Temple sits in Bell County, between two lakes. Belton Lake has Cedar Ridge Park and Live Oak Ridge Park on it, both with camping and boat ramps. Stillhouse Hollow Lake is south. Downtown holds the rest. O’Briens Irish Pub sits in a hundred-year-old building and has over 40 taps. Fire Base Brewing was founded by veterans in 2020. Miller Springs Nature Center preserves 260 acres and costs nothing to enter.
Temple, Texas photographs well, by day and by night, and the art and culture scenes are part of why.
You can call Temple many things, but not bland. The outdoors here comes from the weather and the lakes of Central Texas. For a relaxing trip involving boats or fishing rods, Temple is the answer.
Downtown Temple carries the art, entertainment, shopping and nightlife side of this growing city.
It also carries the shopping: local antiques, town knickknacks, and a broad range of boutique and vintage items.
The city’s arts and entertainment scene reflects Bell County and the people making work in it. To see Temple properly, you work through every corner of it.
This list of things to do and places to visit in Temple, Texas is an attempt to keep up with a town that keeps moving.
Grab a Temple ticket and work through the list.
3 Texans Winery
The “3 Texans” story started with a mother and two daughters from Temple who shared a serious interest in wine.
The female and family-owned winery and vineyard have been operating off Highway 36 Temple, Texas since 2009. They started with an original planting of 4,000 grapevines and added rows over the years.
Today you can visit the store, which has a patio overlooking the expanding vineyard. Try their newer labels, the Blush and the Texas High Plains Semi Sweet Viognier, along with their Cabernet Sauvignon.
Before buying a bottle, take the wine tasting the Texan way in their Tasting Room close to the vineyard. Or walk the vineyard with a glass in hand as the sun goes down.
Stay for the other flavors and specials, the locally-made Sangria, the wine bellinis and the apple cider. As a place to meet friends, the 3 Texans Vineyard is a welcoming one, with music and things going on.
The 3 Texans host events through the year. Past ones include a Valentine’s Day special and the First Anniversary of the Grand Opening of their Tasting Room. You may catch one during a visit.
Plan the visit and book the flight. This local winery in Temple repays the trip.
Address: 7536 FM2409, Temple, TX 76504, United States
BitBar Temple
An arcade bar sounds like a way to kill an hour. BitBar is more than that.
This local arcade, with an on-site bar in Temple, Texas, works on nostalgia. The games are from the 80s and 90s and they bring the memories back.
BitBar is a retro arcade bar specializing in ’70s to ’90s games and memorabilia. It is a place to meet friends and play games, and it is also somewhere quiet to sit after a long day in Temple.
BitBar is owned by three good friends who “get to enjoy the games” as much as you did. About 90% of the games are from their personal collections they get to share with the community. For just $5, you can play free unlimited games ranging from board games to family games like Corn Hole Toss and Giant Jenga.
The vintage games are the draw: Mortal Combat, Donkey Kong and Super Mario among them.
BitBar Temple also takes private events for any occasion, separate from the public ones they run annually. Past events include Summer Family Hours, Bell County Comic Con and an Exclusive Comic Book Signing.
Bring company for a night of retro arcade games and cold drinks. Whatever your age, BitBar Temple has a place for you.
Address: 2501 Airport Rd, Ste B, Temple, TX 76504, United States
Cedar Ridge Park
Bell County is home to Belton Lake, with easy access points in Temple, Texas.
Cedar Ridge Park is one of the strongest campgrounds along the lake and it works for outdoor time in Central Texas. It covers fishing and boating, with over 75 sites for camping. The park takes both tents and RVs year-round, for families or groups from Temple.
The park also has screened shelters overlooking the lake for anyone without camping equipment. All sites have water and electricity, a picnic table, grills, and well-maintained restrooms with hot showers.
There is a two-lane boat ramp and a fishing dock for casual boating, fishing or canoeing. The water activities at Cedar Ridge run as long as you want them to.
The partially-forested area carries a swim beach, a picnic shelter, a playground, hiking trails and a basketball court.
The lakeside park is a popular weekend destination in Temple for locals and visitors alike. People come for the view over the lake, the space to sit, and the wildflowers and deer.
On natural outdoor attractions, Central Texas carries plenty, and Cedar Ridge is one of them.
Address: Cedar Ridge Park Rd., Temple, TX 76502, United States
Fire Base Brewing Co.
Visit the first local brewery in Temple, Texas, dedicated to honoring the beloved Veterans “who have been there and those who have sacrificed.”
The Fire Base Brewing Company was established in 2020, bringing a broad selection of homemade craft beer to Bell County. The story behind it runs longer than that.
After 20+ years of serving the country, the “Veteran Owned and Brewed” business gives back to the veterans and the local community of Temple. Alongside providing a safe environment for families, they support the veteran community with mentorship and education about brewing.
The welcome extends beyond veterans to residents and visitors alike. If you are around downtown Temple, stop by their veteran-themed Taproom and work through a few of the selections.
Firebase makes sure everyone is looked after. Their Pilsner and Pale Wheat Ales suit a warm afternoon. In the evening, there is Open Mic and Trivia Nights weekly, with live music and occasional food trucks.
Start a conversation and make some friends among the locals, the patrons and the brewmasters.
Slainte!
Address: 8 S 1st St, Temple, TX 76501, United States
Lion’s Park
Summer looks good from Temple’s local parks, and there are a fair number of them in the city.
Lion’s Park is one of the parks in Temple, Texas with unusual playgrounds and artistic hiking trails. It suits families traveling with children.
The park spans over 100 acres, with picnic tables, BBQ grills, a sports field and disc golf on it. It also holds a 2-mile hiking trail with hilltop views and recreational facilities.
The nature trail, surrounded by art and heavy vegetation, is accessible to all ages for walking and looking. The park seems designed for exactly that. Bring the dog down the trail and walk along the floodplain of Bird Creek.
Further up the hill you find a cedar grove, a fish pond and pavilions looking out over the neighboring town.
The trail suits dog walkers and anyone who exercises outdoors. It also suits Temple residents, who voted walking a high priority in a local survey. Town events like Easter egg hunts, triathlons and Walks for the Cure are held in Lion’s Park too.
For a break from the city and a long view over green ground, a quick drive to Lion’s Park does it.
Address: 4320 Lions Park Road, Temple, TX 76502, United States
Live Oak Ridge Park
Live Oak Ridge Park is the other family campground along Belton Lake, accessible from Temple, Texas.
Like Cedar Ridge, this park takes both tent and RV camping all year. It works as a day trip or a weekend overnight, a short drive from downtown.
As the name says, oak trees surround the park, and the section further from the lake is more heavily shaded. It sits close to the highway, and there is little to no traffic noise in this partly secluded spot.
The park is straightforward to reach, a short drive from stores or restaurants.
For country camping, Live Oak has the right feel. It is a respectable park and the campers are generally quiet. The amenities cover some of the best fishing, camping and boating in Central Texas.
Find a picnic spot and roast some smores by the fire pits. Take the hiking trails for the lake views. Or swim from the lake access points.
Whatever you do, camping still works on the ground of Central Texas.
Address: Live Oak Ridge Park Dr, Belton, TX 76513, United States
Miller Springs Nature Center
The trails do not run out in Central Texas, a region of state parks, lakes and outdoor recreation.
The region is known for its nature trails and it draws people out of the cities for exactly that. Living somewhere busy, this is where you go.
Accessible from Temple, Texas, the Miller Springs Nature Center carries a real history tied to the Belton Dam and the lake expansion. It covers a 260-acre natural area, preserved and open for a self-guided tour at no charge.
Planning a visit takes almost no effort, because the options here are simple.
There are over 10 miles of trails to hike or bike and 25-acre wetlands for bird watching. The picnic areas take small or large groups, and the surrounding lakes hold the fishing.
Miller Springs works for nature people and for anyone who wants to move. Take a kayak or canoe down the lake, or sit on a wooden bench and watch.
Driving back downtown with the sun going down is a decent end to a day outdoors.
Address: 1473 Farm-To-Market Rd 2271, Belton, TX 76513, United States
O’Briens Irish Pub
O’Briens is the authentic Irish pub in Central Texas. This local pub in downtown Temple carries live music, decent food and a long drinks list.
Set in a building over a hundred years old, O’Briens Irish Pub is an intimate room. The brick walls and the original hardwood flooring do most of the work.
Looking at old pictures, the place has clearly been through a lot. It is still the same building, with more in it than there used to be.
For games, the upstairs bar has a pool table and electronic dart boards, and the downstairs has a traditional dart board. Get a drink first.
With over 40 taps and dozens of bottled beers, you will not run out of options. It is the kind of place where one drink turns into three.
Try the cocktails to make use of their full line of spirits, or take a Scotch, an Irish whiskey or a vodka instead.
Stay for the bands, or talk to the locals. In O’Briens there are no strangers, only people you have not met yet.
Address: 11 E Central Ave, Temple, TX 76501, United States
Temple is a city in Central Texas. The lakes are what people come for. Belton Lake is northwest, with Cedar Ridge Park and Live Oak Ridge Park on its shore. Stillhouse Hollow Lake is southwest. Miller Springs Nature Center sits between them. Downtown holds O’Briens, Fire Base Brewing, Treno Pizzeria, Parlour Antiques and The Hub, all within a walk. Lion’s Park is west.
Parlour Antiques & Oddities
Bring home something odd from a trip to Temple, Texas.
Parlour Antiques & Oddities is where you find something unusual to remember the trip by. Established in 2019, the antique parlor is a small veteran-owned business in the heart of Temple’s downtown district.
Antiquing holding on through the growth of large cities says something. Old things carry weight because they carry a story about time and the people who owned them.
The vintage, one-of-a-kind items at Parlour Antiques & Oddities will build a fondness for odd things. The collections run from unusual home decor to wall art and taxidermy pieces called the “Pretty Little Dead Things.”
The shop works on the idea that curiosity is worth something. If you come across it while in Temple, make the detour and look around for the rare things.
Get some gift ideas, or start collecting antiques here.
Address: 111 north main street cs-1, Temple, TX 76501, United States
Pepper Creek Hike and Bike Trail
The western outskirts of Temple, Texas hold one of the city’s more scenic paved trails.
A solid 1 hour and 20 minutes is the average time to complete the trail. The route is generally easy, and the highlights are what bring people to Pepper Creek.
The walk begins at State Highway 36 through the south, just over a mile into the woods. The concrete pathway, the water features and the pedestrian bridge are the scenic points along it.
There are several access points to start from, and Pepper Creek’s hike and bike trail in Central Texas holds up from any of them.
Open and accessible all year, Pepper Creek takes a visit any time. It is not usually crowded, and most people go before sundown for the view along the open trail.
The trail is also pet-friendly, with dog waste bag stations along it. There are picnic tables and benches too.
The walk is relatively short, so it works as a regular thing rather than an outing. Go before dark, because there is no proper lighting out there at night.
The Pepper Creek trail is well-maintained for an open public attraction. The trees around it are groomed and the trail itself is wide. With the right weather and season, it is the finest scene in West Temple.
Address: 1206 W. Campus Drive, Temple, TX 76502, United States
Spare Time Texas
For “Big and Bold” family time, there is a local entertainment center in Temple, Texas.
The city’s bowling alley runs entertainment for every age and group.
Spare Time Texas is where you go to eat, sit down and play games. Alongside the modern bowling lanes, the facility runs laser tag, go karts, a ropes course, axe throwing and a game room.
They also take on special days. Visiting Temple on a birthday or hosting a family reunion, Spare Time has something prepared for most occasions.
For regular visitors, the Daily Specials run every week and are worth checking.
Check the restaurant and bar area too, for the kitchen-made gourmet sandwich and the Texas craft cocktails. There is more on the menu to eat while you bowl.
Living in Temple or visiting it, Spare Time runs events through the year. Their Trivia Nights and Live Music are the ones to catch.
Address: 1724 Farm to Market 685, Pflugerville, TX 78660, United States
Stillhouse Hollow Lake
Stillhouse Hollow Lake sits entirely within Bell County, and Temple, Texas is one of the closest towns to it.
Like most lakes in Bell County, Stillhouse Hollow carries the camping, fishing and boating in Central Texas.
Formally known as the Lampasas, Stillhouse Hollow covers a broad range of recreation. The lake is rich in fish species and the shorelines are accessible for anglers. The fishing runs from strictly catch-and-release to catch for eating.
The water sports suit most types, thanks to the depth of the open water.
Scuba diving, snorkeling, wildlife viewing, or the marina, parks and boat ramps, all of it is available.
Beyond boats, smaller watercraft like canoes or kayaks launch easily in the clear water. Its location on the Lampasas River also gives you swimming beaches through the parks.
For somewhere to stay, you are unlikely to find rental vacation homes around the lake property. Several communities within a short drive offer similar amenities.
Or go primitive and use the lake’s campgrounds, which take both tent and RV camping.
The outdoor activities do not run out, with hiking and biking trails and horseback riding on top of the water.
For food, the Stillhouse Hollow marina serves the finest burgers and American food close to the lake.
Address: 3740 FM 1670, Belton, Texas 76513, United States
That Art Place
Every day is an art party at That Art Place, a fused glass and paint-your-own-pottery hub in Central Texas.
You do not need art experience to make something in this walk-in studio along Belton. That Art Place works on rekindling art in the community and teaching children two kiln-fired art forms.
They run workshops for children and adults in both mediums, including clay hand-building.
For more thorough instruction on different art forms and techniques, That Art Place also runs semester-long classes. They aim to make art straightforward through a well-organized studio, trained staff and simple steps.
The small, family-owned business also hosts parties and special events. The themes run from Under the Sea to Garden Friends and Farm Yard. The private party room works for any age and occasion.
Their selection of pottery to paint makes a strong gift or a memento of a trip to Central Texas.
Do not leave the city without taking home an art piece and an afternoon at That Art Place.
Address: 108 Lake Rd, Belton, TX 76513, United States
Temple Civic Theatre
For anyone who follows theatre, Temple holds its own on art and entertainment in Central Texas.
Temple Civic Theatre, a non-profit organization, runs high-caliber theatre and regional talent in Temple, Texas. With over 200 seats, the room is intimate and the stage productions cover life and cultural experience.
The cast is small and the sense of community in Temple shows in its volunteers and donors.
Many of the props at Temple Civic are donated or loaned by local citizens.
See a production during your visit. Inside the theater, take any seat from the ground floor to the stage-level ones. The sightlines hold up from every angle, including the tiered corners.
They sometimes run a small art corner in the lobby, with wall posters from past plays.
Commit a little and get involved in a production. Temple Civic takes volunteers across front of house, technical crew, actors, musicians and choreographers.
The community theatre gives locals as much opportunity as it can, and takes talent from across the region.
Address: 2413 S 13th St, Temple, TX 76504, United States
The Hub
For the broadest shopping in Temple, Texas, head to The Hub.
Swing by this side of town for a broad range of merchandise across over 50 different vendors. The vintage items are the reason to go, all under one roof. The products run from home decor and accessories to clothing and gifts.
The Hub houses Sweet Eileen, the local vintage cafe and ice cream shop. For a break from browsing, that is where the refreshments are.
There is also a photography studio alongside the artisan shops showing the work of Texas artists.
On the upper level, a multi-use event space called The Loft can be rented for different occasions.
The Hub covers most tastes, tucked into historic downtown Temple. You only have to look.
Address: S 2nd St, Temple, TX 76501, United States
Treno Pizzeria and Taproom
Visit the local pizza restaurant in Temple, Texas, with an on-site taproom, before you leave.
Treno is a top-choice restaurant in downtown Temple. The artisan pies, the salads and the local and domestic beers bring locals and visitors back regularly.
Alongside the signature pizzas and the beers, they run an outdoor playground for children. The place is family-friendly and it works for meeting friends.
They serve woodfire pizzas straight from the kitchen. Alongside the main course are the beverages, appetizers and desserts.
Between the pizzeria and the taproom, you get both halves of the evening.
Address: 112 S 1st St, Temple, TX 76501, United States
Frequently asked questions about Temple, Texas
How long is the Pepper Creek Hike and Bike Trail?
About 1 hour and 20 minutes, on a paved and generally easy route that starts at State Highway 36. It runs a little over a mile into the woods, past water features and a pedestrian bridge. Go before dark.
Which lake park should you camp at near Temple, Texas?
Cedar Ridge Park for the facilities: over 75 sites, a two-lane boat ramp, a swim beach and screened shelters. Live Oak Ridge Park is quieter and more shaded. Both take tents and RVs.
What can you do at Miller Springs Nature Center?
Over 10 miles of trails to hike or bike, and 25 acres of wetland for the birds. The preserve runs 260 acres. It costs nothing. Kayak or canoe the lake instead.
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