Tool, Texas

Marcy Lytle
3 days ago
3 min read

Why Tool, you might ask?

We wanted a weekend away to celebrate my husband's birthday, and it was January, so we mostly wanted a cozy stay with a firepit and a warm place to enjoy . This place in Tool, Texas popped up and looked so inviting! And it did not disappoint. We looked for a few towns close by that had something fun to see, and decided this place would work!

We left on a Friday morning, as this little town was about a three hour drive...northeast of Waco. We wanted a stop for lunch and had picked a diner in Mt Calm, but it was not there! So we found a cafe in Hubbard, Texas on the highway - and it was okay. A cactus tree was lit in the entry. It was everything a small town cafe should be, and that's always fun.

We took our time driving, stopping, etc. and arrived to check in at 3pm to the cutest mid-century decorated house with all the charm. There were indoor games, an electric fireplace, and a cool firepit out back. We were just up from the lake and had a beautiful view. The house was pristine and we were thrilled.

After we rested, we had planned an evening just up the road in Seven Points (like 7 minutes away) to bowl at Tip Top Lanes (so cute!) and then enjoy catfish at Molly's. It was amazing! Both places were great, close by, and fun.

Saturday we ate breakfast at the house and then headed to see a couple of ghost towns, Mankin and Malakoff. Then we stopped at Athens (all close by). We ate Mexican food there and not sure it was the best choice, but it was okay. We had read about a fairways virtual golf place I thought Jon would love, and it was so cool! It was on the square, and you pick a fairway, they provide clubs, and you golf! Jon loved it. There was also a great antique store on the square, and a clothing store .

Back to the house to relax (I brought a paint by number book - so fun!).

We had reservations that evening for Fig's Steakhouse, in Tool, so just a few minutes down the road. Oh wow, it was elegant and some of the best food we've ever had. It was pricey, but hey - it was a birthday celebration. Seriously, a great date place. The appetizers,, the entrees and dessert were 10/10. Worth the money. And such a pretty place.

Sunday we opted for making Danish bonfire bread over the fire pit. I highly recommend this fun! The dough is easy to make, you roll it around a stick and it bakes in a few minutes. We had jam and butter for dipping. This was the most fun way to end our stay that morning, watching the sun rise, lingering outdoors and enjoying tasty bread.

After checkout, we drove over to Gun Barrel, Texas - a 7 minute drive - to have lunch at Cochran's Cafeteria - we'd read about it on line. Old, nostalgic (even had a drive-through), and the owner talked to us about how he started. They sold honey too, made by Cochran himself - started in 1935! We, of course, bought some, along with their jarred peach salsa. The food was everything you've missed about cafeteria food. And the setting was old diner style. Perfection. That's really all there was in Gun Barrel where they "shoot straight" with you.