Tucked away about two hours west of Waco, amidst the expansive greenery of the Hill County and along the banks of the Pecan Bayou stream, is Brownwood – one Texas’s most picturesque yet humble towns. However, don’t let the latter adjective mislead you into believing anything about this place that it is not. A ton of natural beauty, a wealth of shopping, and hordes of restaurants and cafes, this place has it all! And, to top it all, a quintessentially Texan-style Southern hospitality awaits you in Brownwood. You may be a traveling solo or with family, Brownwood has ample activities to keep you on your toes and numerous venues for you to relax, in whatever way you choose to spend your time. Add some (or all!) of these things to do in Brownwood, Texas and ready yourself with a fun-filled itinerary.
1. Learn about the local history at Brown County Museum of History
Step into the gates of this European castle-lookalike – an early 20th-century jail – and you’ll find yourself amidst 150 years of culture and history. Brown County Museum of History is not just the repository of Brown County’s past, as the name might suggest, but also the custodian of the tales of the first Texan settlers, along with some great displays from World War II. The museum is by far one of the most-visited places in the town. Interestingly, it is a hit with the little ones as well – head over to the museum’s Children’s Area and the Birdsong Circus, and you’ll know why.
Brown County Museum of History
Address: 209 N Broadway St, Brownwood, TX
Website: Brown County Museum of History
Opening hours: Thu - Fri: 10am - 2pm; Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Wed)
2. Explore the historic downtown area of Brownwood
It may be shopping, dining, or just ambling along to complete your to-do list, Brownwood’s downtown area is the best place to head to. Home to the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum, The Brownwood Art Center, and the Brownwood Lyric Theatre among other famous spots in the city, the area offers ample activities to engage in. If you’re in luck, you might even get to be a part of some of Brownwood’s liveliest parades, local events, and festivals that are regularly hosted here. The Brown County Museum of History offers a full-fledged walking tour of the entire downtown district, so hitch one if you’d like to explore the neighborhood and you will be left thoroughly enriched and impressed.
Downtown Brownwood
Address: Texas, USA
Website: Downtown Brownwood
3. Make your way through the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum
If you’re visiting the historic downtown area in Brownwood, there’s no way you should miss a trip to the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum. Just as the name suggests, the place is all about railroads, engines, and their history, specific to Brownwood, Central Texas, and the American Southwest. Exciting exhibits, photographs that speak volumes, fascinating railway-related equipment, and model trains that will captivate you, you’ll find everything here. There’s also a mini-train that operates around the premises. Just shell out a couple of dollars and you can ride your way through several parts of the museum.
Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum
Address: 700 E Adams St, Brownwood, TX
Website: Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
Price: 2-3 USD
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
Quaint Carriage House
Brownwood, Texas, United States
Travelers Studio Apt. No Cleaning Fee!
Brownwood, Texas, United States
Little Blue Bungalow
Brownwood, Texas, United States
4. Splash around at Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center
Water babies, gather your gear and get going to the Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center for a fully entertaining day in Brownwood. One of the most-loved summer attractions in town, the Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center complex hosts a large swimming pool, equipped with several thrilling slides and four-lap lanes. The slides are meant for different age groups – while the Tot Slide is meant for kids, the Coolbrella is for those looking to only chill in the water. Not only is the place hugely exciting and relaxing, but it is equally safe. There are lifeguards and assistance crew available for help everywhere. Is all that activity likely to get you hungry? You can always head over to their concession stand for a light snack.
Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center
Address: 3201 Milam Dr, Brownwood, TX
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10:15am - 1:45pm, 2:15pm - 8pm; Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 2-3 USD
5. Enjoy the beauty of nature at Lake Brownwood State Park
Right in the heart of Brownwood and bordering Lake Brownwood you’ll find this sprawling, well-maintained public park – Lake Brownwood State Park. Many people flock here to spend their time soaking in the lovely Texan air, taking refreshing walks along stunning trails or exercising in the open, boating on Lake Brownwood, and even pitching cabins/tents and enjoy themselves while camping. The park authorities also rent out fishing gear, so giddy up fishing enthusiasts! The indoor clubhouse on-site is equally fantastic, so if not outdoors, you can even enjoy indoors.
Lake Brownwood State Park
Address: State Hwy Park Rd 15, Brownwood, TX
Website: Lake Brownwood State Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
6. Experience quietude at the Fabis Primitive Park
Sprawled across an area of about 9 hectares (22 acres) lies Fabis Primitive Park, a bird watching, fishing, and boating enthusiasts’ delight. Bordering a stretch of the Pecan Bayou stream, this park is peace, nature, relaxation, and tons of fun, all dubbed into one. If nothing, just head over to experience the best of the bird songs, the gentle winds, the symphony of water, and the happy dance of the trees around. The authorities also allow camping in the park, so book yourself a trailer or pitch a tent, and spend your day and night amidst the beauty of nature.
Fabis Primitive Park
Address: Farm Market 2125 Brownwood, TX
Website: Fabis Primitive Park
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
7. Have a fun time outdoors at Riverside Park
A few minutes walk from Brownwood’s downtown area is Riverside Park. The park is located along the Pecan Bayou stream and makes for a fabulous spot for hiking, kayaking, motor-boating, and several other outdoor activities. Just across the park is an 18-hole golf course. You can even book yourself an RV and stay on-site! Their dedicated camping area is very well equipped and packed with facilities. Also, you can bring along your pets too, the park is pet-friendly! All rental rates are mentioned on their website, so you don’t need to worry about reservations. A supermarket, pharmacy, restaurants, there’s everything in and around the park, so just get yourself here and be prepared for a fun time.
Riverside Park
Address: 320 Riverside Park Dr. Brownwood, Tx
Website: Riverside Park
8. Go bowling at Rex's Texas Lanes
Bring on your competitive spirit and head over to Rex’s Texas Lanes for an energetic game of bowling. Known more famously by its former name, Academy Lanes Bowling Center, this 12-lane bowling alley is friendly, popular, and supremely fun. No matter what day or time you choose to head there, you’re likely to find groups partying together or folks out on an office outing here. There’s even quite a few championships and competitions that the place keeps hosting and you can always enrol yourselves in. Not only bowling, the place offers some pool tables as well.
Rex's Texas Lanes
Address: 1101 Austin Ave, Brownwood, TX
Website: Rex’s Texas Lanes
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 11pm; Sun: 1pm - 11pm
9. A game of golf at The Hideout Golf Club
Golf enthusiasts, make your way to The Hideout Golf Club. Not just an 18-hole golf course, this place is also an abyss of lush greenery, impeccable cleanliness, and top-notch facilities. Although it is part of a resort, those not staying there can also make use of the golf course and other facilities upon paying a fee. The golf course, the resort’s main highlight, has been around since long and is regularly revamped to provide guests with the best and top-of-the-line golfing experience. Tight fairways, dog-legs on the left and the right sides, four sets of tee boxes, and a special tee box for older people and younger children, the place is a haven for golf lovers.
The Hideout Golf Club
Address: 185 Hideout Lane Brownwood, TX
Website: The Hideout Golf Club
Opening hours: Mon - Tue, Thu - Sun: 12pm - 7:30pm, 8pm - 12am; Wed: 8pm - 12am
Price: 20-55 USD
10. Pick up some souvenirs from the Brownwood Store
Want to take back some souvenirs for your loved ones? Drop by the Brownwood Store and choose from a variety of merchandise to pick from. Texas’s flag, caps, t-shirts, and towels with Texas holograms, typically Texan jewelry, accessories, books with Texan tales, reference guides with Texas-specific information, and artisanal products made by the locals of Brownwood, there are these and more available here. You can even pick some freebies, such as brochures, phonebooks, and maps of Texas. Not just items, there’s even foodstuff you can choose from the store. Fredericksburg jelly is one of them – a unique jam made from mesquite beans, wild plums, prickly pears, peaches, agarita berries, and mayhaw. Interesting, right? This place offers a great selection of items, so don’t forget to add it to your list of things to do in Brownwood, Texas.
Brownwood Store
Address: 600 E. Depot Street Brownwood, TX
Website: Brownwood Store
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 8am - 5pm; Fri: 8am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
11. Get a bang for your buck at Bringing Hope Thrift Store
Retail therapy sure is therapeutic and if you add reasonable prices into the mix, the experience gets all the more amplified. A locally owned thrift store in Brownwood, the Bringing Hope Thrift Store opened its doors for the first time in 2012. It operates on a donation-based model and has been set up by a Brownwood local as an endeavor to help the community grow. It offers some unbelievably inexpensive yet quirky knick-knacks. Clothing, fashion accessories, household items, crockery, decorative pieces, and other cute stuff, you’ll find it all here. To top it all, the shop keeps running regular sales as well, so prices get slashed down even further. Isn’t it awesome! Bid goodbye to carrying big wads of cash or shopping trips that burn a hole in your pocket. Just head to the Bringing Hope Thrift Store!
Bringing Hope Thrift Store
Address: 720 W Commerce St, Brownwood, TX
Website: Bringing Hope Thrift Store
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
12. Slowly savour your food at the Turtle Restaurant
Did you read the name and go into slow-mo for a bit? Yep? Well then, head on over to the Turtle Restaurant and enjoy a full meal in slow-mo, just like a turtle! Inspired by these gentle creatures, the restaurant serves up some of the best Italian fare in Brownwood, which is best savored one bite at a time. They have an entire section of the restaurant dedicated to the casual ‘enoteca’, or wine bar, and has a fantastic selection of wines you can choose from. There is also a formal dining room for a lavish, sit-down meal. Carefully curated menu, quality food, and impeccable taste, the Turtle is a classic combination of all these. Try their cappellacci or the 1876 bourbon pecan-crusted chicken breast from the main course for a full-blown party in your mouth!
Turtle Restaurant
Address: 514 Center Ave, Brownwood, TX 76801
Website: Turtle Restaurant
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 2pm (closed on Mon)
13. Have a scoop of ice cream at The Turtle Gelateria
The Turtle Restaurant not only excels in savory but also sweet dishes. Their gelateria, The Turtle Gelataria’s ice creams are such and so many that the place deserves a spot of its own on this list. This exquisite ice cream bar offers some of the best and creamiest ice creams you’d have ever tasted. They are made in small batches and with fresh ingredients, which gives each scoop a robustness of flavor that’s quite unlike any other. Not just their gelato ice creams, but the sorbets are equally delicious. The place also offers some seasonal delights. You can try their Mayan cacao or butter pecan flavor or also go in for the regional variants like hazelnut and lemon, Denman peach, dulce de leche, or jalapeno peanut brittle. Perfect refreshment for any time of the day!
The Turtle Gelateria
Address: 512 Center Ave, Brownwood, TX 76801
Website: The Turtle Gelateria
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 2pm (closed on Mon)
14. Enjo old-fashioned barbeque food at Underwood's Cafeteria
Like getting your hands and palates dirty with bold flavors and hearty portions? Underwood’s Cafeteria is the place for you. About a century-old in Brownwood, Underwood’s is a family-owned restaurant, which has been consistently wowing its diners ever since it opened its doors. The place is forever packed with hungry grubbers and the robust aroma in the air makes you want to order for more even if you’re full! Their portions are mighty generous, so be careful while placing your order. Their orange-tinged potato salad, yeast rolls, and apple cobbler are just a few of the many dishes you ought to try here. Bonus - they also have a drive-through, so you can just pick up your food and be on your way!
Underwood's Cafeteria
Address: 402 W Commerce St, Brownwood, TX
Website: Underwood’s Cafeteria
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10:30am - 9pm; Sun: 10:30am - 8pm (closed on Wed)
15. Grab a quick bite at McAlister's Deli
Do you have a packed itinerary? Grab a quick meal at McAlister’s Deli and be on your way. Primarily a fast food restaurant chain across Texas, McAlister’s Deli brings yummy food and a friendly atmosphere under one roof. Not just their sandwiches, but the soups, salads, and desserts are equally tasty. They take their flavor combinations very seriously. Give them a try and you’ll know it for yourself.
McAlister's Deli
Address: 414 E Commerce Street Brownwood, TX
Website: McAlister’s Deli
Opening hours: Mon - Thu, Sun: 10:30am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 10:30am - 10pm
16. Sip a cup of joe at Common Grounds Coffeehouse
The day doesn’t start until you get a proper dose of coffee. If that statement holds true for you, head over to the Common Grounds Coffeehouse. Step through its doors and you’ll be welcomed with a toasty and wholesome aroma of coffee. The Coffeehouse uses some of the finest beans to fix you a cup and wait, not just hot, but cold coffee too! Frappes, lattes, iced coffees, and even Italian sodas, you’ll get it all here. But, hold on, there’s more! The place churns out some smashing Mexican-American dishes, so do give those burritos, paninis, and of course, the several types of coffees a try.
Common Grounds Coffeehouse
Address: 2208 Austin Ave, Brownwood, TX 76801
Website: Common Grounds Coffeehouse
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6:30am - 2:30pm; Sat: 7:30am - 1:30pm (closed on Sun)
17. Indulge your sweet tooth at the Kellee Donut Shop
The Kellee Donut Shop will surely bring a smile to your face. Right from their atmosphere to the delectable treats, everything is quite a stunner at this lovely little cafe and doughnut shop. The cafe offers a lot more than its name suggests – cookies, candies, cupcakes, savory snacks, and more! It is especially a hit with the kids and you can even pick up their sweetmeats via a drive-through! Sweet, right?
Kellee Donut Shop
Address: 1504 Indian Creek Dr, Brownwood, TX
Website: Kellee Donut Shop
Opening hours: 5am - 1pm (daily)
18. Spend a evening at the Crazy Lemon
Looking to squeeze in some alcohol and chilled out fun into your itinerary? Get to Crazy Lemon, one of Brownwood’s best local bars. An interesting friendly bar, the place is no frills but has all the makings of a super fun place. There are games, music, and a great crowd that add to the overall feel of the place. Add to that, the staff is courteous and attentive. Head on over here, you’ll not be disappointed!
Crazy Lemon
Address: 8252, 540 Pecan St, Brownwood, TX
Website: Crazy Lemon
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 11:45pm (closed on Sun)
Quite a lot for a small town
Yours may be a quick getaway or an extended vacation, this friendly Texan town will satisfy every bit of you. Add some or all of these things to do in Brownwood, Texas and you’ll have yourself a fun and memorable time!