Ahhh, fall—it’s that special time of year where the leaves start to change color and the weather gets cooler, making it easy for fun fall activities. Here are some unique ideas for your weekend getaway to historic Hico, Texas that will make your fall even sweeter.
You can book a hunting or fishing adventure with a local ranch, pick a pumpkin to carve, or sip on some delicious handmade hot chocolate. There are plenty of fun fall activities for family and friends in Hico, Texas.
Book a Hunting Trip with a Local Ranch
With dove season upon us, and deer season right around the corner, fall is the perfect time of year to get into the great outdoors for a hunt. There are several ranches in the Hico area that offer hunting and fishing adventures, many with lodging available.
Sierra Mesa Ranch
From the top of the hills at Sierra Mesa Ranch (est. 1993), you can see up to 30 miles across the northern edges of the Texas Hill Country. Turn around and look deep into a canyon – thick with some of the best whitetail deer cover found in Texas. Sierra Mesa Ranch has it all: plains rolling with tall grass cover, canyon views edged with oak and cedar brush, and lush food plots that attract bruiser bucks into view. If you’re looking for a trophy buck to hunt in a classic Texas hunting environment, come hunt with us at Sierra Mesa Ranch.
A newly updated ranch house is located near the hunter’s cabin. At the ranch house, you’ll enjoy an after-hunt beverage, and be served hearty Texas-sized meals that satisfy your appetite after a day of successful hunting in the canyons and hills of Sierra Mesa Ranch. An outdoor fireplace under a night sky full of stars makes a great place for hunters to share their hunting stories.
The ranch has a modern, walk-in cold storage and food-quality processing facility. Meat processing, taxidermy and shipment of your game can be arranged.
BOOK A TRIPPutty Ranch
Located in Hamilton County at the gateway of the Texas Hill Country, the Putty Ranch has been a fixture in the region for well over 50 years. In the late 1950s, seven small farms and homesteads were consolidated into the current 2,700 acre Putty Ranch. Early settlers were attracted to the rolling hills and endless vistas crossed by winding creeks and rivers. Majestic oak groves, hundreds of years old, dot the rugged countryside. This area has been visited by hunters for over 10,000 years as evidenced by the stone tools and middens scattered across the countryside.
Today, the ranch is a great place to visit, explore, or hunt with your children. Enjoy spectacular starry nights around the campfire. Spring brings a sea of wildflowers to the hills. Search for ancient fossils or dinosaur tracks along the creeks and river. Several ruins of old homesteads are still standing and offer a glimpse into early Texas life on the ranch.
The ranch is home to whitetail deer, turkey, and wild hogs. Black buck and fallow deer have been spotted on the ranch. There is dove hunting in the fall and good duck hunting on the main lake. There are also coyote, bobcat, and fox.
BOOK A TRIPGilmore Creek Ranch
Gilmore Creek Ranch Vacation Rentals sit near the small, historic town of Hico, Texas. Staying with us provides a secluded get away with all the modern amenities such as satellite TV, WiFi, on site staff and Complimentary Breakfast. We also offer recreational packages to guests interested in getting the most out of your outdoor experience. We also welcome you to choose us as your next event venue!
Fishing – Our 40 acre trophy bass lake is available for guest access upon request with several different options.
Hunting – While we are still building our white-tailed deer and exotic populations we are offering waterfowl hunting and one single oryx bull hunt.
BOOK A TRIP
Go Climbing at Siloville
Housed in a converted grain silo turned climbing gym, Siloville has fun fall activities for the whole family. Siloville has climbing walls on the inside and outside of the silos, a ropes course, zip line, and is suitable for kids, adults, beginners and expert climbers. Make it to the top for the best view of the town, and instant bragging rights with your friends or family.
- 455 S. Elm St., Hico TX 76457
- www.siloville.com
- 254-340-0737
Pick Pumpkins at FBC Hico
Pumpkins create the perfect opportunity for fun fall activities, from pumpkin carving and painting, to creating delicious pumpkin seed recipes. Go pumpkin picking with family and friends at the First Baptist Church of Hico and pick your favorite. After you cut the pumpkin open, make sure to keep the seeds handy for delicious cinnamon-maple roasted pumpkin seeds, or for a more savory twist, try toasted pumpkin seed salsa.
Cinnamon-Maple Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp packed brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Directions
Scoop the seeds from your pumpkin. Remove orange strings and pumpkin bits. Transfer seeds to a colander and rinse thoroughly, 2 or 3 times. Pour onto a baking sheet in a single layer and pat dry with paper towels. Let seeds dry until they are no longer shiny and are dry to the touch, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375F. Stir seeds with oil in a medium bowl. Transfer back to baking sheet and bake 10 min. Let cool 10 min.
On the sheet, stir seeds with syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon. Bake 10 min more, or until syrup clings to seeds and they are crisp. Sprinkle with salt. Enjoy warm or refrigerate in airtight container up to 1 week.
Recipe from todaysparent.com
Toasted Pumpkin Seed Salsa
1/2 cup whole shelled pumpkin seeds
3 medium tomatoes, cored
1 small onion, peeled and cored
1 medium poblano chile
1 medium jalapeño chile
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
Toast pumpkin seeds in shallow pan in 350-degree oven for 5 minutes. Over gas flame or on hot grill, char tomatoes, onion, and chiles. Seed and stem chiles. Place in bowl and break up with hands or spoon. Mix in remaining ingredients, then rough-purée in food processor or blender to chunky consistency. Serve warm. Yields approximately 3 cups.
Recipe from Texas Monthly
VIEW RECIPE
October is Choctoberfest in Hico, Texas
Life is a little sweeter around here this time of year, because October is Choctober in historic Hico, Texas. Join us for fun fall activities including scarf dyeing, fashion shows, and more. Proceeds benefit Kids Across Cultures and Helping Hands of Hico.
Girl’s Night Out
10/17 – 4pm – 8pm
Fellowship, shopping, & fun! Stroll through the shops in town for special discounts, terrific treats, and door prizes! Catch Open Mic Night at Flacas Fitness & Brews from 6:30pm – 10pm.
Chocolate Pastries at Two Clay Birds
11am – 6pm
Join us at Two Clay Birds Farm & Garden Market, for new made-from-scratch pastries every weekend during October.
Hot Chocolate Bar at Wiseman House Chocolates
10/19 – 10am – 4pm
Join us at Cole’s for a free hot chocolate bar and shopping on 10/19 as they are donating 5% of their store sales to be shared between the Choctoberfest charities – Kids Across Cultures and Helping Hands of Hico.
Silk Scarf Dyeing
10/19 – 2pm
Come create a totally unique and customizable head scarf! For $30, make your own one-of-a-kind silk scarf by marbling floating paints on top of a dense solution. Almost like magic your design will transfer on to the scarf immediately for a unique creation. The whole process takes about 10 minutes, and it is simple enough for all ages!
Hand-Tossed Pizza Buffet at 2nd Street Provisions
10/19 – 6pm
Join us on Saturday, October 19th at 2nd Street Provisions for a hand-tossed pizza buffet from 6-8 pm. $12.99 for adults, $8.99 for children.
Fashion Extravaganza
10/26 – 3pm and 6pm
$20 per person, limited seating, by reservation only.
Call (254) 796-4155 to reserve your place!
Portion of proceeds benefits Hico Volunteer Fire Department.
Chocolate Cocoa Facial at Basale Esthetic Studio
10am – 6pm
All month long at Basale Esthetic Studio, receive $40 off a Chocolate Cocoa Facial. Prices vary. By appointment only.
Hallo-Wine at Bull Lion Vineyard
Two weekends full of fun fall activities and Halloween festivities for all ages that you don’t want to miss!
October 19th – 2pm
- Hay rides
- HORROR FILLED MAZE
- Pumpkin Carving and painting competition
- MUSIC BY BUBBA KEITH AND MIKE SAUCE
- Moonlight tour into the Haunted Vines
- FOOD BY THE BUCKING PIG
October 26th – 2pm
- Hay rides
- HORROR FILLED MAZE
- Pumpkin Carving and painting competition
- Moonlight tour into the Haunted Vines
Sip on Gourmet Hot Chocolate from Wiseman House Chocolates
In the fall, there’s nothing better than sitting around the fire with a warm beverage. Celebrate chocolate by enjoying it in the same way the ancient Mayans did almost two thousand years ago; by sipping it. Kevin Wenzel invented a liquid chocolate so sublime you have to taste it to believe it. Wiseman House Sipping Chocolate is not hot chocolate, it’s tiny delectable 100% pure chocolate morsels (no fillers) that when added with hot water becomes a smooth sensual drink like no other.
Go Trick or Treating in Downtown Hico, Texas
Downtown Hico Businesses will be passing out treats Oct. 31st. Dress the kids up and bring your candy bags for a fun hometown community event! Thank you to all our Hico local businesses that participate and provide the candy! 3:30pm – 5:30pm.
Bull Lion Market Day
Join us for family fun the first Saturday of the month for Bull Lion Market Days. In addition to live music, enjoy local vendors, Bull Lion wine, and more!
Local Vendors 3PM
Live Music 7-10PM
Local Food Vendor 3-10PM
Bull Lion Wine ALL DAY
Wine Club Pick up ALL DAY
Vendors:
Texas Handmade Suds
Wild & Lovely Designs
Olive Trunk Farms
Vendor inquiries email: mckinzie@bulllionranch.com
