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    Spring fever

    Bluebonnets rising: Where to go in Brenham for a weekend of flowers, food andfun

    Ruthie Miller
    Mar 18, 2012 | 9:00 am
    • We're convinced some couples decide to have children *just* to snap thesebluebonnet pics.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • A poodle-skirt-clad waitress will serve your burger at the Southern Flyerrestaurant in the Brenham airport.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Grab a slice of Sawdust Pie after lunch at Must Be Heaven. It's the only placewe've ever seen it.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Staring contest: True Texas longhorns roam the fields near Brenham.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Start your day with some Rocket Fuel, Pecan Roast or Settler's Blend from theIndependence Coffee Co.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Springtime in Brenham means you're sure to spot plenty of colts and calves.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Bluebonnets abound in Washington County. Grab your camera!
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Veer off the main highways to find the best bluebonnet coverage.
      Courtesy Photo
    • The Brazos Belle offers farm-fresh French favorites in Burton, Texas.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Brenham is the star of Washington Country and the capital of the BluebonnetTrail.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • The weekly fare varies at the Brenham Farmers Market, but each week brings tastytreats.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • We love the BLTA at Must Be Heaven in downtown Brenham.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
    • Bluebonnets rising: State flowers blanket our Texas fields at the end of March.
      Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller

    Warm weather and generous rains foretell a prosperous spring season for bluebonnets. Wonderful news, considering last year’s rain-sapped crop was sheer misery.

    What is it about bluebonnets that brings out the Texan in us? Heads mock-explode in rapt contemplation of this magical wildflower phenomenon, and cars line our highway shoulders as amateur photographers dot the roadside fields. I’m pretty sure some couples have children *just* so they can plop them down in a blue patch for a snapshot or twelve. Yes, it’s a rite of passage — but the ritual is fascinating and festive and fun, so make this your year to play along.

     

      What is it about bluebonnets that brings out the Texan in us?

      The best place to troll for bluebonnets is Brenham (and all of Washington County). A few patches have already popped up along Highway 290, but you’ll want to plan a trip for late March to catch them in full force.

    Book a weekend at the Ant Street Inn, Mariposa Ranch, or (for a splurge) Inn at Dos Brisas — and follow our basic itinerary for a weekend retreat that will leave you calm, content, and copiously countrified.

    Drive up Friday in time for dinner at Ernie’s American Bistro, a roomy spot in downtown Brenham. This place offers a mix of “regional” specialties (like tortilla soup and enchiladas) and more traditional far (like a baked spinach salad, pork chop, and meatloaf).

    On Saturday, grab your morning pick-me-up at the Independence Coffee Company, a lovely, light-filled shop in downtown Brenham. Beans are roasted in the nearby tinytown of Independence, and the barristas are knowledgeable and nice.

    Afterward, walk over to the Brenham Farmers Market, located in a one-room red building just off the square. Grab a fruit kolache, breakfast taco, or grilled sausage while you peruse the produce and handmade crafts.

    Then take some time to stroll the square, stopping by stores like the Antique Gypsy or Fancy That, before hitting Must Be Heaven for lunch. Must Be Heaven is an old-fashioned eatery offering delicious sandwiches and pies. Sandwiches are made to order and served with a smile — plus chips or an apple. Grab a slice of Sawdust Pie on your way out; this is the only place we've ever seen it.

    Ready for some bluebonnets? Jump in the car and head north on Highway 36; then turn down the smaller thoroughfares — like FM 390 — to find the best patches. If you hop out to take a photo, be careful to stay on public land.

     

      Ready for some bluebonnets? Jump in the car and head north on Highway 36; then turn down the smaller thoroughfares — like FM 390 — to find the best patches.

      On your way back to town, stop by the Blue Bell Creamery for an afternoon snack, fresh from the vats. Tours are available on weekdays only (and you’re *really* not missing anything without one) but the newly remodeled ice cream parlor is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Your "scoop" (which is more like two) will set you back a whole dollar.

    For dinner, swing over to the Brazos Belle in nearby Burton. This classically French restaurant lives in a lovely historic building that dates back to 1875. French chef Andre Delacroix trained in Paris before working for ten years at the Four Seasons in Houston; as he grew weary of Big City Life, he concepted and opened the Brazos Belle, offering a simple, seasonal menu of farm-fresh French favorites — like a rockin’ cassoulet.

    On Sunday, drop by Andrea’s Taco Shop for your breakfast taco fix; then head down Highway 105 to take in the landscape. You’ll see bluebonnets, sure — but you’ll also find farmhouses, wildflowers, cows and horses nursing their young, and legit Texas longhorns.

    Hungry again? Hit the Southern Flyer for lunch. This 1950’s-style diner sits in the Brenham Municipal Airport. Young waitresses steal the show in poodle skirts and saddle oxfords, but the burger and patty melt are dreamy, too. Don't forget the chocolate malt — made with Blue Bell ice cream, of course.

    Head, heart, and tummy full, you can head back to Houston relaxed and refreshed. Be sure to let us know how those photos come out.

    unspecified
    news/travel

    2025 world's best awards

    6 Houston hotels ranked with the best in the world by Travel + Leisure

    Amber Heckler
    Jul 8, 2025 | 2:30 pm
    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    The Houstonian is back on top as the best resort in Texas.

    Several renowned Houston hotels and resorts were just declared the best in the world by Travel + Leisure readers, according to the publication's annual World's Best Awards.

    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa was honored as the No. 1 best resort in Texas, while the prestigious Post Oak Hotel ranked as the No. 7 best hotel in the nation. Among T+L's list of the 15 best hotels in Texas, four more distinguished Houston properties made the cut.

    Every year, Travel + Leisure surveys its readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2025 survey had more than 180,000 responses from T+L readers with over 657,000 votes across 8,700 accommodations, cruise lines, and other properties.

    The Houstonian Hotel reclaimed the top spot for 2025 after previously slipping into No. 4 in 2024. The publication celebrated this "serene sanctuary" for its numerous sports and fitness activities, plus its rejuvenating 26,500-square-foot spa, pool, and jacuzzi. The resort's location next to Memorial Park also provides guests with the feeling that they've escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.

     The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa “The staff treats you like you are a long-awaited family member," said a T+L reader.Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

    "Resort guests receive complimentary access to the fitness club, which has dedicated spaces for a myriad of sports, including nine tennis courts, a shaded jogging trail, an indoor track, and a lap pool," the report said. "On top of the unbeatable facilities and location, the Houstonian’s memorable hospitality had our voters eager for repeat visits."

    In a press release, general manager Steve Fronterhouse said the entire Houstonian team was honored to receive the worldwide recognition.

    "To be named the best resort in Texas by the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure is not just a reflection of our 27 acres and amenities; it’s recognition of the Southern hospitality and warmth our staff delivers every day," he said. "We are grateful to all of our guests who continue to make The Houstonian their home away from home.”

    The full list of best Texas resorts, in order, are:

    • The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
    • Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, Frisco
    • JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio
    • Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
    • Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine
    Best hotels in the U.S.
    In addition to being ranked among the top 10 best hotels in the U.S., The Post Oak Hotel was also hailed as the No. 1 best hotel in Houston. The hotel succeeds at providing guests with a flawless level of service and accommodations, while its on-site restaurants and bars add to the overall opulence of the property's amenities.

    "And naturally, there's a world-class spa on site and a Rolls‑Royce showroom in case you need to pick up a new ride," the report said.

     The Post Oak Hotel Stay in style at The Post Oak Hotel.  Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel  

    A T+L reader said The Spa at The Post Oak Hotel is "a destination in itself" and noted that guests could still have a memorable experience in Houston even if they never step foot off the 700,000-square-foot premises. But if guests did choose to explore everything the city has to offer, the hotel provides an over-the-top travel method.

    "There is a rooftop helipad so that you don't even have to sit in Houston traffic if you don't want to," the reader said.

    The full list of Houston winning hotels, in order, are:

    • No. 1 – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
    • No. 2 – Hotel ZaZa
    • No. 3 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston
    • No. 4 – JW Marriott Houston Downtown
    • No. 5 – Hilton Americas-Housto

    Other Texas awards
    San Antonio's Hotel Emma and Fort Worth's Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection were the only two other Texas properties to earn acclaim in T+L's list of the "15 Best City Hotels in the U.S."

    San Antonio was also deemed one of the best U.S. travel destinations in 2025, ranking 12th out of 15 total cities.

    In a release, Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqui Gifford said the 2025 World's Best Awards "reflect a travel landscape in motion."

    "From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place," Gifford said. "We're thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences."

    travel leisurehoustonhotelsresortstravelvacations
    news/travel
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