The Perfect Day Trip to Small-town North Texas!

There’s something about a Texas backroad that just begs you to roll down the windows, cue up your favorite playlist, and see where the day takes you. Whether you’re coming from the city, the suburbs, or a few counties over, a drive through the rolling plains and horse country delivers more than a change of scenery—it offers a full-blown day trip worth slowing down for.

Between the historic downtowns of Pilot Point and Celina lies a stretch of small-town charm where local eats, family-friendly fun, and laid-back adventure come together. Right in the middle of it all is Rooted In—a boutique nursery and garden center set on five acres of wildflowers, Texas-tough plants, and demonstration gardens.

The grounds blend a restored 1920s farmhouse, a historic barn, and a modern farmhouse-style shop filled with botanical décor, garden gear, and indoor plants. Songbirds sing from the trees, butterflies and hummingbirds float through the flowers—it’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger and soak up the sun.

So whether you’re chasing wide open spaces, a small adventure, or just a scenic excuse to hit the road, we’ve mapped out our favorite stops to help you plan a day worth remembering!

Branch Out to Some of our Favorite Spots!

 

 

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

Square Cloud Winery– Nestled in the rolling hills just outside Gunter, this boutique winery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy walk-in tastings, sip a glass while overlooking the vines, or grab a bottle to take home.

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!

Uptown Rail Brewery– a family-friendly brewery and restaurant offering a diverse selection of craft beers, including their own in-house brews. Complementing their beer selection, they serves artisanal brick-oven pizzas and mouthwatering wings. The venue often features live music, karaoke, and cornhole!

Pilot Point Coffee House– Housed in a beautifully restored storefront on the historic square, this community-minded café pours stellar espresso drinks, roasts their own beans, and serves up fresh pastries daily. There’s also a craft-beer bar within to set the mood for trivia nights, local art shows, and live music. It’s the perfect place to kick off your morning or wind down after a day of exploring.

 

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 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 Whole Family:

Black Mustang Ranch– Want to take in the beautiful scenery from horseback? This working ranch near Lake Ray Roberts offers guided trail rides through some of the region’s most scenic terrain. Rides are by reservation only and best suited for riders age 13 and up, with sessions available Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Four Fillies Farm– If your kids dream of saddles and summer on the range, this charming farm just outside Pilot Point offers Western-style riding lessons and summer camps for hands-on horsemanship fun. Lessons are available by appointment.

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.

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! (Typically April/May) They also often sell strawberry plants, amazing strawberry jam, strawberry lemonade and home-made ice cream! PRO TIP: Show up early and reserve your spot in line to get the best picking!

TX‑Ture Farm – A sensory-friendly agritourism spot where you can stroll with alpacas, pick fresh lavender, or try your hand at soap-making and other creative workshops. Perfect for a peaceful outing with a hands-on twist. Check their social media pages for current hours and events.

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 beach and 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

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) 😉

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!

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.

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”.

Over Yonder– Authentic Texas homestyle cooking in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Formerly known as Buff’s Restaurant, it continues the tradition of serving made-from-scratch dishes that reflect the rich culinary heritage of the Lone Star State. Their Chicken fried steak is a fan-favorite, or just pop in for a drink at the bar and have a cold one with the locals!

 

Celina

The Silos– A brand-new dining destination set inside Celina’s century-old grain silos, pairing chef-driven Texas-inspired fare with craft cocktails, live music, fire-pits and a speakeasy-style cigar lounge—perfect for date night or a celebratory splurge.

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!

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!

The Wick– A family-owned scratch kitchen offering traditional recipes with an innovative twist, all crafted with fresh, all-natural ingredients. They specialize in breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings, complemented by a full bar featuring craft cocktails and an espresso bar. Open Wed.- Mon.

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!

Mangiamo Italian Market & Deli– This family-owned Italian spot has transformed a vintage gas station into a cozy market and deli, turning out wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas and stacked sandwiches alongside hard-to-find Italian groceries—bringing a slice of Italy to downtown Celina. We LOVE the spicy mama sandwich!

 

Aubrey

Peanut Gallery Food Truck Park– Just a few miles down the road, this rotating roundup of local food trucks serves up everything from barbecue to tacos to sweet treats. Vendors and hours change weekly—check their Facebook page for the latest lineup and hours before you go. (I dream about the Birria Tacos from 3 Flamas )

Bebo’s Café – Classic small-town diner serving up Southern comfort food with a side of Elvis-centric nostalgia. Set along Highway 377, this longtime local favorite is best known for its hand-breaded catfish, burgers hearty breakfasts, and no-frills charm. The 1950s-style décor, friendly staff, and generous portions make it a must-stop for anyone craving a true taste of roadside Texas. Don’t skip the catfish plate—and save room for pie.

Upper Park Café – A Main Street staple dishing out all-day breakfast and lunch with small-town charm. Known for pecan coffee, lemon-blueberry pancakes, and laid-back vibes, it’s the kind of place where locals linger and visitors feel right at home.