A trip to Granbury should always include two things: country music (we suggest Fort Worth native Townes Van Zandt) and a stop at Our Place Restaurant in Mansfield. This breakfast detour takes an extra 15 minutes, but its Texas-shaped waffles and fluffy three-egg omelets—including one stuffed with “everything but the kitchen sink”—are worth the venture.
Don’t get too full, though. It’s only about an hour to General Hiram B. Granbury’s namesake, and you better leave some room for the cream-and-butter fudge at Pamela & Company, a brightly colored shop you can’t miss on Granbury’s historic downtown square. (A word to the wise: go to the visitor’s center first, suck up to the guy working there, and he’ll slip you a couple of hot pink coupons for free fudge.)
You could wander around the square for an entire afternoon. Each Saturday, Revolver Brewing is open from noon to 3 pm for tastings and tours. Need a rifle from the 1800s? Visit Brazos Moon Antiques & Uniques, where pretty china plates sit across from a wall of antique weapons. A sign hung above them warns, “We don’t call 911.” But Granbury is actually a family-friendly place. In March, during the city’s annual General Granbury’s Birthday Party outdoor festival, townspeople build and decorate their own outhouses and race them around the square. In fact, there’s a lively festival occupying the square almost every month. Kids love the petting zoos, barbecue, and vendors selling baby turtles.
Pretty soon you’ll need other ways to keep your family busy. That’s where Lake Granbury comes in. Rent a boat or some Jet Skis to explore it. For dinner, treat your party to a casual dinner at Hoffbrau Steaks, which serves chicken-fried steak slathered in luscious gravy, sitting atop a piece of Texas toast. You’ll end up in a food coma afterward.
Friday and Saturday nights at the Brazos Drive-In Theatre mean you can alternate between napping and watching newly released movies in the comfort of your car. By the time you settle into the Inn on Lake Granbury, you’ll be too tired to even notice the rest of the posh bed-and-breakfast. Sleep comfortably in one of the 15 guest rooms (try to get one with a lake view) and wake up the next morning feeling refreshed. Nothing beats hanging between two old trees on the inn’s swing, sipping coffee and watching the sun rise over Lake Granbury.
Distance From Dallas: 73.2 Miles // 1 Hour 17 Minutes
