Brownwood is the perfect family-friendly destination in Central Texas for a quick weekend trip with plenty to do. Our visit fell during the holiday season, which added even more magic to the small town’s overall charm. The town is brimming with history and it was actually home to the largest military training center in Texas during WWII. In fact, when you visit Intermission Bookshop, you are actually able to see the imprints of the heads of the soldiers from where they would sleep. Today, Brownwood features a lively town center brimming with shops, restaurants and breweries. I have listed a few of our favorite stops below with more information on each place we visited.
PS – If you are visiting on the weekend, as with many small towns, a lot of businesses will be closed on Sunday, so plan accordingly when mapping out your stay.
Where to Eat & Drink:
- Tr3s Leches Cafe – Our first stop was this colorful Mexican bakery serving an array of traditional pastries, street tacos and some of the best al pastor we have tried! The space was warm and inviting and they are open from 8am-5pm for breakfast and lunch, but closed on Sundays and Mondays.
- Lucille + Mabel – We stopped into Lucille and Mabel for Sunday brunch. It was one of few businesses in town open on Sunday.This restaurant opened at the beginning of 2022 and is a great destination for an upscale dining experience with fantastic, freshly made-cocktails, steaks, and even wood-fired pizzas. The bar space can be seen immediately upon entering the restaurant and it is stunning!
- Primal Brewing – This craft brewery is also newer to the Brownwood scene and features live music and spectacular draft beers.Grab a flight and try a variety of different flavors ranging from blondes to malts to IPAs.
- Runaway Train Cafe – This is your chance to dine in an authentic train car. The Runaway Train Cafe serves diner-style food out of an old train car. Go all in and try the loaded cheese fries, a burger, milkshake and pie!
Shopping:
- Intermission Bookshop – I love a good bookshop and this was one of my favorites I have ever visited. Intermission is an independent bookshop that sells both new and gently used books with a large children’s book section. The building is located in historic brownwood and was a theater during WWII where the soldiers would sleep when the hotels were all full. As I mentioned earlier, you can still see the imprints of the soldiers’ heads on the walls.
- Shaw’s Marketplace – Shaw’s Marketplace dates back to the 1920s when it was one of the largest laundry facilities in Central Texas. It was named for its former owner, LE Shaw Sr who first opened that business. Now it is home to 20+ vendors who sell everything from coffee & pecans to homegoods, baby clothing, stylish women’s clothing, menswear from brands like Howler Brothers, and more!
- Earth & Noble – This female-owned boutique started with handmade polymer clay earrings and now sells everything from shoes, clothes to handbags for women. We loved browsing the chic blouses and dresses + activewear sold here.
Other Things to Do:
- Mural Trail – For anyone interested in art (or just a cute selfie opportunity) the town has a mural trail where you can find art installations painted upon buildings across town. Our favorites were the Butterfly Wall, Colorful Cactus, Texas Flag and Mark Twain Quote Wall. Linking the Visit Brownwood Mural Trail map here for you!
- Lyric Theatre – This historic performing arts theater, first built in 1914, has been fully renovated and now hosts a variety of productions throughout the year, including programming for both children and adults. They had several holiday performances happening when we were in town in early December. The theater also functions as a space for meetings, live performances and concerts.
