TRAVEL The Dofflemyer Hotel lobby; a view in Risien Park; wine from Old Man Scary Cellars; colorful boot displays at Harry’s Boots
Day-Trippin’ Discover Small-Town Luxury in San Saba By Cindy Brzostowski
EXPLORE San Saba has some choice spots for visitors who yearn for towering trees and green spaces. The tranquil Risien Park, with its plentiful shady pecan trees and trails, runs along the San Saba River and joins together with the San Saba River Nature Park. Closer to the town center is Mill Pond Park, where you can find a spring-fed lake with ducks and geese, a cascading waterfall as well as a water wheel dating back to the late 1800s. Perfect for kiddos is Sunny Beach, a little sandy beach within the park. While you’re exploring the area, make your way out to the Wedding Oak, a giant live oak tree alongside China Creek Road. This arboreal wonder even has its own Texas historical marker, for legend has it that Comanche tribespeople once had council meetings and marriage ceremonies there, and early San Saba residents were also known to hold weddings at the site. INDULGE The town may be small, but San Saba can satisfy big appetites at its local eateries. Youngs Burritos & BBQ (806 N High St.) is a low-key local favorite that serves up>>
54 WATERWAYS | April 2019
San Saba has some choice spots for visitors who yearn for towering trees and green spaces.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MITCHELL HALLMARK/FOUND MEDIA GROUP
“More than you imagined” is a fitting tourism slogan for San Saba, Texas. If you make the roughly two-hour drive northwest from Austin to this Hill Country town, you might initially be skeptical about how much there is to do and see here. Rest assured the self-proclaimed “Pecan Capital of the World” is full of pleasant surprises—all imbued with small-town charm and hospitality. That’s why it’s a great destination if you aim to escape Austin for a day or even a weekend.