Lifestyle

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Located in the heart of Texas, Brownwood is a charming Hill Country community which is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. Its pleasant downtown area, in the midst of revitalization, with a welcoming atmosphere, is as vibrant for its shopping as its dining. Brownwood is a place to explore and pass some time milling about the stores and enjoying the deliciously busy restaurant scene. Not only that, but the city is also being put on the map for the wine and craft beer industry.

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

Photo: Visit Brownwood

At the well-known Turtle Enoteca, you’ll find an expertly-crafted cocktail menu, along with a curated and award-winning wine list that boasts local Texas wineries as well as international classics. Pioneer Tap House, located at 112 E Baker Street, features 18 Texas craft beers on tap, as well as a rotating small selection of Texas wines. Next door renovations are being made for CJ’s Cigar Lounge. Keep walking down Baker Street, and a few blocks away at the corner of Baker and Fisk, Jeff Tucker continues preparing the brewery he’s calling Teddy’s Brewhaus for opening soon. Teddy’s will feature a great selection of craft beers brewed in house, a rotating food menu, and outdoor space.

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

Photo: Visit Brownwood

If there’s any Hill Country town which is truly “deep in the heart of Texas,” Brownwood takes that designation literally. It sits mere miles from the geographic center of the state and exemplifies the very nature that represents Texans. Brownwood features year-round outdoor opportunities in the great expanses of land and water that surround it. The downtown core, bustling with great shopping and impressive cuisine, attracts locals and guests for its current and upcoming attractions. Brownwood is developing, and while it continues to generate a true sense of community, area businesses help make the city a warm and welcoming part of the Hill Country. A premier Hill Country destination, downtown Brownwood offers modern amenities combined flawlessly with rich history. Their dining experiences are second-to-none, and the pairings that go with it are equally as popular.

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

Photo: Visit Brownwood

A historical walking tour of the area illustrates the charming background, unique attractions, and surprising amenities that keep visitors returning time and again. The Brownwood Lyric Theatre is a performing arts center which was established in a former 1920s movie theater. It boasts a variety of productions featuring local and traveling performers, and its location in the downtown core puts it front and center to the various shops, restaurants, and galleries that complement its entertainment value. Supporting and growing the arts scene in Brownwood, the Lyric features a number of performing arts initiatives in a plethora of genres which are sure to please the staunchest of critics. Likewise, the Brownwood Art Center is a well-established composition of area artists and those of national acclaim who have come together to produce and support art of the highest quality in the region and beyond. They host member and group projects, provide local scholarships, and feature juried and member exhibits. They continue to produce the classes and special events that have established Brownwood in the arts scene of Texas.

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

Photo: Visit Brownwood

The Brown County Museum of History features exhibits from the more than a century-and-a-half of established settlement in the area. From Native American tribes up through early Texas settlers and into the area’s World War II contributions with Camp Bowie, the museum keeps the past alive. Guests of all ages are welcome, and the museum even includes a designated Children’s Area that will keep the little ones of your group quite content! Following a tour of the museum, visitors to Brownwood may also be interested in a tour of the historic jail which is located directly across the street. Giving an insider’s view (so-to-speak) of this architecturally magnificent facility, the jail transports visitors back in time to a period when Brownwood was growing and law enforcement was as much a necessity as a privilege.

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

Photo: Visit Brownwood

Finally, the Martin & Francis Lehnis Railroad Museum, which is situated directly across from Brownwood’s historic Santa Fe Depot, exhibits the vast railroad history of not only Brownwood, but of the Hill Country and the American Southwest. It incorporates a variety of railroad memorabilia, former equipment, pictures, and oral history into vivid and often multi-dimensional displays. Featuring model trains of all sizes, it also encourages the passion for the railroad that has long been established in the area. There’s even a miniature train that guests can ride (weather permitting) that can carry both children and adults.

Downtown Brownwood: Eat, Stay, and Play in the Vibrant Heart of Texas

Photo: Visit Brownwood

Downtown Brownwood is a centralized hub of activity for all ages. It features a vast variety of dining options, gift shops, boutiques, specialty shops, and antique stores, as well as a selection festivals and special activities taking place throughout the year. Time spent in downtown Brownwood enjoying its great shopping, rich history, and wonderful dining options will have you feeling refreshed and reconnected. Since Brownwood is so ideally located in the heart of Texas, it makes the perfect place to meet friends and family from any part of the state, or have a weekend getaway worthy of sharing on your social media. For more details on downtown Brownwood, visit the link available here for accommodation, dining, and shopping details. Stay, eat, and play in the greater Brownwood area, and plan the kind of trip you’ll always remember, deep in the heart of Texas!