Bryan & College Station, Texas

Our favorite Park/Playground in town is definitely Austin’s Colony.

The park is behind Harvey Mitchel Elementary School, but we’ve gone during School times and the park is big enough that we don’t bother the kids at recess.

There are actually 3 playground areas, so we have a choice when we go there. There are also basketball courts, tennis courts, and even a paved skating rink with hockey goals in it.

There are some paved walking trails at the far end of the park that winds around a pond or creek or something, which means mosquitoes in the Spring and Summer, and watch out for Poison Ivy around the trails. (look for three leaves with a red stem where the leaves come off the larger stem, and wash off immediately with Lye soap if you rub on the plant).

The bathrooms are usually pretty clean (considering they are those public park toilets), and since they are one one side of the park, there has been at least one occasion where a certain little girl couldn’t hold it long enough to make it to the other side of the park. We found a secluded place behind a tree close to the pond/creek and left our mark.

The ground around the playgrounds are that “poured-in-place” rubber stuff and it’s kinda falling apart, but it’s soft, which has cushioned my kids’ heads many times.

We’ve seen some teenagers come out and hang out at the picnic tables every once in a while, but not causing trouble.

The pavilion is a nice size for around 75 people.

Jorge

Lots of places claim it, but this is where I take my parents when they come into town.

Koppe Bridge Bar and Grill is a really cool place. This is one of those places (like Texas Roadhouse) that you can throw your peanut shells on the floor. Some family from England came and wanted a genuine burger, so we took them here. They had a problem throwing the peanut shells on the floor, so I asked one of the staff and she said, “Please do! The more I have to clean up, the more I get paid!” They were OK with making a mess after that.

The burgers are really juicy. Isn’t that another word for greasy? Well, they are. The fries are great. It’s loud in there, so our kids can talk in their normal “loud” voice. My kids all love being allowed to throw peanut shells on the floor too.

Their side of beans are fairly spicy. I really like them but my wife ha a hard time with them. Our “spicy eater” lasts a few bites and then gives up.

We tried the grilled chicken breast sandwich and it was just OK. The chicken tenders for the kids is great.

The burgers are about $6.50.

Free drink refills, televisions always on, and tables with names scratched into them. We found some pretty old names scratched in there. And we were hard pressed to find bad words or things I wouldn’t want my kids to read scratched into them.

I wrote “Emma Loves Sofie” in one of the tables (my two daughters). I thought that would be funny in an “Andy Kaufman” kind of way. It’s probably not funny. Sorry.

Anyway, great place, great service (which is basically order at the front and they’ll call your name when it’s ready), and by far, the best burger in town.

Two locations: Harvey and Welborne

Jorge

I found this place driving my daughter to Reed Arena when the circus was in town. I took a couple of wrong turns and WOW!

I love gardening. Well, when the plants don’t die on me. Flowers are so pretty and complex and beautiful. Turns out, for the most part, all you have to do is water them.

The Holistic Garden is right in the middle of the A&M campus, right behind the Horticultural Building. I’ve been trying to find a map to the place, but I can’t.

If you take University Dr. past the campus, go under Wellborne Rd., then after about 1/4 of a mile, you’ll see the Large Animal Clinic. Across from that building, there’s a street called Horticulture Drive. Take that roaduntil it “T’s” and take a left, then your first right. Follow that road and you’ll see the gardens.

The garden started in 1985 as a garden science lab, and has grown into an educational resource for the school as well as the community.

Canna lilies in colors I’ve never seen before, Passiflora vines covering several arbors, vertical gardens, Coleus varieties I never knew existed and Hollyhocks taller than my house. They’ve got a gazebo with benches, educational activities and explanations all over the grounds, and a couple of greenhouses to explore.

They really take care of the grounds and the plants.

They have plant sales a few times a year, and some of the money goes to some of the student workers.

Don’t miss this in the spring. It will take your breath away.

Jorge

We’ve only been to the Farm Patch once, but we really liked it. It was a really nice produce market with just about any fruit or vegetable you’d need.

It reminded me of markets in Puerto Rico and Mexico, although, quite a bit cleaner.

Be sure to check out the far corner of the store where they have their “Dollar Bins” where you can find anything from potatoes to grapes to canteloupes. Maybe they’re not as pretty as the items out front, but a buck for a basket of grapes is great.

Aside from fresh produce, they have herbs, plants, cheese, meat, local honey and local pecans (when they’re in season). I saw quite a bit of organic produce, although I can’t afford to buy organic all the time.

I read somewhere that when you’re shopping, that if you stay on the outside walls of the store, you’ll be OK (the inside aisles are the ones with the boxes, cans and bags of over-processed foods). Farm patch is like the outside walls of the store, without the inside aisles.

The Farm Patch is across from Chicken Oil Company on College Avenue.

Jorge