With less than a month until most kids return to school, your family might be looking for one last entertaining day trip.  Consider visiting stunningly beautiful Washington County, home of Gates Ranch and only an hour away from Houston.  Here are a few places to visit that the entire family can enjoy.

Blue Bell Creameries Tour in Brenham

Who doesn’t love ice cream in the summer?  Blue Bell Creameries offers 45-minute tours of their Brenham factory Monday through Friday (sorry, no tours on weekends).  You’ll learn how the best ice cream in the country is made, and get the opportunity to enjoy a scoop or two at the end of the tour.  General admission is $6, but only $4 for children ages 6-14 or for seniors 55 or older.  You must buy tickets in advance For more information and directions, please visit Blue Bell.

Lake Somerville

Both the Birch Creek and Nails Creek units of Lake Somerville State Park offer a multitude of recreational opportunities such as camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking and biking, volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, and backpacking.  More than 20 miles of trail are open to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, affording visitors the opportunity to exercise and enjoy the beauty of the park, while water lovers can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, and skiing on Lake Somerville.  Adult admission to the park is $4, and children under the age of 12 are free.  To plan a visit, log on here: Lake Somerville.

Washington County Fair

And finally, as summer winds down and we head into the fall, don’t forget about the Washington County Fair, held from September 12-20.  Established in 1868, it’s the oldest county fair held in Texas, and hosts a variety of events including concerts, rodeos, livestock shows, arts and crafts shows, special attractions, carnivals, commercial exhibits and more.  The fairgrounds are located on FM 577 (Blue Bell Rd.) between Highways 36 and 105 on 50 acres, and there is ample parking for all visitors.

While you’re here in our neck of the woods, we invite you to stop by for a visit to Gates Ranch.  We’ve sold 70% of the family farms in Phases I & II, so we encourage you to visit us soon to ensure your choice of prime farm sites.  For more information or to schedule your personal tour, please call Cyndee Smith with Oldham Goodwin Group at 713-816-3407.