It's the only city with a built-in fan base. Texas A&M, one of the ten largest universities in the country, draws thousands into town on game days. And frequently, they stay. Meanwhile, the 50000 local full-time students, and 10000 graduate students-- many of them so accomplished that the Wall Street Journal reports that they are more than likely to hire Aggie grads than graduates of almost any other college in the nation-- give back to the community in big and small ways.
If you're not affiliated with the university, the first and most interesting part of it for you may be the George Bush Presidential Library, which, of course, chronicles the career of the 41st President of the United States. Like all Presidential libraries, it is full of the fascinating ephemera of a Presidency: notes, photos, documents, and film footage from 1988 to 1992. Traveling exhibits-- the current exhibit is on the human genome-- are usually livelier and will engage any kids you bring to the museum.
If a day at the library is too sedate for you, there are always Aggie game days. Be prepared! An onslaught of pumped-up fans will invade the stadium and the town of College Station. But the excitement f game day is worth every bit of any inconvenience. Sports Illustrated called Aggie game days the best in the USA. It's hard to live up to that kind of praise from a source like Sports Illustrated, but it does. Watching a game is also an active, rather than a passive, experience: tradition dictates that Aggie fans stand during the entirety of the game to support the team.
Not everything that goes in this area has to do with the Aggies, though. Downtown Bryan is a worthy destination in its own right. An evening out at the Caffe Capri, an Italian restaurant, and Uncorked Wine Bar, a wine bar full of romantic ambiance, may be just what you need for Date Night. However, there's a club-- Halo-- for the young (or just young at heart) and single among you who like to dance. Boutiques and antique shops sum up the scene during the day.
Do you own a boat, a jetski, or even a canoe? You will be able to use them here, on nearby Lake Somerville. Or even just bring a bathing suit or a pair of hiking boots. This lake is worth the trip, even if you're not a water-sports fanatic. With 20 miles of trails to explore overlooking the lake, it's the best of the natural world in College Station.
As you might imagine as the home of A&M, College Station also pulls its weight when it comes to agriculture. Even if you're not involved in the industry, take the kids to learn about College Station's largest industry within the kid-friendly setting of a local farm. Burton Cotton Gin (with its own museum), Ellison's Greenhouses, and small farms and vineyards like the Pleasant Hill Winery, are a great place to start
