Beaucoup ’ bonnets
Flowers are blooming all over, and an antique- filled inn beckons
Visitors to Brenham, Texas, must understand that bluebonnets are spring f lowers that proliferate here each season in f ields and pastures. Blue Bell, on the other hand, is the hometown ice cream f irst made in 1907. Folks here are fiercely proud of both. After a nationwide recall of the ice cream last year because of a deadly listeria outbreak, locals rallied in support of the frozen confection, their town’s year- round attraction. Although the “We proudly support Blue Bell” posters aren’t as prolif ic as the f lowers, they’re still plentiful. The tab for two at Ant Street Inn: $ 160 for one night, excluding taxes, and $ 35 for dinner at Nathan’s BBQ.
The bed
The 15 antique- filled rooms at Ant Street Inn ( 107 W. Commerce St., Brenham; [ 979] 836- 7393, www.antstreetinn.com) are themed after the mostly Southern cities — think Natchez, Miss., New Orleans and Savannah, Ga. — from which their period furnishings came. The century- old, blocklong building, beautifully renovated by owners Suzy and Keith Hankins, who purchased it in 2011, contains not only the hotel but also the Brenham Grill, which serves cooked- to- order breakfasts to guests. Weekend rates from $ 160 include breakfast and single- serving cups of chocolate and vanilla ice cream from a freezer beside the guest rooms.
The meal
Texas wouldn’t be Texas without its legendary barbecue, and in Brenham, locals head for Nathan’s BBQ ( 1307 Prairie Lea St., Brenham; [ 979] 251- 9900,
www.nathansbbq.com). Guests grab a tray and order from the menu on the wall behind the steam tables. For the uninitiated, employees are happy to slice off samples of their slow- cooked meats, including beef brisket, pork butt, locally made sausage and, of course, ribs. A two- meat dinner costs $ 12.25; three meats cost $ 13.95. That includes two sides such as baked beans, broccoli salad, macaroni and cheese and black- eyed peas.
The find
The lazy back roads of Washington County get busy on spring weekends as visitors, many of them from Houston 70 miles away, f lock to the country to witness the annual bluebonnet blossom. The fields are full of f lowers, with prime viewing from mid- March to mid- April, depending on the weather. The local visitor’s bureau shares current conditions on its website (www.lat.ms/24KCloA), and its tourism brochure contains a map denoting some of the most scenic drives. Order one online or by calling ( 888) 273- 6426. The wildflowers also abound about 20 miles north of Brenham at Washington- on- the- Brazos State Historic Site ( 23400 Park Road 12, Washington; [ 936] 878- 2214, www.lat.ms/1OomyQo), where Texas rebels in 1836 declared their independence from Mexico.
The lesson learned
Tours of Blue Bell Creameries, which used to be a highlight of visits to Brenham, are indefinitely suspended as the company rebuilds — a process that includes testing its treats before distribution. However, try to stop by the ice cream parlor ( 1101 S. Blue Bell Road, Brenham; [ 800] 327- 8135) on a weekday. A giant scoop costs just $ 1.