10 Great Things To Do While In Brenham, Texas

1. Visit The Blue Bell Creameries

Ask anyone from Texas what the best ice cream in the world is and the answer will unequivocally be “Blue Bell!” The Blue Bell creameries began in 1907 as the Brenham Creamery Company, which was formed to purchase excess cream from dairy farmers to produce butter for those in the town. After some financial trouble over the next couple of decades, the decision was made to produce ice cream for the local area under the new name which was taken from the state flower in 1930. Since then, Blue Bell has grown in stature to be the choice ice cream for Texans and most of the states in the southern part of the nation. Visiting the facility and country store takes you on a full-bodied – and tasty - tour through the history of the company with a chance to try some of their favorites.

Blue Bell Creameries

Website: Blue Bell Creameries

2. Antique Rose Emporium

Established in 1982, the Antique Rose Emporium has been a prime place for those in the region to not only find carefully cultivated roses of all types, but also a place for many to hold the special events in their lives. The grounds include a rustic country chapel set amidst the lush greenery, a restored Victorian home as well as a sizable outdoor pavilion.

Antique Rose Emporium

Address: 10000 FM 50, Brenham, TX 77833

Website: Antique Rose Emporium

3. Unity Theatre

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Unity Theatre lies in the downtown historic district of Brenham, Texas and is currently the main professional theater facility in all of Washington County. The theater stages many plays and other performances with the help of state and national arts organizations with a welcoming air to locals and those happening to be visiting the city of Brenham.

Unity Theatre

Address: 300 Church Rd, Brenham, TX

Website: Unity Theatre

4. Festival Hill

Festival Hill is home to the Round Top Festival Institute which is annually put on by the James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts, which was first established in 1971. Those interested will find Festival Hill after a short drive from Brenham to Round Top. Once there, visitors will be able to traverse the entire campus that holds an array of rare documents and manuscripts as well as the network of garden preserves within its 210 acre site. They’ll also have a chance to partake in the musical expressions from both the current student body of the institute as well as returning alumni and other musical artists.

Festival Hill

Address: 248 Jaster Rd, Round Top, TX 78954

Website: Festival Hill

5. Home Sweet Farm Market & Biergarten

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Downtown Brenham buzzes with activity, and one of the main places spurring that on is the Home Sweet Farm Market & Biergarten. First constructed in 2013 as a way to bring locals fresh produce and grass-fed beef and chickens. Home Sweet has grown since then to include both a country store and a warehouse that was once the home to a historic brewery that dates back to 1870 and is now a place for many community gatherings and music events. The outdoor biergarten also is a link to the influence left behind by the influx of Germans who settled in Brenham and the surrounding areas in the mid-1800’s and a swell place to enjoy the soft evening breeze that winds through the town.

Home Sweet Farm Market & Biergarten

Address: 307 S Park St

Website: Home Sweet Farm Market & Biergarten

6. Pleasant Hill Winery

With over 20 years of experience under their belt, the Pleasant Hill Winery has been part of the fabric of Brenham in offering top-notch wines. The grounds are highly picturesque, and the winery does enjoy having visitors come to check out each of its acres as well as their different wine offerings that have won them a slew of awards at various festivals throughout the state.

Pleasant Hill Winery

Address: 1441 Salem Rd,

Website: Pleasant Hill Winery

7. Brazos Valley Brewery

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Brazos Valley Brewery calls the historic downtown district of Brenham home, and is operated by a tight-knit group of family and friends. Brazos Valley prides itself on being a welcoming space, with tours available upon request and even allowing families and pets to check out their brewery space. In addition, they have a patio space specifically for visitors to enjoy all of their beers open on the weekends.

Brazos Valley Brewery

Address: 201 W 1st St, Brenham, TX

Website: Brazos Valley Brewery

8. Chappell Hill Lavender Farm

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

If you are one of those people who delight in the fresh scent of lavender, making a visit to the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm has to be on your list of things to do while in Brenham. The farm is just off of the Texas Independence Trail, and stands out for their verdant fields of lavender among other areas teeming with bluebonnet flowers. The farm lets visitors take a meandering tour through their fields and during the cutting season in August, they can even select and cut their own lavender to take home. They also host various events on their grounds, and even have some land dedicated to growing blackberries.

Chappell Hill Lavender Farm

Address: 250 Dillard Rd, Washington, TX

Website: Chappell Hill Lavender Farm

9. Hohlt Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

For those who want a little bit more of engaged outdoor activity while in Brenham, the main place to do so lies in Hohlt Park. Clocking in at 85 acres, the park is the largest in the city’s system. There’s a multitude of athletic fields available for use as well as a building specifically slated for various sports events. In addition, the park has a jogging trail that’s a mile long and an amphitheater.

Hohlt Park

Address: 2425 N Park St, Brenham, TX

Website: Hohlt Park

10. Giddings Wilkin House Museum

This antique home was first built in 1843, and is a key component of the Washington County Historical Society which oversees three structures in the area. The Museum is also a designated Texas Historical Landmark. It’s the oldest standing house in the city of Brenham, which was owned by prominent citizen J.D. Giddings until he moved his family to the Giddings Stone Mansion after selling it to the John Bush Wilkin family. Visitors can view this home along with the others as part of a walking tour, and are able to obtain tickets in advance. In addition, the Giddings Stone Mansion hosts events that are open to the public.

Giddings Wilkin House Museum

Address: 805 Crockett St., Brenham, TX

Website: Giddings Wilkin House Museum

Brenham in a nutshell

The state of Texas is vast, and highly multi-faceted due to its history and the people who have settled there and called it home. The city of Brenham is a key example of this remarkable complexity that can be found outside of the state’s major cities, a reminder of the glue that holds tradition together. Those who make the journey to visit Brenham will find themselves totally engaged in an environment that is close-knit but big as life for all to see.