Autumn Trails Old Car parade (photo by Tiffany Tillema)
We often get the Question, "What is there to do in Winnsboro?" The answer is that there is much to do, depending on your likes and trip itinerary. We will separate things to do by groups, and we may repeat some things as many of The Winnsboro attractions appeal to all types of trips and people.
The Girls Trip
Breakfast
Girls Gotta start the day with a great cup of coffee and a good breakfast! There are several choices for great coffee in our town.
Sinclair market has great coffee and a few choices for a light breakfast, such as scones and bagels, or if you want something more substantial, they can cook you a delicious burrito made from either Bacon or chorizo. While you are waiting, be sure to shop, and lots of unusual items will catch your fancy.
Down the road a bit, you will find a newer cafe. Havens cafe is a nice sit-down restaurant (you can also order to go) with excellent staff and a full breakfast menu. My personal favorite is the Chicken fried steak breakfast. There is also coffee here, and they are not open on Wednesdays.
On Market Street, you will find a cute little Coffee shop called Backstage Coffee Lounge, which is a nice quiet place in the mornings but sometimes has live music in the evenings.
There is also a new bakery in town called the Promised land bakery, with a full lineup of sweets, including muffins and scones. She also has delicious pies by the slice or whole pie.
Daytime fun
You cannot have a girls' day out without some pampering! A Spa day will be perfect! At Copperleaf Spa and Salon, you will find everything you can in the city spa but in a laid-back country atmosphere. They have individual spa treatments and services such as hair and nails or packages where you can get several treatments. You can spend an hour or all day. They also do medical spa treatments such as microdermabrasion and have a doctor on staff. Go to their website, see what they have, and book your entire group for a beauty treatment they will never forget!
Now it's time to go shopping.
Browse through the antique malls such as Beuweevils or finders keepers on Main street, or there are four Boutiques in Winnsboro as well. On Main Street are Ani Oakley and Betsy's Boutique; both have modern clothing at great prices. Also on Main is Clara Ida Frances, who has Bath and body products, home decor, clothing, and high-end consignment items. On Market Street, we have the pedestrian walkway where there are benches to stop and rest before you head into The Bowery Boutique again. For a small town, we find high-end items and name-brand products. They also sell Merle Norman cosmetics and beauty items. And for those who want to dress with a Western flair, we can head on to Winnsboro Boot Company because who doesn't want to dress like Beth Dutton? This little Western store is on 515 and has a fantastic selection of western Jewelry, clothing, and of course, boots.
August and September are the prime time for the Muscadine Grapes to ripen. This means you can have a great time picking grapes at one of the many Vineyards we have in and near Winnsboro. You can head to Los Pinos Ranch any time of the year and have a good old-fashioned wine tasting! If you want something a little harder, you can Hit the Taco Dive, which has a fully stocked bar and every girl's favorite, TACOS!
There is plenty of fun to keep the girls busy in Winnsboro, so if you are craving a Mother-Daughter day or are planning a Bachelorette party, make sure that Winnsboro is on your itinerary.
Friends And Family
Staying at Oaklea Mansion for a Family Vacation, or maybe you have friends visiting for a special occasion? Winnsboro is an Excellent place to bring friends and Family for good clean fun! Winnsboro Has six parks; the City park has new playground Equipment, and in the summer, they have a public pool which is very nice and clean. The pool also has waterslides and a diving board. The City park has also opened a new disc golf course. You can bring your own discs or rent them from the City Hall.
On 515, across from the City Park, you will find Creekside Mini Golf. Creekside has an entire mini-golf course with a Western theme. It is charming and fun for the whole family! The entire course is neatly tucked in the woods, so it's shaded during the summer.
We hear through the grapevine that Winnsboro is getting a roller hockey rink. They will have hockey lessons and skating according to age. Once this gets going, it will be another fun activity for the entire family.
Winnsboro Center for the Arts is also a fantastic place to visit while you are here. Throughout the year, they offer lessons for all ages and abilities. They include painting classes, dancing, drawing, writing, singing, and more. In the summer, they have art camps for the kids, which have become very popular. For adults, they have lovely concerts and plays, and there is usually an exhibition of art from the locals. Here is a link to the documentary about the art center.
https://youtu.be/xZPvvd7h0jw
Another Family Favorite is our Beautiful Lakes. We have lake Winnsboro with a small beach for swimming and a covered crappie fishing dock. Bait, food, and drinks are readily available nearby. We also have Lake Fork, a world Famous for Bass fishing. There are several Fishing guides for a family fishing day. Then there is Lakes Cypress Springs and Bob Sandlin. Cypress springs also have a lovely beach and tennis courts, and lake Bob Sandlin is adjacent to a State park where you can fish without a license as long as you are in the Park.
Lovers and Honeymooners
Are you staying at Oaklea for your honeymoon or anniversary? One of the romantic things to do while you are here is to stroll down Main Street and the Bowery. Winnsboro is the Quintessential Small town. It's quiet and has the small-town feel everyone is looking for. Main Street has Beautiful Historical buildings and architecture, and the Bowery area on Market Street has been turned into a pedestrian walkway with benches and planter boxes. The street lights even have a historical feel to them.
If you are looking for a romantic place to eat in the evening, there is The Elusive Turkey. The brick oven Pizza there is a must-try! It's cooked right in the brick oven just behind the bar. They often have live music in the evening. For a more Exotic feel, there is Liefi Li Vine, a South African Restaurant that is Amazing! The Owners are South African imports and have exceptional hospitality, often coming out to personally greet customers! The food will have names and, admittedly, some ingredients that may seem strange, but no worries, it will be delicious. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. They have indoor and year-round outdoor seating. They are open Thursday through Saturday only, and reservations are highly recommended during the evening. One of the perks here is a glass of complimentary wine, perfect for your romantic night out. Also Highly recommended is Taco Dive, which is less quiet but still fun for the couple looking for a nice place to eat. Taco Dive has specialty Tacos and Nachos and is a full-service sports bar. They also have live music.
If you are in the mood for dancing, you want to head a town over and Visit the Neon Moon in Yantis. They are a steakhouse near Lake Fork, but in the evening, they have live music and a dance floor. They also have pool tables you can rent by the hour. They are also a full-service bar, and they often produce outstanding concerts.
For Everyone
Here are some of the things to do that everyone can enjoy!
Winnsboro Farmers Market is open Every Saturday From April to October. They have Farm fresh Veggies and meats, dairy products, and homemade items such as soaps and candles.
From June through August, there are several berry farms where you can pick your own berries, including Strawberries and Blueberries. Many of these farms Have fall pumpkin patches and corn mazes as well. There is also a Christmas tree farm or two to visit in the winter. We have several vineyards in the area that have a harvest season in August and September and wine tasting all year. Some, like Los Pinos Ranch, have wedding venues and restaurants. Reservations are highly recommended during peak season.
Every weekend in October is the Autumn Trails Festival with fun activities. The trail ride weekend is when people from across the country come to ride the trails on horseback and in wagons. They camp at the city park and stay the entire weekend. There is always a trail rider parade that Friday and a barn Dance, and 42 tournaments that weekend. There is also an antique car weekend (lovingly called by the locals "old car" weekend). Where cars from every era come in to ride in the parade and hopefully win a prize. The cars also have a trail ride of sorts, so it's not unusual to see a long line of Model A's driving down the roads.
There are arts and crafts, trade days, a chili cookoff, and pet shows throughout October.
If you want to venture out and see some wildlife, Tiger Creek Wildlife refuge and Caldwell zoo are just a few miles South in Tyler.
See, There is always something fun to do during your stay in Winnsboro, and as always, you can always stay in and have breakfast in bed at Oaklea Mansion!
Comments