Austin- State Capital of Texas
Austin, Texas
Approximately 80 mi. northwest on Hwy 71
Website: www.austintexas.org/index.php

Visit the State Capital of Texas and you’ll find more than longhorns and politics, although both are plentiful in this scenic city.  Austin proclaims itself to be the Music Capital of the State as well. So start with a tour of the State Capital building downtown, slip over to one of the area’s many museums, take a dip at Barton Springs, then head to 6^th Street for a night of food, music and dance. 

Brenham (The Star of the Republic Museum)
Website: www.starmuseum.org/sitemap.htm
Telephone: 936-878-2461
Approximately 65 miles NE from Hwy 109 to Hwy 105

Located at the site where 59 delegates gathered on March 2, 1836 to declare Texas’ independence from Mexico, the Star of the Republic Museum depicts the colorful saga of the Texas Republic—the story of Texas and its heritage…cotton and cattle…legends of blood and iron…vast resources and vast lands.

Brenham (Bluebell Ice Cream)
Brenham, Texas
Telephone:  800-327-8135
Approximately 40 mi. northeast from Hwy 109
Website: www.bluebell.com/about_visiting.htm

Brenham is known far and wide as the home of world-famous Blue Bell Ice Cream. Guided plant tours are available during weekdays throughout the year, but not on weekends. However, the Country Store and Ice Cream Parlor are open most Saturdays, so visitors can shop around and treat themselves to a big helping of their favorite Blue Bell flavor.  Call for reservations.

College Station (George Bush Presidential Library)
College Station, Texas
Approximately 75 miles north from Hwy 109
Website: http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/
Website: http://www.rtis.com/corridor/

The twin cities of Bryan-College Station are home to a vibrant and historic downtown, Messina Hoff Winery, the George Bush Presidential Library and the Fighting Texas Aggies at Texas A & M University.   Located an hour and a half north of Columbus, the trip is a scenic drive through the country during which you’ll pass through Brenham, home of Bluebell Ice Cream, and the small community of Independence, where you’ll find the Antique Rose Emporium, a gardener’s dream. 

Colorado County including the communities of:
Weimar- Eagle Lake-Frelsburg- Sheridan (Splashway)
Website: www.rtis.com/reg/colorado-cty/

Columbus is the county seat of Colorado County, so named because of the 900 mile river that runs through it.  Full of beauty and diversity, Colorado County is home to museums, ball parks, wildlife refuges, and more. 

Begin with the small community of Weimar, www.discoverweimar.com, approximately 20 miles west of Columbus on IH-10.  Known for its love of sausage and baseball, the town has been a repeat host of the Babe Ruth Little League World Series.  Gedenke means “Remember” in German and each Mother’s Day the town hosts its annual Gedenke festival in hopes that people will remember and celebrate the town and its heritage.   The Main Street area gives a fascinating glimpse of life into Weimar's early days. Strolling down "the street," visitors can view a doctor's office with a full-size skeleton on a stand beside an old-fashioned examining table. A dentist office, department store, bank, blacksmith forge, a facsimile of the old Mercury newspaper printing shop, a barber ship, a beauty salon and a pharmacy all make up the museum's Main Street. The pharmacy exhibit is most impressive. An inlaid majolica tile soda fountain from the old Farmer's Drug Store greets visitors to this section. One can easily imagine enjoying a long-ago Saturday afternoon with a cool fountain drink or scoop of ice cream.

The community of Eagle Lake, www.eaglelake-tx.gov/,  just south of Columbus, lauds itself as the Goose Hunting Capital of the World.  In addition to the ducks and geese that winter in the area, there are many other species of fowl that find an attractive habitat in the vicinity of Eagle Lake.  At the nearby Attwater’s Prairie Chicken Wild Life Preserve a major effort is being made to save the endangered species. The City has developed a nature area that includes an observation platform overlooking the lake. This provides the public with a view of the lake and the many birds, alligators and other wildlife that make's this beautiful lake their home.

Surrounded by live oaks and exotic wildlife ranches, the tiny community of Frelsburg, www.frelsburg.com/, just 12 miles north on Hwy 109, was founded in 1837 by Captain William Frels who immigrated from Germany to Texas in 1834. Frels participated in the storming of the Alamo in 1835 and later donated land for a town site, school, Trinity Lutheran Church, parsonage and cemetery.   A few miles before reaching Frelsburg, you’ll pass the Zimmerscheidt School, one of the few remaining one room school buildings in Texas.  Once in Frelsburg, be sure to stop by Heinsohn’s Country Store.  In business since 1920, if Heinsohn’s doesn’t have it, you probably don’t need it.  Then, pay a visit to the beautiful St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, established in 1847. It has the distinction of being one of the oldest parishes in the state and features intricate wood carved doors and striking stained glass windows.

Early in 1908, a promotional scheme was devised to lure investors into the Sheridan area. They were told that they could raise figs and other fruit.  Today this town of 700 is better known for family fun.  Approximately 20 miles southwest of Columbus, Splashway Waterpark, www.splashway.org/Index1.htm, offers visitors to Central Texas a cool and refreshing retreat from the Texas heat. 

Festival Hill at Round Top
Round Top, Texas
Approximately 35 miles northwest from Hwy 71
Telephone:  979-249-3129
Website: www.festivalhill.org 
Email  info@festivalhill.org

Dates:  Reservations for receptions/dinners and overnight stays are available on “August-to-April” concert and forum weekends as well. Grounds open year-round to the public.

A year-round performing arts and conference center presenting concerts and forums, and hosting rural retreats for businesses and educational institutions. Tours can be arranged of the McAshan Gardens or of the Festival Hill campus, historical buildings and museum rooms, and can be scheduled in conjunction with lunch in the Menke House Dining Room by reservation.

Houston:  Space City!
Houston, Texas
Approximately 75 miles east on IH-10
Website: www.houston-guide.com/

Houston is one of the world’s most innovative cities, a work in progress.  Turn in any direction and you’ll find attractions that lead to adventure.  Shop the outlets at Katy Mills Mall, explore space at the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake, dive into the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico in the seaport of Galveston, take in a game at the new Reliant Stadium, or enjoy the superb arts scene in the Theater District near downtown.  

International Festival-Institute at Round Top
Round Top, Texas
Telephone: 979.249.3129
Approximately 35 miles northwest from Hwy 71
Website: www.festivalhill.org 
Email info@festivalhill.org

A world-renowned Summer music festival presented for six weeks in June and July features chamber and orchestral concerts each weekend.  Monthly concerts and educational forums are offered during the “August-to-April” Series.

Lower Colorado River Trail
Website: www.lcra.org/community/crt.html

Columbus is a proud member of the Lower Colorado River Trail Region.

The Lower Colorado River Trail stretches about 600 river miles from the pecan orchards of San Saba to the Gulf of Mexico.  The Trail incorporates 11 counties which host unique cultural events, historical sites, recreational facilities, and dozens of public access points onto the river.  

Painted Churches of Texas
Schulenburg (Fayette County); Fredericksburg; Shiner;
Sites vary range from  approximately 40 to 120 miles
Website: www.klru.org/paintedchurches/

Built by 19^th century immigrants, from the outside these buildings appear to be ordinary American country churches built around the turn of the last century—arched Gothic Revival windows, facades clad in white frame siding or in stone, lone steeples rising up into the Texas sky.  Once inside, however, you’ll encounter an unexpected explosion of color.  Almost every surface is covered with exuberant murals.  Lauded as the “Painted Churches of Texas,” these buildings harken to a different era, a different way of life. Inscriptions on the walls are not in English, but in the mother tongue of those who built them: German and Czech. The story of these buildings is the story of a people striving to succeed in a new country, while preserving the values and culture of their homelands. At least 15 of these churches are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Although not considered a part of the “Painted Churches,” the nearby community of Frelsburg also features beautiful and interesting sites of worship.  

Pleasant Hill Winery
Brenham, Texas
Approximately 40 mi. northeast from Hwy 109
Telephone:  979.830.VINE
Website: www.pleasanthillwinery.com

Hours: Saturdays 11am-6pm; Sundays 12pm-5pm

Visitors are welcome to tour this countryside vineyard and winery.  Free tours begin and end in the reconstructed barn that sits at the top of the hill and offers a specacular view of the vineyard below.  In the tasting room, sample the wine traditions of the Zaffiro and Macedonio families.

San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Approximately 120 miles west of Columbus on IH-10
Website: www.sanantoniocvb.com

Visit the Alamo where you’ll find relics and mementos from the Republic of Texas and narration on the fall of the Alamo. Take a tour through the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas at Natural Bridge Caverns. Explore the romantic Riverwalk with 3 miles of unique retail shops, restaurants and nightclubs. Enjoy a breathtaking view of San Antonio from the Tower of the Americas observation deck. You’ll be amazed at all there is to see and do with so many attractions in nearby San Antonio.

Shakespeare At Winedale
Winedale, Texas
Approximately 35 miles northwest from Hwy 71
Telephone:  979-249-4171
Website: www.shakespeare-winedale.org
E-mail jayres@cvtv.net

Fee: Tickets for spring performances are $5.00 and regular summer performances are $8.00
Dates:  Spring (Friday, Saturday in April) and Summer (late July, early August)
[Note:  Final summer performance held at the Globe Theatre, London]

The performers at Winedale are not professional actors, but students prepared to take risks and commit themselves to a creatively and intellectually demanding style of performance. Students participating in Shakespeare at Winedale, a program of the UT English Department, enjoy an educational and theatrical experience of unparalleled intensity.  Reservations well in advance are strongly recommended.  Reservations for groups over ten will not be confirmed unless payment is made in advance. 

Texas Coastal Bend
Website: www.txcoastalbend.org/index.html

Although Columbus has been designated a part of the Prairies and Lakes Region on most state maps, beachside communities such as Matagorda and Palacious are relatively close, by Texas standards anyway.  Known as the Texas Coastal Bend, communities along the Texas coast offer a treasure trove of activities. Beaches, fishing, historical sites, working ranches, hunting, shopping, antiquing, and golf await those seeking fun and excitement in this beautiful and unique part of the world.

Texas Independence Trail Region
Website: www.texasindependencetrail.org/

Columbus is a proud member of the Texas Independence Trail Region.

The Texas Independence Trail Region incorporates 28 counties, including Colorado County, from Liberty (east of Houston) along the Gulf Coast to Refugio (south of Victoria) to San Antonio (Bexar County) in the west and to Washington County in the north.  Travelers to the area can learn about the struggle for Texas' independence, one of the most recognized sagas in the world.  Visitors have a wealth of opportunities to learn more about the men and women who settled this vast land and to better understand how the state’s origins still impact Texans’ lives.   

Wildflower Season in Central Texas
Website: www.texasbluebonnets.org
Website: www.lnstar.com/wildflowers/index.html

Columbus is a proud member of the Central Texas Bluebonnet Travel Council.  

Columbus lies in the heart of the Central Texas Bluebonnet Region. Beginning in late March, the countryside becomes saturated with waves of Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, Indian Blanket, Yellow Coreopsis, Turks Cap, Sunflowers, Huisache-Daisy, Mexican Hat, Drummond’s Phlox, and Evening Primrose.   Although the infamous Texas Bluebonnet is usually out of site by early May, the majority of the wildflowers will bloom throughout the summer, thereby providing visitors with a  multitude of scenic photo opportunities along our interstates and highways.