Tiny Texas Towns with the Best Bluebonnet Views This Spring
Every spring, fields across Texas turn into blue seas—blue seas of flowers, that is. The bluebonnet, which is the Texas state flower, can be found across many regions of the state, captivating locals and visitors alike during its brief blooming period, which runs from late March through late April. If you're planning on making a trip to Texas to catch the bluebonnet blooms, here are the best places to go.
Ennis
The Official Bluebonnet City of Texas, Ennis, located outside of Dallas, has more than 40 miles of driving trails designated for prime bluebonnet viewing. It's also home to the annual Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival in mid-April.
Burnet
This Texas Hill Country town just northwest of Austin has the distinction of being the Official Bluebonnet Capital of Texas—not to be confused with Ennis' title of the Bluebonnet City. It, too, hosts a bluebonnet festival, occurring annually over the second weekend of the month and drawing some 35,000 people to town.
Marble Falls
Just down the road from Burnet, Marble Falls' biggest bluebonnet claim to fame is the Bluebonnet House, a ruin in the middle of a bluebonnet field that's a popular spot with photographers. While in town, visit the century-old Blue Bonnet Café, which serves up homestyle eats and delectable pies.
Fredericksburg
Another Hill Country town, Fredericksburg is the site of Wildseed Farms, the country's largest wildflower farms—and yes, there are bluebonnets here. But you can see them in the wild, too, particularly on the Willow City Loop scenic drive just outside of town.
Big Bend National Park
Though most bluebonnet destinations are in Central Texas, you'll want to head south to Big Bend National Park if you want to see the tallest species of bluebonnet, the Big Bend Bluebonnet, which can grow up to three feet tall. Blooms happen a little earlier than elsewhere in the state: February through March.
Brenham
Located between Houston and Austin, Brenham and its neighboring towns are a bluebonnet hotspot, with the flowers blooming along roads, in parks, and in fields. After a scenic drive, head into town to sample Brenham's famous Blue Bell ice cream.
Austin
If you aren't up for a bluebonnet road trip, you can still see them in the city—specifically in Austin at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The garden serves as Texas' state botanical garden and arboretum, and it has plenty of wildflower displays, including some for bluebonnets. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center also forecasts wildflower blooms across Texas, as well as provides real-time reports of the blooms.
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