The Perfect Day Trip to Small-town North Texas!

Spring is here, and like us, you might be itching to get outside! How about hitting the road to discover a few hidden gems among the rolling plains of north Texas?! Our boutique nursery, and garden center, is located smack dab in between the city centers of sister cities Pilot Point and Celina, who each still enjoy a friendly quaint atmosphere–and make the perfect road trip to small-town Texas! Plus, they are just a short jaunt up the DNT from the booming metropolis of Frisco! And while you’re up North—we hope you’ll check out our growing business, where we are Rooted In plants that are Texas Tough!

The drive to the region is spectacular, serving as home to over 25,000 horses and 300 ranches, and while the Texas longhorn cattle are prolific—the area is still known as the horse capitol of Texas. But there is so much more to this rapidly growing community than you might think! Check out the interactive list below of our favorite stops to make when you visit!

 

Our Nursery:

Located exactly halfway between Pilot Point and Celina, our boutique nursery and garden center is set on a beautiful 5 acres covered in wildflowers, and jam-packed with Texas tough perennial plants! In 2021, we planted our roots in a remodeled 1920’s farmhouse, with shade plants housed in a rustic turn-of-the-century “corn crib”– which also serves as a backdrop for our holiday photo ops. We’ve now branched-out with a modern-farmhouse barndominium–full of botanical-themed décor and kitchen-ware, an extensive collection of pots and baskets, only the toughest easy-to-grow interior plants, along with the highest quality gardening tools… and much, much, more. All of our plants are adapted to the extreme weather in North Texas and are easy to grow once established!

Rooted In

12804 Pelzel Rd, Pilot Point, TX 76258

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

 

 

Branch Out to Some of our Favorite Spots

When planning your next day trip, consider a visit a quick visit up North where picturesque scenic drives take you to these businesses below that are relaxing for adults, invigorating for kids and fun for the whole family! Oh… and did we mention? Rooted In, North Texas’ newest nursery is growing roots, located right smack dab in the middle of it all!  Come see us and discover everything this beautiful community has to offer!

 

For the Kids:

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch– This family friendly intimate wildlife area serves as a nonprofit educational facility, housing exotic species in a 126-acre park that offers tram rides, a playground (safely) surrounded by lions, tiger and bears and 2 story petting zoo!

The Little Piglet: Bakery and Scoops—Local baker Katie Price has taken her passion for sweets and paired that with a desire to cater to those with dietary restrictions. At her innovative bakery, she makes delicious vegan goodies that can be enjoyed by everyone! All of The Little Piglet products are vegan (meaning no eggs, dairy or meat) and they also have amazing gluten free options!

Hey Sugar Candy Store– This candy store has it all! From dozens of flavors of house made ice cream, to custom chocolates, to classic sodas, to old time classic treats that will take you back in time–and even have gift baskets!

Pilot Point “Old City Park”— The perfect spot for the kiddos to run off some steam with a pretty amazing playground, basketball court– complete with splash pad for those hot summer days!

Old Celina Park– Another local park with all the amenities including a catch and release pond for fishing as well as a new playground with sunshades and relaxing park benches!

 

For the Adults: (Wineries, Distilleries, Breweries, and Dives)

Eden Hill Winery and Vineyard— One of North Texas’ favorite wineries, featuring a charming tasting room with wines from the estate vineyard & Napa-style cheese plates. They also have frequent events including live music, sip & shop events, holiday events, and much more.

Western Sons Distillery— You might be surprised that North Texas has an incredible local craft vodka distillery– open most Saturdays for tours, and tastings and (during warmer weather) welcomes visitors with live music and events on the patio! It’s one of the nations fastest growing distilleries for a good reason!

Lowbrows Beer & Wine Garden— is Pilot Point’s version of cheers, serving as one of the most delightful watering holes for locals as well as a super cool destination for those exploring the area. Newly reopened in the same historic building, it’s the perfect place to grab a cold one and listen to some tunes.

Fortunata Winery– Just a short drive west is another wonderful winery offers various red, white and Zinfandel wines made from the rows of grapes surrounding the winery’s north side. Check out the inside fireplace and enjoy it is a cozy, intimate atmosphere for special occasions or just for a fun day trip. Try the Margarita Pizza, or breadsticks cooked in their wood-burning oven.

Rollertown Beerworks– This local brewery located just off the Celina Square has a full taproom (that’s both kid and dog friendly) where they serve local brews, and cocktails Wed. through Sunday! *The City of Celina allows open carry of alcohol in the downtown area so you’re welcome to grab a pint to-go… as long as you’re walking!

 

Retail Shopping:

Pilot Point Town Center— This historic town square located on Main Street is bustling on most weekends, with a farmer’s market that runs through the growing season– where local farmers and vendors offer their harvests! There are also a number of weekend festivals and events ranging from the infamous Bonnie and Clyde days, a grinch-themed Christmas on the Square, Oktoberfest, and monthly community festivals with live music and a great selection of food trucks and regional venders. Don’t forget to check out Notoriously Yours, Martin General Store, Southern Junkiez, and The Purple Door Day Spa, who are open year-round!

Celina Town Square—Their historic square is advertised as the cultural center of the city offering unique dining, shopping and several weekend events and festivals that appeal to both residents and visitors. The vibrant and exciting square represents the diverse interests of the community. Stop in Terramania for an incredible selection of dried botanicals and décor, or check out local boutique Willow House, or choose from a number of other local shops on the square!

 

For the Whole Family:

Pecan Creek Strawberry Farm—Pick-Your-Own Strawberries! This family run pick-your-own Strawberry farm make for the perfect family-fun destination in early spring! Be sure to check their Facebook/ Instagram pages for updated picking days and hours! They also sell strawberry plants, amazing strawberry jam and home-made ice cream! PRO TIP: Show up early and reserve your spot in line to get the best picking!

Texas Tulips—A Pick-Your-Own Tulip Farm! You can start picking your tulips mid/end of February– through end of March/early April, but it all depends on the weather. Depending on the season, they have roughly 100 varieties of tulips to choose from (early, mid, and late-flowering varieties). Check any of their social media pages for weekly updates.

Lake Ray Roberts and the State Park

Isle du Bois Unit– This section of the park offers many fun activities, including hiking and walking trails, horseback riding trails, birdwatching, swimming, fishing and boating. One of the biggest attractions of Isle Du Bois is the huge swimming area. There is also a beautiful beach that people come from all over to use. This is available for both day-use and for the overnight campers. Near the beach are picnic tables, a volleyball court, a kid’s playground!

Jordan Unit– This section of the state park offers swimming, boating & fishing, hiking trails & campsites, plus a lodge! Lone Star Lodge Marina is the only marina on the east side of Lake Ray Roberts with outdoor electricity available in the parking lot to charge your boat batteries. They also have boat, jet ski, kayak, and boat slip rentals. For more information, visit the Lone Star Lodge and Marina website or call (940) 686-0261.

 

Fantastic Food:

Pilot Point

Powerhouse Burger– One of the best burgers in all of North Texas bar none. That’s not an exaggeration. We absolutely love the onion strings, and their specialty “powerhouse sauce” is so good, you should order extra from the start. Plus, it’s a great place to visit with locals and here about what’s going on in town!

Yearby’s BBQ and Water Ice—This top tier local BBQ spot was just reviewed by Texas Monthly and is focused on “making barbecue that can stand up to the best in the state”. They serve incredible traditional Texas-style brisket, and sausage along with wonderful loaded nachos, and brisket meatloaf, each served along with mouthwatering sides! For those not familiar with Water Ice—imagine the smoothest, most flavorful shaved ice you’ve ever had.

Uncle Beto’s– The food here is excellent with fresh, authentic, bold Mexican flavors! But they also have some of the best service around, with each of the staff working seamlessly as a team to provide an exceptional meal and experience! They also have wonderful (and generous) selection of margaritas! Start out with the mouth-watering queso fundido and thank us later.

Nick’s Italian– The first time we ate at Nick’s we were absolutely blown away by the amazing food, the incredible service, and it’s now a family favorite. Their New York-Style Italian heirloom recipes have been passed down (and perfected) for generations. Nick grew up in his family’s Dallas restaurant and it shows. You can’t go wrong with the pasta sampler, and their pizza is truly some of the best in the region. They also bring fresh from the oven garlic knots to the table that families will fight over. (at least ours does) 😉

Corner Café– This super cute country café is a must for a downhome cooking breakfast or brunch! Located in Pilot Point, this sister-restaurant from Aubrey’s World Famous Mom’s (recently-closed) has some of the same menu-items from the former iconic restaurant in addition to lighter fare. Our personal favorite is the fried chicken sandwich which smokes ALL other competitors in the recent “Chicken Sandwich Wars”.

Buff’s Grill– Owned by world-renowned rodeo champion and trainer “Buff” Tadlock– it doesn’t get more Texan than this. Enjoy the authentic rodeo décor while you wait for all the southern fixins, steaks, burgers or Tex-mex dishes you can imagine! Or just pop in for a drink at the bar and have a cold one with the locals.

Celina

Tender Smokehouse– A nationally acclaimed BBQ eatery with a patio serving traditional Texas-style smoked meats, sandwiches & sides located in the heart downtown Celina. We especially like the moist brisket, jalapeno sausage, potato salad – oh and they also have a respectable banana pudding!

Lucy’s on the Square– Voted one of Texas Monthly’s Top small-town café’s, this cozy, laid-back bar/eatery with TVs & a country vibe offering American comfort food & homemade pies. Lunch specials are a great value and are really can’t miss. Oh, and the Pies are a-maz-ing!

Bongo Beaux’s Bourre Palace & Cajun Kitchen– A super- cool atmosphere with amazing Cajun fare, great cocktails, and incredible patio! You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish queso, and crawfish pies are fan-favorites!

Millie’s Italian Restaurant—This Celina eatery has a very similar story (and almost identical menu) as Nick’s Italian mentioned above. That’s because Millie is Nick’s niece. The building is new but the heirloom recipes, passed down for generations, are the same. Incredible pasta dishes, and remarkably fantastic New York-style pizzas can’t miss, but we are also huge fans of their salads and their out-of-this world house salad-dressing!