It’s officially summertime! Which means it’s the ideal time of year to take a trip with your loved ones. If you’re looking for a laid-back travel destination that’s “off the beaten path, or if you’re a Texas local like me looking for a quick weekend trip option, I’ve got the perfect option for you today!
This past month, my mom, sister, and I took a quick weekend trip (just a Friday and Saturday) to Nacogdoches, TX. As the oldest city in all of Texas, this small town is packed with interesting history and classic Americana charm. We made the most of the amount of time we had and turned this brief trip into a memory that will last a lifetime. Today, I’ll take you behind the scenes of that special girls’ weekend and share all of the best restaurants, shops, and more that we found along the way!
WHERE TO STAY
The Fredonia
If you’re planning a trip to Nacogdoches, staying at the Fredonia Hotel is an absolute must! This adorable boutique hotel was first opened in 1955 and all these years later, though updated with all of the latest amenities, it still retains so much of its original vintage character. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you enter the expansive lobby and see how the past has been preserved in our modern era. There’s a cute little gift shop near the front entrance that is worth a stop and three dining options...but more on that later!
There are multiple, unique sections of the hotel to stay in: the Cabana area, Terrace area, and the Tower. The Tower features rooms in the usual fully-indoor hotel layout with an elevator accessing different floors, while the Cabana and Terrace rooms are accessed from outside and located near the hotel’s two pools. We stayed in a second floor Terrace room overlooking the Terrace pool and picnic area. There is a large outdoor screen where they play a family-friendly movie every night, which you can see from the pool/picnic area or your room’s patio. I would personally recommend a second-story terrace room because the patio has privacy walls to separate you from your neighbor on either side, and you get a good view of the hotel property. The interior of our room was very nice and the beds were comfortable, which is always a plus!
Another great feature of the Fredonia is its location in downtown. Both days, we were able to keep the car parked and walk to all of the shops. The only time we had to actually drive was when we went to dinner on Friday.
WHERE TO EAT
We’re a “foodie” family and always love finding new, unique places to eat wherever we go. This trip was no exception, we discovered some truly delicious restaurants!
Auntie Pasta’s
This one was recommended to us by some friends from church, and we decided to eat here for dinner on Friday night after getting settled into the hotel and doing a bit of exploring downtown. Oh my goodness, it was DELICIOUS! To start off your meal, you receive a complimentary loaf of fresh in-house baked bread with seasoned olive oil for dipping. The restaurant menu boasts a wide array of Italian dishes, from all of your favorite classics like pizza, chicken Alfredo, and lasagna to more unique options, as well as plenty of appetizers, desserts, and more. We ordered the Shrimp Wontons as an appetizer, and I can’t recommend those enough! So, so good! I would also highly recommend the Chicken Capone (what my mom ordered) and the Carmalized Chicken Lombardi (what I ordered, upon our server’s recommendation). Their prices aren’t outrageous, but they aren’t super cheap either, so just keep that in mind! The food is totally worth it, though!
1st City Cafe
I said I would circle back to the dining options at The Fredonia! In the hotel lobby you can find The Nine Flags Bar & Grill, Republic Steakhouse, and 1st City Cafe. We went to the Cafe for breakfast on Saturday morning, and I just adored the retro atmosphere of it! The food was incredible as well, and whether you choose to stay at the hotel or not, I’d highly recommend checking this place out for any meal of the day. If you go for breakfast, I’d suggest either the Shrimp and Grits or the Chicken & Waffles!
Roma’s Italian Kitchen
My husband and my dad were in nearby Lufkin for a men’s conference while we girls were in Nacogdoches, so after their conference ended on Saturday, they met up with us. Since we had a big breakfast, we hadn’t originally planned on a heavy lunch too, but the guy’s were starving, so we settled on a restaurant downtown called Roma’s Italian Kitchen. Yes, it was Italian food again, but our first option for lunch was packed out! Roma’s ended up being a great choice, though. The atmosphere was relaxing and cozy, with exposed brick walls and a bead-board ceiling, plus a gorgeous garden patio area. The staff was so nice and helpful--especially when my dad dropped pasta sauce on his pants and they gave him a towel and club soda to scrub it with, which took the stain right out. Their garlic bread rolls were amazing, and all our entrees were delicious too. I’d personally recommend the Pepperoni Calzone I got or the Chicken Parmesan with Vodka Sauce my husband ordered (another server recommendation that was worth the risk!).
Dollie’s Diner
My parents have been to this diner on a previous visit to Nacogdoches, so this was our original choice for lunch. However, it was packed, with several groups of people sitting outside in the Texas heat waiting for a table. We didn’t want to wait, so we moved on to Roma’s. But if you catch them at a less busy time, or you’re willing to wait, my parents said this cute, 50’s themed diner is worth a visit.
Stone House Kitchen
Looking for an afternoon pick-me-up after a day full of shopping? Check out Stone House Kitchen in Downtown. This cute little cafe/coffee shop was the perfect place to stop and get a break from the heat, and their drinks were great too!
WHERE TO SHOP
If you love going to antique stores as much as we do, this town is the perfect place for you! We explored most of the historic downtown area (though I’m sure we missed some good spots that were a bit further out) and found so many adorable boutiques and antique stores. There’s nothing like finding a “treasure” in an antique shop or thrift store. I ended up with a beautiful maxi dress from the local Goodwill, plus several awesome antique finds like an original Nancy Drew book from the 40’s, some vintage embroidered napkins, and a milk glass vase. My sister also got a steal of a deal on a beautiful antique coat rack! You should have seen us carrying that back to the hotel…
Our two favorite antique shops were The Blue Eyed Cocos antique mall and their sister shop across the street (sorry, I can’t remember the name of that one or find it online!). The ladies who worked there were so kind and friendly! One even gave my sister a broach she wanted for free since it was less than a dollar. Another favorite stop was the General Mercantile & Old Time String Shop. This old-fashioned general store makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time! They even still have the original counter and cash-register, and the old wood-burning stove right in the middle of the store. They sell things like classic children's toys, all-natural soaps, and hand-carved kitchen tools, as well as instruments. There’s a little workshop in the back left corner where a gentleman does instrument repair. While we were there, a group of local musicians were sitting outside on the covered sidewalk, playing music on banjos, violins, guitars, etc. Several people, including my family, had stopped to listen and it was such a wholesome, small-town America moment that I actually got tears in my eyes! I’m such a sappy person, I know…
OTHER THINGS TO DO
If you’re looking for something else to do around town, here’s a couple options for you!
Learn about the history of Nacogdoches at the city’s welcome center in Market Square. This mini-museum has some interesting history you may enjoy checking out if you’re a history buff like me!
Millard’s Crossing Historic Village: We wanted to stop by here before we left on Saturday but ran out of time! They have several historic homes, which have all been moved to this site and preserved/restored, that you can tour.
Ruby M. Miza Azalea Garden: This is another place we didn’t go, but it looks like a beautiful place to explore if you enjoy a good nature walk!
I also noticed a sign in the lobby of the Fredonia that had a list of all of the upcoming local events, so if you stay there or stop by to eat at the Cafe, be sure to check that out! You never know what fun, one-of-a-kind events may be happening while you’re in town.