Monday Funday in Brenham, Texas
My weekend in Brenham began with a wine and lavender festival and relaxing in a quaint Victorian style mansion on a farm. All the beautiful scenery I was surrounded by in the town’s country side, I wanted to see what other things there were to do in the small Texas town. Being that my last day there was a Monday, I was a bit worried places may be closed or I wasn’t going to have enough time to do much. But surprisingly, I was able to see some interesting things before leaving Brenham.
Brazos Valley Brewery
If you have been following my social media channels and my blog for a while, you know I am a BIG beer lover. Any place I visit, I always look for their local brewery and with the Texas heat making you thirsty, I found one. The Brazos Valley Brewery is an independent craft brewery located in historic downtown Brenham. What makes this little beer gem special is the group of 5 family and friends behind it that happily share their brews with you. From their 7 Spanish Angels Coffee Ale to their Killin’ Time Blonde, there is a flavor for everyone’s taste. (Fall and Winter hours may change, be sure to visit their website for current hours.)
Flying Horses Antique Carousel
I love carousels! Can you believe there were over 4,000 carousels in the United States with beautiful carved horses at one time and now that number has dwindled to fewer than 150? Brenham’s Flying Horses Carousel is only one of five surviving classic wood Carousels that exist in Texas and according to the National Carousel Association, Brenham’s Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest.
Glissman Drugstore Museum
This was my mom’s favorite; it literally took her back in time. The pharmacy looks exactly like it did in 1924, complete with medicines and equipment used in that era. When we entered the pharmacy, a short movie introduced us to Carl Glissmann and his processes for mixing medicines by hand.
Washington on the Brazos Historic Site
The nature girl that I am was excited to finally visit the Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site. This is where Texas became Texas. The park is 293 acres of lush scenery and is open daily. We did a bit of hiking and saw the sunset. After exploring the park, we spend a bit of time in the Visitor’s Center where there were exhibits that presented a timeline of the Texas Revolution. Can’t visit the birth place of Texas and not pick up souvenirs, right? Texas themed goodies were purchased and brought home to the nephews. Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site also includes Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site (a wonderfully preserved 19th century stagecoach inn located nearby in Anderson, Texas.) and nearby is the Six Flags over Texas Monument in Navasota, Texas.
Blue Bell Creameries
You scream, I scream, we ALL scream for ice cream! Well, I would have screamed had I not had a mouth full of pistachio almond ice cream after our tour. When visiting the creamery, you get to watch the Blue Bell crew from an observation deck as they get the ice ready to be shipped out to us. After the tour, we did a little shopping in the souvenir shop and took a few goodies home for friends and family that would appreciate the Blue Bell themed gifts. If you want to make sure your favorite flavor is out, visit their website for the list of half gallon flavors.
Our time in Brenham was a memorable one. From the new friends we made at the wineries and lavender farm to the cozy comfortable stay in the Victorian mansion at Lilian Farms, we enjoyed our visit to the small Texas town. With its character and array of boutiques and eateries, there is something special for everyone. To check their calendar of local events, visit their site.
