Granbury, Texas

Howdy, y'all!  I'm feeling very Texan today, as the boyfriend and I just returned from a little road trip to the quaint town of Granbury!  It's a short drive from Dallas (about an hour and twenty minutes) that will tak you back in time.  It toutes itself as a place where "Texas history comes to life." 

Photo from www.texasescapes.com


When we first arrived in Granbury, we went straight to the town square.  There was ample parking available in the court house lot.  From there we walked to The Coffee Grinder for a cuppa joe.  I hardly ever drink coffee, but was so impressed with their helpful staff and wide variety of flavorful options, I had to indulge.

Once we got our caffeine fix, we strolled around the square and checked out some of the shops.  We spoke with the owner of one of the antique stores who has lived in the town for almost his entire life.  We learned from him that Granbury was one of many small trading towns that popped up in Texas in the 1800s.  While most of these are no longer inhabited, Granbury was saved by four hard working women who dedicated themselves to turning the town into a historic district in the 1970s.

We grabbed lunch at Nutshell Eatery and Bakery, which was formerly a bar below a bed and breakfast.  The bar is famous for employing John St. Helen who some believe was actually John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln.  Historical conspiracies add to the charm, and the BLT on sourdough bread baked in-house is a "worth it" sandwich!  My bf's burger was on the dry side.

What we would have done if they were open today... Photo from www.tripadvisor.com

When we had our fill of the quaint town square, we drove a couple of miles to Barking Rocks Vineyard and Winery.  It was closed (their published hours are 1pm to 4pm Saturday, or "by chance") but would be a fun place to visit next time!

I love seeing a community come together to preserve and celebrate history, and Granbury is a perfect example of a place kept alive by passion, as it could have easily become another ghost town in rural Texas.  The square reminded me of Sonoma in California's wine country.  Hopefully the area will continue to attract tourists and history buffs!  I think the bf and I will be back in April for the Granbury Wine Walk and stay in one of the town's cute B&Bs!

What small towns have you visited that you'd recommend to family and friends?