bonatto
looking out
Anything particularly interesting along that route? Will be on the road for about 7 days, appreciate any input!
Thanks
Thanks
Route 281 from Fortworth to San Antonio
- Thread starter bonatto
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Solinar
Analog Preferred
That's a nice run during the early Spring when the bluebonnets are in bloom - a very un I-35 drive.
I like to pull over at the ever popular, ever busy, Blue Bonnet Cafe, which is in center of Marble Falls. If you want stretch you legs a bit, head over the park on Lake Marble Falls.
Next is Burnet and from there it's 99% open country with barb wire fences until Stephenville, where the High Eight barbecue joint is across the road from the municipal airport as you come in to town from the South.
I like to pull over at the ever popular, ever busy, Blue Bonnet Cafe, which is in center of Marble Falls. If you want stretch you legs a bit, head over the park on Lake Marble Falls.
Next is Burnet and from there it's 99% open country with barb wire fences until Stephenville, where the High Eight barbecue joint is across the road from the municipal airport as you come in to town from the South.
bonatto
looking out
Thanks for the input, Andrew. We'll be doing this from tomorrow and will also likely stop by Austin for the night either on Saturday or Sunday before continuing to San Antonio.
It's way too early for the wildflowers, if you can make the trip again in late March or early April it can be magical.
If you have time, check out the LBJ Ranch outside Johnson City..and Blanco is always worth a stop. If you like beer - Real Ale Brewing.
If you have time, check out the LBJ Ranch outside Johnson City..and Blanco is always worth a stop. If you like beer - Real Ale Brewing.
sreed2006
Well-known
I have gotten some interesting pictures of old buildings on 281 in Evant, Texas, just south of 84, by the tall, cylindrical, water tower. The old gas station that has "Hamburgers Hot Food" written on it is unusual, and the run-down second-hand stores just south of that are old enough to look cool.
news shooter
Established
2nd that
2nd that
Second that for the blue bonnet cafe in marble fall. Think they still have afternoon pie & coffee. Have a great time in my old stomping grounds
2nd that
Second that for the blue bonnet cafe in marble fall. Think they still have afternoon pie & coffee. Have a great time in my old stomping grounds
huddy
Well-known
I lived in Stephenville for 7 years and know lots of good haunts in the area on the northern end of 281. Definitely make a stop at the Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls. Solinar is definitely right on target about the stretch from Burnet to Stephenville, as it is remarkable for it's simplicity.
Downtown Hico (turn right at the T-intersection at SH-6) has lots of nice old buildings, and Wiseman House Chocolates at the interection is simply unbeatable. They have samples of just about everything and I highly suggest buying chocolate for the rest of the ride. An interesting side trip up SH-6 to Dublin brings you to the Dublin Bottling Works (former makers of Dublin Dr. Pepper) which is a really neat place to go and tour. Hard 8 is definitely the best BBQ in Stephenville (although my favorites require a slight drive off 281 to the East, see below).
The drive from Stephenville to Ft. Worth gives you a few options, all of which have some interesting detours and beautiful stretches of scenery.
- If you stay on 281, definitely go under the IH20 for about two miles to go through the Brazos River Valley. Very beautiful scenery there and a cool old truss bridge on a drive I used to make every day after my first year out of college. The abandoned Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells is well known although not explored if you're faint of heart or tresspassing., although exploring it isn't foFrom Stephenville to Ft. Worth
- If you take US 377, watch out for Tolar PD speedtraps and take business highway 377 into downtown. The downtown square is very active with lots of unique shops and restaurants. My wife and I always enjoyed Fuzzy's Tacos, Pearl Street Station Cajun Eatery, and Babe's.. I always used to enjoy staying in the Iron Horse Inn B&B here.
- If you take US 67 or FM 205 to Glen Rose and on to IH 35W, you'll see beautiful scenery. Great stops here are Dinosaur Valley State Park and Loco Coyote BBQ (definitely a memorable hole in the wall and actually my choice over Hard 8 if you're there on a day they're open. Get there early!).
PRobably more advice than you hoped for but once you get to Hico, I'd go SH-6 -> Dublin - US 377 -> Stephenville - FM 205 -> Glen Rose - FM 56 -> Granbury -> US 377 to Ft. Worth. Definitely takes you off the beaten path on the northen end of the route to some places that aren't easily forgotten.
Downtown Hico (turn right at the T-intersection at SH-6) has lots of nice old buildings, and Wiseman House Chocolates at the interection is simply unbeatable. They have samples of just about everything and I highly suggest buying chocolate for the rest of the ride. An interesting side trip up SH-6 to Dublin brings you to the Dublin Bottling Works (former makers of Dublin Dr. Pepper) which is a really neat place to go and tour. Hard 8 is definitely the best BBQ in Stephenville (although my favorites require a slight drive off 281 to the East, see below).
The drive from Stephenville to Ft. Worth gives you a few options, all of which have some interesting detours and beautiful stretches of scenery.
- If you stay on 281, definitely go under the IH20 for about two miles to go through the Brazos River Valley. Very beautiful scenery there and a cool old truss bridge on a drive I used to make every day after my first year out of college. The abandoned Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells is well known although not explored if you're faint of heart or tresspassing., although exploring it isn't foFrom Stephenville to Ft. Worth
- If you take US 377, watch out for Tolar PD speedtraps and take business highway 377 into downtown. The downtown square is very active with lots of unique shops and restaurants. My wife and I always enjoyed Fuzzy's Tacos, Pearl Street Station Cajun Eatery, and Babe's.. I always used to enjoy staying in the Iron Horse Inn B&B here.
- If you take US 67 or FM 205 to Glen Rose and on to IH 35W, you'll see beautiful scenery. Great stops here are Dinosaur Valley State Park and Loco Coyote BBQ (definitely a memorable hole in the wall and actually my choice over Hard 8 if you're there on a day they're open. Get there early!).
PRobably more advice than you hoped for but once you get to Hico, I'd go SH-6 -> Dublin - US 377 -> Stephenville - FM 205 -> Glen Rose - FM 56 -> Granbury -> US 377 to Ft. Worth. Definitely takes you off the beaten path on the northen end of the route to some places that aren't easily forgotten.
