived at 2:30 but the line was so long just a 3 minute walk took 1.45 hours wait.. since all the express passes were booked we had no choice.. try to get express passes if you don’t want to wait.. this place is very crowded but everything was great. A lot of free stuff for kids are available to do which is great. We ate pepperoni Pizza and it had just 2-3 pieces of pepperoni and super thick pizza, such a waste of money and time..i should have ordered something else at the entrance where they have many varieties. I will visit this place again next year and every year for sure. We were able to leave at 7 pm.. which is good. It’s very cold in the area so get jackets and boots. We were literally freezing. Thank you
Jenie P — Google review
It would be five stars if not for the food and service. The atmosphere is always so fun and is a Christmas tradition for a lot of people. But the employees are hit a miss. Most are young kids who have no concept of customer service and can be very rude. The food is mediocre at best. Most of the food is overpriced and not worth it. The food quality is very bad for the price you pay. We tend to eat before and after instead of eating there. Their hot chocolate also needs work. For a Christmas themed place, you would expect great hot chocolate. It is also mediocre at best. But the Christmas lights and activities are what keep us coming back. We have just learned to overlook the food and service.
Joseph Ramirez — Google review
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Santa's Wonderland Amusement Park, and I must say, it was an absolutely amazing experience! From the moment I stepped foot into the park, I was transported into a magical winter wonderland that truly captured the spirit of the holiday season.
The park was beautifully decorated with twinkling lights, festive ornaments, and larger-than-life Christmas displays. Everywhere I looked, there were enchanting sights and sounds that filled me with joy.
The staff at Santa's Wonderland were exceptional. They were friendly, helpful, and went above and beyond to ensure that every guest had a fantastic time. From assisting with ride safety to providing information about the park's attractions, they were always ready to lend a helping hand. Their dedication and enthusiasm added to the overall positive experience.
Overall, I cannot recommend Santa's Wonderland enough. It is a truly magical place that captures the essence of the holiday season. The park offers a wide range of attractions, friendly staff, and a festive atmosphere that will leave you with cherished memories. Whether you're young or young at heart, a visit to Santa's Wonderland is an experience that should not be missed.
Lauren Hartman — Google review
What a magical winter wonderland!!! We had an amazing experience at Santa's Wonderland! There were a few things I wish we would have done different such as: pay extra for Rudolph VIP parking which is worth the $10.00 more than the $19.99 Blitzen parking. The Rudolph parking is right at the gate and is well worth the $29.95! Trust me!! I also wish we would have splurged and paid for the extra "skip pass" which lets you skip the lines to ride the hayride around the park. We had to wait well over an hour in line to get a chance to ride the hayride which is "complimentary" with your ticket. However, those that purchase the add on hay ride ticket get to skip the long lines and ride whenever they want! Definitely worth the money. The food is rather pricey but good and the gift shops are pricey but have great gifts especially for friends and family at Christmas time! Overall, it was a beautiful and magical night which exceeded our expectations. Can't wait to go back!
Amanda Kay Whiddon — Google review
Amazing better than Disney World! Santa was great. The line wasn’t too long when we got there when they opened. We had waited till the last minute so we went on the 23rd. The kids had a blast. The snow was fun to play in however, it did get compacted like ice from the children all running up and down. Just had to be careful that no one slipped. The children enjoyed the rides and the lights. Please get a hayride fast pass the line without it is our long and not worth standing there especially with kids forever. The live band was amazing and my kids had fun dancing. Warning they send everyone at the end of the night through the gift shop. If you and your husband and children get separated, your husband is going to buy your children a stuffed animal. Lol great fun for the whole family. We enjoyed our dinner in the big red barn while we watched elf. The seasonal beer that they carry on draft was amazing also highly recommended. You’ve got to go. We will be back next year earlier but back.
20 miles of hiking, biking & horse trails in rolling terrain with wildflowers, plus canoeing & more.
Very beautiful place for a hike. Calm water sounds and shady areas with trees and grass. Not a lot of people when I went and it was extremely peaceful. The lady at the front was also extremely helpful with explaining the map and looks the different hiking locations. Will definitely be back.
Katelyn Meredith — Google review
Great weekend park for RV and boat owners. Camping site pads could use a refresh as they are crumbly and quite uneven. Bathrooms at RV campsite loops are getting a little dated but are clean. The bathrooms around the lake are hit or miss. It seems that some are under the responsibility of the state park and some not. The ones that aren't are positively disgusting. The lake is beautiful though with tons of places to hike, swim, or drive and walk. Visiting the dam is fun too but could be a drive depending on where you are staying. Take the stairs down the dam and you can get an up close look at the water discharge or stake a place to fish. I go here often and will continue to for a long time. Be advised there is currently only one place to get boat fuel on the lake, plan accordingly.
Zachary Roberts — Google review
We camp here for my daughter's birthday every September. It's WONDERFUL! The kids have a long shallow lake to play in, and we kayak and spend all day eating and playing in the water. We have a campsite we love that is in the shade and has its own path to the water. I'd say WEAR LIFE JACKETS though, because the kids have got their feet stuck in the clay in the lake and that makes me a little anxious....
Catherine Bleish Bonandin — Google review
This beautiful State Park is nestled along Lake Somerville.
The day use area side of the park is filled with the blooming blue bonetts and other wildflowers at the springtime season.
Coming here on the weekdays is so serene. All I can hear is the sound of chirping birds and the breeze of air coming from the lake.
I also saw a few people go fishing. I guess the catch must have been good around this area of the lake.
The State Park staff are friendly, welcoming, and helpful. The park itself is neat and beautiful with well maintained restroom facilities and picnic tables. There are plenty of parking spaces too.
Nen — Google review
Lake Sommerville is a beautiful place to spend a whole day swimming, fishing or hiking. Parking is very accessible and near the water. The public restrooms are clean. It's even nice to just stop for a few minutes for some fresh air and beautiful scenery when limited in time. We haven't camped there, but we've driven through and there are a number of great campsites with beautiful views.
Amy Milliron — Google review
Friendly staff, though only one computer was open, making the wait kind of lengthy. The headquarters has some drinks and snacks along with other supplies. The trails are very easy to navigate. The shoreline is very long. We spotted a bald eagle on one of our hikes. There are lots of great geocaches maintained by the park. Campsites are of good size with good privacy. The restrooms have showers. Lots of camping loops to choose from.
Steph Long — Google review
I love this park so much!
This big park consists of six smaller parks.
We stayed in the one on the lake.
Trails are really well maintained. Fishing/boating area was also wide spread and there were many people enjoying water activities.
Each campsite was spacious and I couldn't really see any other campers from our site.
It gets cooler at night since it's on the waterside. You might want an extra blanket for that.
I. Hiromi — Google review
First of all, it was a great experience.
1. We arrived there at 2:30pm and it was a line for entrance. We said that we are here for camping and she directed us to the headquarter which is across the road.
2. Headquarter was a huge place when you compare to the other state parks entrance. They have ice cream and other things.
3. We asked for junior ranger booklets and backpacks for exploring for our kids. They provide us everything we asked for. They were super nice.
4. We camped at post oak camping area and it was great. We did our reservations online and have state park card so it is very convenient. Very clean environment and organized camping area. This state park has bigger camping areas than other state parks which is very cool.
5. Our Camping site was near the lake and had a great view. This state park will give you more privacy than other. Your cars will cover for you in front and everything will be on the back. I loved it.
6. Restrooms are clean and no bad smell. You do not see flies going around or flies on the floor. Everything is well organized and clean. They have paper towels.
7. If you want to swim, there is a public picnic place and family friendly. People come with their families and swim with their kids. Water is muddy but it is all lakes so it is fine.
8. Mosquitoes are no joke. Bring what works for you best because they do not die easily and they are huge! Some of them are small but very big groups. Their bite will itch and burn. We had a tent and it was really hot during afternoon so make sure bring something that you can shade under it.
9. You can do fishing anywhere and they have a kids fishing pond.
10. It has great trail to do morning walk and enjoy birds singing.
Overall happy to find this place and will go again. Love it!
Hatice Kacer — Google review
Sound of the lake water is so soothing!
Amazing place for camping and roaming around!
Most of the parkings are free.
Campers need a pass.
Overall it’s a place worth visiting with your near and dear one's!
Neeloy Paul — Google review
We have been multiple times and really enjoy the park. Clean bathrooms, nice variety of tent and rv sites. The most recent spot was on the water. Very nice!
Tom Herald — Google review
Having stayed at many Texas state parks I can confidently say I know what to expect from them.
What this park offers is camping right alongside the lake that offers stunning sunrise views. There are a lot of bike-friendly trails that circle a lake with nice foliage.
The only downside during our trip was the lake and the restrooms/showers. The lake level was extremely low, so much that the boat ramp was closed. The permanent restrooms are under construction, but they do have temporary ones which I found to be better than other parks. The park website mentioned this at least.
Overall a nice park to stay at.
Raku Ichijo — Google review
Spent the day at the Birch Creek Unit of Lake Somerville State Park and was VERY pleased! I recommend coming here late March and early April to enjoy the Bluebonnets. A VERY clean and well done State Park.
jason's_tx_adventures — Google review
My family and I have come here for a couple of times now and have fallen in love, March and April are our favorite times as temperatures are perfect and wild flowers are in full bloom. The facilities are great and the trails are not difficult to navigate, I can’t wait to come back more often.
Christopher Roza — Google review
We drove to newman bottom and parked there to walk the trail to and around flag pond. Gravel roads, plenty of parking there but it was less of a trail and more of an old service road for trucks. The good was that its very quiet there with many deer around. The bad was the "trails" are saturated with sticker burr plants/weeds, the water level of the lake was way down, and the pond was almost mud. It cost 5$ per adult for day hiking, but if you are looking to walk your dogs, i would not recommend it unless stickers don't bother you or your dogs.
jody r — Google review
One of our favorite state parks! Even on busier days, this place is serene and relaxing. Decent hiking, great for swimming and fishing. Lots of beautiful flora and we usually see a deer or two!
Kelley Adair — Google review
Enjoyed our visit to Lake Somerville SP. The park was clean and the area was well-maintained. We hot tent camped in our inflatable tent and hot stove during a very cold week after Christmas. We definitely will make plans to return to such a beautiful park.
Latasha Simmons — Google review
Great job on keeping it looking good.
Beautiful area too walk trails and just enjoy nature.
Park staff are friendly and cruise around checking on everyone.
Took fifth wheel camper
Didn’t have a chance to see restrooms but wife said they were kept in good shape
E Lloyd — Google review
Have new asphalt. Nice spot by the lake. Lots of trails if you cam do them. Lots of birds. Friendly rangers. Not a lot in the local rural area. Phone worked on data. Some areas were being renovated.
Robin Spalding — Google review
I did not know this until last week when we came for the first time, but LSSP is actually two state parks on the same lake. We went to Birch Creek first last week, then came back today and did Nails Creek AND Birch Creek again to compare them fully. They’re only 3 miles apart but it takes about 30 minutes with all the backroads. Was a beautiful drive and the weather was perfect. As a state park memorabilia collector, I took pictures of the souvenir selection in the ranger station because I can never find this in reviews when I look for it. Not a terribly long drive up from Houston. We will be back
Morgan Whitney — Google review
Stayed during spring break. Bathrooms in the day-use area are more updated and the the showers have better water pressure. The bathrooms/showers in our camp area, #40-50, are single unisex. Views are spectacular and lots of beautiful hiking.
Antonia Cienega — Google review
Went when it was cool out, so beautiful! Great trails for anyone. Obviously didn't go swimming but can't wait to go when we can. Large open beach areas. Kids loved picking through the thousands of rocks and shells.
My husband and I stopped here in the way home from Austin. We saw it in our way there and saw the sign about the fudge and definitely knew we were stopping on the way back. This is the cutest shop I've seen in a good while. Had so many things to look at..bought a tiffany style lamp but definitely going back for that gorgeous mirror! The fudge. THE fudge is insanely delicious! Especially the peanut butter! Loved this place..customer for life.
summer stevenson — Google review
I love this store. The customer service is top notch. I purchased a vintage dress for my daughter for her prom. The dress was beautiful it fit her like a glove. I also purchased a dress for my other daughter. That dress was stunning, but could not be altered due to all the beading. I asked if I could return it and the answer was absolutely. The owners gave me a full store credit. There is not a store around that allows you to return a prom dress. A Blast from the Past did. Thanks so much.
Diane Payne — Google review
We stop every time we go through Giddings. We always find something amazing and new. It's fun and filled with everything from beautiful vintage look items to fairy villages. You'll find
something fun I am sure. If nothing else get some fudge!
Aurora Wold-Krogmann — Google review
Wonderful owners! Amazing homemade praline /treats. Blast from the Past is great STOP & SHOP hidden place. Great finds for both MEN & WOMEN. You can definitely spend an hour just looking.
Jay Guerrero — Google review
I discovered Blast From the Past this weekend while attending a Steampunk/Wild West event nearby. I wouldn't have gone in to a chotchkie shop but for word of mouth endorsement by a friend. Truth is this place has hidden gems all over the place! Classy vintage style hats for ladies and men, cute baby things, unusual gifts, and home made fudge?! I bought three pounds. Also a real REO Speedwagon! What is that? Go and see.
There's still a lot of useless chotchkies, but who am I to judge?
Thax — Google review
Really cool place! the ambiance was amazing but the homemade fudge put this place over the top...cannot wait to go back
Bobby “ICU” Scott — Google review
it was a great experience to go inside, fantastic decoration, sweet customer service, a delicious fudges.
esmeralda fernandez — Google review
Lots of neat stuff vintage style clothing even steampunk
Exhibits documenting the 41st president's life, such as a replica of the White House press room.
The George H.W. Bush Presidential museum was a nice diversion to our visit in San Antonio. The museum was not overly crowded during our visit. All staff encountered were friendly, overly accommodating and informative. There were a number of newly added exhibits, so the museum is being well maintained. There are changes due to COVID-19, wearing a mask is required while indoors. The outdoor grounds are exceptional and well maintained and manicured. During our visit we spent around 3 hours inside the museum and touring the grounds. Our visit to the museum was well worth the time. It was great to relive some history and learn a few new things. Hope you enjoy your visit as much as we did.😊
Billy Draper — Google review
The library contains over a million photos walking you through the impressive layout of the 41st presidents' private and public careers. You are immediately greeted with a warm welcome, and the gift shop is awkwardly small. However, the selection has great choices. It will be enjoyed by all ages and a top attraction personally. I forgot to visit the documentary theater. Upstairs floor are for research, archives by appointment only. The visit ended with respects at the burial site located outside past the pond area. You don't need a ticket to explore the outer grounds and fishing allowed. June 2024, the locomotive exhibit will open with the new building right of the entrance. I'm excited to revisit for the red ribbon opening.
Rock C INF — Google review
Beautiful museum filled with an overwhelming number of artifacts and information. My group spent 3+ hours here but it would take weeks to go through and read every individual item. Truly eye opening experience to see someone’s entire life/legacy in one building. All employees were friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to give mini tours to explain certain exhibit areas.
George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush accomplished so much more than you may think. Despite being a college student and many people my age don’t find these types of things that interesting, I found it fascinating with how in-depth everything was displayed.
Braedyn — Google review
I think I've tried to visit about five times and I finally got in! Various closings and me not looking at their hours conspired against me. But on this beautiful spring day, I was able to visit.
The inside and the outside gardens are fantastic. I think the gardens are now one of my favorites in Texas. The place is full of memorabilia and lays it out in a very interesting way. Often I go to a museum or other place and wonder why I felt like I could do better just looking at things online. In this case, it was much deeper, richer and more meaningful than most on-line, museums by prose that I have been to. I think I got a better understanding of George W and Barbara Bush and enjoyed the visit.
Whether you are a rabid Bush fan or merely a passing history buff, this is definitely going to have something for you.
Grouse K9 — Google review
What an amazing tribute to a great man! I really enjoyed learning about George and his family! Great customer service and it’s a beautiful library!! What a beautiful love story!
Mindy Martindale — Google review
Great place to reminisce about the accomplishments and history of President George Bush Senior. The landscaping here is so gorgeous. We also enjoyed the Barbara Rose Garden and Reflection Pond in the back. The museum itself requires tickets purchased online in advance, and no, you cannot just show up and buy tickets at the gate! You can also sit in the Oval Office chair and experience what it feels like to be President for one minute!
Hanson Tran — Google review
Security (metal detector) check at entrance. The only bathroom on the right after entrance. Theater next to the bathroom. The documentary movie does not require ticket, starting every 30 mins (duration 22 mins). Gallery may change overtime. Lots of great historical photographs. Great WWII items on display.
Pin Wu — Google review
Visiting A president's library and museum should be on everyone's do list. There is so much history and insights to be learned. You are carried through George's life from school, meeting Barbara, war, politics, diplomacy, CIA, presidency, to retirement.
There is not enough room to share the experience.
I definitely recommend.
Wendell Hickerson — Google review
Very interesting and enjoyable museum. The staff was friendly and very helpful.
Timothy Smith — Google review
Beautiful museum and library that describes the life of George H W Bush right from his younger days to becoming President. The man played so many roles in life so there is a ton of memorabilia and history associated. The movie at the entrance is a must and describes how Bush 41 was a genuine soul and had endearing ideals. Very inspiring to learn more about him. His burial site is also nearby. Highly recommend visiting this place.
gradcjd16 — Google review
Loved the history here! Bring your kids! It's great for a day trip for homeschoolers, there's a no cost orientation video that gives a quick brief over his life. The museum area is great and there's SO MUCH! We spent almost 2 hrs here and there's several interactive areas for the kids. I had fun too! It's a very nice campus and all of the workers are so friendly and full of knowledge!
Hillary England — Google review
The George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library and Museum is a MUST SEE! A quite nostalgic journey through the life of "41" as his life's events entwined with those of my own family... He was a true public servant and a testimony to the Greatest Generation!
Joel Davenport — Google review
Fine tribute to our former President. Extensive memorabilia and history provided so you can appreciate the man and his life. Lots of parking available, easy access for mobility challenged. The facility has an informative movie as an introduction and then many exhibits on his legacy. Pleasant gift shop is available. Outdoor park area has impressive sculptures and grounds.
Mark Otte — Google review
4.7
(411)
•
5.0
(1266)
1000 George Bush Dr W, College Station, TX 77845, USA
This was my first time to a division one college football stadium and no better place to start than at the home of the Texas A&M Aggies! Everything about Kyle field is amazing. From the options for food, design of the stadium, friendly and helpful staff, the atmosphere and of course the quality of the team on the field, any and all expectations were met and exceeded. My stepson goes to A&M, 3rd generation Aggie, and we just bought a house in college Station so you know I'll be back! GIG EM!
Glenn Oliveira — Google review
Great stadium. Well designed for entering and exiting and getting around. The food was good. My only complaint is that the water fountain availability is very poor. The lines to get drinks are most times long, and the weather is VERY got, so the small number of water fountains have lines of 20-30 people. The water is warm so no big treat just needed to be safe in the heat. So adding more water fountains would be great and safe addition to this wonderful stadium.
Scott Harsany — Google review
Went visit this place! I’ve never been to Texas A&M before. It’s pretty cool place. I mean it’s a crazy big college with a crazy amount of student population! Had fun here.
Randall Rubio — Google review
Very hot and sunburning seats section 345. Walking for long distances, no one in their assigned seats, lines for drinks, food, and beer way too long, you'll miss the game! Game was fun and exciting. Do not try to park! Unless you wanna pay $40. Rent a scooter! That was so cool!
Mrs Quackalack — Google review
Fun game against South Carolina (10/28/23) that we enjoyed in the parent's section. Couldn't believe they sold beer at the game, even better it was Banquet Beer! Also went to the midnight yell that reminded me of our high school pep rally meets a Megachurch rally.....a little weird, but glad to see what it was about!
St Copper — Google review
One the best places in all of football to watch a game, if you want to see true cheerleading and traditional halftime band perfection you must see a game. My alma mater usually loses but the experience makes it a memorable family time and unforgettable!
Family in Faith tx — Google review
I am not by far an Aggie fan, but once a year I enjoy a trip to College Station to catch a football game. Kyle field is a great place to watch a game and there is not a bad seat in the house. The last game we were at it was about 80% full and the sound was defining.
Jason Davidson — Google review
This stadium is unique and insane to see in person. I highly recommend a tour of the place.
John Kelley — Google review
Kyle Field is the home stadium for the Texas A&M Aggies. Lots of memorials and statues surrounding it that commemorate the long and storied history of A&M football.
Lily Bloodworth — Google review
I've been to a bunch of stadiums for various sporting events and NOTHING even comes close to how great Kyle Field is. There is no bad seats all of them are amazing. Gig em aggies!
Jon Paul McPeake — Google review
Great college atmosphere. Rich in history and traditions. Tailgating in Aggie Park is more low key than tailgating in the designated tailgating in parking lot. Great no matter where you are though.
Bill Hubble — Google review
Always a good time at Kyle Field for an Aggie Game Day. It had been awhile and we enjoyed the last home game of the season.
Ashley Ralph — Google review
A utilitarian review: the cell signal in this stadium is the best I get anywhere in BCS. It's better than any stadium I've ever been in.
The cool rooms are a life saver if you go to an early season game when it's really hot.
Great concession options and refillable drink stations.
It's just a great stadium. Not too buggy in the lights at night games, places to cool down, call signal, good food options, everything is fantastic.
Breann — Google review
I enjoyed the culture and the history of my university. I was a student athlete in 88-91 under R.C Slocum!! I will always be an Aggie and I will never forget Kyle field!!!
Mychal Arredondo — Google review
I’ve been to a lot of sporting events. This was by far my favorite experience. The culture and tradition at Texas A&M/Kyle field is the best. I will go back often.
Larry Puckett — Google review
Kyle Field is hands down amazing. There is plenty of directional signage. The quantity of gates and the wide ramps make entering and exiting flow smoothly and quickly. Efficiency at its best.
My one complaint and it's a major one....if for those that have a physical handicap. I am grateful for the handicap seating, but it's lacking in handicap parking and access to the stadium. There is 1 parking lot that has maybe 9 spaces reserved for handicap parking. It's still quite a hike for someone physically challenged. The next options are the 2 garages. One of them is pre-paid and was sold out. The other was full. There needs to be a parking lot close to the field that is designated handicap parking or a large portion of it. Entry into the stadium, another issue. Elevators on 1 end corner of the stadium and 1 on the opposite end corner. This means that from parking areas, you have to basically walk the whole length of the stadium and the some to get to an elevator. There are escalators if you walk a little further, go thru the gate, and weave thru the line guides like at 6 Flags. By the time you do this and get to your seats, you're worn out.
C'mon A&M, you can do better than this. There are a lot of elderly Aggie Former Students and supporters along handicap students, former students, and supporters who support Aggie Football. Come up with more adequate parking and access for everyone. Whoop! Gig Em!
Elsie Schumaker Schwarzwalder — Google review
The greatest stadium, atmosphere, fans, and traditions in college football. The band's halftime show is also extraordinary. I love attending games at Kyle Field.
Graham S — Google review
Arrived for the game with Suite 205 tickets. We entered the stadium at the gate as instructed. We asked a guide how to get to the suite. We were instructed to go left. We walked the length of the stadium. We asked another guide and were told we were on the wrong end. We continued on in the same direction and ended up circumnavigating 80% of the stadium going up and down to the third and floor levels along the way. Staff need better access to stadium seating. They were hamstrung (as wee we) by lousy cell reception.
Erol Morey — Google review
Love all of the traditions. Super Kind staff. I lost my phone and the assistant supervisor of the custodial crew went way above and beyond to help me find my phone.
Christina Higgins — Google review
Nothing like a Saturday in Kyle Field! Gig Em Aggies!
Pro tip, there are escalators in the northwest and northeast tours, but you have to go in the right entrance otherwise it’s stairs the whole way to the top.
Simple. Solemn. Beautiful. I feel the grief of those who loved. I remember the morning of the fall. I rejoice it the memories of who they were and what they stood for. Their memory shall always be alive as long as their stories survive. 100 years from that day a crowd will gather when I am long gone and remember the Aggies who died. A life well lived is a life well remembered and stories told.
Texas scifi — Google review
Really touching tribute to the students who died in the tragic accident. I will say, as someone who didn’t know what happened, I had to look it up afterwards. The monument assumes you’ve got some sense of the accident.
Matty B — Google review
Beautiful memorial and very powerful to see at night.
Brandi Brown Jones — Google review
Excellent tribute to the twelve lives lost on that tragic night. I was at the stack a few days after the collapse and have been back multiple times since the memorial was built and am moved everytime I'm here. Highly recommend visiting the memorial while in Aggieland.
The pictures of the tributes are only of the portraits as the pics of the descriptions did not come out well.
My last visit here was the day of the A&M/LSU game and want to give a shoutout to the LSU fans that came by and showed their respects.
Andrew Carlisle — Google review
Finally got a chance to experience this memorial to an awful tragedy. It's very solemn and reserved, unlike a lot of A&M traditions. It's definitely an worthwhile experience to see this within the heart of campus.
Jake Beck — Google review
I have to wonder how many would have died that night had drinking and drunkenness not been such an integral part of college life at the time.
That said, the memorial is extremely well done and is a fitting trubute to those who died and to all Aggies who ever took part in displaying "that burning desire to beat the Hell outa tu'! I hope the school brings Bonfire back in the Fall of 2024
The date of the bonfire tragedy is of particular importance to me as it was the 25th anniversary of my father's early death. He took his own life while I was a senior at A&M - November 18, 1974.
William Meredith — Google review
If you are in town, she should visit this memorial. It is beautifully done. Even my young daughters were teary-eyed reading the memorials about each victim.
Tonya Hornbeck — Google review
One of the most thoughtful and elegant memorials ever built. It's just splendid to visit this place in the evening. Every design aspect has some significance in remembrance of the Bonfire Tragedy of 1999 and the 12 Aggies who lost their lives.
Indeed, There's a spirit can ne'er be told!
Gargi Vaidya — Google review
One of the very best memorials I've EVER seen. I was blown away by how intricate the design and detail was. They spared no expense in honoring. It is a must-see if you go to College Station, in Texas.
Andre Eusebio — Google review
FYI - TAMU claimed "Sovereign Immunity" for the deaths of the Students killed via the Bonfire collapse.
The Parents had to APPEAL to reach a settlement.
Bonfire collapsed the year before, but no one was killed that year.
OSHA would've required a Safety Harness.
Kamme O (AggieCarpenterMom) — Google review
Very emotional and touching memorial to those who were lost in the bonfire tradition. We went at night and plan to go back in the daytime soon. The lighting is amazing.
Bob Sutterfield — Google review
First off, this place is special to our family. We pay our respects whenever we have time on our visit to B/CS. We noticed this time the asphalt that was recently laid to make it more accessible had ripples, tire tracks, and indentions that makes it look subpar for a memorial center. To have this damage noticeable so soon after the renovation should not be acceptable.
Another item that called our attention was the hue of the lights used to illuminate the area, ORANGE? Our previous visits have been during the day so to see the color of the lights threw us for a loop. There may be a reason for it but we were caught off guard.
D con — Google review
We remembered reading about this tragedy when it happened. Seeing the memorial for the first time was deeply moving. Reading the stories of each of the victims, some in their own words
Greg Knapp — Google review
4.8
(182)
•
4.5
(184)
Texas A&M University, History Walk / Spirit Ring, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Elegant, antique-laden quarters in an upscale B&B offering champagne breakfast & a free winery tour.
Great experience with the awesome tour guide Emma! She knows her stuff. This is a great activity to do with your significant other or best friends or a group.
The wine education is foundational and the history lesson of the place was interesting. Would likely go again during the harvest time to see the grapes. Would also enjoy the entire experience by staying at the bed and breakfast. Definitely a must see and do if you're in the area.
DiMa Ivy Marsh — Google review
My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Messina Hof in Bryan, TX yesterday. We weren't disappointed. The wine was excellent, the staff in the tasting room were friendly and professional, and the grounds were beautiful.
We had dinner in the Vintage House and it was exceptional. Rhett was our server, and he was top notch.
In short, we'll be back. Next time, we'll spend a few nights in their gorgeous B&B.
Jim Parker — Google review
My friends and I went here for our first time today full of excitement as it has been a place we have been wanting to go for forever. It was a rainy and disgusting day, but we also knew it was one of out last free weekends of the semester. We initially accidentally went to "The Vintage House" but the host was super helpful and steered us in the right direction to the tasting room. However, when we got to the tasting room, the vibes were automatically different. The hostess treated us in a condescending manner and was very unclear about the process. We explained it was our first time here but still feel like we were left in the dark. We put our name down for a table while she told us to go wait outside, since we weren't allowed to be in the tasting room. We asked how we should know when our table is ready and she responds, "Well look at your phone in 45 minutes and then come back in". Okay... We're finally seated and the first thing our waiter says when she comes up to us is "the hostess said y'all would just tell me what you want" after not having received a menu or having made that statement. The hostess and our waitress would point at us and then whisper to one another which made us all uncomfortable. We proceeded to have terrible experience. There was no consistency between how much wine was poured in our glasses. We ordered food and items in the meal would be mentioned would be missing until we asked for them. Everyone in the restaurant had glasses of water, which were not given them to us until we asked and by then the check had come. We finally asked our waitress how long she had been working, hoping to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she had been there 6 months already. The wine was amazing and the food was great, but the service ultimately destroyed our experience. After having multiple friends have been here and our sorority hosing events here in the past, we were excited, but ended up disappointed. We will not be returning.
Allison Ronchetto — Google review
It's my second time being back and I loved the food here. Last time I came for the wine tasting and it was great! It was before the pandemic so I am unsure if it is the same. The restaurant the heritage was great. I tried the gorgonzola stake pasta and the meat was cooked so well and tender. Best part was the dessert called flamboy banana and they put it on ice cream. Oh my gosh it was great! I recommend it! I will be back in the summer for the wine tasting.
Marisa Collura — Google review
Love this place!!!! My family and I went for a tour of the winery and it was terrific. Our tour guide was Meredith 💚💚💚 she was very knowledgeable from the wines they carry to the wine making. She was down to earth and really made the experience. It is during the off season right now but the grounds are still beautiful. You will love the antique artifacts that their Villa has as well. A lot of Texas history at this winery. Best piece of info I didn’t know is that all their grapes are Texas grown!!!!
KRISTI Flanigan — Google review
Every wine we sampled so far, only our first night here, has been wonder! However, what made the experience even better was our server Jayden. She was well acquainted with the wines and had exceptional knowledge on the different varietals and aspects of the wines/vintages the vineyard and historical aspects of the vineyard. Lovely experience. Can’t wait for to mow and more tastings and the cellar tour.
Carmen Ancelet — Google review
Went to harvest festival. Cut and ate grapes. My wife stomped some grapes. Got a tour from the owners. Learned a lot. My favorite part was the family atmosphere. Everyone there was nice and helpful. The family owners from young son to grandparents were actively involved with the tour. You can feel the passion and love for what they do. They were so awesome to chat with.
Jay Russell — Google review
We went for dinner, not impressed, not at all what we expected. We waited over 20 minutes to even be acknowledged and given a glass of water (which was never refilled). We were expecting an upscale dining experience. Food was average, cold when it came to our table. The restaurant was not busy, but service was terrible. Would not recommend, for the price you pay expected a little more.
linda gould — Google review
The favorite part of my day is having a great glass of wine at Messina Hof. What makes it even better is the great service I get from the staff. One person who stands out is Marianna. With her friendly HELLO when I walk into the tasting room and her awesome service. She’s most definitely one employee to keep!!
Tim Robinson — Google review
Extremely welcoming, great staff, and great wine/food. Visited for a weekend away. Wine tasting had plenty of options and overlooked the lake. Dinner had great steaks and pasta. And the Villa bed and breakfast was very big and cozy (Jean was a tremendous host)!
Jeremy Mercier — Google review
We came for a girls day and enjoyed our time greatly! The wine was great and service was even better. Our server was Sean and he was helpful, knowledgeable about the wines, quick, and fun! We will definitely be coming back.
Leslie Martin — Google review
Luke & Rebecka took such amazing care of us during our time in the tasting room! Excellent service, and great recommendations for wine newbies like myself. We will definitely be back!
Keegan Brumfield — Google review
My husband and I made a stop at Messina Hof Winery. We were greeted with beautiful scenery and pure kindness. We had our 3 kids with us and they were given the same treatment as we were. There is a large pond with tons of turtles just behind the tasting room. The kids were offered cups of turtle food to feed them which made them feel special. Jadyn helped us out during our time there. She instantly struck up a conversation with us providing insight on Messina Hof wines services and available. She was very sweet and knowledgeable giving wonderful advice on their wines. Overall Jadyn made our stop a wonderful one.
Kari Valdez — Google review
My best friend and I came in to have a few drinks and had exceptional service from our server Heather and received several recommendations from Becca for different wines. They both were extremely friendly and taught us the history of Messina Hof and how to properly taste the wine. Can’t wait to come back for another girls day!
Abby Roberts — Google review
I went to Messina Hof Winery for the first time with a friend who has a membership. She treated me to one of the two free glasses of wine that come with a membership on Sundays. What made the moment even more enjoyable than the wine and atmosphere was Gabriel's service. He made us feel like we were truly fine dining! Definitely would recommend!
Kalin Holthaus — Google review
Nice winery with an endless selection. Our server Nick Adair was very nice and attentive. I cant wait to go back in the spring/summer when we can walk the grounds. A little chili today. Oh almost forgot. Try the bread and butter pairing. It will not disapoint.
michael wascom — Google review
Supervisor refused to serve me because she thought my ID was fake. It definitely was not fake and I told her to scan it to prove it. She told me they had no scanner but that the only way she could prove it was fake was by “using her eyes”. My ID is over 4 years old and has a slight bend. She told me “real IDs don’t bend like that” I asked her what else i could do to prove it was real, i even asked if there was an officer on the grounds or if i could call one to come up and prove it to her. The only reason I was willing to go to these lengths was because it was my friend’s birthday and we went as a group so it completely ruined her birthday experience. Needless to say this would have all been avoided if they had a scanner rather than their best source being “their eyes”.
Carolina De la Paz — Google review
My wife & I visited the winery on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We tried 2 different wine tasting packages. One was a wine makers selection ($18) and the other was a library collection ($38).
The library wines were about 8 years old and were in several cases, the same varietals as the younger ones in the cheaper package. Aging made a big difference.
Some of the wines (especially the ones that were aged) were very good, we enjoyed the experience.
Douglas George — Google review
From a B&B perspective, this place was mediocre at best. It needs a lot of upgrades and TLC. The beds were hard, the rooms run down (25 year old with no signs of recents remodel), free wine tour coupons that can't be used (can only be used during stay and some days have no tours), given a key to a room with no sheets or towels and no one on site to help (albeit calling emergency phone helped rectify problem), given a queen bed rather than the requested king bed, felt like an after thought to the management (was hoping to have someone come talk to us about wines during breakfast), breakfast selection was limited, noisy construction sounds in the morning, and hot water seems to run out quickly. There were a few nice things we did like: each room had a very unique historical theme to it, the lake scenery in the back of the property is beautiful, jolene was very kind and helpful, and the French toast was delicious. Im not trying to bash the place. I think it has a lot of potential and hope they can use this feedback to make it a great stay for future customers.
Manuel Gonzalez — Google review
I'm not a wine expert, but they have a quality product here. Staff is well trained and knowledgeable about their products. Great place to sit out by the pond and enjoy a glass. Fun tours and frequent events to make every visit just a little different than the last.
Timothy Cedor — Google review
We made reservations for the Spooky Cellar Tour for a Halloween-themed date. We arrived, paid, waited about 20 minutes for other guests to assemble and the tour to begin—at which time we were told we would not be getting what we paid for. The tour guide said the cellar was leaking, and that the tour was unable to continue as planned. Instead, they’d give us a tour of the winery’s antique collection and a couple extra wine tastings. It felt extremely shady to only be told this as the tour was literally starting and we’d already paid.
The tour plan was clearly slapped together last minute and we could tell all of the other guests were disappointed as well. Instead of getting to see wine out of the barrel or tanks, the tour guide showed us a picture on her phone and just. What a joke! We also had to remind our tour guide to provide the chocolates that were supposed to be included in the tour as she wasn’t given instructions. We never got the sparkling wine that was promised.
Overall, we were extremely let down with the experience, and I wouldn’t return again after such a shameless bait-and-switch. If they can’t provide what they promised, they need to be upfront about that, not take your money and try cobble together a shoddy substitute.
Felice Regina (iamlunasol) — Google review
Nice winery and beautiful location. However, for me I did not find even the premium red wines to my taste. Staff were friendly.
Don't be mistaken by the big sign like we did 😄 We turned at the big sign, but really should have gone to the next one.
The store itself is quaint, clean, and welcoming. The pecans were a bit pricey, but in reality when are pecans not expensive.
Customer service was fantastic. We were educated about pecans and given suggestions when asked. We were even able to sample a few before we purchased them.
We left there with smiles on our faces. Without a doubt, we are going to visit when it's pecan picking season or when they host their race by the pecan trees.
Aggie Quezada — Google review
The staffs are very nice and knowledgeable about different types of pecan. We are able to learn and sample the varieties of fresh pecan and our kid would love to go back every year to do pecan picking.
Isa Lau — Google review
Friendly hostess told me about the variety of Texan pecans and a little about the operation there. Variety of pecan items and gift boxes for sale. Very clean restroom. A great place to stop and relax (and get some pecan treats).
Russell Fascenda — Google review
Okay, Royalty Pecans has made a customer for life! I love the quality of their products and have ordered from them in the past. The pecans are always fresh and we are seriously addicted to the toffee. 😋
Recently an order arrived but the item I was expecting was incorrect. They went above and BEYOND to fix the issue. The service and responsiveness was next level! Thank you for being so awesome! 👏
Tessie H — Google review
Very disappointed in my order, I ordered 5 lbs of desirable and 5 of paper shell and instead they sent me 10 lbs of desirable which had very little
to be desired. They gave me the excuse of they had a bad crop, which I can understand but should have sent a different variety instead of the same. To top things off 8 out of 10 of the ones I got are dry and pruned. I don't ever remember Texas pecans being this bad.Had I known they had a drought before ordering I would have risked on ordering less. I don't think I will use them again and do not recommend them. They said they tried calling but if I was working I can not answer, a simple email before shipping would have helped.
Hipolito Leija — Google review
ANDY the awesome manager of Royalty Pecans gave us an AMAZING TOUR! You will be blown away by the loving kindness of the great folks at ROYALTY PECANS. Their pecans are so delicious! Clarissa at the wonderful gift shop is super nice.
We just had a really fun time learning how special PECANS are in Texas.
GO DO A TOUR and BUY SOME PECANS!!
sleeping purpletiger — Google review
We had an amazing day at the pecan harvest festival! They do tours every Saturday at 12:30, and the orchard manager is a phenomenal presenter!
Go for a nice leisurely ride through the pecan orchard and learn about the different varieties, the history of the area, and the growing and harvest seasons.
We had a great time, learned a lot, and we completely recommend it! Enjoy!
JT Nelms — Google review
Good friendly atmosphere. Love the place. Was working on photos for a specific reason . Everyone was super friendly
Mikey “Munkie” Davidson — Google review
I very much recomand this place and the farm tour they have. One can learn quite w lot of things about pecans and how they are grown and taken care of. Way more than you would expect!!! They also have a harvest festival once or twice a year. The pecans and other goods that you can get at the store are really really good!!!
Aram Davtyan — Google review
My family and I came for one of their pecan picking days. We had an amazing time.
Staff was wonderful, and they even cracked our pecans for us.
Samantha R. — Google review
Love this place! Great fresh pecans and a great assortment.
Tamra Sawicki — Google review
We had a wonderful time touring the farm and learning all about growing pecans! Fun for the whole family!
One of my favorite things about history is there's always something new to learn, such as learning there were WW2 POW camps in areas you've driven through for years. I had a great experience visiting Camp Hearne and walking through the museum section and trails. I gained alot of knowledge and appreciation for this time period and history.
If you plan on walking the trials be advised of previous weather conditions as it may limit your experience. When I walked them it was very muddy in spots, pools of water on the trails, and broken trees blocking the paths. I pushed through regardless but even for me there was a couple spots that conditions caused a challenge.
I would definitely come back whenever I visit the area and recommend anyone interested in history to do the same.
Andrew Carlisle — Google review
Drove past this place several times traveling thru the area and finally decided to check it out. Wow what a find! The administrator walked us around the exhibits and had stories on the displayed artifacts. She was a wealth of knowledge which made it an interesting and educational experience. Highly recommend if you like WWII history.
Michael Dowdy — Google review
Amazing walk through time. Great piece of history beyond the textbook for our podcast. Thank you for the adventure, Crazy for Texas
Amber D Matsoukas — Google review
The inside tour is amazing it's free to enter there is a tip jar if you would like. Also there are some back trails that if you ask you can get someone to take you.
Johnathan Mora — Google review
Interesting that Camp Hearne was a WWII POW camp. I saw the foundations on the ground for the living quarters.
Cobalt Gomez — Google review
Loved being here and learning and teaching history myself. As a Reenactor, you learn what the Homefront was like and how the Germans from the Mediterranean front was going through. The museum staff was very nice too.
Woodrow Wilson II — Google review
Interesting and informative! I had no idea this piece of history was in Hearne. We didn't get to explore the outside, including trails, so we'll be back!
Rachel Watters — Google review
The Camp Hearne WWII POW museum has the potential to be a world class site and a solid draw for the town of Hearne. The museum is a work in progress and tells a fascinating story of Texas and global history. Some of Erwin Rommels Afrika Corps were here.The collection is simple, but good. The trails to see the overgrown camps are basic, yet also good. I give it a five because the site has global impact, they are just getting started with the museum and the staff are knowledgeable and truly helpful. Only 30 mins from College Station. Plan a 2-3 hour visit to see the collection, talk with the staff and hike on the trails.
G M — Google review
Really interesting historical site. Enjoyed the tour and learned a lot about a little known subject of American history.
Various animals can be viewed from your car or touched at the petting zoo, plus snacks & gifts.
Came for my son's birthday on Sunday 30th. Had a blast with my family. The kiddos all loved it. We got a private tour by one of the brother's, he was very kind & funny & informative. Highly recommend the tours so you can learn about the animals. 🙂 My son loved it, he feed & touch every animal. 💙 Kids want to come back again.
Joanna Pacheco — Google review
We had a blast! There are definitely hundreds of animals to experience. Buy extra feed and throw it slowly so you have some left for the animals at the end. Be prepared, the animals aren't shy and will crowd your vehicle. If your not paying attention you could loose your food bucket to an ostrich or camel fairly easily. Definitely go inside the gift shop for some lettuce for the giraffes and peanuts for the monkeys. Again, one cup wont be enough. I could have fed the giraffes all day! The aviary was fun and the birds are beautiful. I even got a parrot or two to say hello! The reptile exhibit was large too. I have never been so close to so many venomous snakes and the pythons were HUGE! Cant say enough about this place. Next time we will go on a guided tour. I hear those are fantastic.
Kimberly Buckner — Google review
Drive thru was fun. A very new experience. The giraffes were locked up when we came, but we were able to walk around and see what we missed. Do not leave your window down the flies will take over.
Jay Collier — Google review
This is an easy day trip from Houston or even closer from College Station.
There are a ton of animals where you are up close and personal.
Definitely buy the buckets of food for the driving tour.
The only downside for me was that one monkey looked lonely. Be sure to visit him at the gift shop.
Christopher Kittrell — Google review
Had and amazing time while there. We drove almost 2 hrs from Houston to enjoy their safari. It was so worth it! From all the animals to the owners. If you get the chance go to Lemur Island. We had an amazing time with the lemurs. Beautiful experience can’t wait to go back.
Mardel Castillo — Google review
I absolutely loved this place. The private tour was definitely worth every dollar. I loved how the animals felt so comfortable interacting with me and my family. The guy that took us on the tour was so knowledgeable and really provided a memorable experience. I loved how he told us a story about all the animals. I would definitely recommend this place 100% we will be back for sure!! Did I mention the animals are so adorable. Don't forget to visit the monkeys they will do tricks for peanuts. 🙂
Victoria Perez — Google review
Really nice trail to ride on. The ride seems pretty long and the animals were so friendly. They would come right up to the car and some liked pets. Beautiful scenery. The zebras were probably my favorite. Great for all demographics. I'm from out of state and I would definitely go back.
autumn rogers — Google review
Drive thru was fun. A very new experience. The giraffes were locked up when we came, but we were able to walk around and see what we missed. Do not leave your window down the flies will take over.
Jasmine Collier — Google review
We have traveled to many drive-thru safari places.... but this one was just so awesome. You can see all the animals up close and even interact with the lemurs... take the boat ride to Lemur Island. Pet them and play with them.
There is a baby room to interact with baby lemurs, hairy armadillos, goats, ferret, and more....
The price is incredible. We stayed at the safari for at least 5 hours repeating the aminals... Get our and go do this!!
Kevin S — Google review
It was a great way to spend 90 minutes . I highly recommend you buy several buckets of food and treats for the animals in the gift shop . I loved how the animals approached the car to be hand - fed . Most of them were very tame and gentle. The emus had an attitude though and got a bit aggressive about sticking their heads into the car window and trying to grab the bucket out of our hands . The young , male reindeer was the sweetest thing and loved to be petted and rubbed almost as much as he loved being fed . Feeding the giraffes was the highlight for me . I had never been that close to one. We were literally eyeball to eyeball . Loved it and this place .
Patricia Urrea — Google review
What a great place!!!! We went with my 5 year old daughter and it was so much fun. We did the safari, went on lemur island and fed the giraffes. I would have never imagined to pet a zebra before or to hold a lemur. There is so much to see and way better than a normal zoo where you can only look at animals in a cage. I would recommend this place to my friends and family. We did the safari in the morning an saw a lot of animals and they all came to our car. We did a second safari tour in the afternoon but noticed not all the animals came. They were probably full lol. So if you go do the safari before lunch.
Britta Fischer — Google review
This was such an amazing experience! Definitely something we will be doing again this summer!!! Highly recommend! The only thing I would encourage is to buy more than the number of people in your group of buckets of feed but regardless this trip was wonderful
Ashley Nicole — Google review
We had so much fun today. We did the guided tour and it was well worth the money. Kenneth was our tour guide and he was friendly and very knowledgeable. You can tell he really enjoys working with the animals. We took our 3 year old and he had a blast. There are tons of animals, but the Llamas were definitely my favorite.We will definitely be going again.
Lindsi Yelland — Google review
This is the most amazing place. Please go visit. The animals are sweet and lovely. Make sure you purchase many buckets of food to feed all the animals. They are friendly and hungry and you should buy enough to feed all the animals from start to finish - you will be sorry if you don't. It's so much more fun when you can experience feeding all these animals from your car. And they are so beautiful and lovely. Thank you for taking care of these lovely animals - Franklin Drive Thru Safari.
Also buy enough food for the walk through experience - there are plenty of hungry animals just waiting for the healthy treats you buy from the shop.
When you first drive up to reception - you must tell the person that you want at least 3 buckets per person - really! They do not push the food and they should. The experience is so amazing when you have enough food for all the animals. They come up to your car and look for the buckets of food. There are many timid animals who never get any food because you used up all the food at the beginning of the drive through experience, so you must purchase enough for the animals in the middle and the end. The llamas and camels - though lovely - will hog all the food. There are so many other exotic animals that would love some of the healthy treats also. So many never get anything they don't even bother, knowing you already gave all the food away earlier. Don't do that! Just buy enough for everyone!
This is the best place. Please help them out and visit. The animals need us.
Northern Star — Google review
Our family had a great time! We did the loop twice and would definitely go back. I definitely recommend feeding the animals, especially the giraffes.
Andrea Gallman — Google review
What a wonderful and exciting tour! I had the opportunity to feed and interact with various animals, all of which were incredibly friendly towards humans. At times, our car was surrounded by a diverse array of animals, some even following us. I would recommend purchasing two buckets of food for each round.
Jazhou — Google review
This place is so cool! We came for a school field trip and it was definitely an experience. We got to see and feed so many animals and the caretakers are all so knowledgeable about the animals they care for.
Super excited for the upcoming splash pad and lazy river they are building!
Batch! Please Bakery — Google review
This is my family second time visiting here. First time was in 2020. They’ve expanded since. Each time has been amazing! Love this zoo and highly recommend the tour guide! Very informative and really nice people! We got there on a Sunday kinda late around 3:30pm and they were very welcoming as always and we were still able to experience and enjoy the zoo to its full effect. This zoo is worth every penny!!
Tiara Rivers — Google review
I felt it is okay place, may be because I visited better ones in other states.
Price is decent.
But they can improve on fews things.
1) Nice arrow/sign mark in the trail
2) milestones (at mid point and 3/4th of loop)
3) soap dispenser for each sink in the bathroom
4) too much stones in the parking/driveway
I felt $5 for 1 feed bucket is pricy. (Cheerokee drive thru gives one for free with their $20 admission).
But I am also inclined towards "good spending" for those animals and overall look/appearance.
If they improve the appearance, amenities, then this is a good alternative to other safaris in Texas
I wish they have some picnic tables for families
I felt, the entire place needs a revamp !!
Yuva V — Google review
This was the BEST drive thru safari experience ever. The animals where amazing! The staff was so helpful and so nice!
The Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum showcases local railway artifacts and exhibits, as well as equipment on the museum grounds. Visitors can also view an active rail yard from the premises. Despite being small in size, the museum is well-organized and has many interesting pieces that appeal to individuals of all ages. Additionally, there are engaging activities available for children and parents alike. The museum is wheelchair accessible and affordable, making it a great indoor outing option for families.
We enjoyed so much our visit to this museum! There is so much to see and learn about trains and their history here in Texas. They have old trains outside and a kids area for them to play. Highly recommend to visit this museum if you visit Temple, Tx.
Vivian Bermudez — Google review
My family went for their family day and it was so much fun! Everything was well organized and friendly for all ages! We will be keeping an eye out for more events!
Jocelyn Aviles — Google review
Very nice clean place to enjoy alone or with family. The museum although quite small, is organized and has many interesting pieces for "kids" young and more mature. The museum also has a couple of really amusing activities for children and parents to partake in during their visit. ☆This museum is also wheelchair accessible and enjoyable. I highly encourage people to take their family members here as a short indoor outing that is also rather easy on the wallet. ENJOY!!!
Deesyty Syty — Google review
It's not too big but there are interesting things to see. Love that there is a family day once a month, a free event that is super fun for the small ones... Girl scouts were visiting and astronomy and crafty things and all loads of fun and exiting things to do for the little ones. Check the event calendar to be able to join. Thank you organisers and volunteers for this lovely time.
_ — Google review
Such a great gem in the heart of Temple for all train lovers! Everyone in our group enjoyed themselves while exploring the many things that this area has to offer. Can’t wait to come back and explore some more!
Ctine Doza — Google review
What an absolutely pleasurable museum! I enjoyed every minute spent here!
Connor Finley — Google review
It was an amazing museum to walk through and see history if trains as well as their rotation history display. Baseball was the theme when we went. The model train display was fantastic and the interactive area was fun too.
Justen Roberts — Google review
Like being brought back in time, it's a must see if you enjoy old buildings still in great condition. You can see out lines of sea shells in the walls. Interesting since Oklahoma is in the middle of the United States.
Shelly Odom — Google review
Loved this museum, museum itself is small and kids will not enjoy it much but it also gives you access to real steam engines and kids go bananas.
Avinash Tripathi — Google review
Best place! Wish there were ghosts or some old people to tell us eyewitness accounts of how trains work. Love the museum!
Mvee Sackin — Google review
There is a lot to learn and do here! It's a real Amtrak station, so passengers really do arrive and depart here. The museum has lots of information to learn from.
The exterior has a large grassy space with picnic tables, gazebos, multiple playground spaces, stage area for live music, and a water fountain to run through.
It is a great space for families!
Louise Maynor — Google review
What a great way to spend a couple of hours. The TR&HM has an amazing, interactive, and well thought out museum fun for all ages. My boys, 10 & 12 had a blast it was hard to leave.
Outside you can check out the exterior of many train cars, but you can also go into an engine and a caboose.
And less than 100 yards away is an epic outdoor playground. You won't be disappointed with a visit to the TR&HM.
Amy McCampbell — Google review
Took my kids here, first time for all of us coming to this museum. Very friendly people and atmosphere. Very helpful and my girls had a great time with the picture scavenger hunt while I enjoyed learning. Definitely recommend
The Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center is a delightful museum that showcases the rich Texan-Czech culture through charming mosaic-tiled exhibits. The museum highlights the cultural heritage of the Czech people, featuring costumes, stories, and artifacts from their history. For a small fee of $4, visitors can learn about their ancestors' city in the old country and discover fascinating information about their family name. The museum was constructed with great care and love to provide an in-depth understanding of one's Czech past.
I had a lovely visit to the museum today. I ended up gabbing with the docent for a good 30 minutes, but we shared some interesting connections to the Czech culture (I am not Czech). One particularly impressive part of the collection was the assortment of marionettes that are a good 150 years old but still in great condition with intricate detailing. For the low admission fee, it's worth a visit.
Michael Miller — Google review
This is a great museum. Built with love and will explain your heritage to you in depth. Fantastic place to learn about your Czech past and parts of the museum change.
Joseph Ferguson — Google review
This museum is beautiful with beautiful items. I truly enjoyed the items. The gentleman who was going to give us a tour was very nice and passionate about this museum which is a big plus....however very talkative.. just to get through the front part of the museum which should have taken 10 to 15 mins at most took almost 30 minutes. I kind of was bored after all these dates and facts. 2 people entered the museum after we started so we had to wait for him to catch them up and go through everything he just told us. Well then we were gonna go to the next part and watch a 9 minute video but the tour guide and the 2 other people got to talking and wouldn't stop. My mom and I walked around the entire museum. 30 to 45 minutes later he came and found us at the end of the museum and ushered us back to watch the video. We left after that. Kind of a waste to go back through the museum again. My guess is the complete tour takes 2 to 3 hrs so make sure you make enough time to visit
Stacy Luebbe — Google review
Susan was excellent. Very knowledgeable and we talked all things from Czech history. Nice little musuem, $4 fee but worth it to see some Czech hertitage, costumes and stories. Go and look up your ancestors city from the old country and see Bout the family name.
skysoccr — Google review
Definitely a stop you shouldn't miss if you are in the area. My wife and I are from Czechoslovakia (it was that when we were born), but you don't have to be to thoroughly enjoy this small museum and its beautiful exhibits.
Ken, the proprietor, will walk you through the history, enlighten you with cool stories of other visitors, and you'll definitely get a lot of recommendations for other Czech-and-Slovak-related sights and activities in the area, such as dance halls, or stores and restaurants with delicious Czech foods. I never knew Texas has such a rich Czech and Slovak history.
The museum itself is very small, so if you only have an hour or two to spare, you can easily get through it, if you walk and read fast.
The museum was not busy at all on Saturday around 1pm (there were only 2 other people there). It's definitely suitable and exciting for kids too, but keep in mind that there are things within reach they shouldn't touch and handle.
The exhibits on 'loutky' (puppets), 'kroje' - the traditional clothing, and old farm and household equipment from the Old World is pretty neat to see (in great condition, too).
They dedicated a few exhibits to the Sokol athletic movement, Tomáš Gariggue Masaryk, Václav Havel, Ján Hus and other statesmen, and influential figures.
Peter Babel — Google review
Very well educated staff. Found out my family came over on a boat and ported in Galveston. It was very well put together with a lot of Czech paintings and art. I really enjoyed myself and plan on being back for another visit real soon.
Ryan Janek — Google review
Nice little museum. The elderly museum worker talked my ear off and wouldn't stop. I avoided him on the way out. Other than that it's worth a visit on a 'nothing to do' day.
The video had an interesting fact. I always thought that traditional Mexican music sounded similar to the German Polka music my dad listen to when I was growing up. In the video it explains that Czech Polka and Mexican bands played together and influenced each other. So that explains the similarity. :-)
Uncle Tut — Google review
Great museum run enthusiastically by good people
Great place to find out more about history of Texas.
Hynek — Google review
Ain't no more for flooded minded individuals who eat up Healthcare funds and take all the disability benefits from natural born citizens who are aware of the US tactics and have too take on more info from these small town inactive unclean unbelievers.
robbie — Google review
Small but very informative. The guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable
Ellen Nagel — Google review
Staff retains a wealth of local and Czech national heritage knowledge. Great space and flow for the museum with well curated objects of historical significance. Excellent museum tucked inside Temple, TX.
Lovely site, they have many activities thru the year. Grounds so representative of the time. Off highway 14 then keep following the road back and back and back thru trees, nice drive! Great history lesson of a sad time. Loved the history lesson on the video put together by a 9th grader- great job!
Cheryl Till — Google review
I visited it during off season(January). Amazing fort with replica buildings and period correct artifacts. During tourist season they have reenactment programs that would be very interesting and would have earned 5 star rating. Check their website for dates. It was still worth the drive, just make sure you access the fort via hwy 14(NE entrance)
Terry Jarosch — Google review
Seeing the old, recreated fort was nice. The visitor center/ gift shop area gives it the low marks. They only take cash. They had a few postcards and sold used paperbacks. I was hoping for a book on Cynthia Ann Parker and her family but no.
Merideth Oliver — Google review
We participated in a Living History event and Old Fort Parker was a great host. A must stop for people wanting to learn about 19th century Texas history.
Sharon Baird — Google review
We love stopping here when camping at nearby Fort Parker State Park. Love the history & that you can go inside the fort and it's structures to tour it all. Take cash!! They do not accept card payments for entry fees!
Chastity — Google review
Now if you love Tx history. You have to vist this site. It's a near perfect recreation of the Fort. There has been books written and movies made about this.
Sjoerd Chastain — Google review
Great place to visit!!! I started reading Empire of the Summer Moon and was very curious to see the Parker Fort. My kids loved walking through the fort/houses and the watchtower! The admission is reasonable, however CASH only. The man said they were working on a card system and hoped it would be up and running in a few weeks. The grounds are beautiful! The people who run it are very nice! There are NO ' not touching' signs in the gift shop but the people will let you know not to touch anything if you do. Would recommend visiting in the spring/fall/winter. Watch for poison ivy out front of the entrance and out back through the low gate of the fort. We will definitely be visiting again when the weather cools a little.
Stephanie L — Google review
Great place to stretch your legs and explore. The fort seems to be well taken care of. The office/gift shop is being renovated so not much to see there.
Robert Guess — Google review
Spending 13 days filming The Quanah Parker Story here in TX this was our final film location. The Parker Fort replica is incredible to see when you know the historical significance of the fort.
The park is $5 and has plenty of parking.
We asked prior to flying a drone for footage.
The Quanah Parker arrow is now in place at the entrance of the fort road.
Bring water during spring and summer months it gets hot. Kid friendly and I feel should be encouraged so our youth can understand the times that aren't that far behind us and how lucky we are to be in the 2023s and not 1800s
Check our YouTube & IG for footage from our upcoming film project The Quanah Parker Story
Outsider Images — Google review
Really cool historical site. Nice visitor center that is available to rent for events
Connie Colon — Google review
We went on a cold cold day in January but the folks at the visitor center were very warm and inviting. We toured the fort and if you’re at all interested in Texas history you need to go. So worth the trip and time.
I’ve been out to the new location for this winery several times now. It is quiet and comfortable and perfect for me and a friend to just sit and enjoy some wine. Also great for groups as they have more seating in the back of the large building! The owner, Crystal was so friendly and very helpful and knowledgeable.
There were even baby sheep out next to the building! So pretty out there, especially around sunset.
Chelsea Green — Google review
We stopped in from a day trip we took. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The selections of wines are really good. I recommend the First Kiss wine. The ambiance is cozy and relaxing. They also serve 4 course dinner on Saturdays. It's a shame I don't live closer by otherwise I'd be a regular.
Elizabeth Corzo — Google review
Celebrated at the new location from the outside didn't look like much but with the tour and the 4 course meal we were amazingly surprised great relaxed ambience. Krystal (sommelier) and Chris (cook) were outstanding! Every dish was a mouthwatering tasting masterpiece of flavor.
Johnny “JRS3” Sanford III — Google review
New location but same awesome wines. They moved to the vineyard for their wine venue! Not close but worth the drive. The wine club dinners are same as 5 star restaurant! Customer service is fast and friendly! Owners are such friendly people! It’s a must go and see location!
Lorne Marcum — Google review
Very nice ambiance and very friendly owner. Recommend to stop by if you are around the place.
April N — Google review
We love Kissing Tree!! The owners and staff are wonderful, treating you like family!! We are local and had wine tasted here several times but just recently started to attend some of their events from monthly Bunco nights to dinner & live music to last night’s New Years Casino night. We always have a great time and have met so many wonderful folks!!! The venue is smaller, enhancing the friendly environment. We will continue to support this business and continue to have a great time doing so!!
Lisa Dumlao — Google review
Amazing steaks. Great atmosphere small town charm, big city class and top notch staff/help and other patrons were friendly and lively. A great evening!
Davey McTeer — Google review
So after driving through Bruceville-Eddy twice while visiting relatives, the second time which was my birthday, I asked my husband to go inside and surprise me with a bottle of red wine, his choice. He said the little winery is a nice place with friendly folks who helped him with his selection. On our drive back to Cypress, he read some reviews, several good but some mentions of a vinegar taste. I was optimistic though and looking forward to enjoying my birthday wine once we got home. Upon opening, I noticed the white cork, both ends, but I was still optimistic. I let the wine breathe, still optimistic, but when I took my first taste I tasted the vinegary taste some others had mentioned. Still optimistic thinking maybe the second taste or third would be better, unfortunately it was not. I was terribly disappointed in the taste along with the fact that I had asked my husband to stop and buy a bottle for my birthday and he kindly did. He isn’t a wine drinker and we had our dog in the car or else I would have gone in for a tasting and opted for a different bottle or blend. Lesson learned, read reviews first and tastings can make or break the sale. Unfortunately, it went down the drain.
donna crocker — Google review
Visited because we love Texas wine. Wine is mediocre at best. As a consumer who values integrity and responsible citizenship, I am deeply disappointed to learn that the owner of this winery participated in the January 6th insurrection. Supporting a business whose owner engages in such egregious behavior goes against my principles. It's troubling to think that my dollars could contribute to someone who undermines the very foundations of our democracy. I cannot in good conscience recommend this winery to anyone until there's a clear stance of accountability and a demonstration of commitment to upholding democratic values.
Tammy Harris — Google review
We really enjoyed this place!! The wine was great. The staff was knowledgeable and kind.
The art gallery and old fashioned bank was worth it. We would definitely come back!!
Juan Rivera — Google review
The new location by the vineyard has some nice views and is quiet, though there were a lot of flys in the tasting room.
The wine is a bit hit or miss. A lot of the options tasted vinegar-y and/or chemically and seemed like they had been open for a few days unrefrigerated before we got to try them.
Forrest White — Google review
My boyfriend and I stopped here on a whim while traveling back from Dallas, and this is a gorgeous 3 part venue with a wine area, a lounge area and a dining area. The decor and atmosphere are beautiful and the owner, Christopher is friendly and very helpful with choosing wines. The Cabernet was my favorite wine. They have dinner service on Saturday evenings.
Stacie Cooks — Google review
We understood they are at a new location for 1 mth. But the ventilation is terrible. It was so smoky in the room when you are trying to enjoy the food and drinks. It made me and my husband walk out to get air. Eyes burning. The food was AMAZING, the Wine is GREAT, the people are nice and the music was on point. BUT, unless they fix the ventilation we can not return. I am sure they are working out the kinks being new to that location. I can not imagine them not noticing the issue. It was this past Saturday 10/21. I hope they fix this because we want to come back with friends for couples nights, we just cannot bring them if this issue is not fixed.
Amanda Wills — Google review
My wife and I have been here twice for their Valentine's Dinner, and it was wonderful both times. The food and wine were perfect to celebrate the evening.
There are a lot of 1-star reviews on here from people who have never been to Kissing Tree, but have a vendetta against the owners. Just click on their profiles and you'll see they're not even from Texas.
Read the reviews from locals and Texans and you'll get a better feel for the tasting room.
Lakeside park offering campsites & indoor shelters, plus fishing, swimming, hiking trails & more.
Great little park! The lake is huge and access to the Navasota River is easy. We had so much fun camping, hiking, and paddling! Plus, the kids really enjoyed learning about Cynthia Anne Parker.
Colleen Graves — Google review
We brought a large group and got 2 screen shelters right next to each other. The screen shelters are LARGE and have electricity and a light inside of them. We had some people sleep inside the shelters and others set up tents on the same site. We loved our stay and being able to walk to the pier to fish all day and night. We took a nice easy hike from the historic cemetery to the playground and picnic area. All of the restrooms were super clean and welcoming. Our leashed dogs were welcome and they had a great time.
Chelsea Fee — Google review
We absolutely love this park. It has one of the best paddling trails for kayaking. It also has some nice hiking/biking trails and several historical markers within the park. There are a couple of playgrounds for the kids. Some of the camping spots are a little tricky when navigating a large camper, but there are a few that can accommodate them.
Yarborough Family — Google review
This place was really clean and well kept. The grounds were beautiful and the hiking and bike trails were great too. Clean bathrooms and hot showers. We stayed in a cabin so we had electricity, grill, and fire pit. We will definitely be back. You may want to book reservations ahead of time as the weekends seems to be pretty booked. The one downside is cell service is pretty ify.
Lisa Giles — Google review
We have camped here several times now and are never disappointed. It's a tidy & well kept park. The screened in shelters are great & they even winterize them. The trails are not long, but they are maintained & clearly marked. They have a playground, swimming & picnic area, as well as canoe rentals. Definitely recommend this little gem.
Stevie Michelle — Google review
The drive there was peaceful, avoiding the major hwy. Park is between 2 towns 5min away, no problem needing to get gas or food. Check in was a breeze and ranger at welcome station was very friendly and helpful, that really helps set off the stay, a smiling face. Grab a map and check out the trails. Firewood for sale on side of welcome center by card, a self serve station, very convenient. Stayed in a cabin, big enough to fit a queen air mattress with room to move around with pushing the table over a bit. 2 car parking space next to cabin. Water and outlet plug, bring an extension if needed for items. Park was clean and restrooms were very clean. The only only only downside, but I won't knock a Star rating for this, the cabins and most shelters are fairly close to the restroom. Although this is convenient, if the wind blows towards the shelters/cabins (away from the lake) you will catch a breeze of that septic system. One of the darned if you do, darned if you dont moments. you want to be close and not walk far for restroom, but don't want to smell it either. Fortunately, that night the wind blew towards lake so while sitting outside by the fire didn't smell any bad smells. Lake and rivers to fish! Cleaning station by fishing pier. Unfortunately the family stay was short so didn't take advantage of all the park has to offer. With a 4y.o was able to walk the river trail, just about a mile, doable walk for a kid and tired him out for the drive home. We will be going back!! FYI dogs not allowed in the cabins. Please be mindful of the rules.
Romulo Ventura, Jr. — Google review
This park has everything you want in a park!!! Camping, cabins, hiking (with shade), water for swimming or boating or fishing, a river to explore by kayak, sup or canoe, tons of wildlife, birds of all types, armadillos, raccoons, deer,etc. Bluebonnets in the spring, fall colors. On top of that there is the incredible history of the Fort and the cemetery. A fantastic place.
Teresa Lamb — Google review
We had the best time at Fort Parker State Park. Rented a canoe for the day at time of check in and paddled up the Navasota River to the confederate grounds. Bike trails were easy and manageable with younger kids too. Layout of campsite, and shelters and cabins were great. Will be back for sure. I park staff and rangers were polite informative and pleasant to work with. Lots of canoes and kayaks for rent. Lake is shallow and if weather is good, it's easy paddling. Will be back for sure.
T Chan — Google review
This is a fantastic park. Kind of a hidden gem to be honest. I went on July 4th, 2023, the most popular day for people to get outside and grill, and there were just a handful of people there (like 15 people max, staff not included). I went for some family kayaking with my parents, and we basically had the entire lake to ourselves. There was one boat, and two other people kayaking. The bathrooms are very very clean, AND have A/C (a blessing in Texas heat). It's a very quiet park, gorgeous views, very polite staff, and a lot of beautiful seating areas for the family. The water is amazing too. It was 95°F+ outside when I went, but the water was still very cool, and with it being a relatively shallow lake, it makes it a fantastic spot for kayaking at any skill level as well. The hiking trails are amazing too, and easy going for any skill level. The park is also all around clean wherever you go in the property. With the low traffic of people in this park, it's quite nice. Very nice, really. I enjoy meeting new people at times when you're out camping, if they're polite and considerate of other campers, but this quiet park makes it possible for a beautiful getaway type spot to have in your back pocket if you want to be outdoors with no disturbances. I highly recommend visiting this park, and I recommend taking a kayak/canoe (the park offers rentals) out into the water if you can to explore the lake, and to get a very natural view at the variety of birds available in this area.
Marc Andrew — Google review
This is a nice State Park. The restrooms and showers were very clean, but the shower heads waste a lot of water. The Park personnel were very friendly and the park was very clean. This was our second time to camp at this park. We only saw one white pelican this time, though. Perhaps, there will be more soon.
John Davis — Google review
I only came to hike, specifically I went on the Baines Creek Trail. It was scenic, quiet, and clean. There were some nice view points along the way but overall it was a rather plain 2.5 one-way hike - even the “hills” weren’t exactly hilly. On the bright side, it made for a great trail running time on the way back. Beyond that, it’s a nice getaway - close to Dallas but not crowded like the other state parks.
Alex O'Donnell — Google review
Fort Parker is absolutely a hidden gem. It's well cared for, quiet, monitored closely by park rangers, and the sunsets last forever with amazing colors.
Highly recommend a cabin in the summer. Beat the heat, sleep great, and still be in nature.
TX Dessert Please — Google review
Beautiful and clean park. Nice campsites, great fishing. Clean restrooms and showers. Only downside is they only have 30 amp electric hook ups.
Albert Dungan — Google review
This park is so serene. The rv slots need updated and have been informed by a ranger that will be happening in the future! Beautiful place to be.
Carla Phillips — Google review
We went on December 23-25. The park was almost empty because it was Christmas time. It rained the night we got there and next morning but we got out on the trails once the rain stopped. We stayed in one of two cabins. The cabins in this park have power, a light and heat/ac and a picnic table. No beds so bring your own. Nice view of the lake and a fire pit and second picnic table outside the cabin. By the bathroom there is a tree with possibly the biggest burl I have ever seen. We thought we would find more mushrooms after the rain but maybe we were too soon after the rain. Most the mushrooms we found were on logs and would have been there anyway. There are cardinals around the cabins including one who thought he found a rival in the neighbors jeep mirror and kept attacking it.
Chris Beath — Google review
Nice little state park, not overcrowded like so many today. Has a great lake, with camping, RV sites and Cabins. It's off the beaten track and great place to get away without having to drive far..
David de Lajunta — Google review
This is a beautiful, quiet & peaceful small State Park. All the sites are on the lake shore or across the road from it. Site 23 is awesome, a huge pull thru on the water. Plenty of hiking trails, fishing, kayak or canoe rentals. A nice day use area, open air pavillion and a group hall with full kitchen. Lots of dear roaming.
Linda Hardy — Google review
Winter grounds for the white pelicans in the shallow waters of the lake - soooo cool! Rented kayaks to paddle the Navasota River, beautiful with lots of herons. So many water birds along the shore, so cute! We had the best RV spot- #20 in the park. Chester, the sweet volunteer who always listened to our exciting stories, was so kind! Trails nice.
Cheryl Till — Google review
Beautiful park on the smaller side but we had a great time, the lake is huge and it's a peaceful area to hang out at. There are swings and a little playground. my dogs enjoyed walking around and getting in the little waterfall near the dam.
K. Portwine — Google review
Pretty solid state park. Easy drive from Dallas.
We camped in the primitive section. Ok sites. Some back to public road that goes to houses and boat ramp. Not constant traffic, but occasional drive thrus that doesn't give you full peace and quiet.
Many of the primitive sites have some sort of slope. Manageable but worth noting.
Primitive sites only have vault toilet. You need to drive to bath house for showers and flush toilets.
Mark Johnson — Google review
A relaxing place to visit near town. Camping and kayaking in a not too crowded place.
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum preserves important artifacts and photos from the history of Texas Rangers, as well as educational programs on the agency's rich history.
This was not my first time to the museum, however it has been at least 20 years. Never disappoints always interesting, new displays and added artifacts. Traveling through Waco in traffic, do yourself a favor, stop and learn about the Texas Rangers. You can sit in traffic later.
This was my dad's favorite museum and we were a family that hit every museum in the area of wherever we were.
Loved the selection of the gift shop too.
The visitors bureau is on the premises too.. don't drive through Texas, stop and learn about Texas.
See ya' down the road.
Caryn Maus — Google review
First time here. If you're interested in the Texas Rangers or just Texas and U.S. history, you'll enjoy the displays here. There is an optional 40 minute documentary about the Rangers. Even if you're just into historic guns, you'll like it here. They have one of the automatic rifles used to take down Bonnie and Clyde. The display of historic badges is amazing. Give yourself 45 minutes to an hour for a self-guided tour and don't forget the gift shop at the end. I highly recommend this museum and I'll be coming back.
David Bailey — Google review
A place to learn about Rangers origin, development and their importance in Texas history. There is a lot of interesting data to learn.
The museum has a lot of information to read and also objects to see. If you like to read information, you can spend easily more than two hours.
In my opinion, this museum is more enjoyable for adult public because historical information could be a little dense for kids, but objects are great.
There is a room where they run a 45 minutes documental that it is included with your admission. It is worth it to see it. During my visit, the documetal started after I saw all the museum so, I was able to rest a little.
Julysblue — Google review
Had alot of fun here with the kids. They enjoyed learning and reading about everything and doing the scavenger hunt. The pistols you could pick up and feel and take apart were a very nice touch! Take a trip out here and enjoy reading about everything and seeing the exhibits.
Daniel H. — Google review
Today was my first time visiting the Museum and I had a great time and learned alot. Really enjoyed the history of the Rangers and how it transitioned to present times. Alot of great stuff to see and read, such as firearms and sections about Bonnie and Clyde. The Hall of Fame section was very well done. I would definitely recommend coming to the museum.
Andrew Carlisle — Google review
If you like guns, rangers and learn about them this is great place. They had so much information on how rangers came into existence and various types of guns they used. They also had a documentary on rangers which was really informative. The whole place will take about 3 hours. If you want to read everything about guns then add more time. The tickets are not expensive at all just 10 per adult and they do have discounts too.
The guns the rangers used are beautiful. They also have a beautiful gift shop. My husband really enjoyed it. We are planning on bringing my father in-law here too as he loves Texas Rangers.
Gayathri Iyer — Google review
Incredible history of a storied profession. My grandparents neighbor, Glen Elliott is enshrined there. I really enjoyed seeing his career on display. Great man!
bill bullard — Google review
For the western US history lover, this place is a real gem. Since their inception in 1823 to present they have been known for their integrity, bravery and energy. These guys are and have always been, the real deal. Lawmen to the core, and we appreciate them! They fought hostiles at first, and then in time, became a law enforcement org. They're the men in the white hats...the good guys! Love history? You'll love this place.
Karl Hanel — Google review
Had a great time going through the museum.
Tins of displays and an awesome video on the Texas Rangers.
Four gentlemen in period costumes representing 4 different eras, explained how the Rangers operated in each period.
A great experience for all ages.
Len McKinnon — Google review
We stopped here after visiting Magnolia Farms, and we really enjoyed our visit!
Lots of very interesting information, and exhibits to look at!
Ariel Bonk — Google review
What a fun experience here. We enjoyed looking at all of the historical pieces like guns and boots etc. The film they ran was really educational! I learned a lot! Definitely a place to check out if you're in town.
Tami Korum — Google review
The museum is very well organized, with every item of history in the areas properly related to its point in time. The interior is beautiful and structured proper, giving room for information to be put on the walls in a viewable location. Each item has its own interesting backstory and provides context put into understandable sentences.
I had some confusion with the building the museum was located in. The woman at the front desk of the Waco Welcome Center quickly and clearly told us where to enter, which is the large building to the left. Tickets were 10$ for adults ages 13 to 59, 8$ for seniors 60 and over, and 4$ for children 6 to 12, with 5 and under given free entry. They also do military/law enforcement discounts, with military being 8$ and law enforcement being 6$.
Overall, great museum if you’re looking to dive deeper into the Texas Rangers’ history!
The Evaluator — Google review
If you like museums, history and everything about rangers, that’s a great museum to visit in Waco. Very interesting, informative, well organised and full of facts, paintings and pictures about rangers in Texas. No need to buy tickets in advance, not crowded, spacious. Absolutely recommend to visit. Adult ticket price is 10 dollars and kids till 12 years old 4 dollars each.
Evgeniya Khlopchenyuk — Google review
A museum that captivated my attention.
Such a large display of beautiful custom engraved weapons along with antique arms and criminally modified ones.
From their beginnings (which I had no clue of) to today's law enforcement. The good Rangers and the bad Rangers. From tracking criminals to their captures or demise.
Plan on watching the movie and spending a couple hours or more.
neal monter — Google review
My husband and I really enjoyed this museum. The video was well done and very informative. Great museum.
Fel F — Google review
I came here with my parents and had no idea how many cool things we would be seeing! This place is so well maintained, full of knowledge and memorabilia from the past. It’s very surreal seeing how life used to be and how far things have come. A must see for anyone in Waco!
Lily A — Google review
A rich history of 200 years celebrated here.... It's what the Rangers really are about and what they do. Just excellent always excellent, Very interesting and educational and fun
Martin Andresen — Google review
This is museum is full of the history of the Texas Rangers and has so many artifacts! There is also 45min movie, but we skipped it
The Dr Pepper Museum is an American history museum based in Waco, Texas, that specializes in the history and memorabilia of soft drinks. The museum has a collection of over 4 million items related to the soft drink industry, including soda bottles, advertisements, and equipment from pre-dating Coca-Cola by one year. The museum also features exhibits on the economics of the soft drink industry as well as how it has shaped American culture.
LOVED the museum! So much to see and learn. The staff was great. The gift shop and soda fountain area was our favorite! The kids loved that they got to make their own soda and create new flavors! It was a great experience.
Myra Hernandez — Google review
I LOVED this place. As a native Texan, raised on the only soda there is, this museum was Awesome! There are three floors of Dr Pepper memorabilia. There is also a soda fountain and interactive workshops. The Make-a-Soda was very fun(do recommend buying advanced tickets for this and the Taste-a-Soda) The gift shop was great. You can take home everything from shirts, hats, and magnets to the original Dr Pepper itself. Also, every paid admission receives a free Dr Pepper or $1 off the floats.
amber t — Google review
Super Place to take a break from driving for a few hours. Much more to see and do than we expected. Try the Taste-a-soda... We got 0 right but had a great time with Gale anyway. My kids 16&14 actually enjoyed the whole place. Don't miss the Dr. Pepper floats. Seriously.... Don't miss them.
Kathryn Whitmore — Google review
Great place to visit. Enjoyed touring the museum. It has 3 floors filled with Dr Pepper stuff plus adjoining buildings with a gift shop & small cafe. Plus it is only about 2 blocks away from the famous Magnolia Complex of Chip & Joanne fame.
Mike Travelling — Google review
$10 to enter per person. You get a voucher for a small Dr Pepper at the end or $1 off at the gift shop. Everything a Dr Pepper lover will enjoy. From the humble begins to present day, this is a cool place to visit. Lots of picture taking opportunities here. Some exhibits are hard not to touch as they state not to touch. A place to see after the Magnolia Silos in Waco.
Carlos Gonzalez — Google review
This place was pretty cool. Way more interesting than I thought it would be. It has the expected history, cans and bottles and old advertisements. But there's also flavor chemistry, manufacturing stuff, the flops like celery soda and new coke. Lots of reading, don't expect to be wowed by loud music and flashing lights. Ten bucks. 2 buildings.
Gary Thompson — Google review
Fun museum on the history of Dr. Pepper. Three floors to explore and lots of cute photo ops in the museum. Soda fountain was a fun way to end, and some of the soda choices are included with the $10 admission ticket, or you can get $ 1 off other options, including floats. Taste-A-Soda and Make-Your-Own-Sodas you can add on for an extra $5 and $10 per person. Both are very fun and memorable experiences. Pogo pass Dallas includes the admission ticket, and you can usually find promos for a discount on the Pogo pass.
Sarah Naik — Google review
Excellent museum! Kids love Dr. Pepper and on our way to Dallas we stopped and it was awesome experience! Very neat to read and see the history of the drink, various photos, equipment, tools, first bottles and more! At the end tried the float and was tasty! Kids loved it! Recommended it!
Jorge L. Flores — Google review
Definitely an experience to share!!! There was a lot of information about the Dr. Pepper company, how it was made, where it came from and even where it is now. If you have an afternoon, Definitely check it out!!! Don't forget to get your free drink or dollar off of a float! (Which I recommend!)
Samantha Landzettel — Google review
I don't think just anybody would be as excited by this museum as we were, but we are so glad we stopped!
It's not World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta), but isn't trying to be, and that's what we loved! It's a small, non-profit museum in an historic building telling a story about the rise of soft drink, the bottling processes, the employee experiences, the international expansion, the power of marketing, and the passion of one of Dr. Pepper's most devoted CEOs-W. W. "Foots" Clements.
My 16 year-old said he preferred it to World of Coke (though that was about 4 years ago). That may have also partly been because it's smaller size and cheaper ticket meant we only spent about 2 hours and didn't burn out the kids. Mom and I had been through here almost 20 years ago and were shocked how much it seemed to have grown. If it was there before, we missed the 7-Up section and soda jerk / soda floats completely before, but not this time!
Who SHOULD visit? I'd say it is definitely better for someone who is interested in soda pop (or history in general), willing to do a lot of reading, and doesn't require hands-on exhibits to stay occupied. A bit of nostalgia helps, too, whether you're of the "10, 2, and 4" era or "Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?" Now, time to go try a hot Dr. Pepper...
Michael S — Google review
We highly enjoyed the Dr. Pepper Museum. Lots of cool things on display.Good history of the company and it's employees. I enjoy the trucks on display a lot. The staff was very friendly. It's worth the $10 to get in. My whole family enjoyed the museum. Easy to get to off of I-35
A Allen — Google review
We honestly hit this up due the proximity to magnolia market. It was a cute hidden gem that does show a unique way of preserving the history of the Dr Pepper company. All of the antique signage and marketing pieces were great to look at. You won’t need to reserve admission tickets in advance but it you’re interested in either the Make A Soda or Taste a Soda experiences I would def buy these in advance.
Kristen Stirtz — Google review
A very interesting place to visit- no idea this even existed! We had a great time going through the building that had such history. This happens to be my youngest son's favorite drink. We enjoyed looking through the different eras of production of this American institution. We were glad to be there and of course go to the gift shop for souvenirs to bring back to California. A great family environment and one that we hope to visit again.
Angelita F — Google review
A nice museum that exhibits the origin and the history of an alternate drink among the other familiar drinks !
Home of Dr.Pepper is a nice architectural piece.
The museum store gives the choices for the souvenirs, and an on site quick bite restaurant with indigenous drink gives an opportunity to spend some time relaxing.
No car parking in site. Paid lots and street parking are available nearby.
T RS — Google review
Really well done museum with a complete history of Dr Pepper.
The place is right next to the Silos in Waco making it very convenient for multiple experiences in one day.
The staff were friendly and helpful.
The only negatives were the tables in the malt shop were not cleaned regularly and the gift shop is over priced.
However, if you are a fan of Dr Pepper, you will love the experience.
Brandon Pratt — Google review
"I'm A Pepper", so of course I had to visit the Dr. Pepper Museum while in Waco! :-) There are 3 floors packed with memorabilia inside of a 1906 bottling plant. There's so much to take in and interact with that I recommend giving yourself at least an hour to get through it all. One of my favorite things about this museum was a "theater" where you can sit and watch all of the Dr. Pepper commercials! The "I'm A Pepper" commercial is my favorite, but my goodness, I heard it in my head over and over for the rest of the tour. :-)
Then there's the gift shop and the soda fountain, complete with a "soda jerk", so plan on an extra hour of two after enjoying the museum. Grab a free Dr. Pepper (best ever) or get a dollar off a Dr. Pepper Float on your way out.
My friend, Nicole, thought the sign that read "Tip your Jerk" was awfully rude, until I explained that Soda Jerk is the actual title of the sweet lady who poured our DP! :-D
(If you love Dr. Pepper like I do, grab a bag of Dr. Pepper Cotton Candy while your there!)
I absolutely recommend making time to visit the Dr. Pepper Museum if you're ever in or near Waco, Texas! I loved it!
Lisa Marie — Google review
What a cool experience! So much history at the Dr pepper museum. History of sparkling water, mineral water, Dr pepper, and all kinds of other soda's. Museum also had pictures and information about the tornado of 1953 that destroyed a large portion of Waco. Museum tour includes a fountain drink as well. So much history here. Great way to cool off indoors and learn about the history of soda! Definitely recommend this place.
Rebekah Johnson — Google review
Love it!!! Definitely a great experience for a Dr.Pepper fan or really any soda fan! Did the taste testing and make your own soda exhibits that were so fun to do. Book in advance!! Great photo ops too and awesome gift shop.
The virtual tour was kind of hard to follow and not really up to date with the museum, so it would be great if you could update it and not make it a video but audio only
Sabrina Williams — Google review
We enjoyed the museum. There was a lot of really neat stuff from all over the world. Some interactive exhibits. The science lab was fun! The snack shoppe was a great atmosphere.
Andrea Fortner — Google review
This was a really neat place to visit. We loved the Make-a-Soda class. Some of the items in the gift shop are pretty expensive (a medium-sized puppy was $30) so beware, but overall, it was a cool experience for kids.
Mary Mitchell — Google review
Amazing museum! LOADS of history everywhere you turn, but if you're "A Pepper," it's a lot more interesting! There are also a couple of experiences to participate in for just a little extra $.
There's an old fashioned soda bar where you can get a DP and/or ice cream float. Of course, there's also a gift shop. Really fun place!
Jenny LaFon — Google review
Having too much fun making my own soda today!!! 😍
So much fun!!! Make your own flavored soda for $10!! You have 3 tries. Raspberry, lime and 7up combo is good :) you can ask for separate cups and mix and match on your own!! You can also get a free drink at the end or get $1 off menu items (get 2 scoops of ice cream for $4 or a root beer float for $5). Fun for kids and adults, good family activity to do if you're visiting!
Rita L — Google review
Lots of fun if you like to visit museums. Me and my husband decided to visit it and absolutely loved it. It was so much fun finding out how they bottled, what inspired them to start fizzy drinks and we absolutely loved the ads created old times to advertise Dr Pepper outside. They also have a make your own soda lab which we couldn’t make it on time but looked like so much fun. The best was they served hot Dr Pepper. It was so good.
Gayathri Iyer — Google review
It was a nice to see the history or Dr. Pepper. They even had cans and bottles from other countries. It cost $10 to get in but it also came with a voucher for a free fountain drink or a discount on a souvenir cup. They also had a penny machine where you can make a Dr. Pepper penny for $0.51. I recommend you go early so you can try their soda maker we went later in the day and it was already closed.
Gemini Stokes — Google review
I love (and am slightly addicted to) Dr Pepper and made a special day trip from Dallas to Waco, just to go to the museum! The history is fascinating and I loved all the displays. The line for the free drink was super long and I'd packed my own bottle of Dr Pepper Cherry for the road, so I didn't wait in line. The Make a Soda and Taste a Soda were booked by the time I arrived, but it looked fun and interesting! There's a lot of exclusive items available in the small gift shop. I might have spent a small fortune 🤣
Kati Hatfield — Google review
A cool little walk through with the entire history of Dr Pepper from beginning to present day!! When you buy the $10 general admission walk through you also get a hand made Dr Pepper at the end of the tour. I also recommend buying tickets in advance for the Dr Pepper tasting and the make your own soda experience. They usually are sold out by the day of so buying in advance is a good thing. Overall a really cool experience. $10 parking was available across the street from the museum.
J W — Google review
We really enjoyed our visit. There are lots of interesting marketing things to see, and the history is pretty cool. Value wise, I think the extra experiences are overpriced. We paid $30 for a quick 20 minute make your own soda. I think a fair value would be half or make general admission $15 and include the experience. I think it would also be cool to make a professional label instead of one you write in with a sharpie. That being said, the folks running the experience were super awesome and did an outstanding job. If you are in the area, I recommend stopping. Lots of good photo opportunities.
edward saiz — Google review
Fun place, close parking on the street, and reasonable price to get in. Went with my family for a little outing and everyone seemed to enjoy the atmosphere. The reason I gave four stars is because you are given a bracelet at entry to receive a free drink at the end of seeing the museum. You pass a gift shop then a big area where drinks and shakes are made ( the bracelet is for a drink only ), well both the gift shop and drink area where unbelievably packed! We decided to pass up the drink and leave.
Sarah Farison — Google review
I’ve been a fan of Dr Pepper for more than 20 years now and I’m glad I got to visit Mecca! So cool to learn the history of not only my favorite drink but as an entrepreneur it was awesome to learn about the company!
I was nervous that this wouldn’t be a good place for my kids but there was plenty of fun activities for them! I would definitely visit again the next time I find myself in Waco.
The Waco Suspension Bridge is a long-standing icon of the city, spanning the Brazos River and connecting Martin Luther King Park on the east side with Indian Spring Park on the west side. The bridge is open to both pedestrians and cyclists, making it a popular spot for a romantic date night or for simply taking in the sights and sounds of this historic river town.
The suspension bridge itself is closed for the time being due to construction. But the area around it is still open and is just as beautiful! There are still many places to take a nice walk and there is also other bridges.
Beccie Riley — Google review
Note that the bridge is still closed, although the work is expected to be completed this year. November is just days away and I seriously doubt if it will be available for the public to enjoy in 2022. The promenade is a nice place to burn some calories after dinner but be prepared, there are swarms of mosquito.
LS fanatic — Google review
Historic bridge with a nice park around it. There's an observation platform nearby for photos on the river, the Doris Miller memorial and a Vietnam veterans memorial among other things to see. More than just a bridge.
Mike Vollmer — Google review
Very nice peaceful place for the 1st time here and enjoyed myself. Yet the day was super hot it read 102° that was there for like 1 hour about 5ish left and returned abt 8ish was still hot but a bit breezy. Nice place to take some pics and just sit and soak in the sun. Nice history on this, too. You will enjoy and I think they also have kayaks for rent. Not sure how much but I know they do and the lake cruise as well.
Miatha Pizana — Google review
very beautifully restored bridge. love fishing there feeding the ducks and just overall a good place to bring the family for a nice walk. events and more it's also surrounded by lots of local restaurants and fun things to do as it is literally right downtown.
Caleb Lack — Google review
Lovely place for a nice long walk, there’s nature too! Some of the hiking nearby is actually really wooded which we enjoyed! It’s stunning here
Siddharth Sinha — Google review
The suspension bridge is currently closed due to construction, but we were able to walk through the park area down to the river where you can see the bridge pretty well.
Brandon Barrett — Google review
One time visiting on my way of heading to Austin. I think it’s good to see the bridge and get some refresh at the riverside. At that time, i just wanted to stop by a park beside the river to take a break from my long way driving, but i found this historic bridge by chance. Lucky, I like it! 😉👍This beautiful creature reminds me New York in someways.
Alex HJ Lee — Google review
This is a historical place in waco. It has great look and a good place for afternoon walk. It is located in the downtown waco. The river looks very attractive from the bridge. This bridge shares history of this old town. There’s a hiking trail beneath it which goes up to the Cameron park and named as river trail. Parking and restrooms are available. Attaching both day and night views of the bridge.
Sadia Disha — Google review
Such a cool piece of history. Bridge built in 1870 and updated and maintained by Waco. Cool sculptures as you enter with markers and a great smooth place to walk. Even works for those with walkers or wheelchairs. It's a great place for visitors and locals to hang out and enjoy the sights.
David Bailey — Google review
Was closed due to construction but it appears to be a beautiful walk over the Brazos when open. Some of the "Branding the Brazos" statuary are outside of the construction area. This is ordinarily open during the evening but I wouldn't feel safe with the restrooms being occupied with homeless people. Looks like a gathering. No hate here, simply concerned as a tourist.
Dixie Pixie — Google review
A well built bridge. Very clean and taken care of. Amazing art displays out front
Leah G — Google review
Excellent place to relax and discover some of not only Waco's but American history.. the area has become exponentially more popular in recent yr and don't look to slow with the post tornado redevelopment of downtown and the historic Elm St corridor.. so come on and have a relaxing afternoon and learn something about Waco or Texas you might not of known... ❤️💯
Chris Elmore — Google review
Nice place for evening strolling at the edge of downtown Waco. There is an history involved with this bridge that I found interesting and hence attached in the photos. This bridge is no longer used for traffic rather it’s open for visitors. It connects to the riverwalk through stairs as well as ramps. Bridge entrance is nicely adorned with sculptures which makes this place more attractive. Free street parking available and restaurants are just around the corner. I don’t remember any restroom onsite but there is a picnic spot and restroom just 5 minutes walk down the riverwalk near Doris miller monument.
Taofiq Hasan — Google review
This bridge is awesome. The views are so beautiful and it feels good to walk on the bridge. Me and my husband went for walks on the bridge and back through another bridge next to it. They also have a beautiful trail down the bridge that has amazing views and is so peaceful to walk. Glad we decided to stop by . They also have beautiful sculptures of Longhorns that are so artistic.
Gayathri Iyer — Google review
Very attractive walking bridge, a good spot for photos and fresh air! You can park your car on the street that is running along the river. In front of the bridge you'll find some statues of cows and cowboys. Also there is a nice walking area nearby the bridge on both shores of the river. The bridge itself is now used by pedestrians only, but it is quite wide, in good state and give a nice views to the water, other bridges and river shores. I very enjoyed my stop here
Mikhail Badylevich — Google review
Completed in 1869 (That's not a typo. 1869.), the bridge crosses the Brazos River in Waco. A major undertaking at the time due to Waco's remote location, it was considered to be a marvel of engineering. More than 3 million bricks make up the twin double towers. The cables that make up the bridge were brought in by wagons.
The first suspension bridge in Texas, it was built to be wide enough for stagecoaches to pass each other. Or for cattle to cross on one side of the bridge while pedestrians crossed on the other. Yes, as the only bridge over the Brazos, Waco was a critical stop on the Chisholm Trail that was used to drive cattle to the railroads.
There have been no tolls to cross the bridge since 1889. It has been open to vehicles, stagecoaches, and cattle until 1971 when it was reduced to pedestrians and bicycles only.
Bruce K. — Google review
When I visited, there was a cute high school couple asking his partner for prom. Good place to walk and wander around. Be careful thou a few homeless people around.
Kim France — Google review
It is a beautiful park, we like to come often to do different recreational activities
Lesli C — Google review
In the Shadow of the Waco TX Suspension Bridge lies a quiet little park dedicated to a larger than life American Hero, Doris Miller, a Waco Native. It's a beautiful Memorial and will or should jerk a tear from the pit of humanity to see such a young life lost to a war he didn't create.
Sharon D — Google review
An icon of city of Waco. Very nice place to take pictures and admire the Brazos river that flows underneath. It’s been very well maintained over the years. When we went they were doing some maintenance but it was still accessible to the public.
The Cameron Park Zoo is a fun place to go with children. It houses a wide variety of animals, including many that are not found in other zoos. The zoo is also home to a crocodile exhibit and a large aquarium.
Not too large. Not too small. But just right! This zoo is nicely sized to complete in a few hours. The path winding throughout offers varying views of the animal and enclosure without blocking the animal. If that makes sense…. Would recommend. It was worth the drive from Austin for sure.
P?maika`i — Google review
We really enjoyed this zoo. It was laid out very well. You can tell the animals are cared for here. Their environments were clean and the animals looked healthy. They had lots of items in their habitat that kept them busy. We went in the morning when it was cooler and that was fun since they were feeding the animals. The kids really enjoyed the slide that goes through the water in the otter habitat. The staff was also very friendly and helpful.
Deneane F — Google review
The zoo is really shaded and nice. I wish they had an interactive map. I had to call multiple times to find out if they had Cheetah at the zoo and no one seemed to know and everyone was giving me different responses. At the zoo when I inquired about the Cheetah they sent me to the Tiger :-) some staff members were new so I guess that's alright. Someone from the gift shop was very helpful and they went out of their way to help me over the phone to get me to Cheetah.
Rahul Bhandari — Google review
What an incredible zoo. I didn't know what to expect since it is a bit smaller town. It is so well kept and taken care of. All the animals seemed very well kept, they were very active and had quite large habitats. We got to see the African elephant come down to the water area right in front of the fence and take a bath, spent about 30 minutes with the orangutan because they came and sat right in front of me and followed be around to different parts, and really looking forward to the new penguin exhibit they are building.
Bdgoebel — Google review
Love this zoo! We brought our youngest sons here when they were little and now we get to share it with our grandbabies. There have been a few updates since we were here 10 years ago but overall it was nice to share a similar experience. We also ate at the food court. It would be nice to see some updates to this area. Lines were long and although service was friendly the options are limited.
Jennifer Conner — Google review
This was a good zoo. We wish there were more animals. It seemed like they may have been doing renovations since a lot seemed empty or closed. We loved all of the shaded areas and how beautiful the layout is. This is a great place for families. Remember to bring your water bottle as they have plenty of places to fill up. We'll worth the price.
Lee Ann Robinson — Google review
A nice, small zoo with plenty of shade and several inside exhibits to enjoy. The exhibits were small and some of the animals looked sad, but it was 100+ degrees outside, so we all kind of looked sad. Several of the exhibits were missing animals, including the giraffes, which was a bummer. My kids enjoyed the splash pad and playground, but the slide was super slick and my kids go hurt sliding down so quickly.
Tina Fast — Google review
We went to see the new baby giraffe. Mom and baby were bonding and kept inside. We did get to see and congratulate dad from a distance.
The zoo trail is very well organized. I wish they had a map....we got lost at some point not knowing where on the maps we were and how many more stops til the giraffes. The trail has a great mixture of outer and inner exhibits. We are able to escape the heat.
We took pictures of the markers throughout the adventure to keep track.
It's a great walking course with measured symbols on post so you know how far you've walked.
We walked for approximately 2 hours, and arrived back at the entrance shortly after 5:15p.
Sophia Downing — Google review
My wife and I spent a day of shenanigans at the Cameron Park Zoo. I have lived in Texas most of my life and never have been here to this beautiful zoo. Better late than never! We had a wonderful time and matter of fact if you live within Texas and/or planning a getaway vacation I highly recommend this zoo as it's very similar to the world renowned San Diego Zoo with all of its hilly and wooden pathways and buildings. I have been there twice and the Cameron Park Zoo brought back many cherished memories as the orangutan inclosure not included in all of the photos and video is exactly the same as the one at the San Diego Zoo.
John Beissert — Google review
I recently visited Cameron Zoo, and it was a wonderful experience. The presence of African animals added an exotic touch to the zoo, creating a unique and engaging atmosphere. The facility was impeccably clean, enhancing the overall enjoyment of our visit. My daughters particularly loved walking through the zoo, and the highlight for them was discovering a slide inside the otters' tank. It brought immense joy to see them having a blast interacting with the playful otters. Cameron Zoo is a fantastic place for families to explore and create lasting memories.
Hazel Yanes — Google review
We took our grandchildren here for the weekend. It exceeded our expectation as we have traveled and been to larger cities zoos. Price, all the different animals, plenty of shade ,well kept area and very informative. We definitely enjoyed it and will return.
Annette Bryant — Google review
What an awesome zoo for young kids. We loved every minute but the highlights were the big cats and the otter slide. Also note the coffee from the food truck just inside was really good. We will definitely be back
Sharon Casey — Google review
Wow! The setup is great for visitors and animals. The habitats are nice and clean for the animals. The walkways are mostly shaded making summertime visits so much more pleasant, with lots of vending machines and benches for breaks, and plenty of clean restrooms. We had lunch near the splash pad. The indoor exhibits were air conditioned and odor-free. The entire area is covered with trees so shade is plenty. They even have strollers for kids and mobility vehicles for adults at the entrance to the park. We took our time walking through the zoo, spending around 4 hours, that includes a stop for lunch. For me, this is the nicest zoo in Texas! The kids loved every minute of it. We'll be back soon!
Justin Steadman — Google review
We took our son to Cameron park zoo for his very first zoo visit! At first we were worried about the heat with our 11 month old but there are plenty canopys, indoor cooled exhibits to visit along the whole zoo. We were also very grateful for the nursery pods, playground and splash area for a good spot to stop and decompress. It was very quiet and not too busy, food truck options and a cafe(we didn’t check out). A lot of the habits could be easily seen from the walking paths so it was easy to see the animals up close. We live an hour away but will most likely visit again!
jennifer house — Google review
We spend our afternoon in Cameron park zoo Waco Texas and it was definitely worth it. They have lots of exhibits and all the animals, birds, reptiles are so fun to watch. Definitely bring your kids here. Worth the prize. Takes about 3 to 4 hours if you want to spend at least 5 to 10 mins in an exhibit.
The only negative I have to say is about the cafe. It was horrible. They only serve pizza as whole and not by slice. The pizza also tasted horrible. It was not good. They dont have many options either for vegetarians other than cheese pizza or grilled cheese. I mean I wish we got it by the slice.
Rest of it was really good.
Gayathri Iyer — Google review
We loved this zoo. Maybe because it was a quiet Monday after the rain, but also because you can do a loop from start to finish. We really had such a great time and my kids wanted to stay longer which is always a great sign.
Brigitte K. Neves — Google review
We love the zoo. We go all the time. I got a pass and we use it to go most weekdays, even if it’s just for a few minutes. It’s a safe place to walk with the kids, all stroller friendly, lots of shady paths. Very convenient.
Abby Keeney — Google review
Fun zoo, lots of space but thought there would be more animals. My family drove from the DFW area and the first issue we encountered was parking. We arrived around 12:30 pm on a Sunday, so if you are traveling with anyone that might have a little trouble walking I recommend getting there right when they open to get a handicap spot. My parents are both handicapped and we ended up having to park about a block and a half away from the zoo entrance and walk. It's a large zoo, you basically walk in a big circle but large sections were closed due to remodeling. We did see giraffes, one elephant, two rhinos, three giant tortoises, two female lions, a few orangutan monkeys, a capybara, a bald eagle, lots of birds, and a few other types of animals! It was a great visit just for the size of the zoo in my mind we were going to see more. There is a nice play area for toddlers and young children.
Sarah Farison — Google review
This place is a great zoo. My daughters and I have a great experience here. We went in the fall where the weather are like 65 degree and sunny. Cool weather makes it so nice to walk around. This sightseeing zoo is the most beautiful thing with the bamboo all around atmosphere. Very roomy, spacious, playground area, lots of restrooms area around zoo. These animals are active and moving. Pacing back to forth. Most zoo I went, animals are lazy and just sit, laid, sleeping, or inactive. This zoo is shade all around. Lots of animals to see. I think the animals are trained to walk around in that small habitat that they live in. There's a small aquarium and reptiles room too. Over all it's awesome zoo. One thing for sure is, don't wear anything but comfy shoes. It's huge... Wear comfortable shoes to walks in. Not too crowded. We didn't get to see the elephant that was labeled. We saw a very nice variety of animals though. I'm very satisfied with the outcome of this zoo have. I'm likely to returned after they get the penguin area. I'm looking forward to this day. Whenever that is.... Thank you for reading my reviews. If you like or find it helpful, give me a thumb up and like and follow me.
annie le — Google review
If you have a pass that covers area museums and parks, the zoo may not be covered any more. But other than that it is a nice zoo. A nice collection of exhibits and pretty clean. Lots of vultures.
Andrew Prather — Google review
A very enjoyable trip to the zoo. A beautiful location to walk around and look at all of the exhibits with animals. My children loved the interactive nature of the exhibits and especially the large playground for the kids to play on. Our favorite moment was when the lion roared right in front of the glass and rubbed its face against the glass. Amazing! The zoo seemed clean and well kept.
Jenny Borter — Google review
Once the animals were out it was great! Cooler temps kept some of the animals from being out. (Understandably, temps must be above 48F for tropical animals to be let out. I wish these animals' indoor enclosure were viewable during these times.) We enjoyed all of the animals and the beautiful landscaping.
Terri West — Google review
Recently visited the Cameron Park Zoo and was shocked at how filthy it was. I understand zoos are smelly. But this place had bird poop everywhere because of all the vultures that have taken over. And there were discarded plastic tarps in some of the enclosures…including some with animals in them; which seems like a safety issue for the animals. Beyond the uncleanliness, it was really a sad zoo. Only one elephant, which is too bad, because elephants are incredibly social animals and need to be in a pair or trio. And the one bear they have is clearly not well mentally. The poor thing was pacing back and forth in a 6 foot pattern, clearly distressed. Same with the tiger. I would not support this zoo. Honestly, it would be better for the animals and the public if it would close.
I think we spent three hours checking out all the booths. There is a lot to see if you like vintage items. Bought two mid century Siamese cat figurines and a non-working German Black Forest cuckoo clock. My husband has already spent four hours working on the clock and is making decent progress. There were other items I wanted to purchase but did not take the truck on this trip. I really like this establishment and plan to return in the near future.
Diana Bailey-Kent — Google review
Amazing selection. Great staff and and Fox’s has the best lunch!!
Corey Triplett — Google review
This is still the best antique mall in central Texas. They have 15,000 SF of treasures. Go early so you have time to peruse through all the great booths. Worth the drive from Dallas, Austin or Houston. I found some great side tables as a sample of their stock. So many great finds. Happy hunting.
Jerry Bradford — Google review
When you think you’re at the end of the store, it keeps going on and on. It’s a magical place. So many things to find! Good pricing too.
Anna Otis — Google review
So thrilled to have found this place not far from my home in Waco-
Great food at wonderful price located in a humongous facility to pass the hot days away. Will go back .
Trese Foster — Google review
I can’t go in here without spending a lot of money. I like this place! There is such a wide variety of antiques and vintage items. It’s really impressive with three very very large rooms. It takes me almost 2 hours to walk the entire store especially since I’m looking at every little nook and cranny.
Again, I just really like this place and if you go home empty-handed, it’s your own fault.
Heidi — Google review
We really love the Cedar Chest Antique Mall near McGregor. Drive the hour & half route from Austin at least 3 times a year. Always find something interesting or unique to add to our collections! From old tools or vintage car parts to paper goods and household items .. we never leave empty handed. Here is a photo of a '50's hassock fan purchased years ago and used at our cabin on the Dry Frio. I just repainted it for use in Austin.
Dennis A. Purcell — Google review
Such a lovely place to go to on a rainy day and we have been wanting to come for quite some time! SO many things to look at! We needed a few vinyl records for our "music wall" and found. I'm always on the lookout for unique jewelry and found a bracelet that I liked. The lady at the front desk was helpful and the man who greeted us when we first walked in made us feel welcome.
Eloíza — Google review
This place is unbelievable, there is so much to see there that you need to give yourself a lot of time to look at it all. One hour just will not do. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. Give yourself at least two hours or you’re going to be rushing through it.
Rusty Shackleford — Google review
This mall goes on forever. Lots of great antiques. Staff was very attentive and helpful. I will definitely be heading back in the next couple months.
Zephaniah Farms — Google review
This is without a doubt the cleanest, largest, most well staffed, and even the most delicious antique store I have ever been to! Not only was this a huge warehouse of antiquities but it was surprisingly well kept and clean! Fun, organized, yet still having the fun of an iSpy book while looking for treasures. I bought a dragon sword! Not only was this a great antique store but the attached small diner, Fox's, with its homemade bread and AMAZING home made pies (get the keylime) was an absolute treat. Will be going back soon!
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is a protected paleontological site where an ancient herd of Columbian mammoths was discovered in 1978. The site now contains fossilized remains of the mammoths, as well as other Ice Age animals, and offers visitors a chance to view them in person.
It was unfortunate circumstances that brought me to this area of Waco (final services at a nearby funeral home), but my wife found this on the map along our way. Our two boys are young enough that this was an amazing break on our trip. Actually, I thought it was just as awesome!
The staff was among the most professional and friendly of any park I’ve ever visited. The trail to the site is short and a beautiful walk beneath the trees.
Pretty need find a little out of the way, but worth the visit.
Michael Oakes — Google review
This is a really neat site. Our tour guide was great and shared so much about the history and significance of this place.
I definitely recommend stopping here. Where else can you see an active (though not being actively worked on) dig site?
The gift shop was great too. Specifically the minerals they have for sale. So many different ones to choose from. Great prices too, anywhere from a couple bucks to a couple hundred, depending on the type and size.
Glorkar Floki — Google review
This is fairly young park compared to other national parks. Its small but the main attraction is presented well. Its wheelchair friendly and there are trails for folks who like to exolore. Very small fee but it helps maintain the park.
Ana Bruja - Khayos — Google review
This place was simply amazing! I went here curious about the past and left with so much knowledge and amazing crystals! The tour guide was so sweet and you could tell she was passionate and truly cares about her job. They have a store inside that has some of the most beautiful crystals I’ve ever seen and they are VERY well priced! 10/10, can’t wait to visit again!
Molly C — Google review
My son and I really enjoyed this day trip! Really interesting to see and to hear the tour guide tell of all the fun facts. Great family outing!!! A must for locals, and tourists will find it a treat. The area is quite beautiful and lush, being on the Brazos River area. Easy to imagine these giants roaming around. Other animal bones, such as giant tortoises, camels, and some they're not sure, are there too. Great day!
Constance Cade — Google review
Okay so bathrooms only available near the parking lot. It’s not a far walk to the place. I have a 3 because I just was expecting it to be more educational. Kid friendly. There’s a sand digging box at the top near parking lot. Paths are paved & easy. No wait on a weekend. Buy tickets up front that they do check for before you can see the bones. I also thought there’d be more bones in one location but each one was not individually marked so it was hard to tell where all 22 were.
N Paulic — Google review
Great experience! Very informative tour and the climate controlled dig site was a treat from the heat! The gift shop items were reasonably priced and there is an activity tent for the kids and a sand box where kids can dig for their own fossils. I recommend bringing them in sandals and an extra set of clothes for afterwards. They also have a hiking trail you can do. Beautiful place to visit!
Myra Hernandez — Google review
I think entry was free but if you wanted the guided tour of the site then it was a minimal charge, maybe $5.00 and well worth it. The rangers were excellent. I purchased a lot of interesting items in the gift shop too. Lots of great learning toys for kids. Wish the tee shirts were of a softer material. Only a short drive from downtown Waco and well worth the visit.
Becky C. — Google review
Awesome place to visit with kids. The dig sight was very cool to see, and the tour guide had a lot of information to share about the history. Plus, it's indoors after a short walk!
Casey was awesome at the sales table, he was friendly and chatted with my kids about their experience. Another park ranger was a huge help when my youngest fell and scraped her knee, I don't recall her name, but she was quick to give my child first aid and helped calm her down.
Leyna Saultz — Google review
Really cool exhibit showing an archaeological site of ancient mammoth remains. I don’t remember the tour guides name but she was excellent; very knowledgeable and funny too. Definitely worth the $6 and there are some small walking trails too.
Ford Thorman — Google review
First off; do the tour! The guides will tell you what you’re looking at and they make the experience. Anyone who is remotely interested in fossils will enjoy this site. The bones you’re looking at are real; they are being dug out of the ground. It’s an active dig site so if you come back later they may have new info for you!
The whole area is easily accessible for anyone. There’s a short walk, but no stairs and it’s all paved; and if you think it’s too far you can ask about the shortcut from the parking lot. The walk is through the woods which is beautiful to see as well. Overall I’d highly recommend coming here and seeing this fascinating site.
sierra kenison — Google review
This was a really fun national monument and I highly recommend visiting if you're in the Waco area.
I was here for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 and the rangers did a great job facilitating the event. They gave out free eclipse glasses and kept the crowds under control while being friendly and informative.
The ticket for the dig site was $6 and you get to see mammoth fossils still preserved in the ground. The rangers there were happy to answer questions as well. They've also got some hiking and nature trails in the park too.
5 stars!
Arnav Agarwal — Google review
You can have a nice walk and beautiful mammoth 🦣 visit to the monument! Definitely a worth visit!
My childhood dream of seeing mammoth 🦣 has been fulfilled 😇😁☺️
There are many beautiful stones you can purchase at the souvenir shop and got some stuffs! I’m happy and content!
Come visit and enjoy the fossils visit!
Cheers 🥂
Mr. No Tengo Dinero — Google review
This was a great stop with some fun stuff to check out during the Fall Fossil Festival. The staff was super friendly and engaging. Plenty of parking and golf carts to shuttle you if needed from the overflow parking lot. Pricing is very reasonable for the tour and the items for sale. Lots of info given and interactive things for the kids to do from clotting to digging to helping out with shifting through actual dig sure material to help them find micro fossils. The had pumpkin painting, meet and greet with live camels and even had truck out yet buckets for kids to pick a treat from.
Rene Trevino — Google review
If you have seen the movie ice age and wondered if you will be seeing a real mammoth then you are at the right place. It’s really exciting to think that the fossilized remains that we can see here in the digging site was a real mammoth from ice age. Other than the fossil there is a trail where you can take a short hike. This place also has a picnic spot and restrooms however the restrooms are inside the welcome center. Admission for adults is $6 and only required if you want to visit the dig shelter but you can roam around rest of the park for free. Plenty of parking spots available and you can park your RV either.
Taofiq Hasan — Google review
I just loved my visit. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. The bones were amazing to see. The signage was excellent. The vibe was so cool I want to get my degree in whatever I'd need to study so I can work here! What a cool place. Go see some wooly mammoths! (And skip the awful natural history museum.)
Loretta Pontillo — Google review
It’s a must visit place for those living in waco. This place is nice historic and well maintained. The fossil was discovered by two men in 1978 and then upon the realization of the importance of the Mammoth’s fossil this place was made a dig shelter. The museum is under the national park services and was opened for people since 2009. It’s a good place to visit with little kids and to learn about mammoth and history. This area also has hiking trail and picnic area. You should buy tickets from the visitor center and then follow directions to the dig shelter. You will also find souvenirs to buy in the visitor center.
Sadia Disha — Google review
Highly recommed a visit to this location. The guides were so informative. We had a group of people ranging in age from 90 to 9 and everyone loved it!
Bobbie DoLittle — Google review
Great little spot to kill an hour or so. Very interesting guided tour with informative and helpful guides. Pretty neat to be able be so close to the real thing instead of mock ups in a museum!
Yes it costs just a bit to see, but they go to pretty extensive lengths to preserve the actively studied site.
Nate Bressler — Google review
Really loved this stop on our Texas road trip. Very interesting information about the Columbian Mammoth. You also get to see the actual fossils and the excavation process. Josie was our guide and did an excellent job. 6 dollars per person for the tour.
Sharon Martin Andre — Google review
Showed up at 9am on a weekday and got a tour with just me and another person. Fairly short and not too many artifacts, but lots of information. Our tour was about 35 minutes since we had some questions. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. The gift shop was reasonably priced.
Justin Villa — Google review
Very unique park located in Waco. $6 per adult. The gift shop at the entrance hosts the restrooms. Tickets can also be purchased at said gift shop. A tour is included if wanted, or the park can be seen without the tour. If you decide to go on the tour, don't lose your ticket as they will ask for it when you go into the excavation site.
Carlos Gonzalez — Google review
Very fun and informative! They have some of the actual fossils found there and you can look from the same room. Tour tickets are only $6 per adult. Lots of fun souvenirs in the gift shop. They also have replicas you can get closer to or touch. Guides are very knowledgeable about it. This is a newer exhibit that is still growing and they are learning about the fossils more all the time right now. Keep in mind there is really only one small site to see, mostly you are there long enough to learn about what you're looking at. The guide is good because I wouldn't know what any of the bones were if I was looking by myself. Definitely recommend for a quick stop! Seem to be starting tours very frequently. You have plenty of time to take pics and ask questions.
Hannah Hollyfield — Google review
This is an active dig. The real thing! A fun gift shop and sand box for the kids to pretend they are digging for bones. The tour was perfect in length. The tour flow is great. Wait time for next tour 5-15 mins, gift shop, sand box, a 10 min walk along a path through a lush forest, tour guides are informative and humorous, ending up in an air conditioned beautiful pavilion that protects the active dig. Stunning!
Greg Moore — Google review
This is such a great and fun excavation center! The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They have documentaries on while you wait for a tour to start, and they sell various items to fund the park. We bought a magnet and a stuffed animal. The prices are a bit high, but they are normal for tourist attractions. Their gift shop sells some nice souvenirs, and they have imported rocks. They are right off the highway and have a bathroom, which is nice and convenient. There weren't many people when we went there, but that was midday on a Monday, so don't take that to heart. The cost was very low, and we learned a lot. Hopefully, they can attract more people. I only wish they were doing some excavation, as there were many cool bones/skellingtons I would love to see uncovered. Overall, a 5 star attraction.
Tristan Wilczynska — Google review
Overall, a nice small museum with real mammoth bones still in their location, uncovered. $17 for 2 adults and kid age 4 and 2 year old (free). My girls enjoyed digging up bones in the dirt and asking why the mammoths died. Short 5 min paved walk to the museum from the parking lot - stroller friendly.
Wilmington Mom — Google review
Great National Monument park hidden away in Waco. Tours run every half hour, the dog site had a building built around it, air conditioned and protected. The tour guide was friendly, funny, and very informative. Even my preteen admitted it was very cool!
Cute gift shop at the top, with free kids mini dig site, that my toddler loved. We spent about 2 hours here, and had a wonderful time at very low cost!
Kelsi Riqueros — Google review
It was awesome! A must visit at Waco. It gives us good information on the mammoths. I definitely recommend the tour as you know what you are looking at. Otherwise it might just be a bunch of bones. The guide was humorous , informative and very helpful. He explained it clearly.
They also have a cute little gift shop and so many things to choose from.
Just a reminder. No cafe or eatables.
Definitely a great place to visit.
Gayathri Iyer — Google review
This was way beyond my expectations!!
I’m not sure why but I thought it would only be a couple of mammoth bones, not as many as I got to see today 😃
The other animal bones made it feel surreal, the feeling of how different our environments were back then to here I am standing right above so much natural history.
I really enjoyed this and need to come back with more time.
They have informational tours, I visited on a whim so unsure of the times for those. Ours was at 3:30 then they had another coming up at 4:15 but I was unable to stay.
Wait time was less than 10mins (way less) and I did not see an option to pay online just when you get there.
Gee I wish there was a higher rating than 5 on Google Maps because I'd give JDH Iron Designs 100 stars without hesitation. While visiting Waco last week, I knew that I wanted to take a ride to Crawford, TX, to visit Jimmy Don's shop. So, Saturday, 7/30/2018. The drive was beautiful and once we arrived, we met a very sweet young lady behind the desk and a kind gentleman who was also working with her.
We browsed the store and purchased a few in-stock items and also placed an order for two other custom items. We overheard another customer ask if Jimmy Don was there and apparently he was expected any minute. Since we began chatting with the other couple who had come in, we decided that we'd hang out for awhile as well.
Sure enough, Jimmy Don arrived about 45 minutes after we had arrived. He apologized over and over that we had waited so long for him. Believe me, the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Don was well worth it. A nicer more humble gentleman we have NEVER met. He stood and talked with us and the other couple for about 20 minutes and was so kind to sign two pieces that we bought. The custom pieces will also be signed when they are completed.
Jimmy Don shared freely about how he came to know and work with Joanna & Chip Gaines and Fixer Upper. I love the fact that their working relationship was sealed with a handshake. Also, he shared that Joanna & Chip are wonderful, honest and down-to-earth people and it's clear that they are friends as well.
It was amazing to meet Jimmy Don and talk with him and take a few pictures. He clearly enjoys greeting and talking with people who come to the shop and find out where they are from. It is wonderful to know that true gentlemen do still exist and that Jimmy Don is an honorable man who's word is his bond and a handshake seals the deal. This man is a true blessing.
Jimmy Don, if you and your family are ever in the Winchester, VA area again, our door is open and I will be happy to feed you. Feel free to call. God Bless you and your family.
M Daniel — Google review
I ordered my custom design on 10/21/23 during Silobration. I approved the proof on 12/1/23 since the paperwork stated it takes 2-4 weeks for JDH Iron Designs to turn around proofs. After waiting over 9 weeks since approving my design, I received my custom sign on 2/6/24. Unfortunately, I did not receive the design I approved. I immediately emailed JDH Iron Designs and included photo documentation of the error. I also followed up with a phone call. I expressed in my email and in my phone conversation with the individual who answered my call, that not only did I want the sign corrected, but I requested a partial refund due to the error and excessive wait time of nearly 4 months. The individual shared that he would speak to his manager and follow up with me. It has been over a week and the only resolution I have received is today I was emailed that another sign is on the way. JDH Iron Designs' customer service leaves a lot to be desired. The difference between good and bad customer service is simply letting customers know they matter by responding in a timely matter with empathy and kindness, especially when your business fails at providing the design that was ordered.
Erika Barrera — Google review
Thank you JDH for the beautiful sign. My friend got all teary eyed when she opened it. It's going to be hung at her ranch that she calls the "Happy Place", a haven for her family and a place she generously shares with her friends. I am so impressed with the level of craftsmanship, detail, and professional/courteous service at JDH. Thank you for making this gift extra special and correcting the proofs to make it 100% perfect. I was so thrilled to speak with JDH himself as I have admired his work throughout the years on Fixer Upper. This sign is made to last and surely will!
Patricia Kim — Google review
What a great experience! It was about 20 minutes outside of Waco, but well worth it! The land was beautiful. It's a big place with more than enough parking. The shop inside was fairly small but had a wide variety of items ranging from $20ish and up. Items can be shipped or custom ordered. The viewing window in the back was neat. Jimmy Don came out to meet the customers. Never met such a humble and down to earth kind of guy. He stood and talked with us for about 20 mins. If your anywhere near Waco this is definitely worth the trip.
Hailey Fricks — Google review
Everyone was helpful and friendly, Audrey was great! Best part of my visit so far!! Jimmy Don has a delightful personality!
Bonnie McConkey — Google review
Always a great experience, and we spend too much money every single time. We have been lucky enough that each time we have shopped at the store or the trailer, Jimmy Don was there, he is very friendly and can really tell a story. I can't imagine you entering this place and not finding something that you "need", the trick is getting out of the shop without needing too much. The drive out is always nice and relaxing, I recommend making a couple of wrong turns to make it last a little longer.
Thank you JDH, you have a great staff.
D Newcomb — Google review
Jimmy Don and his crew are awesome, great shop
Rob Ames — Google review
JDH Iron Works does incredible work! In December 2021, we purchased a magnificent military shield for our first Grandson who graduated from A&M and was commissioned! Today, we received an original design for our second grandson, a recent Auburn graduate. Thank you Chris, for all your design expertise. We are thrilled and can't wait to give this to the graduate.
Robert & Sherilyn Conn
Sherilyn Conn — Google review
4.8
(90)
•
5.0
(29)
9685 N Lone Star Pkwy, Valley Mills, TX 76689, USA
What a treat! Grape picking, wine barrel grape stomping and then a wine tasting. Beautiful property. Family run, owners on site. Kylie, Ester and Savannah are amazing. Very visit enhancing! Cheese board was delicious and the wine was too!
Creek Harris — Google review
We had a wonderful time! The tastings were great and August was a great delight to talk to. There was live music, a beautiful patio, and the inside bar was spacious too. We'll definitely be back!
Alex Jester — Google review
This was the best time I have ever had in a long long time! Katherine and Sara are the best! Will definitely be coming back! If you like wine and want to have fun then this is the place for you! Bring your friends, neighbors, kids, and grandparents! You won't be disappointed!!
Kelly Keifer — Google review
Three of us met at Windy Winery as sort of an impromptu celebration of the arrival of Fall in SE Texas. Combined with going afterwards to the Antique Rose Emporium, it was a perfect afternoon. We ordered flights of red and white accompanied by two marvelous trays of savory goodies, and enjoyed them on the outside terrace ! Really, really nice and I recommend highly.
Claude Glover — Google review
If you're looking to smash grapes with your bare feet, this is not the place for you. Weather has not been favorable and they no longer have an onsite vineyard. If you just want good wine selection, don't pass this place up.
Jorge Tovar — Google review
Mr Auggy was so sweet and informative about the wines and some of the hangings in the wall. Great wines!!!! Nice clean establishment w decent prices 😊
We're going back
Ms. Crowley — Google review
This place was recommended to us as being not crowded and with outdoor seating. It does have outdoor seating. Unfortunately, when we got here there was a bus and bridal party all crowding the inside, which in times of covid is a no go.
We managed to order a wine flight and cheese plate in a temporary quiet spell before the bridal party crowded us out. The cheese plate was fantastic. The wines are mostly sweet wines, even their so called "dry" tasting flight. That's fine for me as I prefer sweet wines but my husband wasn't happy.
Laura — Google review
Nice enough place, a bit “worn”. The wine however was all either rather sweet or infused. If you like wine of this type , you will enjoy. We never found a wine we wanted to take home. The people working there are very nice.