Nacogdoches, TX

A long-running East Texas institution serving what Texas Highways readers voted the best fried catfish in the state, alongside towering onion-ring loaves in a quirky, memorabilia-filled room. The catfish and the onion rings are the order. Good for a casual family dinner.

A smokehouse and deli whose burger has topped statewide best-burger lists, alongside slow-smoked meats and ribs. The burger is the headline, but the smoked plates hold their own. A casual, locals-packed lunch stop.

A downtown Italian kitchen on Main doing house pastas, stuffed mushrooms, and a comfortable date-night room. It is the town's go-to for a sit-down Italian dinner. Good for a relaxed evening with a bottle of wine.

A scratch cafe inside the historic Fredonia Hotel doing breakfast and lunch plates, with house favorites like the Gruene enchiladas and a well-loved bread pudding. It is a reliable, slightly elevated daytime meal downtown. Good for breakfast or a sit-down lunch.

The town's fine-dining steakhouse, open only on weekend nights, plating well-cooked cuts of beef, delicate fish, and a real wine list in a college town short on white-tablecloth options. It is the special-occasion table. Reserve and dress up a little.

A downtown Tex-Mex cantina known for fajita chimichangas, chile relleno, and a mixed grill, with attentive service and a lively room. It is the central, sit-down Mexican option. Good for a casual group dinner with margaritas.

A family Mexican spot locals point to for the best salsa in town and a wide menu of Tex-Mex staples. It is the unpretentious neighborhood option that regulars treat as a meeting place. Good for an easy, affordable weeknight dinner.

A beloved independent coffee house with expertly pulled lattes, specialty brews, and fresh croissant sandwiches that locals rank above any chain. The Spicy Pig sandwich gets singled out. The town's go-to morning and study spot.

An easy multi-use path that winds about seven miles through the SFA campus, Pecan Park, and shaded creek bottoms thick with dogwood, pecan, and water oak. Birders count scores of species along it. The town's flagship walk-run-bike corridor.

A 40-acre conservation property with about two miles of well-kept paved trails through native demonstration gardens and tall East Texas pines. It is flat, free, and easy to navigate with maps at the entrance. A gentle nature walk that doubles as a plant primer.

A secluded, free interpretive trail in the experimental forest about fifteen minutes outside town, winding through quiet East Texas woods. It is the more remote, away-from-campus nature option. Good for a peaceful forest walk with few other people.

The first brewery in town since the 1800s, with a taproom, beer garden, and patio that host live music and rotating food trucks in a kid- and dog-friendly setting. It is the central evening hangout. Good for an unfussy night out over craft beer.

A family winery about six miles outside town serving locally made wine, wood-fired pizza, and live local music among the trees. The relaxed, away-from-it-all setting is the appeal. Good for a laid-back afternoon or early evening.

A free history museum on the SFA campus housed in a reconstruction of the early-1800s stone fort that anchored old Nacogdoches, covering early Texas and the town's deep history. It is a quick, well-done introduction to the area's past. Good for an hour with history-minded travelers.

An SFA art gallery filling two floors of a restored historic opera house downtown, with rotating high-quality exhibits and free monthly art films. Everything is free, and the building itself is a draw. Good for a rainy hour or an art-leaning evening.

Built around 1830, the oldest house in town and one of the oldest in Texas, home of Texas Revolution figure Adolphus Sterne and full of original furnishings. Free docent tours bring the early-Texas story to life. A short, rewarding stop for history-minded visitors.

The largest azalea garden in Texas, 11 acres with 1.25 miles of accessible paths, more than 8,500 plants, and a labyrinth, blooming nearly year-round thanks to camellias and Japanese maples. Spring azaleas are the showstopper. A peaceful stroll and a photographer's favorite.

A 37-acre reconstructed settlement of 19th-century buildings gathered from the surrounding countryside and furnished with period antiques. Guided walks through the village give a hands-on sense of early East Texas life. Good for a history-minded morning.

The first university arboretum in Texas, 19-plus acres of display gardens spilling along Lanana Creek with thousands of plant species and themed beds. Free to wander and connected to the creek trail. A relaxed nature walk in the middle of campus.

The brick-paved heart of the oldest town in Texas, lined with restored storefronts holding boutiques, antique shops, galleries, and restaurants. It is the walkable core for browsing and dining. Best explored on foot over a morning or evening.