For my 39th birthday, we decided to trade the usual celebration for a little adventure in Glen Rose, Texas. I was looking for somewhere quaint and relaxing, but with plenty of fun for the boys too—and it turned out to be the perfect little getaway.
The Hotel
Since we’ve never stayed in Glen Rose, I wasn’t sure what to look for as far as accommodations. I saw several Air B&Bs that looked promising, however, I settled on a dino themed hotel and it did not disappoint. We found The Best Western for a very affordable price, and in a great location. They had breakfast, large rooms, a pool, and the property overall was very well taken care of. We would definitely stay here again.
Best Western Dinosaur Valley Inn and Suites
The Food
Before we arrived we did a little research on places to eat in Glen Rose so we had a few spots picked out.
First we started with an ice cream treat at Shoo Fly Soda Shop . It’s an adorable little shop with an old fashioned soda fountain right on the square in downtown Glen Rose. The shop its self had several unique trinkets and gifts. We treated the boys to ice cream, and they loved it so much that we ended up going back for another round the very next day!
After ice cream and shopping we decided to check out Green Pickle Grill. We’d read several positive reviews, and after a long hot day we thought burgers and beers would be divine. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. Their website (and a sign out front) advertises “Green Pickle Grill & Pub is a locally owned, family-friendly restaurant located in historic downtown Glen Rose, Texas.” However, there is no pub, no beer, no Biergarten and no alcohol. Which honestly isn’t at all a deal breaker, but the food and service was just subpar. We did not enjoy this place but to each their own, we would not return or recommend it.
We did however enjoy two fabulous restaurant while there.
The first please we loved was a cute little sandwich shop: Storiebook Cafe . The sandwiches were delicious, the decor was unique, and there was even a play area for the kids. We highly recommend this lunch spot!
The other place we enjoyed was Los Primos Mexican Restaurant. The service was fabulous, food delicious (and very reasonably priced), and the drinks, perfect!
I almost forgot to mention a cute little shaved ice place right on the river! It’s called Funky Munky Shaved Ice and it was the perfect little treat to end our day.
Things to Do
There are lots of fun things to do in Glen Rose and the surrounding areas. When we arrived we shopped around town and went to the little museum on the square. The lady in the museum was very kind and knowledgeable about the history of Glen Rose. And, the shops had so many unique items (unfortunately it is not the most exciting for a 4 and 6 year old so we had to cut shopping short).
The main attraction in Glen Rose is Dinosaur Valley State Park, and of course we just had to check it out! We’re park pass holders (I highly recommend) so I am not sure of the entry cost to the park, however there is lots to do and see there.
We started our day bright and early to beat the heat and that was a fantastic idea. We showed up before the crowds, hiked a few trails, and saw plenty of dinosaur footprints through out the riverbeds. None of the hikes were difficult and the boys had a great time splashing around in the water. I do recommend water shoes and taking your time; the rocks are very slipper.
Overall Experience
Overall we really enjoyed our weekend away. I would definitely recommend Glen Rose. There is plenty to do and see and it’s more affordable than some of our other favorite places like Gruene and Fredericksburg.
Glen Rose is also known for the following attractions that we just didn’t have time to visit this trip:
***Side note, several business and restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays so plan accordingly!
The Adventures of Messy Bun and The Bearded One 