If you’re traveling between Houston and Austin on Highway 290, then you’ll pass right through the heart of this small town of 5,000 where the modern highway still follows the old business route through the historic district. If you find yourself cursing the stoplights and stuck at the busy train tracks, my suggestion is to simply take a deep breath, slow down, and pull over to explore the numerous adventures tucked away in expected places—like Giddings, Texas.
City Meat Market
While many seem to be chasing the latest trends in smoked meats, this joint feels frozen in time serving old-school barbecue from the back of an old downtown building. Don’t even try to open the front door, it’s locked. Customers must go through the side door and then to the open pits where they’re treated to a visual feast of brisket, housemade sausage, ribs, chicken, and pork steak smoking on two massive indirect pits. They serve the meat on a sheet of butcher paper and then it’s your job to find a seat before the grease starts dripping through. This is the same barbecue your grandfather ate and it’s a wonder why anybody thought to change it.
DIME BOX DISTILLERY
If a town is lucky enough to still have its old train depot, chances are it’s been turned into a museum. Folks in Giddings took a different approach and turned theirs into a whiskey distillery and craft cocktail bar. Named after a small town in eastern Lee County, this distillery produces bourbon, rye, vodka, and sotol and lets visitors get a front row seat to barrel dumping and bottling. You can buy a bottle to go or sit back and sip a well-crafted old fashioned in a 130 year old depot. That’s something worth pulling your own train into this station.
TEXAS WENDISH HERITAGE MUSEUM
So, who are the Wends? I had that same question and headed 6 miles southwest of Giddings to the town of Serbin to find out. This well-curated museum and heritage center tells the story of the “Wends” who traveled from interior Germany to Texas in the mid to late 1800’s and settled in Lee County. They were able to preserve their own culture and traditions which still live on today. The museum is full of amazing artifacts and the gift shop even sells authentic Wendish noodles. Don’t miss the beautiful painted sanctuary of St. Paul Lutheran Church next door which is adorned in colorful Wendish blue.
BLUFF CREEK RANCH
This part of Texas isn’t known for its hills, which makes this mountain bike course extra unexpected and very popular in the biking community. There are hidden hills and creeks along with jumps, turns, and even a massive suspension bridge. Ride as fast as you want, just watch out for the grazing longhorn cattle as this is still a working cattle ranch and, trust me, they rule the trail.
GIDDINGS BREWHAUS
It’s no secret that Czechs, Germans, and Wends love a refreshing beer after a hard day’s work or to celebrate a special occasion. This restaurant and brewery offers a German beer hall experience mixed with modern American sports bar. All the brews are delicious and follow a mostly-traditional brewing style. I highly recommend the Zoch Bock named after the founders’ last name. The menu is full of brewpub classics like pretzels, pizza, and wings. But if you’re feeling like some fusion – order the German pizza topped with sauerkraut and sausage.
