Spring fever

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

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.

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New year, fresh air

Gear up for a 'first day hike' at a Texas park on New Year’s Day 2026

Photo courtesy of San Marcos CVB

This beats the stair-stepper at the gym any day.

Here's a way to start your health-focused new year's resolutions that won't make you want to hit the snooze button on January 1: Plan a "first day hike."

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, First Day Hikes is a nationwide program to encourage hiking on New Year's Day. State parks near Houston and throughout Texas are offering the chance for people of all ages and fitness levels to stretch their legs and explore the great outdoors on the first day of 2026.

"First day hikes vary from short, leisurely nature walks on forested trails; boardwalk strolls through wetlands or to the beach; or climbs into the mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert," the agency says on its website. "Some first day hikes aren't hikes at all: We also lead bike rides, paddling tours, and maybe even horseback rides. Choose the event that's right for you."

State parks offer both guided and self-guided hikes on January 1. If you choose a self-guided hike, look for tables or stop at headquarters for hike information and maps, they advise. "After your hike, stop back by to report on your hike and collect a memento of your visit," they say.

Note that most state parks charge an entry fee or day use fee. For those who plan to visit several times throughout the year, a Texas State Parks Pass could help save money.

Here are all the Texas state parks offering first-day hikes on January 1, 2026, clustered by region. All are self-guided walking hikes that do not require registration, unless otherwise indicated. Find out more details about each one here.

Gulf Coast & Coastal Bend

Galveston Island State Park (Sunrise beach walk with a ranger.)
Mustang Island State Park (Ranger-guided walk at sunrise.)
Goose Island State Park (Bird hikes)
Sea Rim State Park (First Day Paddle)
Brazos Bend State Park (Guided hike)
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center (Guided hike and dog walk)
Huntsville State Park (Chinquapin Challenge)
Lake Livingston State Park (Guided hike)
Stephen F. Austin State Park

East Texas & Piney Woods

Tyler State Park (Guided tour)
Daingerfield State Park
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Martin Creek Lake State Park (Birding hike)
Atlanta State Park (Guided hike)
Mission Tejas State Park
Caddo Lake State Park
Cooper State Park (South Sulphur & Doctors Creek. Hike or bike.)
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park (Guided and unguided hikes)
Village Creek State Park

Hill Country & Central Texas

Honey Creek State Natural Area (Registration required.)
Blanco State Park
Guadalupe River State Park
Palmetto State Park (Self-guided hike and sunrise bird hike)
Lockhart State Park
Pedernales Falls State Park (Guided hike)
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Lake Somerville State Park
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Inks Lake State Park (Guided hike)
Old Tunnel State Park (Guided hike)Hill Country State Natural Area (Gu
Hill Country State Natural Area (Gu ided hike)
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site (First Day Bird Walk)
Dinosaur Valley State Park (Guided hike)
Meridian State Park (Story Book Stroll)
Colorado Bend State Park (Guided hike)
Lake Brownwood State Park
Bastrop State Park (Ranger-guided birding)
Buescher State Park

North Texas

Ray Roberts Lake State Park (Johnson Branch & Isle du Bois. Guided and unguided hikes.)
Eisenhower State Park
Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway (Guided hike)
Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park (Registration required)
Lake Whitney State Park (Guided mindful walk)
Bonham State Park (Guided hike)
Lake Arrowhead State Park
Purtis Creek State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park

South Texas & Rio Grande Valley

Falcon State Park (Guided hike)
Choke Canyon State Park
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Goliad State Park & Historic Site (Guided hikes)
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Resaca de la Palma State Park
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

West Texas & Panhandle

Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Guided and unguided hikes.)
Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway
Copper Breaks State Park
Abilene State Park
San Angelo State Park
Big Spring State Park (Guided hike)
Davis Mountains State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
Big Bend Ranch State Park (including Chinati Mountains)
Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site (Guided and unguided)

state parks new year's day new years exercise hiking

Spring fever

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

New year, fresh air

Gear up for a 'first day hike' at a Texas park on New Year’s Day 2026

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