Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Have you seen those iconic photos of a lone live oak tree on a small rise overlooking an
endless field of bluebonnets? It may well have been snapped in Washington County. With
old courthouse squares alive with shops and cafes, frequent town festivals, and historic
Texas-independence sites, you can't get more stereotypically small-town Texas than this.
Sitting equidistant from Houston and Austin (about 70 miles from either), Washington
County makes an easy country escape from the city. No town is more than 40 miles from
the region's main center, Brenham. Note that the county has loads of small but special
lodgings; the Round Top Chamber of Commerce (
Click here
)
curates the most compre-
hensive list.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Brenham
No wonder downtown Brenham is listed on the National Register of Historic Places - it's
darn cute. Wandering the atmospheric streets full of boutique and antique shops is a good
day's diversion. Since 1907 this community has also been the home of Blue Bell Creamer-
ies, producer of the unofficial state ice cream of Texas. As the largest town in the region,
Brenham serves as a good base for exploring.
Sights & Activities
Pick up a historic building, scavenger hunt walking tour brochure at the visitor center.
Blue Bell Creameries
FACTORY
( 979-830-2179;
www.bluebell.com
;
1101 S Blue Bell Rd; tour adult/child $6/4; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm
Sat; tours 8:30am-3pm Mon-Fri; )
Explore the museum-like welcome center before heading to
the gift shop and ice cream parlor (scoop $1). On the 45-minute production tour you'll see
180 pints made per minute, and get a free cupful at the finish. Entertaining, long-time-em-
ployee tour guides are true ice-cream lovers, proving they really 'Eat all they can, then sell
the rest.'
