Travel Guide: Georgetown Texas

Looking for a family friendly trip where you can dine, play & explore – all in one location? Look no further than Georgetown, Texas! Located just 30 minutes north of Austin, this small town makes a great day or weekend trip from the city. This travel guide will cover all the details you’ll need to make your visit to Georgetown a success!

About Georgetown

Georgetown Texas was founded in 1848, when George Washington Glasscock donated land for the site. Before that, this area was home to the Tonkawa tribe, who were skilled buffalo hunters and flint workers. Once European settlers arrived, the Tonkawa clans were organized into bands. Although this tribe was the most important in central Texas, not much is known about the Tonkawa’s day to day life. The Tonkawa’s history in Williamson County was largely over when the first U.S. settlers began arriving in the 1830’s.

Pioneers were attracted by the abundance of timber & clear water in the area., which caused the area to grow quickly. The establishment of Southwestern University (the oldest University in Texas) in 1873, and construction of a railroad in 1878 contributed to the town’s growth and importance. The Shawnee Trail, a cattle trail that led from Texas to the rail centers in Kansas and Missouri, crossed through Georgetown.

Georgetown is renowned for federalist architecture, historic brick and frame row houses, cobblestone stress and grand estates dating back as early as the mid -1700’s. Today, the city is home to one of the best-preserved Victorian and pre-WW1 downtown historic districts. Many of these offer guided tours including tours of the Williamson County Courthouse. Unfortunately, the courthouse was closed for the holidays during our visit, but we hope to tour next time we’re in town!

In 1921 a low-pressure system from a hurricane settled in over Williamson County and brought more than 18” of rain. The flooding resulted in the deaths of 156 people, many of them farm laborers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of a dam more than 50 years later, on the north fork of the San Gabriel River, to create and impound Lake Georgetown.

Georgetown is the county seat of Williamson County and home to “The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas.” An award-winning “Main Street” designated city, Georgetown cherishes its revitalized Courthouse and surrounding Victorian era storefronts.

What To Expect In Georgetown

Georgetown is a rapidly growing city with a small town feel. The city is expanding with an annual growth rate of 10.5%. Home to 50,000 residents, Georgetown may seem overwhelming – but the reality is, it still holds onto its small town roots – which makes Georgetown the perfect destination.

Visiting the ‘Most Beautiful Town Square In Texas’ you’ll find locally owned shops, restaurants, live music & a walk up wine window to enjoy your favorite drink while you stroll the historic streets. What makes the city really shine is its kind hearted & helpful people. We met many people who were eager to help, answer questions & recommend their favorites to us during our visit.

When To Visit Georgetown

While summers are VERY hot in Texas (so hot that many residents escape the heat by spending the summer months in other *cooler* states!) there are still some great times to visit & enjoy the area. Georgetown, also known as the ‘Red Poppy’ capital, hosts a festival celebrating these beautiful red flowers planted all around the city every April. Drawing thousands of visitors, the Red Poppy Festival is one you can’t miss!

During our visit between Christmas & New Years we had sunshine & cool to mild temps, ranging from 50*F – 75*F. Summers get HOT, with August’s averages reaching 100*F easily. Winters are mostly mild, but can have days of below zero temps, although these cold days usually don’t last long.

Our Experience

This was our second trip to Georgetown, but our first time really exploring the city. To be honest, we fell completely in love! Georgetown has it all – history, locally owned shops & restaurants, modern amenities, indoor & outdoor activities, southern hospitality and so much more!

We enjoyed walking the square the most, and did so multiple times. There is so much to see in this area, we found something new each time! The old courthouse, decorated with thousands of shimmering holiday lights served as the backdrop to live music & families creating holiday memories.

The dining options in Georgetown are top notch, offering everything from pizzerias & authentic Mexican street tacos to coffee shops, ice cream & wineries. Strolling downtown while enjoying our new favorite Mead from an Austin based brewery is something that will stick in my memories forever.

Georgetown is extremely family friendly – offering many outdoor play areas for kids of all ages to explore. During our visit we checked out San Gabriel Park, where the Creative Playscape is located. This playground offers 6 different sections, each telling a portion of Georgetown’s history. This park is a must stop when visiting Georgetown!

Creative Playscape – photo credit Georgetown.org

Another great location to visit with kids is Inner Space Cavern. This gigantic cavern was found during the building of Interstate 35. The history behind the cave kept our middle schooler engaged, while the crazy formations & cute little bats kept our 2nd grader amazed the whole time! Find our full review of Inner Space Cavern HERE!

Saying we enjoyed our trip is an understatement – we fell completely in love with Georgetown! We want to give a huge shout-out to the Georgetown Convention & Visitor Bureau for hosting us during our trip, and for sharing everything this beautiful town has to offer with our family!

What To Bring

Make sure you have some cash on hand if you plan to visit the Farmers Markets, and your ID if you plan to purchase alcohol. Also make sure you bring your appetite for all the amazing foods you will find on the square!