Day Trip to Blanco 🍻 (FULL EPISODE) S7 E4

Blanco is that little town in the Hill Country that you could drive through in 5 minutes, or spend a week exploring. Those that are in the know travel here to spend a day or longer diving into the history, blue water, and food.
The first thing most notice when they visit Blanco is the courthouse which was built in 1886. While it looks very official, it only served as the county courthouse for 4 years, because in 1890 the authorities moved the county seat 14 miles up the road to Johnson City. Today this old building serves as a museum, a gathering place, and a movie set. If you walk upstairs into the courtroom, you can feel the presence of Rooster Cogburn (aka Jeff Bridges) from the 2010 film “True Grit.”
If you love movie history or just history in general, then you’ll want to head to the Blanco Buggy Barn Museum which showcases over 100 different buggies from around the globe. Many of the buggies have been used in films such as “Gone With the Wind,” “There Will Be Blood,” and “Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” It’s amazing to look at how the technology progressed during the era of horse-drawn transportation. If you arrange it early, the owners will take you on a buggy ride around town.
Blanco’s biggest modern-day contribution to Texas culture is to the growing Texas craft beer scene. If you’re into craft beer, then you’ve heard of Real Ale Brewing, or at least Firemans #4, its most popular variety. Many don’t realize that it’s brewed down a dirt road in the heart of Blanco. They offer great tours of their facilities and brewing processes on weekends, but even if you don’t take a tour you can visit their tasting room and sample one (or more) of their dozen or so brews. I highly recommend sampling some of their barrel-aged “Mysterium” series, where they let beer sit in wine and whiskey barrels. It comes out completely different.
If you’re more into Texas wildflowers than Texas beer, then you’ll be happy to know that Blanco is the “Lavender Capital of Texas” and during the summer months, you can visit lavender fields to pick your own puffs of the purple stuff. I highly recommend Hill Country Lavender. Not only do they offer a really great picking experience, but they also sell all of their lavender products on site, so you can stock up on sleep-inducing and bug-repelling lotions, creams, and soaps.
There’s a Hill Country tradition that exists ONLY in a number of small German communities across Texas called 9-pin bowling, which is only done in private bowling clubs. It differs from traditional 10-pin bowling in that the pins are set up in a diamond and bowlers get extra points if they leave the middle one standing.
Sadly, the Blanco Bowling Club has closed since we filmed this episode.
No trip to Blanco would be complete without a trip to the Redbud Cafe on the square. This local favorite mixes fresh sandwiches, baked cookies, and craft beer to become the most charming cafe-bakery-bar combo in Texas. They make perhaps the best Reuben sandwich I’ve ever had, and in the winter they make amazing potato chip cookies. Seriously, try them.
If you’re in the mood for barbecue, then make your way to Old 300 BBQ. This very Texas kind of joint smokes up brisket, sausage, ribs, pork loin, and more over live oak wood. You’ll love it! If you’re in town on a Saturday, you can sample their special “Akaushi” beef brisket made from an amazing flavorful and rare bovine breed.
The biggest outdoor attraction of Blanco is definitely the Blanco River where folks do everything from swim to paddle to fish, and just generally relax beside the calming blue water. The river flows right through the middle of town where you’ll find Blanco State Park - the best place to jump into the Blanco.
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[@ranuts2]

Chet, you guys are the best. Too funny!

[@58limited]

Neat fun episode! Blanco is a neat little town. When I was there last Fall the buggy museum had the wagon driven by Faith Hill in "1883" parked out front. Old 300 BBQ is good and there is a brewery across the street called Texas Cannon Brewing that serves good burgers. Down the street is Orobianco, an Italian-style creamery with excellent cheese and gelato - all made from water buffalo milk. Their milk has way more milk fat than dairy cows, very rich and decadent. They also make charcuterie from the water buffalo. Real Ale also has a distillery: Real Spirits. Blanco is a good place to stay and is centrally located near lots of other Texas sights and towns: Pedernales Falls, Devils Backbone, Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch, Luckenback, etc.

[@lisamuir2091]

The Blanco burger is the best burger ever!! Red Bud Cafe ❤️

[@CHET1]

She is wonderful

[@airgunfun4248]

8:39 What does Richie say? headphones and everything and I can't get it. Great episode

[@Tusk_Tact]

Isn't it "Blanc + Oh" ??

[@alejandrinahs]

Hehe, it’s a Spanish word (“Los Angeles”, for example).

[@bassmangotdbluz]

You didn't mention that the Blanco Bowling Alley has killer Burgers too.

[@utfanatic79]

They closed the kitchen a few years ago. I know that they planned on reopening eventually but I dont believe it has as of yet.

[@TrentPruitt1997]

@@utfanatic79it’s back on during the week, 5-9 in the afternoon when they’re bowling. It’s still good, in my opinion, I always get the chicken strips.

[@RichardKetay1]

Come back!!!
We just opened a cool new spot called The Feed Store. It’s on 8th street and 281.
See y’all there!!

[@alltheangels648]

Was just there yesterday

[@juanramon1078]

👍

[@scottporter4865]

The bowling alley cafe is closed.

[@noblelee4765]

Levels Of People???

[@johnpierce2095]

wonder if chet really likes dressing as a woman lol