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From ziplining over the Colorado River and hiking through Bastrop State Park to dining at local favorites and relaxing in luxury glamping retreats, discover the best things to do in Bastrop, Texas, for couples, friends and weekend travelers.
Bastrop is known as “the most historic town in Texas” filled with art, history, nature and delicious food. Whether you are looking for romantic date ideas or a fun day with friends, Bastrop is the perfect place to visit. It will always be a special place to me as my fiancé, Tyler Paul, and I like to meet half-way between my college and our hometown to spend a day in Bastrop. This May, I also kicked off my summer break in Bastrop, going on a girls’ trip with my future sister-in-law, Lilly.
Favorite Things to Do in Bastrop
Lilly and I went to see the Found Fine Art Center in the Lost Pines of Bastrop. The center gives many opportunities to see and learn about different types and pieces of art. I really believe that everyone could find a work of art that resonates with them. Jamie Howard, director and owner of Found Fine Art, explained that they have artists from North Carolina, Florida, but mostly Central Texas. Jamie and her husband Clint Howard also own Pyrology Foundry & Studio, a nationally-recognized leader in art manufacturing.
Every Saturday, Found Fine Art Center hosts a live demonstration. Faye Barber, a contributor, was the artist when Lily and I went May 2. Barber uses acrylics and whimsical colors to create expressive animals or characters with expressive eyes. “The main thing I’ve learned with eyes, is you have to have that catch light that brings it to life,” Barber said. Barber also explained, as a California-native who grew up in the desert, Texas influences her art because Texas has a lot more trees, animals and colors.
If you’re looking for adventure in nature, Zip Lost Pines is perfect for you. Lilly and I went on the Full Zip Tour that included five zip lines and three sky bridges. The tours are $115 per person, but they also offer a Half Zip Tour, Sunset/Night Zip Tour, Group Zip Line events and youth ziplining.
Lilly and I arrived 30 minutes early. For the tour, we wore our hair in low pony-tails, wore athletic leggings, and running shoes, so we were comfortable in our gear. The tour from start to finish was roughly two hours long, but this includes the tour’s preparation and walking. The staff are knowledgeable, fun and extremely helpful. They will make sure you have an exciting and safe experience.
After each zipline, we walked in the beautiful scenery of the McKinney Roughs Nature Park. Between ziplines we had a chance to take a breath and have a nice, cold drink of water. This really helped beat the mild Texas heat. We had beautiful, sunny and mild weather, but knowing how hot Texas weather can be, the rest stops could be a literal lifesaver. The ziplining was exhilarating and had beautiful views of the Colorado River and trees. You can book a tour here.
A few months after we started dating, Tyler and I went on our first date at Bastrop State Park. With over 7 miles of trails, we loved hiking and seeing nature all around us. The pine forest is relatively young and a little scarred because the state park lost their pines in a fire Sept. 4, 2011. The weather when we went was very mild for Texas, making the hike easy and enjoyable. We only spent a short time in the park, but there’s so much more you can do like swimming, canoeing, picnicking and camping. The park is home to Lake Bastrop and Lake Mina.
Best Places to Eat in Bastrop
This May, Lilly and I started our day-trip with lunch at Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard. Neighbors is a lively restaurant whose motto is “Drink Beer, Eat Pizza, Pet Dogs.” At Neighbor’s, dogs are allowed and encouraged. You can sit inside or outside, eat delicious food fried in beef tallow for extra flavor, and listen to live music in their yard from 7-10 p.m. We sat outside on the beautiful deck overlooking the Colorado River. I would recommend taking a stroll down the stairs near Neighbor’s leading to a walking trail right next to the river.
Lilly and I started with their fried brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are one of my favorite vegetables, and Neighbor’s did a great job preparing them. They are tossed in their habanero hot honey, and fried in beef tallow.
Lilly enjoyed the caprese salad that had a generous serving size and looked delicious. My chicken pesto calzone had a crispy dough, deliciously fried with beef tallow and filled with chicken, basil pesto, mushrooms and creamy mozzarella cheese.
I got a classic skillet cobbler with a scoop of ice cream to end the meal, which was as tasty as it looked.
For dinner, Lilly and I went to the upscale Store House Eatery. The lively, busy Store House Eatery is housed in the oldest building in Bastrop made in 1836.
They offer a luxurious farm-to-table experience by gathering their Texas-sourced ingredients from their own Eden East Farm a mile from the restaurant, beef from Bastrop and seafood from the Gulf of America. Lilly and I sat in their French Quarter-like courtyard and listened to the live music playing behind the restaurant in downtown Bastrop.
To start, Lilly and I had the airy, buttery focaccia and sweet and salty malt fries. We also had their mocktails, the Ms. Gingy and the Wildwood. The Ms. Gingy was a refreshing sparkling drink with ginger syrup, pineapple and lime. The Wildwood was made with Hop water, orange juice, and berries. The taste reminded me of one of my favorite kombuchas.
For my main course I had the sweet and spicy Love Grows salad. The salad had a lot of flavors, delicious cheese and a light vinaigrette. The food was delicious and fresh, but because of the high quality ingredients and upscale experience, expect to pay a little more than other restaurants. Book your reservation here.
Grace Miller Gracie’s is one of Tyler and my go-to restaurants in Bastrop. Gracie’s has the best chicken fried steak I have ever had, and it feels like you’re sitting in your grandma’s dining room. Tyler and I like to split the chicken fried steak, which makes the restaurant really inexpensive. The chicken fried steak is served with a vegetable, but at Gracie’s, mac-and-cheese is considered a vegetable.
Top Places to Stay in Bastrop
Although I haven’t stayed overnight, here are three places I would consider staying after a fun day in Bastrop. I have some friends who like camping in Bastrop, but I think I might prefer glamping.
If you like J.R.R. Tolkien, fantasy and the great outdoors (like I do), The Hobbit’s Nest seems like the best glamping experience. The Hobbit’s Nest, like J.R.R. Tolkien’s Rivendale, would be perfect “whether you liked food or sleep or story-telling or singing (or reading), or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness.” The Hobbit’s Nest is an easy distance away from all of the best restaurants in Bastrop. After dinner, you can cure your weariness in the cozy treehouse with a queen-sized bed above a small pond on the 42 acres of woods shared with the owners, two other rental houses and another treehouse. Make your reservation here.
For another glamping experience, the Reserve at Greenleaf offers four beautiful yurts with hot tubs and nearby swimming, hiking, kayaking and fishing. You can book a yurt here.
If you’re not into glamping, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa is a great option. Like a summer camp for adults and children alike, the resort offers everything from outdoorsy activities like horseback riding, kayaking, and hikes to their leisure facilities like a water park and spa. You can make your reservations here.
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Cover Photo Emily Jenkins
Emily Jene Jenkins is the Editorial Intern at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and a senior at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, studying Public Relations. On top of writing, Jenkins enjoys spending quality time with her fiancé, Tyler, and her family, traveling, enjoying the outdoors and staying active in her church.
