Local gems worth getting to know.
Smithville sits about 30 miles east of Austin on Highway 71—close enough for a weekend but far enough to feel like a genuine break. The distinction that matters: it hasn't become a destination in the
Smithville sits in the right place for outdoor access without the crowds. The Colorado River runs through town, state parks sit within a short drive, and the trail networks let you move between
If you live in Smithville or work here, you've probably driven past the small brown National Historic Trail signs without thinking much about them. They mark El Camino Real de los Tejas—literally "The
Smithville sits in Bastrop County about 30 miles southeast of Austin, population just under 4,000. It's not a destination town—it's a basecamp. The real draw is what's nearby: Lake Bastrop, the
Smithville isn't on food-tourism listicles, which is exactly why the restaurants here are worth knowing about. This is a town where people eat at the same places their parents did, where the owner
The story of Smithville starts with rails, not sentiment. In 1876, the International and Great Northern Railroad needed a junction point between Bastrop and LaGrange. The company surveyed land in