The teeny towns you blow through on a Texas road trip-up are too often just pass on to a bathroom break and a caffeinated drink . A nether region stoppage alone does n’t give you the chance to experience the cordial reception of that 100 - year - old B&B or have a moth-eaten one with the locals . Here are eight of our favorite small Texas towns to add to your checklist of destination .

Leakey

Sometimes referred to as the Swiss Alps of Texas , Leakey has some major elevations ( for Texas , anyway ) , with deep canyon issue by both the Frio and Nueces Rivers . Nature lover , here ’s your paradise : sportfishing , boating , bird and wildlife observance , camping , cycling , swimming , and tubing . You ’re less than 20 minute away fromGarner DoS ParkandLost Maples , both immense expanses of scenic acreage , camping site , and hiking track .

Smithville

RememberHope Floats ? Justin Matisse may have been fictional , but there really is aSmithville Jamboree . inspect twelvemonth - round and indulge in some local favourite : Honey ’s Pizza(opened by Amy of Amy ’s Ice Cream ) , the Jack Daniels Chocolate Cream Pie atBack Door Cafe ,   and bibulous tastings atBone Spirits . Stay for a while with the endearing folks atThe Katy Houseand have a dinner party by contribution only atComfort Cafe , a cafe cater to sustainable recovery for addicts .

Salado

Salado ’s motto is “ Creative . Community . Culture . ” It ’s just as enchanting as it sounds . Stop in for a cuppa at theStrawberry Patch , browse curated oldtimer and artistry at 1860 Shop , and pick up gourmet sundries atSalado Mercantile . Splash in the Salado Creek that meanders through Ithiel Town , enjoy craft beer at Chupacabra , a glass of wine atSalado Winery , or a down - home dinner at The Shed , and then just walk over to your room atInn on the Creek .

Alpine

Alpine is all frontier feeling and sensitive soul . need cogent evidence ? It host an annualCowboy Poetry gather . With West Texas vistas , the Davis and Glass mountain ranges , and Big Bend Park an hour away , every route is the scenic route . Downtown Alpine gasconade elephantine mural on practically every construction , endearing local boutiques , and nontextual matter galleries . Grab a raspa fromMurphy’sor a brew atRailroad Blueson a hot day , or try some Texas cuisine atReataor theSaddle Club .

Schulenburg

Whether you ’re spiritual or not , it ’s worth the trip just to see the paint churches . Built by German and Czech immigrant , they take care like any American country church building … from the outside . The interior of these Christian church are painted Sistine - chapel service style with vibrant , detailed mural . Work up an appetite during your tour and get some farm - to - mesa eats fromThe Garden Co. ,   orSengelmann Hallfor home plate cooking and bouncy tunes .

Canton

If you love to shop , you ’re going to sleep together Canton . It ’s home to one of the largest “ flea markets ” in the United States . The weekend before the first Monday of every calendar month , artisans and craftsmen sell jewelry , article of furniture , art , homemade trade good , gaffer , and collectables . Fuel up atButtermilk’sor the Bunker , or celebrate your breakthrough at theSavannah Winery & Bistro .

Jefferson

Known as the layer and breakfast capital of east Texas , Jefferson is dwelling house to Caddo Lake , a dotty maze of 26,800 demesne of interconnect waterways , Scenic and nature tours are the ticket here ; take a swamp boat through the bayou . snap up a bite atKitt ’s Kornbread Sandwich and Pie BarorAuntie Skinner ’s Riverboat Club . Those with romanticist notions may opt for Equus caballus - puff carriage rides , spook spell , and saunter passe shop like River City Mercantile .

Taylor

stigmatise our words , here ’s the next fully grown spot , folk . Louie Mueller Barbecue , Texas Beer Company , Taylor Station Bar , Curb Side Coffee House ,   andLucky Duck Cafeare some of the newer venue in Taylor . For a bit of the ol’ account , stroll Main st and take in a moving picture at theHoward Theatre(only $ 8 ! ) . For a bit of the ol’ Texas spirit , grab a Warren Earl Burger and a $ 2 beer atCircleville Store , a hardware depot / restaurant / ginmill .

Louie Mueller Barbecue

Taylor, Texas|Louie Mueller Barbecue

Frio River

Garner State Park|Richard A McMillin/Shutterstock

Smithville, Texas

Larry D. Moore/Wikimedia

Alpine, Texas

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Canton First Monday

Flickr/MyEyeSees

Jefferson, Texas

Lori Martin/Shutterstock