I think it is safe to say that College Station may not be known as the most exciting place to live outside of the Texas A&M campus. A lot of people actually end up going out of town to go do something fun, even for a day trip. But, over the years that I’ve lived here as a student, I’ve discovered a lot of places and activities that really are unique to this area and are so worth doing while here! Here are 5 of those things that I think are musts if you live in the B/CS area for any amount of time:

Baseball Games

Pretty much everyone has been to an Aggie football game, and those are great experiences, don’t get me wrong, but I have had some of the most fun of my life at Aggie baseball games. The crowd has a culture that is entirely it’s own and yet still so full of traditions. From the constantly passing trains right next to Olsen Field, to the bubble machines, to heckling the pitchers on the opposing teams, it is an experience you will never forget.

George Bush Library and Museum

This place is something that I think every student at A&M knows well. However, most people don’t actually take the time to go and visit the Presidential Library and Museum that we have right in our backyard. Thanks to one of my history buff friends, I visited the museum during my very first weekend at Texas A&M, and it was such a cool experience. It gave me a lot of perspective on who George H. W. Bush was and what he accomplished in his life and presidency, as well as why he chose Texas A&M to be the spot for his presidential library and the final resting place for him and his wife.

Antique Shopping in Downtown Bryan

A lot of people appreciate downtown Bryan on first Friday, but I highly advise going downtown on a Saturday morning, getting some great coffee at one of the many coffee shops in the area, and browsing all of the antique shops. There are so many shops to choose from, and they all have different and unique styles. Even if I don’t buy anything, I just love being taken back in time and appreciating all of the old memorabilia. (It’s also a great way to shop for vinyl records pretty cheaply if you’re a collector.)

Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo

The Houston rodeo is definitely the biggest and most famous in Texas, but if you’re looking for a unique experience where you can save a lot of money on tickets but still enjoy a great quality show, the Brazos Valley Rodeo is definitely worth it. The fairgrounds are so fun, you can actually get close to the action of the rodeo, and you can enjoy a concert by one of the many bands that perform after the rodeo each night. It’s all of the fun of the Houston rodeo at a much lower cost!

Research Park

There are a lot of parks in College Station, but Research Park has recently become my favorite. The park is on the edge of the A&M Campus, and it is one of the most peaceful places I’ve been in College Station. I enjoy setting up my hammock in the trees and reading a good book, but there is also a jogging path as well as a serene pond that are great places to spend time. (And there is free parking right next to it.)

There are honestly a lot of unique and fun things to do in College Station that would really surprise most people. These are just a few of the things that I’ve found over the years, but I encourage any Aggie to take some time to explore the area and find some of the unique experiences that Bryan and College Station have to offer! 

The Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for things to do in the area.

Visit the Experience BCS website