Why Georgetown is Known as the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas

Sitting North of Austin off I-35, Georgetown is home to the convergence of the forks of the San Gabriel River, InnerSpace Caverns and the pristine campus of Southwestern University, but it’s the Courhouse Square in Georgetown that most visitors come to see, and here’s why it’s known as the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas!

The Texas County Courthouses are known for their beauty and architectural appeal, but the Williamson County Courthouse is considered by many as one of the most beautiful!

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The Williamson County Courthouse was built in 1911, and features Neoclassical Architecture, as seen by the columns!  The architect, Charles Henry Page, was a Texas architect who also did the Fort Bend County Courthouse in Richmond, Hayes County Courthouse in San Marcos, the Anderson and Hunt County Courthouses, as well as the 1936 Austin Federal Courthouse.

FREE Tours of the courthouse are offered  Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.  Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early.

To see more of the unique architecture in Georgetown, take a self-paced walking tour!

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One of the best places to start your day in Georgetown is at the Georgetown Visitors Center, located at 103 W. 7th Street.  You can find more fun things to do as well as local events happening!

You’re also going to want to head down to the Daytrippers World Headquarters at 211 W. 8th Street., for more fun things in Georgetown!

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One of the nicest things about Downtown Georgetown is the restaurant selection!  It’s hard for me to ever go anywhere other than Monument Cafe, a block up from the Courthouse on South Austin!  It’s my favorite restaurant, and everything is amazing!  They run out daily of the King Ranch Casserole, so you want to arrive early, and I love their tranquil gardens and don’t miss the fun bookstore!  They also own the El Monumento Restaurant a little further up on Austin, near the San Gabriel River.

Monument Cafe in Georgetown has a bookstore in the back.

Back on the Square, 600 Degrees Pizzeria and Drafthouse makes a delicious pizza!  The bone-in Cowboy Ribeye at Wildfire is a favorite of my husbands, which offers an incredible menu!  Both the Galaxy Bakery and Coffeeshop can keep you energized for a full day of fun!

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If you love shopping, then the Georgetown Square is for you!  I love Brazos Market, a great boutique, and my place to fill up with FREY Laundry Detergent for my college son!  It’s really amazing!  Nathaniel’s Hats is reason enough to visit Georgetown!  Native American Master Hatter Nate Funmaker creates some of the most amazing hats, and literally has a world-wide fan base!  Never to miss out on a great hot sauce, Mikey V’s has a great selection and you can stop in for a sample!  Rough and Ready Antiques is a must visit when in Georgetown, too!

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All Things Kids Toy Store is a fave!  They have a great selection of toys and games, and sell Beth Marie Ice Cream and Vintage Candies in the back!

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The Georgetown Palace Theater offers fun shows for the entire family!

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There is always something fun happening in Georgetown!  From the Music on the Square Summer Concerts to the Annual Georgetown Wine and Music Festival in September, the Christmas Stroll and Parade in December, with a Bethlehem Village, Pistons on the Square Car Show the 3rd Saturday of each month,  and many monthly events!

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Of course, Georgetown’s biggest festival is the Red Poppy Festival each Spring!  A huge festival to commemorate the beautiful red poppies that bloom around Georgetown!  “Seeds from poppies in Europe were sent to Georgetown right after World War I. Henry Purl Compton (known as “Okra”) who served in the American Expeditionary Forces sent them to his mother. She planted them at her home which is now 507 East 7th Street. From there, they were spread (by birds, bees, and people!) down the river and over much of Old Town.

On April 25, 1990, Georgetown was certified by local residents and the Texas Legislature as the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas.” Red poppies have been a part of Georgetown’s landscape for over seventy years. Red poppies have grown naturally in street and highway right-of-ways, in vacant lots and parks lands, and in native and cultivated areas of our citizen’s yards. We understand that Georgetown is one of the few locations in the United States where red poppies reseed themselves from year to year. Each April as the poppies bloom, Georgetown celebrates with the annual Red Poppy Festival.”

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While there isn’t really any lodging on the square in Downtown Georgetown, there are plenty of places to stay nearby!  Check out the San Gabriel House Bed and Breakfast.

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Contemplating what he wants to do next in Georgetown while eating an ice cream from All Things Kids.

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I love that even in Downtown, there is a place the kids can cool off, which is a beautiful thing in Texas during the Summer!  Almost hidden, this fun and FREE little Splashpad Park at 816 W. Mainstreet is a fun escape from the Texas heat!



 Georgetown Visitors Center

103 W 7th Street, Georgetown

Click HERE to visit their website.



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Michelle

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