2021 April Soooo not really a business, but worth a mention!…read moreChappell hill bluebonnet festival!! Perfect weather...perfect place!! Once a year, Along the streets of the small city of chapel hill...is a cozy little area to look at booth after booth after booth of crafts, foods, hot sauces, and other homemade goodies!! the people are extremely polite and fun to talk to...alcohol is located throughout the area with a few scattered ATM machines. Free to get in, you can spend a few hours out there....live music and good times!! Love it

Review #3 - This festival is nothing less than Texas AWESOME! My mom would bring us here as kids…read moreand I loathed being drug here. However this was my first time back in probably over 20 year and they have TONS of things geared towards kids now. I'd be a happy kid! Anything under the sun "festival" will be found here. I was hoping to see more Bluebonnet art, but unlike 20 some odd years years ago it's more commercialized now, just think any festival you go to with "some" bluebonnet stuff mixed it. Home decor, yard art, Texas art, graphic tees, clothes, make your own potpourri, candles, jewelry, festival memorabilia,everything! And let's not forget about festival food! Lots of it! Adult beverages can be found everywhere. You can also get a glimpse into Chappell Hill history by going into the Historical Society building and other buildings along Main St. There is a kids section of carnival rides and face painting for those who have kids in tow. Parking as of this year is $5 and contrary to review number 1 - apparently they have it covered now because there were zero issues. Tip 1 - I would suggest arriving first thing in the morning to avoid any congestion. Tip 2 - There are TONS of yard art vendors. Shop around before you impulse buy. Several venders are much cheaper than the venders at the very start of the festival off Main and 290. Tip 3 - Some venders (not all) only take cash - so bring it! There is an ATM in the Historical Society building....unless they move it. Tip 4 - I laughed when I saw women toting around carts and wagons without kids. But I soon found that they were the smart ones! I bought so much cheap yard art that I could hardly carry it. Who's laughing now. Not me!! Lesson learned - bring something to carry your crap once you buy! You'll be happy you did! Enjoy!!!

A total hidden gem that's absolutely worth a stop--whether you're in the area or not…read more Stormee, our tour guide, was incredibly kind and brought the history to life with stories and insight that made the experience unforgettable. It's a rare chance to see the oldest operating cotton gin in America, and the whole visit feels like stepping back in time.

It is the oldest operating gin in America, designated as a National Historic Landmark, in its…read moreoriginal setting located in a Burton, TX, a small community oriented town. Upon arrival tours are ushered into the cotton museum for an oral history, a short film, and exploring exhibits. The museum focuses on the surrounding communities harvesting cotton. No mention of the relationship of the grueling hardships of slavery and slave produced cotton. When the tour shifts to the gin, you'll stand in wonder at the industrial building. A small cotton garden, an old industrial cotton scale, an old wagon filled with cotton and a tractor adorn the exterior of the building. The Smithsonian and the National Trust for Historic Plaque plaque is on the exterior wall. The staff work hard at preserving the building. The 1925 Bessemer twin -type IV oil engine powers the gin twice a year. It's great honoring yesteryear.

Got about 8.5k steps in from walking during the visit to this park. Not only that, I got to see and…read morelearn something. Allergies were under control thanks to starting Allegra. It allowed me to enjoy the walk while understanding more about Washington on the Brazos River. Got to see the famous Brazos River and imagine how life was or could have been. Washington, Texas could have been a bustling city like Austin. It was fun seeing the old life acted out in the exact place it happened. It was fun hearing from those playing the various roles all over the park. It's a nice and sacred part of Texas history. One can explore neighboring areas like Navasota or Chappell Hill for dinner. Was hoping to have dinner at Bevers in Chappell Hill but it was closed. It was an easy drive home. Found a new way to get 10k steps in.

Our family loves Texas and we love authentic almost anything. This is a great spot to check both…read moreboxes. A wonderful time to visit is for the annual Texas birthday celebration on March 2 (or weekend before) when there are historic re-enactments and demonstrations and special docents in periodic costume on hand to take you back in time. If you are lucky, you may even see a few of the first bluebonnets of the year! Lovely live oak trees grace the grounds and offer shade. The visitor center presents lots of information about our great state in the comfort of air conditioning on hot days.

This museum is a treasure! I took my 16 year old grandson and he throughly enjoyed it as much as I…read moredid. We learned a lot that we did not know. It definitely made an impression on my grandson. It was worth the trip for sure and we both highly recommend it.

Came here for the first time with my kids. I honestly don't know much or the specifics of the wars…read morethat happened in our past, but this musuem had a simple setup that did an amazing job explaining a lot of their history as well as showcasing their equipment and supplies. The admission tickets are so cheap. There's a small gift shop as you enter and start your tour. The overall place isn't as big as you think, you can fly by everything without reading within 20-30mins, but if you wanna stop and read everything then prepare to be there for over an hour. There's a lot of awesome materials and display. I was also told that all the tanks on display are actually operational and every so often are driven outside during events. Definitely recommend to experience this with the family. Lots of cool souvenirs in the gift shop to take home. The staff member is super nice and informational. They give discount to current and former military. The parking is huge so you shouldn't have a problem finding a stall.

3.5 This is a great…read morelittle museum for the little ones but not much here for adults. There's a room with live animals, fish and even bees. Then there's a hall with rocks and gemstones. Then there were some stuff animals, bones and replicas. The final section was local Texas history. It didn't take long to see it all. They were also setting up a née display so many displays were empty. Bathrooms are in the meeting Hal next door and parking was ample.

Fabulous place with fabulous people!!…read more They promote and preserve the Brazos Valley heritage and do a fantastic job presenting their artifacts! The exhibit openings are fun!! The expert presenters are interesting and informative! If you've not been you need to see this place!

I've been to many museums through the years. This was my first visit to a presidential…read moremuseum/library, and it was spectacular. In addition to a 25-minute video production about the life of President George H.W. Bush (during which I shed a tear), there are more artifacts here than you can shake a stick at. The guides are quite friendly and knowledgeable, and they are prepared to answer questions. During my visit, there were several original artifacts on display, including FDR's speech on Dec. 8, 1941, and Elvis Presley's original enlistment documents. But those are traveling exhibits. There is plenty of Bush family memoriblia to quench your thirst for some up-close history.

I love visiting Presidential Libraries when I happen to be in the area. So far I have visited the…read moreones for Hoover (West Branch, IA), Johnson (Austin, Tx), Nixon (Yorba Linda, CA), Reagan (Simi Valley, CA), Truman (Independence MO), and now George H.W. Bush. I was in College Station over the weekend for a Texas A&M Class of 1980 Reunion, and part of the agenda was paying this place a visit. The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library complex, located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, includes the Presidential Library and Museum, the Bush School of Government and Public Service, and the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. My visit included the main Museum, a separate building holding the very cool Union Pacific 4141 Engine and the Marine One Helicopter, and the graves of President Bush, his Wife Barbara, and their Daughter Robin. The later involves a pretty walk around a scenic pond (and rose garden area) and onwards to a gated plot within a quiet woodsy area. If Gayle is reading this, of course I also took a look through the gift shop at the end of my visit. I found the main museum to be nicely curated, in chronological order, and with lots of interesting things to learn and remember. I found that I needed at least a couple passes through to help layer my visit. Of particular note (besides the 4141 and Marine One) were exhibits noting the fall of the Berlin Wall, Camp David, the family boat (Fidelity), and the car that the Bush family drove out to Texas for the first time. There was also a special (and worth visiting) exhibit when I was there Music America: Iconic Objects From America's Music History. Also, please don't miss the 22 minute orientation video when you first start in. I found that it really helped set the stage for what was to come at this museum.

The Hemi Hideout is one man's giant man cave! The owner had a successful business and a love for…read morethe classic muscle cars so he began collecting and when he retired he built this giant building to showcase his cars. Car collecting also led to collecting neon signs, old gas pumps and just about anything nostalgic relating to antique cars. There is even a dinner that looks like something from American Graffiti! They are located in Brookshire, Texas just north of I-10. You have to make a reservation to go and when we went there is a $10 entry fee but the owner donates all the entry fees collected to local charities in the area. Plan on spending a few hours there, take your time and walk around, lots to look at and signs explaining the history of most of the items.

Went here for a wedding and wow. So much cool stuff and the owners were very inviting and make you…read morefeel like family.

Peaceful, zen, bit of nature within the museum district's Herman Park…read more Parking was free since we went on a Sunday and we were able to find a very close spot within the lot. We want on a day with gorgeous weather, not too hot and plenty of sunshine. We saw squirrels, turtles coyfish and various birds. There was a decent crowd but we were able to move around easily and get some cute pics. This is a beautiful weather day must.

This was my first visit to the Japanese Garden in Houston, and it left a gentle impression on me. I…read morecame toward the tail end of winter, just as spring was teasing its way in. Here and there, I spotted a delicate cherry blossom and a few early blooms, though I wish I had visited at the peak of flower season. The garden itself is exquisitely designed and every corner seems crafted for peace, and I truly enjoyed the calm atmosphere. It felt like a small escape from the city hustle. That said, I did notice the cleanliness was a bit of an issue; the garden could definitely use some extra care to keep it pristine. Another small drawback was the restroom situation. There are only two available, and both were quite busy, so I ended up waiting a while and eventually decided it wasn't worth it. Still, the park draws a lovely crowd with people come to stroll, reflect, and soak in the beauty. If I'm in Houston again at a better time, I'll absolutely return to see the garden in full bloom. It has so much potential, and with a little more attention to detail, it could be a true hidden gem.

After a very sugary daddy date with my two youngest boys, we were wondering where we would head off…read moreto next. Then I remembered: there's a train depot out here in Tomball! Sure enough, I looked it up on my trusty Yelp app and found the Tomball Railroad Depot Plaza. I had thought it was connected to one of the local parks. Little did I know that their railroad depot is a small museum, and there is a red Caboose parked nearby from the Tomball and Walden Railway that houses a model railroad. Apparently, the Railroad Depot had been under renovation for several months, and we happened to come on the first day of its re-opening! The kiddos were so excited to se the trains in action! It had several 0 scale locomotives, including one from the 1950's. There are several scenes depicting the Tomball and Walden railway and also Tomball in the early 20th century. It was amazing to me how much time has been poured out on the maintenance of these trains. The volunteer dozier was incredibly enthusiastic about his trains. He also had a lot of knowledge about other model railroaders and train museums in the Houston area. One thing to note is that this caboose was equipped with a special air whistle in the rear, that was formed through the releasing of the air brake. We didn't get to go inside the Tomball Depot, but would really recommend it. They have done an incredible job in building out a new platform, updating the Depot with new wood exterior, and getting it to its former glory. Check it out! And prepare to pull out those model trains or Thomas trains after your visit.=)

A friend of mine got married in Tomball and I made a weekend out of it and stayed at a hotel in the…read morearea. The day after the wedding, I did a little exploring in Tomball. The Tomball Railroad Depot Plaza was my favorite place I visited in town and 30 minutes or so well spent. A former railroad depot, there are some cool things to check out. There's a railway train and several statues all encompassed in a park. It's a pretty park with a water fountain and more. While it isn't large, it's a nice spot to take a stroll or play with your kids. There are also some restaurants within walking distance. Right across the street.