• Restaurants + Bars
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Society
  • City Life
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Real Estate
  • Home + Design
  • Innovation
  • Travel
  • City Guide
  • Events
  • Charity Guide
  • Subscribe
  • Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
culturemap logo
  • Restaurants + Bars

    THE LATEST

    Brianna Caleri: 7 things to know in Austin food right now: Easy Tiger twists up new pretzel bar
    News You Can Eat
    7 things to know in Austin food: Easy Tiger twists up new pretzel bar
    By Brianna Caleri
    Brianna Caleri: Austin-born healthy meal delivery company snaps back into service
    In A Snap
    Austin-born healthy meal delivery company snaps back into service
    By Brianna Caleri
    Hannah J. Frías: Austin's cheesiest competition returns to crown the city's best queso
    In Queso you missed it
    Austin's cheesiest competition returns to crown the city's best queso
    By Hannah J. Frías

    SPONSORED BY

  • Entertainment

    THE LATEST

    Alex Bentley: Bodies Bodies Bodies hit the floor in hilarious horror comedy
    Movie Review
    Bodies Bodies Bodies hit the floor in hilarious horror comedy
    By Alex Bentley
    Paige Turner: Here are the top 5 things to do in Austin this weekend
    Weekend Event Guide
    Here are the top 5 things to do in Austin this weekend
    By Paige Turner
    Brianna Caleri: Upcoming Austin festival puts women and LGBTQ+ creators at the forefront
    The Future Is Now
    Upcoming Austin festival puts women and LGBTQ+ creators at forefront
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Arts

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Frías: KUT shares never-before-heard Austin stories in immersive Paramount Theatre performance
    ATXplained
    KUT shares never-before-heard Austin stories in immersive show
    By Hannah J. Frías
    Holly Beretto: Austin poet and professor honored with prestigious national award
    The Write Stuff
    Austin poet and professor honored with prestigious national award
    By Holly Beretto
    Kristen O'Brien: Austin's art scene sizzles this August with 9 stellar exhibits
    State of the Arts
    Austin's art scene sizzles this August with 9 stellar exhibits
    By Kristen O'Brien

    SPONSORED BY

  • Society

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Frías: Austinites gather to toast, taste, and crown top culinary talent at the Tastemakers
    A Delicious Celebration
    Austinites toast, taste, and crown top culinary talent at Tastemakers
    By Hannah J. Frías
    Katey Psencik Outka: Founder of boozy Austin brand weds local singer in destination event
    Ranch Rider
    Founder of boozy Austin brand weds local singer in destination event
    By Katey Psencik Outka
    Katey Psencik Outka: Local music legend's niece ties the knot in romantic Austin ceremony
    Real Wedding
    Local music legend's niece ties the knot in romantic Austin ceremony
    By Katey Psencik Outka

    SPONSORED BY

  • City Guide

    THE LATEST

    : The Parish
    Entertainment
    The Parish
    : ZACH Theatre
    Entertainment
    ZACH Theatre
    : Spiderhouse Ballroom
    Entertainment
    Spiderhouse Ballroom

    SPONSORED BY

  • Events

    THE LATEST

    : Museum of Ice Cream
    8.13.22 | 10:00 am
    Museum of Ice Cream
    : Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - The Exhibition
    8.13.22 | 10:00 am
    Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - The Exhibition
    : UnReal Estate X - 10 Years of UnReal Estate: Tim Doyle Anniversary Show
    8.13.22 | 11:00 am
    UnReal Estate X - 10 Years of UnReal Estate: Tim Doyle Anniversary Show

    SPONSORED BY

  • Subscribe
  • City Life

    THE LATEST

    : Austin officials issue emergency order as local monkeypox cases rise
    Monkeypox
    Austin officials issue emergency order as local monkeypox cases rise
    By Drew Knight, KVUE
    Brianna Caleri: Texas Tribune's Evan Smith presents a trail guide to his final festival
    Everything is Political
    Texas Tribune's Evan Smith presents a trail guide to his final fest
    By Brianna Caleri
    Hannah J. Frías: H-E-B Pharmacy fills top spot in customer satisfaction ranking 2 years in a row
    Here Everything is (Still) Better
    H-E-B Pharmacy fills top spot in U.S. customer satisfaction ranking
    By Hannah J. Frías

    SPONSORED BY

  • Fashion + Beauty

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Frías: Luxury fashion brand opens first Austin store in trendy South Congress development
    Music to our ears
    Luxury fashion brand opens first Austin store in trendy development
    By Hannah J. Frías
    Hannah J. Frías: Former Texas Longhorn launches luxury shopping destination in South Austin
    Sporting Fashion
    Former Longhorn launches luxury shopping destination in South Austin
    By Hannah J. Frías
    Hannah J. Frías: Austin jewelry star Kendra Scott shines with dazzling engagement ring collection
    Great Scott
    Austin jewelry star Kendra Scott debuts dazzling new engagement rings
    By Hannah J. Frías

    SPONSORED BY

  • Real Estate

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Frías: The stars at night are big and bright at this stunning $18.5 million Texas ranch
    down by the river
    The stars at night are big and bright at this stunning $18.5M ranch
    By Hannah J. Frías
    John Egan: Austin real estate market tops Texas with highest price for new homes
    Construction commotion
    Austin real estate market tops Texas with highest price for new homes
    By John Egan
    John Egan: Woodsy Texas ranch with ties to Von Erich wrestling family listed for $17 million
    Animals included
    Texas ranch tied to Von Erich wrestling family listed for $17M
    By John Egan

    SPONSORED BY

  • Home + Design

    THE LATEST

    Stephanie Allmon Merry: 7 spectacular surprises inside Chip and Joanna Gaines' new Fixer Upper castle in Waco
    Royal revelation
    7 surprises inside Chip & Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper castle in Waco
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    John Egan: Austin builder unveils sleek prefabricated luxury homes starting at $600,000
    High-end housing
    Austin builder unveils sleek prefab luxury homes for $600K and up
    By John Egan
    Katie Friel: H-E-B carts out new home decor and furniture at one Austin-area store
    Milk, Bread, Eggs, Accent Chair
    H-E-B carts out new home decor and furniture at one Austin-area store
    By Katie Friel

    SPONSORED BY

  • Innovation

    THE LATEST

    John Egan: This national survey says Texas is a great state for business
    A Great State
    This national survey says Texas is a great state for business
    By John Egan
    Brianna Caleri: Pink Panther app takes 'detectives' on a tour of Austin's crown jewels and hidden gems
    Get A Clue
    Pink Panther app takes 'detectives' on a tour of Austin's hidden gems
    By Brianna Caleri
    Brianna Caleri: New automated cocktail bars 'serve drinks in seconds' at Austin's Circuit of The Americas
    Driverless Bars
    New automated cocktail bars 'serve drinks in seconds' at Austin's COTA
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Travel

    THE LATEST

    Stephanie Allmon Merry: 7 spectacular surprises inside Chip and Joanna Gaines' new Fixer Upper castle in Waco
    Royal revelation
    7 surprises inside Chip & Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper castle in Waco
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Alex Bentley: How to get every possible discount at the 2022 State Fair of Texas
    Deals for Days
    How to get every possible discount at the 2022 State Fair of Texas
    By Alex Bentley
    Brianna Caleri: The 10 best Austin hotels to book for a full ACL Fest experience this fall
    Night Moves
    10 best Austin hotels to book for a full ACL Fest experience this fall
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Charity Guide
  • Tastemaker Awards
Travel Texas Austin
Promoted articles are produced by CultureMap sponsors and not by the editorial staff.
Home » Travel
On the Road
Browse Bowie, the 'little wonder of the West' named for the Alamo hero
On the Road
Seek out history, food, and art in Beaumont, an original U.S. boomtown
LATEST NEWS
From bluebonnets to polka, celebrate big in festival-friendly Ennis
On the Road

Countless activities add up to great fun in the Texas Midwest

Countless activities add up to great fun in the Texas Midwest

By CultureMap Create
Aug 1, 2022, 12:05 pm
Enlarge
Slideshow
anson pocket park
A pocket park in Anson features colorful murals. Photo courtesy of Texas Midwest Community Network
first hilton hotel cisco
The Conrad Hilton Center is a museum in the first-ever Hilton hotel. Photo courtesy of Texas Midwest Community Network
hamilton courthouse
The historic Hamilton Courthouse is a beautiful landmark. Photo courtesy of Texas Midwest Community Network
wasp museum sweetwater
The WASP WWII Museum honors women Air Force pilots. Photo courtesy of Texas Midwest Community Network
triangle gas station
This triangle-shape 1935 Sinclair gas station in Snyder was restored in 2012. Photo courtesy of Texas Midwest Community Network
twin lakes jacksboro
Jacksboro's Twin Lakes are a lovely place for fishing. Photo courtesy of Texas Midwest Community Network
anson pocket park
first hilton hotel cisco
hamilton courthouse
wasp museum sweetwater
triangle gas station
twin lakes jacksboro

Some of the most beautiful places are well off the beaten path, and such is the case within the Texas Midwest.

When you get off the main highway and drive along the remaining stretches of historic highways or scenic farm-to-market roads that traverse the region, you’ll get in touch with frontier history, local courthouses and culture, family-friendly events, hidden pocket parks, quirky roadside attractions, and mom-and-pop eateries at every turn — not to mention a whole lot of nature.

It's a numbers game with the Texas Midwest’s 33 counties and 54 communities. Here are just a few of the cool things you can count on.

46 golf courses
There’s a golf course in nearly every community in the Texas Midwest. Tee off at courses of note like the Diamondback National Golf Club in Abilene, a public course sitting on 220 acres of rolling terrain with many scenic views created by elevation changes.

A short drive from DeLeon, Dublin, and Comanche is the P.A.R. Country Club on the banks of the 14,100-acre Proctor Area Recreational Lake.

Quicksand in San Angelo is a challenging course that takes up residence across 300 acres by the Concho River.

The Cliffs at Possum Kingdom Lake consistently maintains its status as one of the most spectacular courses in the state. It’s a direct reflection of the designers, the renowned Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge, who capitalized on the natural beauty of the land.

Also check out Legends in Stephenville, Tin Cup in Merkel, and Longhorn in Bronte.

54 lakes and reservoirs
With so many lakes and reservoirs, freshwater fishing is a given and Jacksboro's Twin Lakes are known for bass. But there are plenty more activities: Boating, camping, hiking, biking, canoeing, swimming, and more are all yours for the taking at Possum Kingdom Lake.

In the Comanche area, Lake Proctor has more than 250 campsites along with water sports and horseback riding. And with nearly six miles of trails, there are lots of ways to get grounded at Lake Brownwood in addition to the 7,300-acre water cover.

134 lodges, ranches, and guest houses
Feel right at home anywhere in Midwest Texas, starting with Stasney Cook Ranch in Albany, a 25,000-acre guest and nature retreat with hunting, fishing, birding, biking, hiking, and more.

On the property are meticulous replicas of iconic forts such as Griffin, Concho, Mason, and Richardson, each offering a unique lodging experience in addition to a completely renovated ranch headquarters.

At the historic Texas Ranger Motel, nestled in the Santa Anna Mountains, you can still climb the trails that the Penatuhkah Band Comanches and Texas Rangers once used. 

The aptly named Greystone Castle in the Strawn area is a Texas sporting facility that offers some of the best hunting in the U.S. The 6,000-acre ranch allows for an unmatched range of activities — think hunting, safari-style tours, nature walks, and more — combined with upscale accommodations and dining. 

28 brewhouses and Texas wineries
Craft beer, amazing Texas wine, and more await in this region, like at the family-owned Lucky Vines Vineyard & Winery in Dublin, where you can try a range of sips in their tasting room.

Red Gap Brewing Company in Cisco has interesting, seasonal flavors on tap like Margarita Gose With Everything and a Milkshake IPA blend with vanilla and tropical fruit hops.

In Comanche, find the beautiful Brennan Vineyards (their Patio Pairings with locally curated charcuterie and cheese are a must!) as well as Cockrell Vineyards — they're not only known for their amazing wine but also their artisan pizza.

77 museums
With an intriguing array of subjects and collections, you’ll learn a lot of new things on a museum tour through the Texas Midwest.

You can relive the Old West through state-of-the-art technology at Frontier Texas, an interactive experience in Abilene that brings the frontier to life.

At Fort Chadbourne in Bronte, there’s a spectacular collection of antique military and Native American artifacts on display.

Located across the street from the historic Brownwood Santa Fe Depot, the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum details the railroad history of Brownwood, Central Texas, and the American Southwest.

More railroad history is waiting at the Railway Museum of San Angelo, which is housed in a historic train depot from the early 1900s.

Hotel magnate Conrad Hilton bought his first hotel, the 40-room Mobley Hotel, in Cisco in 1919. While it’s no longer a hotel, the Conrad Hilton Center is a multifaceted museum with five divisions: the Innkeeper Gallery, Cisco Museum, Walls of Fame, Cisco Pictorial, and Santa Claus Bank Robbery.

San Angelo is home to Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum (yes, it's true!), which is in the original bordello building constructed in 1896 — and it is still has the original ceiling, floors, stairs, and some furnishings including the bed frames. The bordello closed in 1952 and reopened as a museum in the '70s.

Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you: The Terrell Antique Car Museum in DeLeon has an impressive pre-WWII car collection that includes a one of-a-kind Coffin Steam Carriage, Crow-Elkhart Cloverleaf, REO Speedwagon, and more.

Built in 1929 and originally the home of the Sweetwater Airport, Hangar One now houses the National WASP WWII Museum that honors and celebrates the Women Air Force Service Pilots of WWII.

200-plus RV parks
With so many RV parks, you can go on a full tour of the region while always having a place to set up camp.

For a full guide to exploring the Texas Midwest, click here.

Read These Next
Northshore apartments Austin
Austin must-dos + amenities abound at ultra-luxe Northshore apartments
Texas 4-H Center building
Work hard and play harder at the Texas A&M's 4-H Center
graham mural
Plan a getaway to Graham, home of Fort Belknap
Northshore apartments Austin
Austin must-dos + amenities abound at ultra-luxe Northshore apartments
Texas 4-H Center building
Work hard and play harder at the Texas A&M's 4-H Center
graham mural
Plan a getaway to Graham, home of Fort Belknap
  • Latest News
  • Most Popular
  • Members-only Soho House spins out vinyl bar and Italian restaurant
  • Austin must-dos + amenities abound at ultra-luxe Northshore apartments
    - promoted -
  • Elevated Austin cocktail bar throws a heavenly week-long party
  • Aubrey Plaza scams and schemes in solid Emily the Criminal
  • Work hard and play harder at the Texas A&M's 4-H Center
    - promoted -
See All Latest News >
  • Austin City Limits reveals returning and rising stars for new season
  • Here are the top 5 things to do in Austin this weekend
  • 3 hot Austin restaurants make Bumble's top 100 date night destinations
  • 7 surprises inside Chip & Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper castle in Waco
  • 7 things to know in Austin food: Easy Tiger twists up new pretzel bar
Vote Now
Where to Eat Austin
3/11
Where to eat in Austin: 12 hot spots to feed your face during SXSW
10/1
Where to eat in Austin right now: 10 spots near ACL Fest to feast on
8/13
Where to eat in Austin right now: 10 best restaurants for summer bites
Home | About Us | News Tips & Suggestions | Submit An Event | Submit A Charity | Advertise | Media Sponsorship | Jobs | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
© 2022 CultureMap LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Be A CultureMap Insider
Get Our Emails
Sign Up

We will not share or sell your email address

Newsletters for exploring your city

Thank you for signing up Please verify your e-mail by following the link we just sent you.
Look for an e-mail from CultureMap <info@culturemap.com>
Omni Hotel Downtown gets new look, new vibe