The ultimate Williamson County bucket list: 50 things to do at least once

There’s something kind of funny about living somewhere for years and realizing there are still so many local things you haven’t actually done yet.

Life gets busy, we stick to our favorite restaurants, parks and routines, and somehow that little waterfall or swimming hole 20 minutes away stays on the “we really need to do that sometime” list for three years.

So we made a list.

These are the local spots, foods, traditions and slightly quirky Williamson County experiences we think are worth trying at least once. Some are bigger outings, some take less than an hour, and a few are the kind of random things your kids will probably talk about way longer than you expect.

The WilCo classics

1. 1Eat a warm Round Rock Donut. Yes, it really is that orange. Start with the regular glazed before deciding whether your family is brave enough for the Texas-sized one.
2. 2Find the actual round rock. The limestone rock in Brushy Creek gave the city its name, and plenty of nearby residents have never stopped to see it.
3. 3Walk all four sides of the Georgetown Square. Look up at the courthouse, wander into a shop and get something sweet before leaving.
4. 4Take a photo with Henrietta the Hippo. She is 14,000 pounds of concrete and exactly the kind of Hutto landmark kids remember.
5. 5Count Hutto’s other hippos. Once you notice them, they seem to be everywhere.
6. 6Spend a morning at Play for All Park. It is one of the few places that truly deserves “destination playground.” Bring water, wheels if permitted and time to explore.
7. 7See the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond. Even non-baseball fans can get behind ballpark snacks and between-inning silliness.
8. 8Walk through historic downtown Taylor. The brick buildings, murals and local businesses feel completely different from newer Williamson County.
9. 9Visit The Williamson Museum. It is free, right on the Square and small enough that bringing kids does not become an endurance event.
10. 10Tour the historic courthouse. You have probably seen the outside. The stories inside are what make it worth doing.

Get outside

11. 11Walk or bike part of Brushy Creek Regional Trail. Make it a workout or an easy family outing. That flexibility is why locals return.
12. 12Find the waterfall near Brushy Creek Lake Park. It feels like a much bigger adventure than the drive required.
13. 13Hike to Crockett Garden Falls. Go after enough rain to make the falls worthwhile, and do not wear the shoes you would choose for Target.
14. 14Complete part of the Goodwater Loop. The entire 26-mile loop is serious. A planned out-and-back section earns full credit.
15. 15Spend an afternoon at Blue Hole. Limestone cliffs, the South San Gabriel River and downtown a few blocks away make this an easy day to love.
16. 16Explore Garey Park. Its 525 acres feel surprisingly far removed from the suburbs.
17. 17Visit River Ranch County Park. Hike, visit the interpretive center or camp overnight when you want more nature and less playscape.
18. 18Picnic beneath the pecan trees at Berry Springs. Walk the loop and greet the donkeys from the proper side of their enclosure.
19. 19Watch sunset at Lakewood Park. The playground and splash pad get attention, but the lake at sunset may be the best part.
20. 20Fish from a public pier. Lakewood and Brushy Creek Lake Park make it easy. Check Texas license rules first.

Do it with the kids

21. 21Dig for dinosaur bones at Champion Park. The cast bones sit beneath a covered sand area, a sentence almost guaranteed to get children into the car.
22. 22Ride the Cedar Rock Railroad. A tiny train through Southwest Williamson County Regional Park is peak childhood. Check its live schedule before promising it.
23. 23Try three splash pads in one summer. Let the kids rank them and defend their choices.
24. 24Attend storytime at a new-to-you library. Every library has its own personality, and free air-conditioning is a legitimate summer feature.
25. 25Let the kids plan a Lakewood Park day. Playground, pier, splash pad, skate park or trails. The hard part is leaving.
26. 26Cheer at a high school football game. You do not need a student on the field to understand why Friday night football is still an event.
27. 27Go to the Williamson County Fair & Rodeo. Fast-growing Williamson County still has agricultural roots worth celebrating.
28. 28Give each child a small farmers-market budget. One may buy bread while the other spends everything on cookies. Both count.
29. 29Do a three-city playground tour. Pack snacks and let the kids name a winner.
30. 30Say yes to a festival. Red Poppy Festival, Frontier Days and smaller hometown celebrations draw crowds for a reason.

Eat your way around the county

31. 31Order barbecue in Taylor. Louie Mueller is the historic name, but there is no rule against making this an ongoing comparison.
32. 32Find your favorite breakfast taco. Ask three neighbors, try their answers and accept that nobody will agree.
33. 33Have dinner on the Georgetown Square. Add a walk so it feels like more than a meal.
34. 34Try the restaurant you have passed 20 times. You know the one. You mention it, then go somewhere familiar.
35. 35Plan a progressive dinner. Appetizer in one city, dinner in another and dessert somewhere new. Unnecessarily complicated and surprisingly fun.
36. 36Ask a local restaurant what it is known for. Then order that instead of your usual.
37. 37Go out solely for dessert. Ice cream, pie, cookies or whatever your family takes most seriously.
38. 38Try something locally brewed or roasted. Beer, wine, coffee and creative nonalcoholic drinks all qualify.
39. 39Eat outside during one of our twelve perfect patio days. Do not waste them.
40. 40Support a new restaurant during its first month. Be patient while it finds its rhythm and tell a friend if you enjoyed it.

Make it feel like home

41. 41See Georgetown’s red poppies in bloom. Spring turns the city’s signature flowers into a celebration.
42. 42Walk through holiday lights in two Williamson County cities. Each downtown does Christmas a little differently.
43. 43Go to a free outdoor concert. Bring chairs, snacks and realistic expectations for how long children will sit.
44. 44See a local theater or school production. There is a lot of talent working a few miles from home.
45. 45Browse an independent bookstore, antique shop or boutique. Take your time without needing a shopping list.
46. 46Drive the back roads from western to eastern Williamson County. Stay on public roads and watch Hill Country terrain turn into farmland and prairie.
47. 47Learn one local story you can retell. Sam Bass, the Chisholm Trail, the Leanderthal Lady and Dan Moody are good starts.
48. 48Volunteer for one local cause. A pantry, shelter, school or park cleanup shows you a side of Williamson County you do not see as a spectator.
49. 49Introduce yourself to a local business owner. The county feels smaller when someone behind the counter knows your name.
50. 50Create your own tradition. An annual Blue Hole picnic, first-day-of-summer doughnuts or one new fall trail. Build a local life your family loves.

Where we would start

Choose one easy outing, one meal and one thing you keep postponing. Our three would be Brushy Creek, barbecue in Taylor and Crockett Garden Falls when the weather cooperates.

Save the rest for the next time everyone says there is nothing to do around here. There almost always is. We just forget.

Hours, admission and seasonal schedules change. Check before making promises to your children. We have learned that lesson for you.