A Weekend in Bryan-College Station

Nestled in the Brazos Valley of Central Texas are two unique cities located just ten minutes apart, Bryan and College Station. Together they form one destination that is an easy drive from Austin, Dallas, or Houston, and makes for a fun weekend jaunt.

Deriving its name from the railroad station that stopped at Texas A&M University, College Station has made a reputation as a city of higher education and passionate school spirit. Neighboring city Bryan (originally called Boonville) also hosts Texas A&M Health Science Center and the Blinn College-Bryan Campus. Jointly, this area has been nicknamed “Aggieland” in honor of the A&M football team and its fans, known as the “Aggies.”

Day One

Begin the day at Polite Coffee, housed in an 1800s Victorian home that once belonged to Edwin Kyle, namesake of the legendary football stadium, Kyle Football Stadium. Head to the Texas A&M campus, where you can join a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium and learn about the team’s unique traditions. Take note of the special memorials nearby, as well as Aggie Park, which offers an outdoor oasis with water features, a performance pavilion, and an ice cream shop. The campus is massive and ready to be explored — with more than 74,000 students, it is the largest university in the country by enrollment.

Stroll through The Gardens, located on West Campus, encompassing a diverse collection of themed gardens with lush plantings meant to teach students and the public about food production and the natural world. And don’t miss the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which offers visitors a chance to explore the presidency of the 41^st President of the United States, visit a replica of the Oval Office, and see a slab of the Berlin

Another interesting campus stop is the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, which holds rare books, special collections, and manuscripts and includes Sumerian clay tablets dating from 2400 BCE and the official repository of George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones author, among other treasures.

When you feel like a bite, College Station is home to several good barbecue restaurants, including 1775 Texas Pit BBQ and Fargo’s Pit BBQ, as well as the famed Dixie Chicken, a 50-year-old institution serving cold beer and fried chicken and burgers, all through a set of swinging doors. In the evening, head to the Northgate District, the city’s premier hub for entertainment, dining, and nightlife.

Day Two

Head out to Lake Bryan, where you can spend the morning enjoying 20 miles of hiking, biking, and running trails, or go fishing for largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and get out on the water.

If museums are your thing, you have two good ones here. The Brazos Valley African American Museum was built on the site of one of the original Black schools in the Brazos Valley, and offers art works, artifacts, and special exhibits. The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History holds cultural exhibits, as well as a discovery room with live animals, rocks, and minerals. Visit nearby Boonville Heritage Park and tour an original 1856 log home with period furnishings.

If you need a break, grab a glass and enjoy tasty bites at Messina Hof Winery and Resort, which opened in 1977 as a single acre experimental vineyard. Messina Hof has grown to become the most awarded winery in the state and one of the largest producers of Texas wines. Enjoy wine tastings and tours or book in at the Vintage House restaurant next door for a spot on the patio. Experience a gourmet meal with vineyard views!

Don’t miss a meal at Ronin Farm and Restaurant, which has an evolving menu based on ingredients available from local farms. The restaurant shares an open-air kitchen with its dining room, and its front porch offers diners a view of Bryan. Ask about the Full Moon Dinners, which feature a 9-course tasting menu served in a forest by candlelight. Stop into The Chocolate Gallery for a sweet bite or grab souvenir Texas A&M branded chocolates.

Later, enjoy a craft beer at breweries Tilted Pint or Blackwater Draw Brewing Co., or catch live music at Palace Theater, Kyle Field, or Hurricane Harry’s.

Visit the wild side at Aggieland Safari Adventure Zoo. Explore 250 acres with exotic animals on a safari from your own vehicle. Or spend the afternoon shopping at the unique shops dotting Historic Downtown Bryan.

Where to Stay

The Stella Hotel in Bryan offers 176 guest rooms and suites with views of five-acre Lake Atlas and Kyle Field. The hotel also offers onsite restaurants and bars, including the popular Hershel’s, as well as shopping and recreational activities at Lake Walk Town Center. Take a dip in one of two pools, peruse goods at the on-site artisans’ and farmers’ market, or drop into the Woodhouse Spa Bryan-College Station for aromatherapy skin treatments or a massage.

In College Station, accommodations include Cavalry Court, the area’s first boutique hotel, with its white modern farmhouse-style lodge, fire-pits for making s’mores, lawn games, a pool, and live music on weekends. Alternatively, The George, a stately English-inspired hotel with plenty of Texas touches, anchors the bustling Century Square development, where specialty shops feature trendy fashion, as well as boots, jewelry, menswear, and a variety of eateries — all adjacent to The Green, where visitors can catch musical concerts and events.