Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit In Nacogdoches, Texas

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Take Front Porch Distillery if you want to watch the spirits actually being crafted. Take Naca Valley Vineyard for the viewing windows over the winemaking floor. Take the Old Time String Shop if an instrument of yours needs repair. Take Durst-Taylor for the working smokehouse and the blacksmith shop behind it. And take Appleby Community Farm to pick the crops straight out of the ground.

You have reached the oldest town in Texas, where the adventure blooms about as freely as the blueberries.

To see the first official town in Texas, visit Nacogdoches for authentic travel experiences that stay with you.

For a small city, the things you can do in this county seat run extremely wide. Miles of nature trails through the historic downtown, your feet will not take you anywhere dull around this town.

A comfortable stay, a dining and shopping spree, or a sip of the stronger wines, Nacogdoches handles all three.

The lush land in East Texas runs ample opportunities for gardening and farming, which earned it the title “Garden Capital of Texas.” Compact parks through native landscapes and an extensive network of gardens, everywhere you look, the body and soul.

Read on for more town happenings among the fun things to do and places to visit in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Appleby Community Farm

Originally purchased as a Bed and Breakfast, Appleby Community Farm has more in store than anyone first imagined.

The 9-acre farm produces all-organic crops a little north of Nacogdoches, Texas, with a calling to value physical, emotional and spiritual health and hold them in balance.

The overwhelming love and support of the community for local, organic food kept them alive through the hardships of their humble beginning. For nearly 15 years, they have sold and produced fresh organic crops around town.

On several occasions you can spot them at the Farmer’s Market with their organically grown vegetables and crops.

First time out to the Appleby Farm, you will see their sign and driveway just north of a gun store on Highway 59.

Pick straight from the farm or select from the already-picked crops: beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and spices, broccoli, peas, melons, pumpkins, rhubarb, squash and more. They carry most of the healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables you can find in town.

As the farm grows, so does their vision to become a local destination for families and to add more amenities for outdoor recreation like fishing, picnicking and harvesting.

Their ultimate goal is to feed as many families who were financially and physically able to be part of the community farm as those who could not.

Address: 11825 US-59, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, United States

Bar Keeps Eatery and Taps

Eat like a local in a phenomenal dining hub in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Bar Keeps Eatery and Taps runs past East Texas cuisine with more gluten-free and vegan options. They serve Asian-influenced dishes like Edamame and Vegetable Ramen, and food slightly outside your comfort zone that lands surprisingly well on an East Texas palate.

For your appetizer, take some Samosas or Egg Rolls, paired with a Pad Thai dish or Chicken Curry, and Mango Creme Brulee for dessert. And besides the flavorful dishes, their food presentation is top-notch.

Their expansive beer and liquor menus run as inviting as their specialty cocktails. Not a fan of Whiskey? Order a Mars or a local draft beer instead.

The welcoming, casual atmosphere in Bar Keeps lands too. The place gets busy and it does not get packed or congested, so the service and accommodation hold up.

There is plenty of space to move around, and not so much that socializing becomes impossible. It reads like a sports bar at first sight, with lots of TVs for the games.

With everything you can say about Bar Keeps, this local eatery ranks among the stronger ones in a small town like Nacogdoches.

Address: 3308 North St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, United States

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site

The 93.8-acre Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, west of Nacogdoches, Texas, was home to Mound Builders of Caddoan origin for five centuries.

On this land stood a village and ceremonial center overlooking the Neches River, built by a group of Caddo Indians known as the Hasinai. A tornado struck and destroyed the original visitor center, and it is in the process of rebuilding.

You can see exhibits and approximately 200 artifacts of Caddo tools, pottery and weapons in the small mobile building of the park, or read the informative signs about their history.

First you walk a 0.7-mile interpretive trail leading to the reconstructed sites of Caddo dwellings and ceremonial center, a village area, and three earthen mounds, two temple mounds and a burial mound among them.

The everyday life and ancient civilization of the Caddo more than 1,200 years ago come through the mini-museum of the park, insights into their culture and beliefs included.

The site itself is accessible and family-friendly, with a couple of electric golf carts in case of immobility.

This little gem sits well away from the main road and earns the stop if you are around Piney Wood. Pack a lunch and set up a little picnic in one of the oldest historical sites in Texas.

Address: 1649 TX-21, Alto, TX 75925, United States

Decades Downtown

A small, family-owned business down Main Street, Decades Downtown is your stop for vintage shopping and local antiquing in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Bring home a little something from this quaint store that has stood in the oldest town for a long time. You can browse for hours without anyone hovering over you, working through a large selection of antiques, books, jewelry, furniture and more vintage resale and retail items you will not find elsewhere.

Before shopping in a big brand store, make a quick detour to Decades Downtown, listed as an antique store, a consignment store, a rock shop, a metaphysical supply store, and a strong stop for art supplies in the Nacogdoches downtown shopping district.

They carry unique handmade items to gift to family or friends, handcrafted wooden crates, keychains, beads and charming decorated magnets among them.

Their friendly staff will happily accommodate you through the gift shopping and the retail side trip.

Address: 412 E Main St, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, United States

Durst-Taylor Historic House And Gardens

Visit the second oldest building in Nacogdoches, Texas, still standing on its original site.

Durst-Taylor Historic House And Gardens is an 1830s wood-frame house owned by the Blackburn family. Through its liveable times, many early businessmen, bankers and political leaders settled here.

Now a house museum with a functional smokehouse, blacksmith shop and heirloom garden, this structure was meant to illustrate a simple Texas life in the 1840s.

Start your tour from the Visitors Center to the primitive house near the old El Camino Real de Los Tejas and La Calle del Norte intersection.

Notice the exterior and interior features of the house, its pier-and-beam foundation, a wooden porch, red-bricked roof and chimney, and the historic gardens.

Catch the Old-Fashioned Sweet Tooth Sugarcane event held in the house annually, featuring sugarcane grown at the museum and made into syrup. It costs nothing, it suits the family, and the tour of the home and gardens and the history of Nacogdoches come with it.

It takes a short visit to see the entire local attraction. You will be glad you drove by for a quick sightseeing tour and a few historical tidbits from the long timeline of Texas.

Address: 304 North St, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, United States

Fortney House

You would not expect this museum-like Victorian house to be a unique shopping destination in the Nacogdoches Historic District of stately old homes.

Just three blocks north of Main Street, the Fortney House is not like any other store in the state. It is a shop inside an 1897 Victorian mansion with 14 rooms of varying themes and collections, and an outdoor yard filled with art.

Each room carries curated items to match a different theme, which makes the shopping twice the fun.

Their themed rooms run the Texas room, the Mancave, the Chime Porch, the Safari, the Game Room, the Bar Room, the Wild West and more. With collections coming in and out, the rooms are always changing, so every visit lands differently.

They also carry backyard items to decorate your patio or balcony, colorful wind spinners, garden stones, bird baths, fountains, statues and benches among them.

Some of the more unusual gift items they feature are the little hedgehog boot scraper, bags made from military canvas, and a jellyfish glass globe.

Local or traveler, the two-story Fortney House draws people into town, not only for its design but for the authentic and original home items only they carry.

It is a house tour and a shopping trip at the same time, and only in Nacogdoches.

Address: 310 N Mound St, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, United States

Front Porch Distillery

Stop in and grab a bottle or two in a place of strong drinks and conversation in an old-town setting.

Front Porch Distillery earns the visit around the Nacogdoches area for anyone after a variety of artisan craft spirits, rum, vodka, Whiskey and more.

This family-owned distillery is dedicated to producing high-quality and authentic products in the oldest town in Texas. It is a favorite weekend spot and local destination for more than the bottles, because the atmosphere and the people carry it.

Front Porch runs a tour around the distillery, starting from the tasting room, where the mixed drinks are made with their signature spirits.

Watch how their signature spirits are crafted and see the equipment used in the process. Save some extra money, because their wall of bottled liquors and trinkets will tempt you.

Close the tour with local music and food from the trucks on their porch, where the fun begins. And bring your drink and share it with a companion or the locals. A house cocktail or peppered vodka goes to-go if your friends at home should try them too.

A random detour to Front Porch could turn out to be the highlight of your weekend.

Address: 7905 US-59, Nacogdoches, TX 75964, United States

Millard’s Crossing Historic Village, Inc.

Stroll through historic homes and typical town structures in a reconstructed village on the north side of Nacogdoches, Texas.

Millard’s Crossing Historic Village is a non-profit historical site depicting the pioneer settlement and agricultural heritage of East Texas, alongside its 19th-century architecture.

The museum complex is named after the railroad track that once crossed the Millard family property, bordering the north side of the village.

Small and large groups are welcome for self-guided and guided tours of the past in this village, which runs simple log cabins through modern Victorian houses, and Texas Historical Landmark homes and buildings from 1800’s-early 1900, furnished with antique furniture and 19th-century decorative.

It even runs a General Store with actual gifts and items for sale, and churches with wedding and banquet facilities decorated in their particular era.

Learn how the settlers lived in the early days of Nacogdoches through fun and educational demonstrations, classes and hands-on activities open to all ages.

A simple visit to this historic village is a step back in time and a look into early East Texas history.

Address: 6020 North St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, United States

The Caddo Mounds site asks for an interpretive trail walk before the mounds. The azalea garden covers 11 acres of paved trails and over 6,500 azaleas. The SFA Mast Arboretum runs 10 acres and over 7,500 plant species inside it. Millard’s Crossing takes a self-guided walk through log cabins and Victorian houses. And Blueberry Place needs only 2 acres and a season running late May through June.

Nacogdoches Railroad Depot

Home to railroad artifacts and oral histories, the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot is a historical city landmark depicting the importance of transportation in the early development of Nacogdoches, Texas.

This transportation museum stands where the original wooden Depot stood before lightning struck it in 1883 and burned it to the ground.

Southern Pacific Railroad rebuilt it in 1911 to move goods, passengers and even soldiers from Nacogdoches to faraway places, before it was discontinued in 1954.

The Depot now holds the long history of the railroad and its passengers, and it is the only surviving passenger depot on the old Houston East and West Texas rail line. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

You are welcome for a tour, large group or school group, at the Railroad Depot down Tyler Road.

Watch the model train display and the other toy train exhibit in one of the stronger buildings in town. The grounds are well-kept and the views hold up on all sides.

On the lucky visits you catch their annual Christmas festivities, featuring a complex toy train set that suits kids and photographs, especially on a first visit.

Address: 101 Old Tyler Rd, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, United States

Naca Valley Vineyard

Visit the only winery with a vineyard in Nacogdoches for a fine wine in warm East Texas.

The family-owned Naca Valley, a short drive from downtown Nacogdoches, Texas, carries all you need to know about wines. Besides holding the only vineyard in town, they run a winemaking facility, a tasting room, a wine lab and storage, all inside their 2,000-square-foot facility.

Your winery experience runs past the tasting. The expansive viewing windows put the process of making local wines in front of you.

Their facility combines modern, vintage and rustic design with a touch of nature, thanks to the lush trees around it, which suits a relaxing view or an afternoon with friends on the deck.

Once a well-kept secret in Nacogdoches, the winery has gained popularity for its warm welcome, gracious hosts and exceptional service. On a hot day, a glass of wine-a-ritas is the order.

Take a break from the busy Nac area with grapes in a bottle and a delicious wood fire oven pizza from Andys Cookery & Catering. They also run food trucks with wider dining options, mostly BBQ.

Often enough you are serenaded by live music from local musicians in the extended outdoor seating under a starry night.

A pleasant hour or two in Naca Valley is time well spent, because it is a crown jewel in the East Texas area.

Address: 9897 FM 1878, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, United States

Oak Grove Cemetery

Oak Grove is one of the oldest cemeteries in Nacogdoches, Texas, with a first marked grave dated 1837.

It is the final resting place of many Texas nobles and legendary individuals from the Republic era, Spanish and Mexican Colonization, World War I and II, the Great Depression, and post-war civilizations.

Located northeast of the square on North Lanana Street, it holds the graves of four signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Thomas J. Rusk and the founders of Texas among them.

The oldest section lies north of the main gate. At the back portion of the cemetery sits a covered shelter with historical information plaques and burial directories for visitors.

Originally called the American Cemetery, Oak Grove was used as a heritage tourism site to commemorate its deep-rooted history in the City of Nacogdoches and Texas Independence.

See the tombstones and monuments of Texas dignitaries and historical figures of Texas, and the old church nearby.

For a more detailed itinerary, pass by the Visitor Center downtown Nac for more on what you can do in Oak Grove.

Or just wander through and take in the structures that have stood the test of time.

Address: 196 N. Lanana St., Nacogdoches, Texas, United States

Old Time String Shop & General Mercantile

Shop in a decade-old store in historic downtown Nacogdoches, Texas, where they value simplicity and the older ways of life.

The building of the General Mercantile & Oldtime String Shop was formerly a general store and the site of Stone’s Cafe, where Bonnie Parker from “Bonnie and Clyde” once worked.

Sometime after 1990, owners Steve and Sheryl started carrying a variety of old-time merchandise, acoustic musical instruments through accessories, houseware, clothing and more. The rest is history.

You know where to look for something simple and old, whether an old-style toy, an instrument, interesting books or old handmade straw brooms. It reads like going back in time.

They are easy to spot because nothing much has really changed physically. The original old wooden doors and floors, brick walls and high ceilings all stand where they did.

You can find almost everything local in this semi-general store, local honey, canned goods and soda water among them.

After over 40 years of repairing and building acoustic stringed instruments like guitars, violins and banjo, they will take yours in for tuning or repair. Simply say what needs doing and they will be happy to help.

On Saturday afternoons, do not miss the jam session of old-timey fiddle music in front of the store. Every small town needs a quaint store like Old Time String Shop & General Mercantile.

Address: 216 E Pilar St, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, United States

Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden

Nacogdoches is where you go, because this small town holds the largest azalea garden in all of Texas.

Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden features over 6,500 azaleas, which makes it the largest azalea garden in the state. Sitting in a half-century-old Loblolly Pine Forest, over 8,500 flowering plants, ornamental trees and shrubs surround Ruby M, varieties of Japanese Maple and camellias included.

Imagine the colors that glisten and fill your eyes when you step into this 11-acre garden.

Take a guided tour through Ruby south of the Johnson Coliseum of SFA on North University Drive for the fuller access and an informative stroll through the garden.

If this is your usual destination around the Nacogdoches area, it is worth driving around the garden on a fine afternoon when the sun comes through the flowers and trees. It also suits a picnic to share with family or a loved one.

Stroll, walk or bike along the paved trails, especially in spring when the azaleas bloom and the trails smell fantastic.

You may get lost in the beauty of the garden, and you will not get lost in the area, because it is easy to reach and easy to navigate.

They are also pet-friendly, so bring along your furry friends on a leash while you take in this local gem.

Address: 2404-2498 N University Dr, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, United States

SFA Mast Arboretum

Visit the first university arboretum in Nacogdoches, Texas, and take a diverse collection of native plants across a 10-acre lot.

The SFA Mast Arboretum is an oasis in the middle of Nacogdoches operating “sun up to sun down.”

It holds more than 7,500 plant species, various display gardens along Lanana creek trail at Stephen F. Austin State University included.

Started as a small garden project in 1985, SFA Mast had humble beginnings before it expanded into one of the more diverse collections of plants in the South. Its dedication to conservation, education and research earned it a reputation around Nac.

On your visit you will see modern art pieces and sculptures by local artists installed around the trails and in the art department of the university.

It suits a little walk, a jog, or an hour of sitting still in a shaded area on a peaceful afternoon.

Address: 1924 Wilson Dr, Nacogdoches, TX 75964, United States

Sterne Hoya House Museum and Library

This 1830 dogtrot house, built by a prominent revolutionary leader, Adolphus Sterne, is the oldest frame house in town.

The Sterne family lived in this house until 1869, before the von der Hoya family occupied it and later donated it to the City of Nacogdoches, Texas.

Sterne Hoya House Museum depicts the life of the Sterne family during the Texas Revolution and the occupancy of the Hoya family during the Victorian Period.

It also holds a Texas history library and one of the earliest wine cellars in the state.

At no cost, take a guided tour of the house museum and watch how its interior and architecture illustrate the life of two families in different historical periods. Antiques, original furnishings and family heirlooms sit in every corner of the house.

The Sterne Hoya House also tells a lot about the early days of Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas.

Address: 211 S Lanana St, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, United States

The Blueberry Place

To save the strongest for last, stop by Blueberry Place and pick different varieties of blueberries, though you will have to catch the season.

Pick the large, sweetest berries of three varieties, Tifblue, Climax and Bluebell, across the 2-acre piece of land at Blueberry Place.

The first batch usually ripens in late May and can be picked through June, so if you are visiting Nacogdoches for some berries, note that on your calendar.

Two later varieties can usually be picked around June until mid-Jul, although they do not run as large as the first batch.

The place is also pesticide-free, so you can eat straight from the bush.

To say the least, Blueberry Place is where Nac keeps its flower gardens, its abundant plant life and its sustainable ground, and where life is simple and free of the pressures of city life.

Address: 451 County Rd 2052, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, United States

Frequently asked questions about Nacogdoches, Texas

Which Nacogdoches museum is worth the hour?

The Sterne Hoya House Museum, and the tour will cost you nothing at all. This 1830 dogtrot house is the oldest frame house in the whole town, and it holds a Texas history library and one of the earliest wine cellars in the state. Millard’s Crossing Historic Village is the bigger one to take instead. That village runs log cabins through Victorian houses on the one single site. The Nacogdoches Railroad Depot handles the model trains instead of either.

Is Front Porch Distillery worth the stop?

Yes, and the tour is the whole reason. You start in the tasting room, watch the signature spirits being crafted, and see the equipment that does all of the work. The wall of bottled liquors and trinkets comes right after that. Local music and food trucks run on the porch at the end of it. Rum, vodka and whiskey all come out of that same building.

Which Nacogdoches vineyard is worth an afternoon?

Naca Valley Vineyard, and it is the only one. The winery sits a short drive from downtown and runs a winemaking facility, a tasting room, a wine lab and storage inside 2,000 square feet. The viewing windows are the whole point of going there. Wood fire oven pizza and food trucks handle all of the eating. And live music turns up on the outdoor seating on most nights.

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