In East Texas, between Houston and Dallas, Bryan is a quick weekend getaway. Deep in the heart of the Brazos Valley, Bryan and College Station are neighbors, home of Texas A&M University. While there, travelers will find plenty to do, such as wine tasting or a wildlife safari. Here are the top Bryan TX attractions.
11 Top Bryan TX Attractions
Texas A&M University
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Aggieland Wild Animal Safari
Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History
Booneville Heritage Park
Williamson Skate Park
Lake Bryan
Messina Hof Winery
Brazos Valley African American Museum
Carnegie History Center
Santa’s Wonderland
College Station Musts
Bryan and College Station are connected. For visitors, it is hard to tell one apart from the other. Many visitors come to the area to visit the university.
While in the area, be sure to see some of College Station’s top attractions too. Just keep in mind the football schedule in fall, when the area goes wild.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a public, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. Students are nicknamed Aggies.
For prospective student tours, they depart from the Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center. Reservations are required; however, tours are free.
Located at Texas A&M University, Rudder Tower 1235, 401 Joe Routt Blvd, College Station. Tours are offered Monday to Friday with Explore Aggieland weekends a few times a year.
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
This is the museum, archives and final resting place for the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush and the first lady Barbara Bush. Like most presidential libraries, visitors will find a replica of his Oval Office.
The permanent collection offers glimpses into world and U.S. History from his presidency. Learn about the president and first lady’s early life together. Former President Bush’s military career in WWII, including a restored 1944 TBM Avenger, the aircraft he flew.
Located at 1000 George Bush Dr W, College Station. Open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $12, $9 for seniors and retired military, $3 for students and $5 for kids (6 to 17).
Aggieland Wild Animal Safari
With over 300 animals (with babies throughout the season) in a complex of over 250 acres, the Aggieland Safari is the top destination for kids in Bryan. Kids are crazy for animals. Even a cranky toddler will be distracted by an animal. It’s a walk-thru zoo paired with a drive-thru wildlife safari.
I recommend you spend half the day exploring. Head to the adventure zoo first to see the hippos, giraffes, reptiles, birds and more. Purchase some lettuce for animal feeding, like the giraffes and tortoises. Birdseed sticks are also available for purchase. I did this, and it was fun to interact with the animals.
The Agglieland Safari Tour Guides are enthusiastic animal lovers. So ask them anything from the animal names, both scientific and their nicknames, to the animal’s scat (poop). They are eager to share their knowledge of animals.
Located at 18074 FM 974. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last car through the gates at 4 p.m.) General admission (4+) starts at $25 and kids 3 and younger enter for free.
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Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History
The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History opens a new exhibition every four months. It offers a lot of variety for a smaller museum. During my visit, I saw dinosaur bones, an active beehive, a mineral collection and more.
Located at 3232 Briarcrest Dr. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $5, kids (4 to 17) are $4 and kids 3 and younger are free. Check out Dollar Day on the first Tuesday, where everyone gets in for a dollar.
Booneville Heritage Park
The original county seat of Brazos County was a town called Booneville. The railroad skipped it in the 1800s and the town dwindled. All that is left is the 11-acre site managed by the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History with an original log home and cemetery. It hosts the annual Booneville Days in October, a popular event with costumed interpreters.
Located at 2421 Booneville. Open the first and third weekends of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free to enter.
Williamson Skate Park
For the teens, find a skate park in Bryan. It features a street course along with bowls.
Located inside the Travis Bryan Municipal Park near the intersection of Williamson Dr. and Roundtree Dr. Open from dawn to dusk and free to enter.
Lake Bryan
Lake Bryan is an 829-acre lake with boating, fishing and camping. It’s just seven miles northeast of downtown Bryan if you want a lake getaway while in Bryan.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from spring to fall and 8 p.m. in the winter. Admission is $5 per person, 10 and older. .
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Messina Hof Winery
Since 1977, Messina Hof Vineyard and Winery has grown grapes in the Brazos Valley. It features a tasting room, wine bar, food and wine pairings, harvest festivals and cooking classes. You can even walk through its fields.
Located at 4545 Old Reliance Road. Open daily Monday and Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wine tastings start at $5.
Brazos Valley African American Museum
Learn about the local history of African Americans in the Brazos Valley area, including notable people, like athletes, at the Brazos Valley African American Museum. It also features oral histories along with displays depicting life through the years. It also hosts visiting exhibits that cover general issues of life in the Brazos Valley.
Located at 500 E. Pruitt St. Open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday). Adult admission is $5, students are $2 and kids 5 and younger are free.
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Carnegie History Center
In 1902, Andrew Carnegie awarded the city of Bryan one of his Library grants to construct a library. It was part of his project to build libraries across the U.S. The building is Greek Revival in a Greek Cross Plan, designed by a local architect. It holds the genealogy records for the area. Find both physical records and online services to genealogy sites.
Located at 111 Main St. Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to enter.
Santa’s Wonderland
This annual Holiday event is a family tradition for East Texas. It features a hayride through the holiday lights, a Texas-sized gingerbread village, a visit with Santa with a mailbox with express delivery to the North Pole. It also features extras like carriage rides, ice skating and a petting zoo.
Located at 18898 Hwy 6. Open seasonally from early November until December 30. Visit Monday to Thursday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission based on age and kids 2 and under are free with pre-season online discounts.
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Where to Eat in Bryan and College Station
Sodolaks Beefmasters Restaurant
Here’s your destination for traditional Texas favorites, like chicken-fried steak. The menu has something for everyone, with lots of sides, and the mashed potatoes are tops. Sodolaks offers a kids’ menu, and the chicken fingers are good enough to steal. Lunch specials are a bargain since you get the same-size entree as dinner, just at a smaller price.
Located at 3500 E. State Highway 21. Open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Sunday).
Dixie Chicken
This legendary joint is a college student hangout after dark. However, it serves up good burgers before then. In the bar, there’s a case with a live rattlesnake.
Located at 307 University Dr, College Station. Open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
RX Pizza
If you want pizza, then head to RX Pizza with brick oven-baked pizzas. It features outdoor tables and is dog-friendly on the patio. No kids’ menu, but you can build your own pizza, and the salads are good, too. Serious drink menu for those looking for a cocktail. It also has another location near Texas A&M, located close by.
Located at 200 W. 26th St. in Bryan. The College Station is located at 1664 Greens Prairie Rd #200, College Station. Both locations are open from Monday to Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where to Stay in Bryan
The Stella Hotel
The Stella Hotel is a sprawling resort-style property with a resort-style pool, activities and several restaurants. It’s located next to the Lake Walk area, home to live music.
Located at 4100 Lake Atlas Dr., in the Lake Walk District. $$
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