Trip to my hometown

In this blog I’ll share tips on how to road trip with littles, and fun places to try if you find yourself in Pleasanton, Texas.

I grew up in a small Texas town, like really small. It was honestly amazing as a kid because life was slow and easy going. We went to visit because my mom is retiring! The school was hosting a little gathering to celebrate her 20 years serving the students and teachers.

Tips for traveling with little ones

• Plan the largest portion of your drive around nap time.
• Identify parks you can stop at along the way.
• Pack lots of snacks.
• Bring age appropriate books for your kids to read before having screen time, if you do screens.

We left for our road trip before my one year old’s big nap of the day. My children both despised their carseats for the first year of life so traveling during nap time is a must for us. We stopped at the sweetest park in Lulling, Texas called Longer Park. If you are a Texan, you know Lulling is where one of the largest Buc-ee’s is located. You can hit two birds with one stone stopping here. Stop at buc-ee’s to use the restroom, fill up your car, and be sure to grab some roasted pecans. Most people suggest stopping every two hours when traveling with littles. We stopped for about an hour which made the second portion of our drive very easy.

Places to visit while in Pleasanton, Texas

• Pleasant Perk Coffee House
• Sely’s Mexican Restaurant
• Granzin’s Meat Market
• Bill Miller’s BBQ

Not going to lie having a coffee shop in my hometown feels kind of bougie (is that the word hip people say?). Growing up, there was not such thing as a coffee shop so the Pleasant Perk was one of the first places I visited. They have a wide variety of drinks for coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers. Also, they offer a wide variety of snacks including soup, sandwiches, and pastries. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and a cranberry scone, it was unreal. UNREAL. I ordered my three year old a kids lemonade and a PB&J.

I hope I do not personally offend anyone by saying this, but nobody makes Mexican food like the women in my hometown. I was in Tex-Mex dreamland. A large portion of my diet consisted of bean and cheese tacos as a kid, so this was very nostalgic part of our trip. Sely’s in Pleasanton is the place to go if you want to taste the best Tex-Mex!

Granzin’s Meat Market is a great place to stop if you are wanting something on the healthier side. When you walk in, go to the back left and ask for a sub sandwich. Since it is a meat market, they make a great sub with fresh meat, cheese, and a wide variety of fresh veggies.

Bill Millers BBQ is a south Texas food chain. I’m convinced they would make the best chicken and waffles because their chicken tenders are so tasty . The breading is light, and still crunchy. When I was a kid I joked that it would taste good dipped in chocolate. Sounds gross now, but I think you get the point. The number 4 is a great option if you want to try the fried chicken with gravy and steak fries. If you want something healthier, they have an amazing salad with smoked chicken and ranch.

In closing….

It’s a lot of fun taking your kids back to the space you grew up. I always dreamed about what it would be like to show my future husband all the cool places I loved as a kid. Now I get to show my babies which is such a sweet treat.

If you ever visit Pleasanton, be sure to let me know if you try any of these locations. They are my favorites.

-Sydnie