Start with a small Texas county seat. Add a sprinkling of cultural attractions, a pinch of recreational sites, a dash of locally-owned businesses and a heaping helping of restored historic buildings and what do you have? The perfect recipe for one charming town that’s a favorite with dog lovers.
Located 10 miles north of Round Rock on I-35, this was once an active agricultural center. Today Georgetown is home to many Austin commuters and 1,500 students at Southwestern University, the oldest college in Texas.
Today visitorscan stroll along an award-winning downtown square to get a feel for the small-town atmosphere that makes Georgetown so special. Just as it was over a century ago, the courthouse square still thrives as the heart of the Georgetown business community.
Table of Contents
What to Do in Georgetown
Blue Hole.
West of the park at Blue Hole, where river waters reflect limestone cliffs, a revitalization has made this beautiful spot again a place to be appreciated by residents and visitors.
At Blue Hole, walkers and joggers journey along the wide paths that wind beside waters as green as fresh spring leaves. On quiet mornings anglers try their luck with just the sound of an occasional cardinal singing its friendly song in the distance.
Inner Space Cavern.
Discovered during the construction of the interstate, this cave is a cool getaway for summer travelers and was once a hideaway for animals as well. A skull of a peccary (a pig-like hoofed mammal) estimated to be a million years old has been found here, along with bones of a giant sloth and a mammoth.
Enter the cavern on a cog railroad car, traveling down from the visitor center to the well-lit, easy-to-follow trail. Along the way, guides point out features of Inner Space, including large stalactite and stalagmite formations. Some of the larger formations of the cavern are “The Warriors,” two stalagmites that have grown together, the “Flowing Stone of Time” in the Outer Cathedral, and “Ivory Falls,” a beautiful flow of white stalactites. The cavern uses sound and light displays to create special effects, including the grand finale of the tour: a show at the “Lake of the Moon.”
After reaching cave level aboard a small trolley, follow your guide for a tour of cave formations, a small lake, and evidence of those prehistoric visitors. Kids also enjoy the Inner Space Mining Company, where they can pan for gems and minerals.
Lake Georgetown.
Built on the north fork of the San Gabriel River, this 1,310-acre lake is home to three public parks that offer fishing, boating, camping, and hiking.
Public facilities include Jim Hogg Park with overnight camping, electric and water hookups, and boat ramp; Cedar Breaks Park with picnic facilities and campsites with electric hookups; Russell Park for picnicking and camping; and Tejas Park for picnics and hikes along oak-shaded trails.
Stretching nearly 17 miles, the Good Water Trail traces the lake and can be accessed at the different parks. The trail was named in honor of the Tonkawa, a people who made the region near the San Gabriel River their home. Known for their flint arrowheads and tools, these Native Americans called this region takatchue pouetsu, or “land of good water.” This loop is part of the 26-mile San Gabriel River Trail, which completely encircles Lake Georgetown.
The trail is marked by mileposts as it snakes its way along the lake, passing through several historical points of interest. One such spot is Russell Crossing, later known as the Second Bootys Crossing, located near milepost 1. In the late 1860s, Frank Russell resided at this crossing, and his rock house served as a postal substation. Mail was carried in saddlebags to the local residents.
Between mileposts 2 and 3, hikers can see Crockett Gardens, a natural spring. A flour mill operated here in 1855, and a few decades later the first strawberries in Williamson County were grown in truck gardens at this site. Today the remains of the springhouse and corrals can still be seen.
Besides man-made attractions, hikers are also surrounded by natural beauties. White-tailed deer, coyote, skunk, raccoon, ringtail, armadillo, and opossum thrive in this area. From February to August, the region is home to the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, a small bird that nests in older juniper trees.
San Gabriel Park.
North of the courthouse square, San Gabriel Park has served for centuries as a gathering site. Today, park lovers and pets enjoy shady picnics under the oak and pecan trees. Crystal-clear springs bubble up at three sites on the park grounds, and often you can watch these little “salt and pepper” springs spew up chilly water.
Upstream, the North San Gabriel River has been controlled to create Lake Georgetown, a 1,310-acre lake popular with anglers, boaters, water-skiers, and swimmers.
The Williamson Museum.
This local history museum is itself housed in a historic structure, the 1911 Farmers State Bank building. Today the Beaux Arts–style building contains exhibits that range from cattle drives to Williamson County during wartime.
You can’t miss the museum: Just look for the statue of “Three-Legged Willie” out front. The statue memorializes Robert McAlpin Williamson, a Texas Ranger and Republic of Texas Supreme Court justice. Williamson’s leg was bent by arthritis, necessitating the need for a wooden leg fastened to his knee, giving him the nickname for which he is still known today.
Don’t Miss the Spring Poppy Fields
In late March, the fields and yards around Georgetown bloom with the vibrant color of red poppies. Georgetown holds the title of the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas,” with both native and cultivated varieties growing throughout the town.
The poppies originate from seeds imported to the town by Henry Purl “Okra” Compton. During his service in World War I in Europe, he collected seeds and planted them around his mother’s home upon his return.
Today the poppies brighten yards and highway right-of-ways from late March through May. Look for white signs indicating a “Poppy Zone” as you travel through town.
Where to Eat
Cianfrani Coffee Company.
This friendly coffee bar on the courthouse square has become a favorite hangout for locals and visitors alike. The company roasts their own Arabica beans and offers pastries and sandwiches. The indoor space is filled with artworks by local artists.
The Monument Cafe.
Styled like an old-fashioned diner, this family restaurant serves up favorites ranging from chicken-fried steak to burgers. It is also a popular breakfast stop, serving excellent breakfast tacos as well as traditional fare. And, if you need to check e-mail during your day trip, the restaurant also has free Wi-Fi connectivity.
Wildfire.
Time magazine said that this restaurant’s blue cornmeal-encrusted catfish was reason enough to move to Georgetown. Southwestern-inspired cuisine, much of it prepared on an oak-burning grill, rules, although you’ll also find dishes such as pancetta-wrapped Atlantic salmon and oak-fired elk tenderloin.