Best Road Trip Destinations: College Station, Texas
Texas A&M University
Photo: Stuart Seeger
College Station, Texas, is best known as the home to the main campus of Texas A&M University. Located 87 miles from Austin and 90 miles from Houston, it’s the perfect stop for your next Texan road trip.
Where to stop
College Station’s main attraction is the university, but the city is home to plenty of museums, parks, and memorials worth checking out on your next road trip.
Road Trip Stops: Attractions in nearby Huntsville
Members of the Texas Rangers pose in the replica Oval Office at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Photo: George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
The 41st President of the United States chose College Station as the location for his Presidential Library and Museum. The museum is located on the Texas A&M campus and features various permanent and rotating exhibits. Permanent collections include Symbols of the Presidency, Family Traditions, From Flyboy to Goldenboy — Marriage and Yale, and Journey to the Presidency. The museum also boasts a replica of the White House press room. Families with younger children can take advantage of the museum’s scavenger hunt and play area.
Founded in 1973, Bee Creek Park was home to College Station’s first swimming pool. The 50-meter pool is still there today and offers a separate wading pool for younger children. Bee Creek Park also has tennis courts, softball fields, a sand volleyball court, and picnic units.
The park is also home to the 17-acre D.A. “Andy” Anderson Arboretum. The wooded park features an interpretive trail system and native Texas plants, offering a shady place to escape the sometimes brutal Texas sun.
If you’re a sports fan, a stop at the Ford Hall of Champions is a must. The 30,000-square-foot museum highlights Texas A&M Athletics and the history of Kyle Field through its redevelopment. The Hall of Champions is also available for rental for large events, such as meetings or receptions, with on-site catering, display TV monitors, and built-in bars.
If you happen to be in College Station during the holiday season, head to Santa’s Wonderland to get into the spirit of Christmas. Attractions include a hayride, carriage ride, and snow tubing. The park is also home to Texas Santa, who arrives every day shortly after opening wearing his best cowboy hat and boots. At night, the park’s snow machines get to work to create a white Christmas, virtually unheard of in the Lone Star State.
Road Trip Buddy 20 years of the iconic Cadillac Escalade
A 1991 Aggie Bonfire
Photo: Cushing Memorial Library and Archives
The Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University to celebrate the rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. Every year for 90 years, students would construct a huge bonfire which they would light around Thanksgiving at the same time as the annual college football game. Tragedy struck in 1999 when the bonfire collapsed while being built. Twelve people were killed and 27 were injured.
The Bonfire Memorial celebrates Aggie spirit and the dedication of all students who were involved in bonfire construction over the 90-year period. The memorial consists of three areas: the Tradition Plaza, the History Walk, and the Spirit Ring.
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