Bryan-College Station

College Station and Bryan together make up the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area, the sixteenth largest Metropolitan area in Texas with around 190,000 people. This area is also known as "Aggieland", as it is home to the main campus of Texas A&M University, one of the premier universities of Texas and the flagship institution of The Texas A&M University System. The city of College Station owes both its name and existence to the university's location along the railroad - though ironically the Amtrak train station was decommissioned in 1995.

By bus

There is a Greyhound Bus Station in Bryan which is covered by the local bus route.

By car

Traveling to Bryan-College Station is almost exclusively done by automobile. There are two highways that pass either through or near the town, State Highway 6 and State Highway 21. SH-6 travels nominally north and south. Going south will lead you to Navasota and eventually to Houston (after joining US-290 in Hempstead and turning more easterly. Going north on SH-6 will lead you to get to I-35 and Waco. SH-21 travels nominally east and west, with somewhat of a southeast/northwest slant. Going east will lead you to Interstate Highway 45, Madisonville, Crockett and Nacogdoches. West on SH-21 will take you to San Marcos, San Antonio and Austin.
Travelers headed to downtown Austin are best served taking State Highway 21 west to 290 near Paige, TX and continuing West on State Highway 290. Continuing on SH-21 will take you to the end of SH-21 in San Marcos and Interstate Highway 35, which can then be taken to San Antonio and points South.
Travelers to the Dallas area and points north are best served taking SH-6 north to IH-35 around Waco, and continuing north on IH-35, which will split into IH-35E into Dallas, and IH-35W into Fort Worth. IH-35E and W rejoin in Denton and continues as IH-35 out of Texas and through Oklahoma City.

By plane

• Easterwood Airport is in the north-western part of College Station, adjacent to Texas A&M University. Easterwood provides multiple scheduled flights daily to Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Prices are high compared to larger nearby airports.
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the closest international airport, located in the northern part of Houston, Texas, approximately 1.5 hours from College Station off of Interstate Highway 45 and Beltway 8. GBIA is a major hub for United.

By train

Nope. Despite the original naming of "College Station" for the train station dropping off students at Texas A&M University, the Amtrak station was decommissioned in 1995. Since that time, only former Presidents and Saudi royalty have taken a passenger train to Bryan/College Station.

By car

This area is easily navigable by car. The major highways are as follows:

• State Highway 6: Earl Rudder Freeway
• State Highway 6 (Business): Texas Avenue
• University Drive
• Villa Maria
• Briarcrest Drive
• State Highway 21
• Harvey Road
• William D. Fitch Parkway
• State Highway 47
• Wellborn Road
• George Bush Drive
• 2818: Harvey Mitchell Parkway

Traffic has become something of a problem over the past decade, particularly when school is in session.

By bus

• The District provides public bus transportation in the Bryan/College Station area.
• Texas A&M Transportation Services provides bus transportation throughout College Station and Bryan for students, faculty, and staff of Texas A&M University. On Texas A&M football game days, the department provides additional park-and-ride service to and from Kyle Field.

Parking

Parking is free in most of the city. The major exceptions are the Texas A&M University campus and the adjacent bar-rich Northgate District, which have a combination of on-street parking meters, pay lots, permit-only lots and for-pay parking garages. Unauthorized parking either on or off campus generally results in a ticket and occasionally a tow. Parking on grass/dirt is an ordinance violation in College Station. The City also issues parking citations for parking your vehicle facing traffic. Neighborhood on-street parking in the Southgate District is restricted on (football) game days in the fall.

• Brazos Valley Museum

  phone: +1 979 776-2195
  address: 3232 Briarcrest Dr
  Fun museum with rotating interactive exhibits ranging from local history and folk art to travelling art and cultural exhibits.

• Bryan-College Station Convention & Visitor's Bureau

  address: 715 University Dr E

• Wolf Pen Creek DistrictA high quality commercial development located adjacent to Post Oak Mall and between the city's two main commercial thoroughfares, Earl Rudder Freeway and Texas Avenue. The area consists of an elaborate greenway with trails, a .5 million amphitheater and entertainment area, a small lake, the Arctic Wolf Ice Skating Complex and is home to the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley (P. David Romei Arts Center).

• The Texas A&M University CampusBeen around since 1876, so it's worth a look. The picturesque East entrance from Highway 6 is often lined with American flags, creating a most impressive image.

• The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library

  phone: +1 979 691-4000
  It's home to a wealth of information about the 41st president and extremely proud father of the 43rd president.

• Texas A&M AggiesTexas A&M sports, with 20 teams in all (nine men's, 11 women's) competing in a wide variety of NCAA Division I sports as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their key venues are listed immediately below.

• Kyle FieldThe Aggies' football home, holding more than 100,000.

• Reed ArenaHome to both men's and women's basketball, plus women's volleyball.

• Olsen FieldHome of Aggies baseball.

Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History

phone: +1 979 776-2195

address: 3232 Briarcrest Dr.

There are plenty of parks in the area that are plenty of fun for plenty of small children. If you would like some historical information on the Bryan-College Station area beforehand, visit Project HOLD, the historic online library database.

• Skydive AggielandSkydive at Coulter Field in Bryan.

• Post Oak MallThe area's regional enclosed mall. Its at the corner of Harvey Road (Highway 30) and the Bypass (Texas Highway 6). You can't miss it!

• Antonio's Pizza by the Slice

• C & J Bar-B-Que Market

  phone: +1 979 776-8969
  address: 4304 Harvey Rd
  Easily the most popular barbecue place in town. Try the brisket and the jalapeño sausage.

• Bucks Pizza

  phone: +1 979-693-2825
  Hand tossed pizza, pepperoni rolls (pizza rolls), stromboli, fresh sandwiches and salads (excellent price)

• Casa Rodriguez Restaurant

  phone: +1 979 779-0916
  address: 300 N Bryan Ave
  Good place for Mexican breakfast.

• Cafe EccellOwned by the same guys as La Bodega; great food, fabulous desserts.

• Deux Crazy CajunsCrawfish and other great Cajun cookin'

• Double Dave's Pizzaworks

  phone: +1 979 696-3283
  address: 3505 Longmire Dr
  Part of the central Texas chain well known for their unique pepperoni rolls (unique, that is, if you aren't from West Virginia).

• Freebirds World BurritoFour locations; the first Freebirds to open in Texas is the one in Northgate.

• Gumby's Pizza

• La BodegaMexican martinis and fish tacos, near Northgate

• LaynesGreat chicken, but that's it.

• Longhorn Tavern Steak House

  phone: +1 979 778-3900
  address: 1900 Highway 21 E
  Popular local steakhouse. What it lacks in appearance, it makes up in flavor. Try the chicken-fried steak.

• Madden's Casual Gourmet

  phone: +1 979 779-2558
  address: 202 South Bryan
  Quaint restaurant in Old Bryan Marketplace with great food, especially for brunch or lunch.

• Mi Pueblito Ponce Restaurant

  phone: +1 979 779-8625
  address: 1315 S College Ave
  Authentic Mexican cuisine, as opposed to Tex-Mex.

• Los Norteños Mexican Cafe

  phone: +1 979 779-7337
  address: 205 S Main St
  Locally famous big breakfast burritos.

• The Republic Steakhouse

  phone: +1 979 260-4120
  address: 701 University Dr. E

• University Towne CenterSeveral restaurants centered around a large fountain on University Drive. Places to eat include: Abuelo's Mexican Embassy, Boston's Gourmet Pizza, TGIFridays, Pei Wei, Jamba Juice, Blue Baker, Eccell Steakhouse, It's a Grind Coffee, Ben & Jerry Ice Cream, McAlister's Deli, Rosa's Tortilla Factory, and Veritas Wine and Bistro.

• Vintage House Restaurant at Messina Hof WineryLocated on the Messina Hof estate, The Vintage House offers the finest dining with particular attention to fresh vineyard cuisine. The Vintage House Restaurant offers a wide variety of amazing items that change quarterly. Vintage House Restaurant is open for Lunch W-Sa from 11AM-4PM. Open for Dinner W-Sa 4PM-9PM

• Koppe Bridge Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 979 776-2833
  address: 3940 Harvey Road or 11777 Wellborn Road
  Great burgers, chicken fried steak, etc. Rustic decorations.

• Porters Dining and Butcher

  phone: +1 979-977-0700
  address: 180 Century Square Drive, Suite 120
  Upscale, wood fire grill steak house, with a variety of Southern comfort foods and an excellent wine and bar selection.

• Carney's Pub

  phone: +1 979 823-1294
  address: 3410 S College Ave

• Flannagan's Pub

  phone: +1 979 822-0791
  address: 2010 S College Ave

• NorthgateSelection of lots of bars just North of Texas A&M on University Avenue. Watch out for the crowds of students pretty much every night during the school year. Must-visits are the Dixie Chicken, Dudley's, and Bottlecap Alley (not a bar). Must-drink is Shiner Bock beer. If you're in for heavy drinking, check out the Dry Bean shot bar.

• Sweet Eugene'sGreat little coffeehouse. Yummy coffee drinks and desserts. Try the Snickers latte.

• Truman Chocolates

  phone: +1 979 260-4519
  address: 4407 South Texas Ave
  Small chocolate shop with beautiful, delicious chocolates.

• Veritas Wine & Bistro

  phone: +1 979-268-3251
  address: 830 University Dr, Suite 400
  Over 350 wines by the bottle and over 20 wines by the glass. Received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence in 2007 and 2008. Also offers unique cocktails and single malt scotches. In addition, their cuisine program features seafood and a creative tasting menu created daily by the chef, and their are known for their pan-Euro-Asian cuisine.

• Messina Hof's Wine Bar

  address: 4545 Old Reliance Rd
  Offers over 50 wines by the bottle, glass or as a wine flight. Wine flights include a tasting of four wines of the customer's choice.

• Fairfield Inn

  phone: +1 979 268-1552
  address: 4613 S. Texas Ave
  Clean rooms, complimentary breakfast.

• LaSalle Hotel

  phone: +1 979 822-2000
  address: 120 S Main St
  This vintage downtown hotel, established in 1928, has been beautifully restored. Free breakfast. Rooms $75 and up.

• Bryan College Station Residence Inn

  phone: +1 979 260-8500
  address: 1300 University Dr East

• Manor Inn College Station

  phone: +1 979-764-9540
  address: 2504 Texas Avenue South
  Extended-stay hotel.

• Relax INN

• The Villa Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1 979 778-9463 ext 222
  address: 4545 Old Reliance Rd
  Spend time at a romantic, luxurious bed and breakfast. A winery and restaurant are on the grounds of this 100-acre estate.

• Cavalry Court

  phone: +1 979 485-5586
  address: 200 Century Court College Station, Texas 77840
  New military-themed hotel.

• Messina Hof Winery