Brenham

This charming town located halfway between Houston and Austin is known as the Birthplace of Texas because of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. It is also been the place to find heaven in ice cream form, at Blue Bell Creameries. Brenham also distinguishes itself with being named a National Main Street City for four consecutive years; home to picturesque Blinn College, the state?s first junior college; Antique Rose Emporium, which has hundreds of blooming rosebushes; beautiful historic homes and churches in nearby Independence, Chappell Hill and Burton; the Monastery of St. Clare, where the nuns raise adorable miniature horses; a host of horse ranches for cutting horse demonstrations, trail rides and chuck wagon rides; the charming Pleasant Hill Winery; many antique shops and the two-lane highways cutting through Washington County make this area superb for wildflower-viewing.