On my most recent visit to Texas I was with my daughter who fortunately had unlimited data on her phone. If it wasn’t for Google Maps on the display in the car we would have been struggling to get around. Based north of the Texas Capital, Austin in Cedar Park, TX near the suburb of Round Rock we decided that the best day to go to downtown Austin would be Sunday because the parking is free.
We wanted to visit some smaller towns away from the norm and with character and history. There was plenty of choice and each candidate had strong reasons to be visited but decisions had to be made. Some were too far away such as Fredricksburg, an old German town that was suggested to us multiple times as a must visit place. Researching nearer towns we discovered within a shorter distance from Cedar Park.
Taylor – TX
Parking was easily found on the Main Street and you can get a feel of how it was when the mode of transport was on four legs with a cart. There was an old theater (cinema) as well as a range of boutique shops, cafes and eateries. Further up away from the rail tracks was Heritage Square that has a water feature for kids to splash through as well as a permanent stage. There was a historical marker to Tex Avery who was from Taylor. On the West Parmer Lane Ranch Road 734 running outside of Taylor is the enormous Samsung semiconductor fabrication plant.
Georgetown – TX
Now Georgetown was a delight and only 30 minutes from Taylor. Officially the Red Poppy Capital of Texas. Parking was found right outside the visitors center with a selection of Red Poppy, well everything. There was a self guided tour about the architecture of the immediate square. In the middle of the square that on each corner has a giant, yes you guessed it, red poppy sculpture was the Williamson County Courthouse. An impressive Neoclassical building. The streets surrounding the courthouse housed a large and varied choice of upscale boutiques and bookshops. There was a lovely atmosphere walking about exploring and popping in and out of the stores.
Bastrop – TX
The small towns we were discovering just kept getting more scenic. Bastrop was about an hour south-east from Round Rock and again parking was easily found on Main Street. Now this was like an old Western Town and proclaims to be the ‘most historical town in Texas’. The buildings were old and the street offered shade along the sidewalk. The visitor center was closed due to a sewage issue so we headed just around the corner and that is where we found ourselves on top of a hill overlooking a park on the banks of the Colorado River. There was a selection of shops and restaurants built of wood clinging to the hill with rusted vintage cars at different points across the space between the stores and the back of stores on Main Street. It was delightful exploring and we got a coffee in the old drug store and retains many of it’s original features.
Pflugerville – Texas
Pflugerville is within commuter distance by public transport of Round Rock and the City of Austin. We had a walk about but its Texas claim to fame is that it is the Trail Capital of Texas. Amusingly wherever you could say ‘f’ there was a ‘p’ put in front of it such as a bakery called Pflour Shop. The Main Street was a definite old Western Town it was unfortunate that there wasn’t more of it though.
Luling – Texas
We visited Luling for two reasons. The first was that Buc-ee’s Opens World’s Largest in Texas is located just outside the main town. There was so much retail area that at the moment there are large gaps between the food counters and the restrooms are much larger. Still immaculately clean with hand washing islands. The other was to visit another Texas Capital. It transpires that Luling is the Watermelon Capital of Texas and a popular spot is the Watermelon Thump a celebration to honour the growers and promote the Luling watermelon market. A contest was held to name the event and now known as the Thump the celebration is held the last weekend of June annually.
The main street is mainly on one strip with the rail tracks running alongside the road. The trains consist of multiple engines hauling never ending freight containers or live stock and the frequent blowing of horns announcing their arrival is ear splitting. Luling was an important oil producing town and there is a museum in honour of this past industry.
Lockhart – TX
Lockhart was visited on the return to Cedar Park and was on the same route from Luling so it wasn’t out of the way at all. Another Texas capital with an impressive square and quaint shops and eateries. This time Lockhart’s claim to fame is it is the BBQ Capital of Texas. There were certainly many BBQ eateries including one called Black’s that has been family run since 1932 and their first restaurant opened in Lockhart. We did hear the name often in our conversations with the people we came into contact with. The square is dominated by the Caldwell County Courthouse that was built in 1894 and is a very striking building.
USA Road Trips by Max 
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