I’m a lifelong Texas resident with a good grasp of the lay of the land. Still, my state manages to surprise me, and every so often, I stumble upon places I didn’t know existed. One such place is Navasota—a charming, often-overlooked Texas town about 70 miles from Houston that’s perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. I hadn’t heard of it until I spent some time exploring nearby Bryan.
There’s plenty to fill a weekend (or more): wineries and local mead, a honey farm, and cute boutiques. We’ve all heard the saying that everything’s bigger in Texas, but bigger doesn’t always mean better. Sometimes, the best discoveries are the smallest ones. Here’s how to spend your time in Navasota.
What To Do
Named after the family that owns the farm, Weaver, this working honey farm has been a source of bees and honey for over 130 years. Visitors can see bees at work, taste honey or local mead, and shop for bee-themed merchandise, beekeeping gear, and of course, local honey.
BeeWeaver Honey Farm currently offers four tours: a public hive tour, a private hive tour, a history and honey farm tour, and a mead tasting and tour. There are also several group package options and classes, including a private beekeeping lesson for anyone interested in keeping and raising bees at home. “Bee 101” is a family-friendly public tour that explores how bees function within colonies, the various types of bees, and their roles within the hive. The private tour allows a closer look and delves deeper into the biology of bees and beekeeping practices. The farm tour offers a comprehensive overview of the farm’s history, accompanied by a guided tour through the honey production areas.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey, so if you’re wondering if there’s a connection between BeeWeaver Honey Farm and WildFlyer Mead, the answer is yes. The honey used in WildFlyer’s mead comes from BeeWeaver and the two businesses operate as partners. There’s a tasting room on the BeeWeaver Honey Farm, and visitors can book a tasting experience and tour through their website. WildFlyer also operates a downtown location in Navasota.
If there’s a question of which tasting room to visit, think of it this way: same mead, different atmosphere. The farm’s tasting room is more kid- and dog-friendly, with open spaces and room to run and play. Both locations offer food with slightly different menus: The downtown location features a more extensive menu selection, including burgers and sandwiches, while the farm menu is more focused on shareable snacks and flatbreads. If this doesn’t help you decide, Navasota is small enough that hitting both locations is entirely doable.
Just because mead is made with honey doesn’t mean all mead is sweet. If you’re not a fan of sweet beverages, don’t count mead out because it will surprise you. Plus, cheeky names like “Hot and Bothered” and “Julius Beesar” make this experience just plain fun.
Although Rancho Inca Alpacas focuses on animal husbandry, there are bookable experiences that allow visitors to Navasota to get a dose of alpaca cuteness during their trip. Book a farm tour, which includes alpaca interaction and an opportunity to visit the farm store, which sells a variety of products made with alpaca fiber, or a pilates session with alpacas.
When you think of Texas history, you probably think of The Alamo in San Antonio. However, the area that is now Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site played an essential role in Texas' statehood, too. With historic buildings and room to stretch your legs, this 293-acre site tells the life stories of the delegates behind Texas' formal declaration of independence from Mexico and the early Texans who worked this farmland.
While you're here, visit Texas Independence Hall. This small and unassuming wooden structure served as the meeting place for 59 delegates who decided to declare independence. Explore the Barrington Living History Farm, the estate of the last president of the Republic of Texas, Anson Jones, and browse through the visitor’s center, with its many interactive exhibits and the Star of the Republic Museum. There’s no food service on site, but visitors are welcome to bring food. There’s a shady picnic area in the pecan grove.
Check Barrington Living History Farm’s calendar for special events or to see what seasonal or hands-on events visitors might find happening on the farm. This is a working farm, so you’ll find everything from baking to plowing to decorating for an upcoming holiday.
Saint Frances Wolf Sanctuary rescues wolves and wolf-dogs in need from across the country. The sanctuary's regular tour allows visitors to observe the wolves in their natural habitat, but there is also a VIP experience available. This immersive, small-group tour offers participants some flexibility and freedom to choose where their tour focuses and to participate in behind-the-scenes activities, such as preparing enrichment for the wolves.
Wine Tasting
While there’s technically just one winery in Navasota proper, there are three wineries within a manageable drive.
Threshold Vineyards is a family-owned winery where the sandy soil has grown everything from Christmas trees to watermelon. They’ve been growing Blanc du Bois grapes since 2010 and have won awards for their Blanc du Bois and Sangiovese wines.
Located 15 miles Southeast of Navasota in Plantersville, the Bernhardt Winery offers wine tastings that allow visitors to select five wines to sample—dry, sweet, or a mix of both. There’s also an on-site bed-and-breakfast—each of their two units sleeps two—that includes a wine-tasting flight and a continental breakfast.
Although Messina Hof’s Estate Winery and Tasting Room in Bryan is 27 miles from Navasota, it’s worth the approximately 30-minute drive to visit. There’s an incredible array of wines by the bottle, glass, and on tap, from full-bodied to bubbles to sweet and fruity. Messina Hof is owned and operated by one of Texas’s legacy winemaking families, and you’ll find tasting rooms in Fredericksburg and Grapevine.
Downtown
Navasota’s historic downtown features picturesque 19th-century buildings and a blend of railroad history, artsy murals, boutique stores, and unique places to grab coffee, cocktails, or a great Texas-inspired meal.
Don’t miss spots are Blackberry & Honeysuckle for unique shopping, Rail & Rye for craft cocktails and rooftop views, and Classic Rock Coffee Co. & Kitchen for anytime breakfast—the Texas-shaped waffle with decadent toppings is worth the trip alone.
Don't miss the colorful Navasota Blues Alley mural downtown. Navasota is known as the “Blues Capital of Texas" thanks to the contributions of songster Mance Lipscomb. Visit in November to experience the Navasota Blues Festival.
Stay
For the quintessential Navasota experience that puts you right in the heart of downtown, the PA Smith Hotel is the place to be. This luxury boutique hotel has a AAA Four Diamond designation, is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and offers 10 rooms, plus a swanky 2,000-square-foot three-bedroom penthouse suite. No cookie-cutter hotel rooms here—you’ll find artful decorative touches and luxury bedding that beg for a lazy morning. On-site dining options include a coffee shop, a speakeasy, and the Red Board Tavern and Table, a full-service restaurant serving daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as Sunday brunch.
The Postcard Cabins Brazos Valley, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Outdoor Collection, is another great option in the area, as well as local vacation rentals. BeeWeaver Honey Farm features a loft that accommodates three above its honey-making facility, making it an ideal option for those seeking an ultra-unique experience—such as sleeping on a honey farm.
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