The town of Salado in Bell County, Texas, is at the state’s geographic center, a tranquil haven known for its free-thinking residents and welcoming atmosphere.
Salado has become a popular destination for hundreds of years, drawing in everyone from travelers to legendary personalities.
Experience the best things to do in Salado, Texas!
JDMatt / Shutterstock.com
Pace Park, located next to Salado Creek, is a lovely place to take a stroll because of its grassy sections, shaded playground, and scenic creekside location.
It is a charming little spot to cool your feet in the stream, with fresh spring water and cobblestone.
The park has picnic tables, historic sites, a grassy field, and restrooms.
Their large pavilion is perfect for hosting large gatherings, including weddings, reunions, birthday parties, and other celebrations.
Ceiling fans help keep guests comfortable in the grand pavilion, even on the hottest days.
In addition, the park has a play area for the little ones at the hill’s peak.
You’ll enjoy the short walk to the nearby bridge and the stairs down the street below.
Located along Pace Park Road, it is also the site of many of Salando’s festive events, with a large crowd and plenty of food.
There are places to park and trash cans.
You can bring dogs but make sure you clean up after them.
The ruins of Salado College are on the grounds of the Salado Museum and College Park, Inc., which opened to the public in 1959.
It is housed in a gorgeous stone structure from the turn of the century.
It is a repository for artifacts, books, and documents documenting the history and culture of the Salado region.
Throughout the year, it also features a variety of informative events and displays.
You can visit the grounds and remains of the famous Salado College in College Park, just to the south of the museum.
In 1860, a group of forward-thinking pioneers founded Salado College, and their story unfolds via plaques placed throughout the park.
It’s a lot of fun to take a stroll through the park.
Bluebonnets bloom amidst the decaying remains of the university’s structures.
Occasionally, you may see a deer as you wander around the beautifully maintained gardens.
The Salado Museum and College Park is a great spot to take a break and learn local history, as one of South Main Street’s most popular attractions.
Just a short drive from downtown Salado lies the local Axis Winery.
The William Reed House is home to Axis Winery, constructed in 1850 from burr oak planks carefully hewn by hand.
In 2008, they brought the original home to Salado and rebuilt it, then converted it into a winery.
There is a wine club, tasting room, and events area.
If you sign up for the Axis Wine Club, you’ll get a set of three different types of wine every three months.
Sparkling Almond, Salado Red, Sunset Sangria, and Country Girl Wines are just some choices.
You should try every single one of their wines because they are superb.
The winery is stunning, but what stands out are the excellent service and friendly staff.
Live music and limited-time menus are available on the weekends.
A live band performs some relaxing country music to set a cozy mood.
It’s a great place to celebrate milestone anniversaries or throw a memorable birthday bash.
The Axis Winery, located on Salado’s historic Main Street, is a true gem.
The Boles-Aiken Log Cabin at N. Main Street, Salado, is a must-see for history buffs and those interested in learning more about pioneer life.
After being hidden for over a century, the cabin’s location was finally discovered in 1986.
They found the building inside a modern home on Center Circle in Salado, slated for demolition.
Some say the cabin served as a stage stop, post office, rest stop for riders and horses, or even a small school.
They took apart and preserved the Boles-Aiken Log Cabin for four years before the Salado Historical Society reassembled and repaired it in 1990.
The wood, rock foundation, chimney, and fireplace from the original cabin were all reused in the new one.
In addition, items from the 1840s to the late 1950s were discovered during the excavation of the surrounding area.
Benjamin Boles and Hermon Aiken were the cabin’s first two owners.
Mill Creek Golf Club is a 9-hole resort course established in 1981 in Salado, Texas.
This 9-hole course was created by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Jr., enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels.
The course also offers a beautiful view of the Salado United Methodist Church.
The course is still in playable condition, even during winter.
The courses wind through the tall trees and luscious vegetation that line Salado Creek.
It is one of the best golfing experiences in Texas, thanks to the facility’s laid-back vibe, challenging courses, and the area’s calming beauty.
Whether you’re coming with a friend or bringing your family, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy a round of golf.
Come for a short visit at Mill Creek Golf Club, located along Club Cir, Salado.
Visit the West Salado Cemetery to learn more about Salado’s history.
Established in the 1870s, the cemetery sits not far from where recently freed slaves had settled after moving to Salado at the end of the Civil War.
According to official records, Jozie Fulbright was the first person interred in 1877.
However, many locals assume that more unmarked graves had been dug earlier in the region.
In 1879, Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson formally deeded the land to be used as a church, school, and cemetery.
The other structure has been torn down, leaving just the cemetery as a symbol of the town’s early black history.
In 1990, the cemetery received official recognition as a Texas State Historic Cemetery.
Anyone interested in the historic West Salado Cemetery can find it on West Village Road in Salado.
Visitors can stroll along a path at the Salado Sculpture Garden while appreciating the sculptures and artwork.
Artists from Salado and the surrounding areas contributed to this collection of stunning and one-of-a-kind sculptures.
You are welcome to take as many photographs as possible while touching and posing with the sculptures.
Many of the sculptures have unique textures and shapes made of metal.
Once in a while, they switch out the installations for new ones, giving other artists a chance to show off their unique artwork.
The name of the sculpture and artists are inscribed on tiny plaques near the statues.
Since the sculptures are installed so low, even the youngest visitors can reach out and touch them.
You can buy some of the sculptures if you are interested.
Please be aware that there is no off-street parking available.
Come for a quick visit to the Salado Sculpture Garden at Salado Plaza Drive.
Don’t miss out on the Tablerock Festival of Salado if you’re looking for a unique experience during your time there.
Salado and Bell County residents established the Tablerock Festival of Salado in 1979.
The Goodnight family provided thirteen acres of land to construct the amphitheater, which seats 450 people.
The Salado Tablerock Festival comes from a massive sandstone slab that sits next to Salado Creek.
The Salado Amphitheater is a popular gathering spot and stage for creative open-air plays and concerts.
Salado Tablerock Festival is an avid patron of Central Texas’s artistic community.
It hosts festivals and events such as “Salado Legends,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Shakespeare on the Rock.”
Attending concerts put on by local artists is an undeniably enjoyable experience.
Join the festivities at Royal St, Salado, Texas.
Salado Glasswork in Peddler’s Alley, Salado, Texas, lets you create one-of-a-kind creations from blown glass.
Salado Glassworks is a gallery and functioning glassblowing workshop dedicated to producing one-of-a-kind pieces of exquisite art glass.
Gail Allard’s art gallery features everything from one-of-a-kind sculptures to exquisitely crafted vases.
They also host weekend glassblowing programs for people of all ages and sell hand-made glassware such as stemware, mugs, tumblers, and bowls.
Join their glassblowing workshop and learn how to make a one-of-a-kind pumpkin out of blown glass!
Participate in their “blow your own bowl” class.
The instructors are accommodating and patient.
There is also a viewing area outside the studio where those who are less adventurous can observe the glassblowing process at a safe distance.
Do you wish to learn the secrets of creating beautiful pottery?
Then you must visit the Ro Shaw Clay Studio and Gallery.
You can find some of the finest pottery in the region in this attractive and old structure at Peddlers Alley, Salado, Texas.
It is a fantastic opportunity to watch a talented potter at work and buy beautiful works of art made by hand and featured in many public collections and publications.
He has always been willing to provide demonstrations of his work.
He demonstrates the processes of clay turning, glazing, and firing.
Try joining a pottery wheel party or workshop at the Ro Shaw Clay Studio.
One of the best ways to learn a new skill is through full-session classes.
The kiln is always hot, whether used to fire for decoration or stoneware for practical use.
DiamondV / Shutterstock.com
Chalk Ridge Falls Park in Belton, Texas, features a suspension bridge, beautiful foliage, hiking trails, and a waterfall on the banks of the Lampasas River.
Visit the park, 11 minutes from Salado, and appreciate the incredible scenery.
There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, including trails, fishing, and benches.
Arrive early to avoid the crowds.
DiamondV / Shutterstock.com
Suitable for beginners, this five-mile hike passes several exciting rock formations and follows a flat path through the woods.
The waterfall is the most visited spot, providing a respite from the heat, only a ten-minute stroll from the main trail.
You can enjoy the scenery and bird sounds while walking the trails.
In addition, you can take a break from hiking and enjoy the view while sitting on one of the benches located throughout Chalk Ridge Falls Park.
Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com
Do you wish to go scuba diving in Stillhouse Hollow Lake?
Then head over to Scuba Divers Paradise, 21 minutes from Salado.
Stillhouse Hollow Lake is home to Scuba Divers Paradise, a dive shop in Belton, Texas.
It also serves the surrounding lakeside communities, including Salado Town and nearby areas.
The Stillhouse Hollow Lake scuba shop is a fantastic dive shop perched right above the lake.
Students can easily access the dock, where many introductory and advanced classes occur.
All of the scuba instructors there are friendly, helpful, and patient.
They will help in every step to ensure you are comfortable and well-equipped.
Experience fun and helpful training dives among sunken objects like boats, motorcycles, and underwater platforms in Stillhouse Hollow Lake.
In Scuba Divers Paradise, divers of all skill levels can relax and expand their knowledge and practical skills.
Tricia Daniel / Shutterstock.com
Stillhouse Park is an excellent destination for anyone interested in water sports like fishing and kayaking.
Stillhouse Park is a day-use park with facilities including two group pavilions that can be used as a venue to hold up to 120 people each.
In addition, you can hold numerous social events, including family reunions at the park.
For those looking for a place to relax with their family, the park offers more than 40 individual picnic areas.
Swimming, hiking, basketball, biking, and fishing are just a few fun things you can do there.
Tricia Daniel / Shutterstock.com
The park sits adjacent to Stillhouse Hollow Lake.
This lake was made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1968, spanning 6,430 acres.
It has a variety of fish, including perch, bass, and catfish.
The park is easily accessible off Simmons Rd in Belton, Texas.
What are you waiting for?
Visit the park only 18 minutes from Salado.
As you climb and descend the Dana Peak Trail, you will see some hard-packed, fixed, and loose limestone rock, a typical feature of Central Texas.
Those that make it to the summit will be rewarded with a stunning panorama.
The trail is not complex or technical, but hikers who aren’t used to cardio activities may tire quickly on the ascents.
Try the five-mile stretch along the Fence Line Trail to the Twin Peaks and back for a three-hour easy hike.
If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, you can walk the eight miles to Stillhouse Hollow Park.
A portion of the route on the western end is broader, but there is still plenty of great single tracks to enjoy.
Getting to the lake is a breeze because of the single paths connecting the area.
You can also take your bike out for a spin.
Find this trail in Harker Heights, Texas, 25 minutes from Salado.
Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Bell County Museum in N Main, Belton, Texas, is an excellent place to learn about the county’s history and culture.
Located in a sprawling complex centered on the town’s historic Carnegie Library, which dates back to 1904, the museum is a treasure trove of state and local history.
Discover antique projectiles and 18th-century clothing, among other artifacts, at the Bell County Museum, ten minutes from Salado.
There are several fun interactive exhibits that people of all ages can enjoy.
Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The staff is charming and will help you have a great time. In addition, the gift shop is excellent and well worth a trip.
Their gem and geode cost half of what you’d pay in other stores.
They also have souvenirs you can buy without breaking the bank.
Salado is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, historical significance, and laid-back vibe.
What are you waiting for?
Discover the best things to do in Salado, Texas!
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
