Opened in 1886, the old Blanco County Courthouse was used for its intended purpose for a little over four years before the county seat moved to Johnson City. Since then, the two-story limestone building has served as a schoolhouse, office building, hospital, restaurant, wedding venue, and visitors center. Through it all the landmark has been the center of the town square hosting festivals and celebrations. Credit: GERALD E. McLEOD

Most of the parking spaces on the north side of the old Blanco County Courthouse were taken when the four of us and two dogs arrived. 

The county seat moved to Johnson City in 1891, but the town 50 miles west of Austin has retained a unique personality over the years. 

We had lunch on the front porch of the Redbud Cafe. The chicken salad sandwich was light and went well with the refreshing lavender margarita. 

While we were finishing the last drops of our lavender margaritas at the Redbud Café, Fred, who is from Boerne and was showing out-of-town friends around the Hill Country, stopped at our table to tell us several jokes. The one I can rmember was: “Why have the French stopped eating escargot? They’ve decided they like fast food better.” Credit: GERALD E. McLEOD

For dessert, we walked around the corner for gelato at OroBianco Italian Creamery. The little gelateria uses milk from their herd of water buffalo at a ranch near Floresville. 

We checked in to the Blanco Riverside Getaway, where sitting in the shade between our cabins we had a pleasant view of the Blanco River in the state park and the U.S. Highway 281 bridge. 

The four cabins at Blanco Riverside Getaway are small but comfortably furnished. Sitting in the shade at a patio table between our two cabins we had a pleasant view of the Blanco River in the state park. Watching the large trucks and a constant parade of autos rumble over the US281 bridge was rather mesmerizing. Credit: GERALD E. McLEOD

It was almost happy hour, and Real Ale Brewing was calling us. I hadn’t been there in a while, and the new brewhouse and taproom are impressive. 

The next morning, we took the dogs for a walk along the river. Blanco State Park is a beautiful place to fish, swim, or stroll. 

For breakfast we headed to Deutsch Apple Bakery. This is gluten paradise, although they did have gluten-free items. The apple pecan cake was awesome. 

It was too early for lunch, so two of us and the dogs went to Buchanans Coffee House. This upscale espresso bar has the head of a Scottish cow above the fireplace and a shaded garden out front. 

We were first in line when the Old 300 BBQ opened. The tender brisket and smoked turkey went well with another Real Ale beer. 

Our 24 hours were almost up, but we had time for one more trip to OroBianco for a decadent cup of water-buffalo-milk chocolate gelato and a pint to go. 

1,802nd in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere. Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/day-trips.

This article appears in April 17 • 2026.

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.