The first time I ate dinner in Georgetown, Texas, was during an agonizingly slow trip from Austin to Waxahachie on a Friday night. Our group of four women decided to get off the highway, eat, and wait for traffic to die down before continuing our trip. What a great decision!
Yes, I had driven by Georgetown for years, but I had never taken time to get off I-35 to see the sights, shop, and eat. Since that fateful evening, though, I have made many trips to Georgetown to experience its picturesque downtown, visit its parks, and eat great food!
Georgetown square is ranked as one of the most beautiful in Texas and the bustling atmosphere shows that we are not the only ones to discover this secret. The Williamson County Courthouse holds the place of importance in the square. The building, the fifth courthouse for the county, was designed by Charles Henry Page who design other Texas courthouses including those in Blanco, Goldthwaite, and Uvalde. Extensive alterations were made in 1965-66 when parts of the terra cotta roof balustrade began to fall. Hour-long tours are offered on Fridays and Saturdays.
Walking around the square is a fun way to get exercise and shop. The many interesting stores range from antiques to books to gifts and many more. I always have to stop at Black Sugar Caffe for coffee to give me fuel for shopping. Another one of my favorite stops is 600 Degrees Pizzeria for, you guessed it, pizza. If you are like me, you are fans of The DayTripper so you should not visit Georgetown without also making a stop at The DayTripper World Headquarters. Don’t forget to take your camera and take advantage of the photo ops that downtown murals offer.
If pizza is not your favorite, don’t panic. Georgetown has lots of restaurants to keep you going. On one fun stop we gave into our hunger for Mexican food at El Monumento. The food was great and we had such fun watching the ice shaving machine make perfect margaritas. The patio of this restaurant overlooks the Blue Hole Lagoon, a fun place to swim and cool off during the summer.
Georgetown is home to many parks that offer hiking and biking options. Both San Gabriel Park and the Lake Georgetown are fun places to enjoy nature. There Is even a Chautauqua Park with playground equipment. If you choose to simply drive around the town, make certain to go by Southwestern University, the oldest institution of higher education in Texas. The scenic campus houses award-winning academic programs.
One close venture off I-35 is Inner Space Cavern gives a cool option for hot summer days. Georgetown also has many opportunities for water sports such as kayaking down the San Gabriel River for ways to cool down when temperatures are high. (See more here!)
Georgetown is a great place for a short break in driving up I-35 or for a stay of several days. Just kick back, relax, and enjoy the views.
– Candace Ahlfinger has loved traveling since she was little and has always been on the go whenever possible. Now she is retired and gets to do what she loves best… TRAVEL! Whether it’s traveling with her wonderful husband, or our children and grandchildren, traveling is a great experience that enriches her life. Because she always enjoys reading and hearing about others’ travel experiences, she wants to share her travels with the Ellis DownHome readers.
