5 Must Do Things in Spring

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Photo courtesy of Old Town Spring

In our series of Must Do Things Around Greater Houston, we take a look at Houston’s vast array of neighborhoods to bring you five fun, tasty, and enticing reasons you should give each a visit.

A little over 20 miles north of Downtown, the area now known as Spring was originally home to the Orcoquiza Native Americans. In the 1830s and ‘40s, a trading post was placed in the area, drawing German immigrants and settlers from Louisiana and other parts of the South. When the International and Great Northern Railroad was built through spring in 1871, the town began to expand, and even more so by the 1970s and ‘80s, when Houston’s suburbs made their way north. Today, the name Spring is applied to both the tiny Old Town district and areas of northern Harris County and southern Montgomery County. The neighborhood mixes old town charm with a suburban feel, boasting both charming streets and big attractions like a waterpark (which isn’t on the list but is something you should check out during the summer). See what other fun awaits.

Note: For the purposes of this list, Spring is defined as the area covered in this map, plus those surrounding neighborhoods that share the Spring address.

5 Must Do Things in Spring

  1. Explore Old Town Spring – The old part of town boasts a plethora of quaint shops, eateries, and art galleries, making it the perfect place for an afternoon stroll. Pop into spots like Camille’s Antiques, German Gift House, Masterpiece Hand-Crafted Furniture, Little Dutch Girl and Bear Custom Leather. When you’re ready to rest your feet, stop in for old-fashioned burgers and chicken fried steaks alongside live music at Puffabelly’s, a fun restaurant set in an old train depot; then pick up some sweets to bring home at Emmy’s Sweet Shoppe. Or unwind with some beer and wine at the Old Town Spring Tasting Room and Envy Wine Room. And be sure to keep an eye out for special events and festivals on Facebook, including the Autumn Art & Texas Wine Festival in the fall, SpringFest in March, Texas Crawfish & Music Festival in April, and Home for the Holidays in November and December.
  2. Go caveman on smoked meat at Corkscrew BBQ – This fan-favorite barbecue joint is also located in Old Town, but being that its hands down one of the best spots in the city, it deserves a solo shout-out. After starting out as a small catering business, the tiny pink-trailer-turned-brick-and-mortar has blossomed into an absolute destination for any barbecue enthusiast, near or far. Get glistening pork ribs, beautifully crusted oak-smoked brisket, and a killer over-loaded baked potato. Items go until they are sold out, so if you’re looking for something specific, show up by noon Tuesday to Friday and when doors open at 10am on Saturday. Click here for directions.
  3. Get spooked on a haunted ghost tour Step inside a storybook with Houston Ghost Tours, which offers spooktacular tours of Old Town Spring year-round, rain-or-shine. The once bustling Wild West town is the tour’s most popular attraction thanks to its creepy amount of haunted spots and paranormal activity (according to their website, it’s the 6th most haunted Old West town in the U.S.). Reservations are required.
  4. Get tikified at Howie’s Tiki – Located on FM 2920, Howie’s rocks authentic tiki drinks, great food, and a South Pacific, island-style vibe. Explore tiki culture with drinks like the Pain Killer, a 1970s classic from the Soggy Dollar Bar made with rum, coconut, pineapple, and orange; or try a flaming Scorpion Bowl made for sharing. Click here for directions.
  5. Visit the farms – Both Old Time Christmas Tree Farm and Atkinson Farms call Spring home. Despite what one may think, it’s not all about the Christmas trees at Old Time Christmas Tree Farm; you can also visit the Pumpkin Patch on Fridays through Sundays in October, too. Atkinson Farms invites you to pick-your-own fresh-tasting strawberries during the season and peruse other grown produce straight from the 100-acre farm from March through the end of October.
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Photo courtesy of Howie’s Tiki
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Brooke Viggiano
Brooke Viggiano is a food and lifestyle writer residing in Houston. When she's not contributing to publications like 365 Things to Do in Houston, Thrillist Houston and the Houston Press, she's on the hunt for the coolest happenings in the city. You can follow her musings on Twitter @BrookeViggiano .