Bastrop, a city that’s part of the famous “Historic Triangle” (Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville) in Texas was also was voted as the most historic towns in the country. Now that you’ve booked your tickets and are headed to this famous historic town, it can cause a natural dilemma on what can one do in here. It’s a common problem and to help you out with the solution, this guide breaks down on several things one can do while visiting Bastrop alone, with friends, or family. You could go about exploring the culture and history of Bastrop at the museums, celebrate the vibrant community on the streets of downtown Bastrop, or go about golfing, camping, hiking, or biking. There’s so much to do here that it will make you fall in love with Bastrop! So, let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the best things to do in Bastrop, Texas.
1. Walk around the streets of downtown Bastrop
Visit downtown Bastrop and get ready to be taken aback by the historic charm it still exudes, with a line of brick storefronts on the street side, local artistry, and diners and restaurants. It is one such place where you get to meet many people, enjoy the stories that you hear, and try the local eateries that won’t leave you disappointed. It is as authentic as it gets, for Bastropwelcomes anybody and everybody. It’s a place that makes you feel at home.
Downtown Bastrop
Address: 904 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Downtown Bastrop
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
2. Learn some history at Bastrop County Museum
Witness history, as it shares its side of the story, at Bastrop County Museum and Visitor Center run by the non-profit Bastrop Historical Society. Preserving local history since 1952, you’ll find Native American artifacts and antiquities from European settlers through the 1960s. As the collection kept growing, the museum grew too and is now located at the renovated historic city hall, where history speaks through chronological dioramas. You’ll also get to see special exhibits on cotton farming, coal mining, and the newest exhibit - cowboys, cows, and cattlemen.
Bastrop County Museum
Address: 904 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Bastrop County Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 4pm
Price: 5 USD
3. Explore artwork at Lost Pines Art Center
Posted by Lost Pines Art Center on Friday, 10 May 2019
Covering up to an area of 12,000 sq. feet (1114 sq. meters) of indoor and outdoor space at the old Powell Cotton Seed Mill and silos, Lost Pines Art Center exhibits fine art from Texas and all over the world. While touring the center, you’ll find many artists create their masterpieces in studios located on site. If you’re interested to let your hands do the talking and trigger your imagination, there are programs for children and adults to partake where you’ll learn all about glass blowing, painting, drawing, and more.
Lost Pines Art Center
Address: 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Lost Pines Art Center
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm (closed on Sun)
Price: Free
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4. Watch bronze made from scratch at Heart Art Foundry
Posted by Deep In The Heart Art Foundry on Monday, 9 April 2018
Interested to know how a bronze work is made? Why not take a tour at one of the leading fine art foundries in the country and find out? Deep In the Heart Art Foundry gives visitors a unique insight into the inner workings of bronze casting and if you are lucky, you can also witness a one-of-a-kind experience, the night-pour events!
Deep In the Heart Art Foundry
Address: 405 Jackson St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Deep In the Heart Art Foundry
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 8am - 5pm (closed Fri - Sun)
Price: 3 USD
5. Watch a show at the Bastrop Opera House
Posted by Bastrop Opera House on Friday, 28 June 2019
Going all the way back to 1889, Bastrop Opera House was popular for hosting grand live performances. And today, the opera house is known for hosting musicals, organizing plays starring both local actors and professional thespians, and presenting award-winning dinner theatre. If that wasn’t all, get ready to be awe-struck by the intricate beauty of the building that oozes history and because of that, it’s also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bastrop Opera House
Address: 711 Spring St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Bastrop Opera House
Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)
Price: 8 USD
6. Walk the trails of Bastrop State Park
Be one with nature and take a hike at Bastrop State Park. Boasting a whopping 7 miles (11 km) of trails, get an opportunity to take a virtual tour with their interactive map, witness the growth of loblolly pines, and explore the lush forest area on foot. If you’re one who loves to bask in nature, you can also camp around in the park or rent a cabin.
Bastrop State Park
Address: 100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Bastrop State Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
7. Satisfy your sweet cravings at Sugar Shack
Posted by Sugar Shack Bastrop on Friday, 19 January 2018
A sweet haven for sugar-tooth people, Sugar Shack is a vintage candy shop that gives visitors a chance to shop for their favorite candies especially those they once enjoyed as a child. This is your one and only moment when you’ll get to satisfy your cravings with old-fashioned candies, pops, fudge, floats, Blue Bell ice cream, and so much more.
Sugar Shack
Address: 114 TX-150 Loop, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Sugar Shack
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
Price: Varies
8. Enjoy a movie at Film Alley
Mid game. Snacking up.
Posted by Film Alley on Monday, 6 May 2019
Enjoy a movie or two at the local movie theater, Film Alley that boasts of an eight-screen movie theater. Other than that, it also features first runs, a 16-lane bowling alley, a mini golf course, a gaming arcade, and serves great food with a full-service bar. There’s definitely something for everybody in this theater.
Film Alley
Address: 1600 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Film Alley
Opening hours: 9:30am - 11pm (daily)
Price: Varies
9. Go kayaking at Lake Bastrop
It’s not just fun in the land of Texas! Indulge in adventurous sports, explore and kayak on the Lake Bastrop. This 906-acre (366 hectares) lake with a depth of 60 feet (18 meters) is great if you love spending time in the outdoors water canoeing, swimming, or paddle boarding. You can also enjoy camping here while witnessing largemouth bass, catfish, and sunfish.
Lake Bastrop
Address: 375 S Shore Rd, Bastrop, TX 78602-2657
Website: Lake Bastrop
Opening hours: 9am - 4:30pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
10. Visit Barton Hill Farms
Quality Family Time Makes Memories! #BartonHillFarms #Fall #Family #Fun #pumpkinPatch #FallFestival
Posted by Barton Hill Farms on Tuesday, 16 October 2018
Spend your weekends like the locals do at the 15-acres (60,702 sq. meters) ranch of Barton Hill Farms at Bastrop, Texas. Famous for their autumn Fall Festival, you mustn’t miss out on the notable, scenic pumpkin patch and corn maze along the pristine Colorado River. You can also take part in the fun activities including face painting, duck races, train rides, slides, and more. The fun and games are never quite complete without food involved! Hence, indulge in pulled pork sandwiches, or burgers along with homemade lemonade, and accompany them with sangria or cold Texas beer. The best time to pick some pumpkins is during the season of fall. It is the perfect season to get all those pumpkins along with some colorful pictures for your next Instagram post.
Barton Hill Farms
Address: 1115 FM 969, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Barton Hill Farms
Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 10pm; Sun: 10am - 5pm; (closed from Mon - Fri)
Price: 14 USD
11. Taste local handcrafted beer at Copper Shot Distillery
Posted by Copper Shot Distillery on Thursday, 20 December 2018
How about taking a trip to a historic building only to taste some of the best-handcrafted spirits? It’s as amazing as it sounds! Take a tour of the tasting room at Copper Shot Distillery, where you get to enjoy creative concoctions and learn about the distilling process. Also, while you’re in the tasting process, try to avoid chugging the drink down like a shot and sip it like a wine to understand all the flavors that are blended to get the final spirit. There’s nothing like drinking a fine drink in a new city or a new country. You could maybe add that to your bucket list, eh?
Copper Shot Distillery
Address: 809 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Copper Shot Distillery
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 12pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 12pm - 9pm
Price: 5 USD
12. Enjoy water activities at Hero Water Sports
Posted by Hero Water Sports on Monday, 7 August 2017
Now, how about having fun at a one-of-a-kind adventure ride? Take a trip to Hero Water Sports, the first inflatable aquatic playground in Texas. If you thought this is best suited for kids, then you’re wrong! You’ll find every fun thing to do in the playground in a healthy, environmentally friendly, and quality ambiance. Now that’s some fun way to spend quality time with your friends and family.
Hero Water Sports
Address: 603 FM1441, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Hero Water Sports
Opening hours: Mon, Thu, Fri & Sun: 12pm - 6pm; Sat: 11am - 6pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
Price: 15 USD
13. Let your kids have fun at RC’s Playhouse
Planning a party? Book your private party package today to reserve the entire RC's Playhouse for your event!
Posted by RC's Playhouse on Thursday, 17 January 2019
There are always two sides to the box, inside the box and outside the box. And at RC’s Playhouse, they focus on the latter! Children are encouraged to be creative and innovative to form something constructive like building with magnets or climbing through tunnels. There’s also an indoor playground that’s packed with indoor activities for kids of all ages, while the parents grab a ‘cup of joe’ on a comfortable couch.
RC’s Playhouse
Address: 962 Highway 71 E. Bldg 1, Bastrop, TX 78602, United States
Website: RC’s Playhouse
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am -5pm; Sun: 12pm - 3pm (closed on Sat)
Price: 5 USD
14. Explore the Texas Reptile Zoo
What was once a lovely abode is now home to over 200 reptiles at the Bastrop’s Texas Reptile Zoo. Divided into two main parts - a tropical climate room, which is home to monitor lizards and rock iguanas who enjoy the open air environment and the natural sunlight and a desert room that houses several snakes and Uromastyx lizards. You will also find a turtle pond at the outdoor exhibits, a Texas waterways exhibit, and a crocodile enclosure.
Texas Reptile Zoo
Address: FM 20, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Texas Reptile Zoo
Opening hours: Mon, Thu: 10am - 1:30pm; Fri: 11am - 2pm; Sat: 10am - 3pm; Sun: 10am - 1:30pm; (closed on Tue & Wed)
Price: 9 USD
15. Explore antiques at Apothecary’s Hall Antiques
Invoke the vintage god or goddess in you when you get your hands on the best glassware, pottery, linens, and furniture at the Apothecary’s Hall Antiques. If that wasn’t all, you’ll be drowned in nostalgia as you visit this historic home that was built in the 1830s. So go ahead, get shopping! You never know what kind of charm you may get to bag and brag about, for a reasonable price.
Apothecary’s Hall Antiques
Address: 805 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Apothecary’s Hall Antiques
Opening hours: Mon, Wed - Fri: 12pm - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 5:30pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Tue)
Price: Varies
16. Taste wine at Colorado River Winery
Posted by Colorado River Winery on Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Visit the Colorado River Winery while in Texas. Located in the historic district of Bastrop, enjoy tasting a wide range of wines in a Tuscan-style room. Also get to know the story behind how each and every wine is made and processed – how they start as a grape and are transformed to fine blend, and more.
Colorado River Winery
Address: 707 Chestnut St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Colorado River Winery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 12pm - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm
Price: 9 USD
17. Go camping at Lake Bastrop North Shore Park
Warmer weather means boating season at Lake Bastrop.
Posted by Lake Bastrop North Shore Park on Tuesday, 9 April 2019
Go on camping, sleep under the stars, and spend quality time with your loved ones at the Lake Bastrop North Shore Park. This 182-acre (73.65 hectares) park offers facilities for RV camping, tents, hiking, picnicking, kayaking, biking, barbecuing, and more. Take a day or a night off and spend good quality time with your family or your significant other - it can be as romantic as it gets!
Lake Bastrop North Shore Park
Address: 603 FM1441, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Lake Bastrop North Shore Park
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
18. Grab a slice of pizza at Consilina Pizzeria
Posted by Consilina Pizzeria on Saturday, 11 May 2019
Visit Italy while in Texas as you enjoy a unique taste of Italian countryside cuisine in Consilina Pizzeria. They are famous for their hand-tossed pizzas that feature light and crispy dough made from scratch and are wood-fired in a brick oven. The sauces they use are sourced from fresh ingredients that bring out distinct aromas and authentic flavors. You can also catch your favorite sport on TV while sipping on an extensive range of local beer and wine.
Consilina Pizzeria
Address: 1093 Hwy 95 N, Bastrop, TX 78602, United States
Website: Consilina Pizzeria
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
19. Go golfing at Pine Forest Golf Club
Challenge yourself or your friends and family to a fun game of golf at one of the outstanding golf courses Bastrop County offers – Pine Forest. After a game of golf, you could take a golf cart and explore the expanse of the Pine Forest. You’re sure not to be disappointed!
Pine Forest Golf Club
Address: 7208, 636 Riverside Dr, Bastrop, TX 78602, United States
Website: Pine Forest Golf Club
Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)
Price: 16 USD
20. Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at Anita’s Cafe
Taste the spicy flavors of Mexico at Anita’s Café in Bastrop, Texas. Renowned for their Mexican food since 1998, they are also notable for their classic breakfast that includes tortillas, pancakes, and burritos. As you enjoy dining in this authentic space, you’ll not fail to notice the history that exudes from this beautifully restored J.M. Holt building from 1880.
Anita’s Cafe
Address: 1004 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Anita’s Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6:30am - 2pm; Sun: 7:30am - 2pm
21. Drink up at Bastrop Beer Company
Now in! Real Ale Lime Gose, Spindle Tap’s 5% Tint IPA, Karbach Coastal Conservation ale and Lakewood Raspberry Temptress ?
Posted by Bastrop Beer Co on Thursday, 27 June 2019
Grab a beer, two or more from Bastrop Beer Company that features a wide selection of different beers in downtown Bastrop. Bring a date, friend, family, or alone and enjoy the Happy Hours during the week, and get to taste their unique signature beer cocktails.
Bastrop Beer Company
Address: 1008 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Bastrop Beer Company
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 2pm - 12am; Sat: 12pm - 12am; Sun: 12pm - 10pm (closed on Mon)
22. Order a cup of coffee at Coffee Dog
If you were on a hunt for an awesome breakfast place, look no further! Coffee Dog at the Colorado Crossing Shopping Center in Bastrop is renowned for serving their best drinks. Also grab the baked products that they make from scratch like pastries, scones, muffins, granola, and kolaches. There’s also a great breakfast and lunch menu offering lip-smacking delicacies that will surely excite your taste buds. While you’re sipping coffee and eating delicious food, treat your senses and watch the coffee roasting process.
Coffee Dog
Address:49 TX-150 Loop, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Website: Coffee Dog
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6am - 6pm; Sat: 7am - 6pm; Sun: 8am - 4pm
Enjoy the historic city of Bastrop
Now that you’ve read the guide, you’ll know that there’s a lot one can do in this city. Be it visiting the museums, bars, the winery’s, lakes, parks, and more, Bastrop has it all! So why not go ahead and plan out your adventurous trip at ease?
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