Bryan / College Station

One minute you’re driving down Texas Avenue in the city limits of College Station and the next thing you know, you’re in the heart of Bryan. The two are twin cities, and together they are often referred to as “Aggieland” or the “B/CS.”

The Downtown Bryan square essentially embodies Main Street USA. In addition to housing some of the city’s best restaurants (Café Capri and Madden’s to name a few), Downtown Bryan hosts First Friday, a free event that shuts down the streets for after-hours art and culture-based fun every month. Looking for a unique weeknight activity? Don’t miss Village Café’s Wednesday night salsa lesson.

Numerous times over, Kiplinger has ranked College Station as one of the nation’s best places to raise a family because of its low crime rates, affordable housing, and top-ranked school system. Not to mention the Bryan-College Station area boasts the fifth lowest property tax rate in Texas among similar-sized communities.

When spring comes around, BCS locals and residential college students don their cowboy boots and daisy dukes for Chilifest, a 48-hour music festival famous among locals for its stock of quality live music, beer, and (of course) chili. Aside from performances from popular country music stars like Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen, the people watching at Chilifest are second to none. Things tend to get a little…rowdy.

Who needs California grapes when an award-winning winery, Messina Hof, is nestled in the Bryan countryside? In addition to being the most recognized and renowned Texas winery, Messina Hof boasts a patio restaurant, romantic strolls through the vineyard, and even a bed and breakfast for those looking for a small stay-cation. Unable to make it out to the winery? All local grocery stores carry Messina Hof wine, including College Station’s holy grail of supermarkets, H.E.B.

During the spring season, Highway 6 and Farm to Market roads 31 and 21 transform into a sea of bluebonnets. The Texas state flower is a treasure throughout the state, but its widespread abundance around Bryan-College station is quite a sight. All along the highway, you will see cars pulled over so people can snap pictures. Just be sure not to pick them—though not technically against state law, you will definitely draw a raised eyebrow or two.

Just a short car ride away, you’ll find Lake Bryan, the Brazos Valley’s best spot for boating, water skiing, picnicking, and camping. While an afternoon on the lake is a wonderful way to spend a summer day, the Lakeside Icehouse takes the cake for its festive outdoor atmosphere and out-of-this-world view of the sunset. (Tip: Tell the Lake Bryan guard you’re going to the Icehouse to avoid paying the entry fee!)

Whether they are serving our country or assisting with local needs, College Stationites have a true heart for helping others. Each year, Texas A&M University students plan, organize and execute The Big Event, a service-oriented opportunity for students to say “thank you” to the B/CS community. The Big Event has been recognized as the nation’s largest one-day student-run service project.