We have lived in the area for a while now and we just love everything about McKinney Roughs!…read more First and foremost their hiking trails: they have a variety of trails for different levels and the views are spectacular. It's never super crowded, sometimes you may run into for horses if you're on horse-friendly trails and you can hike down to the Colorado River as well. The trails are pretty well maintained and marked. Summer camps: my son (7) has been attending their day summer camps for three years now and absolutely loves them! They are from 9-4 so very friendly for those parents working. There is also a bus that brings kids in from Austin as well. The price can't be beat as well. Each day he comes home telling me about what he learned and got to experience (most times I am jealous- like you got to go kayaking? Make and drink yaupon tea? What- how cool!) The camp counselors are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and treat the kids with kindness and respect. They also have a beautiful facility, overall. The grounds are clean and well-kept. McKinney Roughs is simply the best!

Love this place. I've been here for some events but also just to hike. I love that their trails can…read morehelp you practice some different skills. For instance, I was told by one of their staff that there is significant grading to help with elevation hikes. They are very helpful with any questions you have. Inside the main building where the small gift store is, there's a small nature area with some fish, snakes, fossils, and more. My kiddo loves looking at this section. Their Halloween event, Tricks, Treats, and Trails is also always a big hit with my family. They have a rock wall, paintball, archery, and other things to do. This was our second year and it was great!

I came to Bastrop for a quick Sunday Funday and luckily found this park. I parked near a small…read moreplayground. There was a boat ramp nearby. There were several pretty ducks strolling on the green grass. It rained yesterday so everything was green and bright. It seemed like a safe place to walk and run. There were several others walking their dogs and some kiddos riding bikes. We walked along the river and saw the backside of a great looking bar/joint called Neighbors. There was nobody there seeing it was only about 10 am but it looks like a neat place.

The Splash pad at Fisherman's Park is the place to go in the blistering heat of Texas, especially…read moreif you have littles. They have shaded picnic tables for snacks, lunch, or a party. It's also gated so you don't have to worry about your child running out into the parking lot. They just redid the pad flooring making it safe to play. This has become such a favorite spot of ours that I keep an extra towel and my kiddos swimsuit in the car at all times because we'll literally stop in between errands. Totally recommend if you are looking for something "cool" to do this summer. PS adults are allowed to get wet too.

Check it out, the Second Annual Smithville Music Festival at Beautiful Vernon Richards Riverbend…read morePark This year featuring: Jimmie Vaughan T-Bird and the Breaks The Jones Family Singers George Ducas Woody Russell Deadman The Black Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces Blue Valley The Austin Family Jewels LeeAnn Atherton Whew! - music all day on two stages plus a Chili Cookoff, Horseshoe Tournament, 42 Dominoes Tournament, Kiddie Korner, Arts and Crafts Vendors, Food Vendors and strolling entertainers. A day jam packed with fun for the whole family. And get this, tickets are only $20.00 in advance at Front Gate Tickets. Last year's festival was great. Great music, great venue and great vibe. Listening under a canopy of old oak trees next to the Colorado river. There were also some major jammin' going on at the campgrounds after the show - all night from what I heard (I left around 3 am). Did I mention there is camping. Also some nice B&Bs in town. Don't miss this one - it only comes around once a year..

Wonderful diversity of styles and great talent at the 2013 event. Would go again in a drum beat!…read more#music #sounds #intense

There is so much history in Bastrop. Our tour guide, Ron was exceptional. He gave us so much…read moreinformation. Truly an asset to the museum. If you take a walk around Main Street, you need to make this one of your stops if your s history buff like me

Larger and more comprehensive than I thought it'd be. If you're interested in learning about…read moreBastrop, this is the best place to start. A lot of history and artifacts to view here. I'd recommend watching the intro video as well (it's a little cheesy but quite informative). Reasonable admission fee ($5). Friendly staff.

My favorite musical, Fiddler on the Roof was played here, so I knew I couldn't miss it. After…read moresearching high and low in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin for closer productions. My love for this musical brought me to Bastrop (and I'm glad it did!) I loved how they performed Fiddler on the Roof! It was phenomenal!!! It matched exactly from the 1971 movie. I have this movie on VHS and watch it every month because I love it so much!! Every scene was as if I was watching the movie. Lisa Holcomb is an amazing director and trained the performers well. If you're a history buff or admire antiques, you'll love the Bastrop Opera House built in 1889. The parking can be limited in Downtown and in historic district, so I took an Uber from the Airbnb I stayed at. During intermission, I went to check out the ladies restroom and it was severely cramped. It reminded me of an old church restroom: three stalls with doors so close to the toilet. Whether you sit or squat, your knees are at the door. A primary sink and a line out the door. So, there's some discomfort there! I want to mention that the seating inside the opera house is comfortable, but the chairs are close together. I reserved seat E1 which is the last seat of the row, so each time someone from the middle needed to leave. I had to get up to let them out. That was a bit much. Seats sell out quickly, but if you travel solo you can find something last minute. Anyways, I'll be attending the upcoming show of Rent (another one of my favorite musical) here. I wanted to see Dial M for Murder by Alfred Hitchcock, but I'll have to catch it another time.

We attended "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at…read moreBastrop Opera House Neat place Confession stand Donation wine Comfy seats A/C worked They did a good job I recommend you try it

Great place to get out and play! The property is well kept and clean, they have 3 restrooms with…read moreshowers for public use after a hard days ride or when camping. The campsites are also well maintained and they have firewood for sale. They also sell Longhorn Beef, which is delicious and affordable. We will definitely be back again!

I made a last minute decision to go out of town and stumbled across this beautiful place. The…read moreowners are absolutely gems! It's quiet and oh so peaceful! I will most definitely be back once I decide to leave Thank y'all for your kind hospitality!

I can't say enough about this place! The park itself is clean, lush, and absolutely beautiful, with…read moreplenty of cabins, camping spots, RV sites, and scenic hiking trails. But did you know they also have an event hall for rent? We booked it for a family gathering, and it was perfect. The space has a charming vintage look, with plenty of tables and chairs, clean restrooms, a spacious kitchen equipped with burners, a sink, a fridge, and enough trash bins. The concrete floors are a bit cracked, but that's hardly a dealbreaker when you're getting such a gem in the middle of a state park. Guests pay a discounted $3 entrance fee, but since we had an RSVP list, we purchased tickets ahead of time to make the process smoother for everyone. You receive the event hall key at 9 AM on the day of your event and can drop it in the designated box whenever your party ends. The space comfortably accommodates 70-80 guests, making it a great choice for gatherings. You're expected to leave the hall in the same condition as you received it, but the trash bins can be left as they are staff will come by later to collect the trash. It's that simple!

While on a meandering day trip, we came across the inviting entrance to Buescher State Park…read more We parked outside the small but organized ranger station, and I stepped inside to pay the fee. $3 per person if you choose to stay in your vehicle (driving through) or $5 per person is you get out to walk around. Affordable either way! There's also an area set up with mugs, stickers and such for sale. So glad we decided to drive through! A lot of different scenery, well-maintained and mostly empty roads, new undergrowth in burn areas, peaceful and quiet overall. We continued through what seemed a residential area with private houses, then onwards through Bastrop State Park, exiting there. Nice introduction to Buescher State Park. We'll return to hike in cooler weather.

Love this place. It is super clean. We will definitely be back again. Amazing and friendly staff.read more

For us, this was a great place to swim and walk our new dog. The water obstacle course was extra,…read morebut well worth it. Also a great place to have a picnic.