“Things to Do in Glen Rose” is part of my Texas Travel Series, an initiative to explore the diversity in Texas. Many of us dream of far away places, but with 9 to 5’s it’s not possible to hop on a plane every month. However, Texas has so many unique places that have reminded us of faraway destinations we want to visit. Many cities in Texas make the perfect weekend getaway and so it’s easy to live a travel lifestyle every weekend without even leaving Texas! Glen Rose is one of these cities with its small town charm, a Jurassic past, and a safari that will transport you to South Africa. For such a small town, Glen Rose truly has so many things to do (and so much good food)! Things to Do in Glen Rose: Day 1 Check into Inn on the River People used to come in from all over the country to visit Inn on the River because of the healing properties from the springs on-site. Even without the springs, Inn on the River remains a health resort in the sense that the owners go out of their way to provide the ultimate relaxation experience. Each morning includes a homemade breakfast and every night involves sinking into a bed and down comforter that basically hugs you all night. You can read all about our Inn on the River experience here and book your stay here. Downtown Glen Rose The beauty of the Inn on the River is that it nearby the downtown square and you can easily walk there. We enjoyed browsing through the cutest boutiques, antique shops, and soda shops. Glen Rose also has a regular farmers market! It’s most active on the weekends, but vendors are allowed to set up shop any day or time of the week and sell their goods right outside of the old courthouse. Located within one of the shops is the Somervell County Museum, which is fun to pop into. Glen Rose is known as the Moonshine Capital of Texas, so you’ll see moonshine contraptions, lots of vintage odds and ends, as well as some interesting fossils. For a tiny two room museum, it’s packed with a lot of fun items to look at! Related Posts: Texas Gift Ideas for the Texas Lover Enjoy a Fairy Tale Lunch Just a little past the Glen Rose Square is a café right out of Beauty and the Beast called Storiebook Cafe. The owner’s name is actually Storie, hence the name. The café is covered in books, tea pots, and other eclectic decorations. We enjoyed our fairy tale lunch with an out of this world Reuben sandwich. They also have a kids playroom with outfits for a game of dress-up and toys so that the adults can sit back and enjoy their lunch while the kids play. Make sure to arrive before 3pm when they close. Immerse Yourself in History and Art On the other side of the Inn on the River is Barnard’s Mill and Art Museum. Barnard’s Mill is significant because it’s what put Glen Rose on the map, meaning their is immense history behind it. It is actually the oldest operating building in Texas! Barnard’s Mill also has an art gallery with pieces from local and famous artists on display. Search for Dinosaur Tracks Dinosaur Valley State Park actually has real, fossilized dinosaur tracks for you to find! There are roped off areas for people to view them. If the river is dry, you can also walk around in the riverbed to find some for yourself. Bring a swimsuit if you want to swim! Even though the river was dry when we went, there are still some great swimming spots. Enjoy Live Music and Amazing Burgers Loco Coyote is about a 20-minute drive from the downtown Glen Rose, but it is absolutely worth it. They have live music on the weekends and the craziest burgers imaginable. The one you’re seeing in the photo below is the Jack Daniels burger with brisket, fried pickles, and onion rings! I sometimes consider driving out to Glen Rose just for this burger! Related Posts: 28 Unique Family-Friendly Places to Stay in Texas Things to Do in Glen Rose: Day 2 After emerging from the cocoon that is the Inn on the River B&B, head to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center for an early morning safari. Make sure to book a tour at least a week in advance. Go early because the animals are hungry and will come up to the trucks for food. There’s nothing like having a giraffe stick it’s head into the tour bus to grab snacks from your hand! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Texas Blogger – Travel (@mycurlyadventures_) on Jul 10, 2018 at 2:08pm PDT What I love about Glen Rose and Fossil Rim is that many of us have an African safari on our list of things we would like to do. However, with the top Cheetah breeding program in the world, thousands of animals on-site including many exotic animals, and major conservation efforts, you are able to have that same safari experience but close to home! You can either bring your own vehicle or go on one of their tour buses like we did (which I recommend for all of the cool information and an increased likelihood that the animals will walk up to you). For a truly unique experience, you can also splurge on an adventure tour where you’ll have a customized, behind-the-scenes experience with the animal care specialists. For a romantic experience ask about the Sweetheart Dinner where you can enjoy a sunset safari and a multi-course meal overlooking one of the major watering holes where the wildlife loves to gather. Fossil Rim is definitely worth splurging on because of its unique offerings! Visit an Old Speakeasy I wasn’t joking when I said old. The Old Rock Gas Station was a hot spot during the Prohibition. The back area was where moonshine was distributed and it’s rumored that Bonnie and ClydeRead More »
