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Jolly Texas town makes list of best Christmas road trip destinations

Smithville's annual Festival of Lights transforms downtown into a winter wonderland.

Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce/Facebook

The December holiday season brings many opportunities for creating memories, such as visiting all of the spectacular light displays in the Houston area. But one twinkly town in Central Texas outshines the rest of the state.

The small, merry town of Smithville – located about 120 miles west of Houston – and its beloved Gingerbread Lane was just named one of the jolliest holiday road trips in the nation, according to a recent report by online classifieds site RVTrader.

Downtown Smithville completely transforms during the winter season in preparation for its annual Festival of Lights, which took place on Saturday, December 7. This year's festivities included an indoor arts and crafts show featuring local artisans, an array of outdoor vendors, complimentary rides on the Ann Powell Express train, a parade, and many more activities.

No winter extravaganza is complete without snow, and 40,000 pounds of real snow was blown during the morning of the festival to allow for snow tubing, snowball fights, and more. Santa even made an appearance to snap photos with children.

At the heart of the festival is the iconic Smitty gingerbread man, which broke the Guinness World Record for the World's Biggest Gingerbread Man in 2006, which was officially recognized two years later, according to Explore Bastrop County.

"In honor of being officially named the World’s Biggest Gingerbread Man, the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Smithville retired the cookie sheet that was used to bake the giant gingerbread man and converted it into a monument to commemorate the record," the website says.

Smitty the gingerbread man in Smithville, Texas Smitty is a sizeable famous figure in Smithville.Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce - Facebook

If you missed the festivities this year, stay tuned for the 34th annual festival in 2025. But visitors can still check out all of the dazzling lights and meet Smitty throughout the winter season.

For visitors who want to turn a day trip into a weekend stay, RVTrader suggests camping at Buescher State Park, which is only two miles away from Smithville. The park offers a variety of RV campsites, screened shelters, and cabins. But for those who would prefer a hotel, there's always the historic Katy House Bed & Breakfast.

Smithville was the only Texas city to make it on RVTrader's list of top holiday road trip destinations. Several other holly jolly cities were chosen across every region in the country.

"The holiday season is the perfect time to hit the road and discover the magic of Christmas across the country," the report's author wrote. "Whether you’re visiting Gingerbread Lane in Texas, marveling at the lights of McAdenville, or exploring the Bavarian charm of Leavenworth, these holly, jolly holiday road trips promise unforgettable moments."

Other prominent holiday road trip destinations include:

Plant City, Florida
McAdenville, North Carolina
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Branson, Missouri
Durango, Colorado
Fresno, California
Leavenworth, Washington
North Pole, Alaska

travel central texas holidays christmas road trip

Prix Fixe Paradise

Hill Country town introduces new restaurant week with deals and events

Photo by B Side Productions

The initiative is a companion to the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival.

The "restaurant weeks" initiative is spreading across Central Texas, with Fredericksburg claiming its own dates. Fredericksburg Restaurant Week is a new event running from May 4-10.

Fredericksburg Restaurant Week is not to be confused with the existing San Antonio Restaurant Weeks, which expanded to include some Fredericksburg eateries in 2025.

No matter what city it's in, the restaurant weeks format sets up inexpensive prix fixe dinners as an incentives for diners to try new restaurants and new dishes. Houston, of course, has its initiatives, but it won't return until August, making this a fun excuse to go to a new city; the Fredericksburg initiative sounds like it'll especially drive visitors looking for a less-pricey Hill Country adventure.

Participating restaurants will be found at fbgfoodandwine.com. However, it looks like that announcement hasn't been made yet.

In addition to the prix fixe menus, Fredericksburg Restaurant Week will offer exclusive dining events and collaborations, a press release says. It starts May 5 with Tacos y Margs at Hill & Vine, pairing food and drinks at tasting stations. Then on May 6 there's the Austin Street Block Party with more bites and live music, followed by East Side Flights & Bites at Elk & Main on May 7 and Smoke & Fire with El Quincho and Eaker Barbecue on May 8.

Fredericksburg Restaurant Weeks also doubles as a preview of the Tex-Mex BBQ Fest, with a kickoff May 9 at Leroy’s TexMex BBQ. Guests can expect barbecue, live music, and traditionally distilled desert spirits.

Finally, a pair of eateries are open in a new capacity for the week. Stout’s Signature at Grape Creek Vineyards and K Bistro at K Estate, which are usually only for wine club members, will be open to the public.

The Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is the organizer of Fredericksburg Restaurant Week. The organization says the new initiative is meant to complement the festival and July Preview Week.

“Fredericksburg has become a true culinary destination, and Restaurant Week is a way to celebrate the chefs, restaurants, and hospitality that make our town a wine and culinarydestination,” said Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Jim Mikula in the release. “It’s a chance for guests to experience the diversity of Fredericksburg’s dining scene while building
excitement for the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival later this year.”

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