Bryan, TX Area Guide

In 1860, the northern terminus for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad grew into the town of Millican. Unlike many railroad towns, Millican didn't fade away. Instead, it became an important distribution center, especially during the Civil War. Stephen F. Austin's nephew, William Joel Bryan, decided he liked this charming community and he purchased a large amount of land just north of Millican. He used that land to create a town for employees of the railroad. The town was named in his honor -- Bryan. In 1867, yellow fever swept through Millican, and many residents moved to the nearby town of Bryan. This town began to grow and soon replaced Millican as the commercial hub. In 1871, Bryan became a city.

In addition to its historic downtown, Bryan celebrates its past with a variety of museums. The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History contains 22,500 artifacts, mainly from Texas. These artifacts cover archeology, mammalogy, paleontology, and botany. Exhibits include the Discovery Room, the Carter Creek Nature Trail, Brazos Spring Trail, and Ice Age Mammals.

Living in Bryan means you'll be able to participate in a variety of events and festivals. The Downtown Art and Street Fair, held every spring, provides live music, street performers, hands-on art demonstrations, and artists from all over the region. A children's activity area offers crafts, games, and art projects such as paper marbling and finger painting.

The Texas Reds Festival is one you'll look forward to every year. This festival combines live music with beer and wine -- not to mention great steaks and sides. This festival celebrates Texas' wine industry -- the state is the fifth-largest grapes and wine producer in the US. A steak cook-off allows local restaurants to compete for the honor of best steak, and there are a variety of downtown restaurants that participate in the event.

Lively Downtown Bryan is the place to be, day or night. During the day, the charming boutiques and sidewalk cafes attract area residents and visitors. In the evening, the bars, theaters, and restaurants are the main attractions. After moving to Bryan, make the Village Cafe one of your first stops. From breakfast to dinner, this is a terrific location that combines the traditional restaurant and coffee house and sprinkles in a little art gallery and music venue. Try the Orange Oat Waffles or Dr. Rex's Breakfast in the morning, the Raspberry Veggie Sandwich for lunch, and a Spicy Hawaiian Pizza for dinner. Then stay the night! Well, not really, but the Village hosts art events, live music, theater performances, poetry readings, and special events like Salsa Night, International Culture Nights, and even murder mystery dinners.

After a day of shopping, you deserve a sweet treat. Head over to Must Be Heaven, an old-fashioned sandwich shop with a show-stopping display of homemade pies. If chocolate is more your style, you'll love the Chocolate Gallery. Stop in and admire the stunning and edible works of art. You'll think the Caramelized White Chocolate Cocoa Pods are too beautiful to eat -- but try one anyway.

Bryan residents know where to go for a fun night out, and that's the Palace Theater. This theater hosts a variety of concerts, plays, and festivals throughout the year. The historic Queen Theater, rebuilt in 1939 to replace an earlier theater, is considered a landmark of Downtown Bryan.

Head to Bryan's Cultural Arts District to visit the Grand Stafford Theater, which provides more than a night out -- this is an experience. Listen to live music and enjoy classic cocktails at the full-service bar. In addition to hosting musical acts such as Midnight Express and Ryan Scott Travis, the Stafford Theater is available for special events.

Although Downtown Bryan is pedestrian-friendly and the city has some bike lanes, the city overall is car-dependent. If you prefer to take the bus, the Brazos Transit District offers service throughout Bryan and College Station. If you choose an apartment near the Texas A&M campus, you'll get free bus service during the week, thanks to the college's student-driven buses. The university operates a regional airport, Easterwood Airport, which provides flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Highway 6 and Highway 21 intersect in Bryan, allowing easy commuting throughout the region. Bryan is about an hour and a half northwest of Houston and about two and a half hours south of Dallas. From Bryan, you can enjoy quick weekend getaways to the beach -- Galveston Island is less than three hours away.

You'll find a variety of parks and hiking trails when you move to Bryan. Sam Rayburn School Park is adjacent to Sam Rayburn Middle School. This park contains a walking/jogging trail, horseshoes, picnic areas, a playground, and eight lighted tennis courts. It also has a playground and exercise area designed for those with special needs.

Tanglewood Park has two walking paths (one paved), several picnic areas, a sand volleyball court, and a splash pad. One of Bryan's oldest (and favorite) parks is Sue Haswell Memorial Park. This park houses an amphitheater, picnic pavilions, a 24-court horseshoes area, a swimming pool, ball fields, a playground, and a basketball court. Skateboarders will appreciate Williamson Park, home to the area's first skateboard park. This park also contains picnic areas, a playground, and a basketball court.

When you're looking for a game of golf, head to the Travis B. Bryan Municipal Golf Course, located next to Astin Recreational Area and Williamson Park. This is an 18-hole golf course designed for all skill levels. This is an inexpensive treat -- to play 18 holes walking, it costs $10 during the week and $15 on the weekend.

Other areas managed by the parks department include green spaces, such as Miracle Place Park and Austin's Colony Parkway, and a variety of trails. Rosewood Trail is a short jogging/walking trail located on about seven acres. The Booneville Trail stretches over three miles and is 12 feet wide, making it ideal for bicycling, jogging, and walking. The Park Hudson Trail covers 59 acres and is a heavily wooded jogging/walking/bicycling trail.

If you are moving to Bryan with a pet, be sure to check out the Morris "Buzz" Hamilton Dog Park. This park contains five acres and includes shade structures, agility equipment, a walking/jogging trail, doggy water fountains, and three separate play areas.

Here's some good news if you're looking at apartments in Bryan: the cost of living is about 14 percent lower than the national average. Bryan's average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $750, nearly 15 percent below the national average. If a home purchase is in your future, you can expect to find house prices about 37 percent lower than the national average, at about $113,000.

Finding a job in Bryan shouldn't be too difficult -- the city has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at just 3.3 percent, and job growth is expected to continue over the next ten years. Employers include the City of Bryan, Texas A&M University, the Bryan Independent School District, Sanderson Farms, and St. Joseph Regional Health Center.

Bryan is so affordable that it is award-winning. In 2013, it was named one of the nation's "Most Affordable Cities" by NerdWallet. The same year, it also ranked as the fifth-best city for business and careers by Forbes Magazine. In 2014, it was listed as one of the fastest-growing small cities and one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. In 2015, Bryan ranked in the top 10 as one of the cities with the fastest-growing economies (WalletHub).

There's nothing quite like shopping in Downtown Bryan. It provides a fantastic atmosphere, historic architecture, and a collection of shops and restaurants you'll love visiting over and over again. If you enjoy "junking," you won't want to leave Bird's Nest Gifts & Antiques, located on Main Street. If something a little more dazzling is on your mind, Brazos Glassworks is a stained glass art studio and store that offers a variety of items from traditional panels to custom jewelry. EarthArt, also on Main Street, carries one-of-a-kind items from all over the world.

Head to College Station and spend the afternoon shopping at the region's largest mall, Post Oak Mall. This mall contains a Dillard's, Macy's, and a variety of specialty shops such as Charlotte Russe, Vans, Hollister, and Aggieland Outfitters. Closer to home, an H-E-B grocery store is located off Villa Maria Road, across from a strip mall that contains a Jo-Ann Fabrics, Boot Barn, and Baskin's Department Store. For fresh produce, head to the Farm Patch Market.

The Brazos Valley Farmers Market is located in Downtown Bryan on North Main. In addition to fresh, local produce, specialty items, and craft vendors, the market hosts live music, food trucks, and other special events. The market is open year-round with a second seasonal market.