Round Top (sans festival)

Round Top is known nationwide for its fall and spring antiques festivals but...what if you just go there on a weekend when nothing "big" is happening and make it a very fun day trip? That's my fave... And Round Top is just down the road about an hour and a half away from Austin.

We stopped in Ledbetter, before Round Top, because we used to stop there years ago and haven't in a long while. There's not much left in Ledbetter, except the Stuermer General Store. It's unlike anything else. There's a counter side with homemade cookies and lemonade (they may start cooking again) and cool old tables where you can sit and chat with the nicest owner, a fifth generation Stuermer...or one of her daughters. On the other side is a store left pretty much like it was from over a 100 years ago (you must go upstairs). We found a couple of treats to buy, but mostly it was almost an hour of just browsing...(the lemonade was delish)

Hat Dept as it was...

By the way, at Christmas time there is the Ledbetter Lane of Lights, a hay wagon ride and food, and we want to go back!

Down the road just a bit is Carmine where there are a few antique stores right on the highway. They're always fun to stop and shop. Carmine has a pretty park, and a few places to eat, if you want to stay longer...and even a baseball museum. We didn't this time...

The cutest cafe

We made it to Round Top, the cutest small town around, and parked for a few minutes before our 1pm lunch reservation at Royers - a must eat place - while there . You've maybe heard of their pies! The restaurant is small, it's quirky, and it serves up so much good food. Trash pie is my favorite, so we shared a slice with ice cream, of course.

The pie

Leaving our car parked there on the square (cutest ever) we walked over to Henkel Square. It's a smattering of old buildings now turned into shops and eateries, with the prettiest trail and lots of places to sit along the stroll. Every building is different and fun to browse in, even if you don't buy. I did buy, one thing for me and one for Jon. It's really a fun place to spend an afternoon.

We can never leave Round Top without visiting Festival Hill Institute - it's a music venue - but the owner (renown pianist James Dick) has created this massive stone situation that is a must - see. You can park and walk and see it, even if nothing is going on. But if there is a concert, be sure to get tickets! Down the street is the town of Winedale, where Shakespeare plays happen in August - yes, in August - in a barn!

I love Round Top, I love that it's close, and I also love the little chapel there that sits atop a hill, perhaps that's where the city got it's name - from that round top.

Go. Go when there's a festival if you like that, but those times are crowded...to the max. So, I say go when it's not crowded, on a weekend, just for fun.