Three Great Family Restaurants to Drive to Near Athens, TX

There is no shortage of excellent fishing holes teeming with wall-hanger scaled beauties around Athens, TX. Load your fishing tackle in your Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra, and go on an exciting fishing expedition at the great fishing spots below. Drive on Over: 4 Fishing Spots Near Athens, TX 1. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center at 5550 F.M. 2495 in Athens is a great spot to wet your hook. This state-of-the-art facility features a 300,000-gallon aquarium, museum, hall of fame, hatchery, and laboratory. TFFC has several ponds where you can wet your hook, and they even offer loaner fishing tackle free of charge. You can also bring your own fishing tackle, but only commercially prepared baits in their original containers or natural baits are allowed. Just keep in mind that the TFFC staff will look over all tackle and bait you bring at the Anglers Pavilion. 2. Lake Athens Lake Athens is a beautiful 1,799-acre lake just five miles east of town on FM 317. The water in the lake is moderately clear, and it's home to white bass, redear sunfish, and crappie. The lake is top-rated for its jumbo largemouth bass, some of which can tip the scale at eight pounds, with a record of an astounding 14.19 pounds. You can catch white bass that measures between 16 and 18 inches and sunfish that reach up to 10 inches, and while there may not be many crappie, if you get lucky to hook one, it's usually of decent size. Lake Athens Marina and RV Park at 5401 Marina Drive offers easy lake access, has a public boat ramp and a bait shop, and rents watercraft if you want to fish on the water. 3. Cedar Creek Reservoir If you're looking for an exciting fishing adventure, take a 15-mile drive west on US 175 to Cedar Creek Reservoir, the fourth-largest lake in Texas, covering 32,623 acres. The lake is home to various fish species, including crappie, largemouth, white, hybrid striped bass, blue, flathead, and channel catfish. With a 320-mile-long shoreline, you'll have plenty of space to cast your line. The biggest bass ever caught in the lake weighed an impressive 14.65 pounds. Catfish are abundant, and hybrid striped bass are stocked annually, with a wall-hanger record of 13.19 pounds caught in these waters. 4. Purtis Creek State Park Lake The 349-acre Purtis Creek State Park Lake on Purtis Creek is another excellent fishing hole near Athens at 14225 FM 316 N in Eustace, roughly 15 miles away. The lake is designated specifically for fishing, with a good supply of catch-and-release largemouth and keeper white bass, sunfish, crappie, and channel catfish stocked annually. You can fish from the fishing piers or boat, and there are fish cleaning stations and boat and kayak rentals. Load your fishing tackle and bait in the truck to drop your hook in the best fishing holes around Athens. Before you head out to catch that big one, swing by Bacon Auto Ranch to take a closer look at all the fantastic new models.

When you need reliable performance and all-wheel-drive versatility without sacrificing fuel efficiency, look no further than the 2023 Chevy Equinox. Whether you plan to use it for cruising city streets or adventurous road trips, this sporty two-row SUV is ready for fun, and it comes with a wide array of interior comforts and next-level tech features that are sure to enhance every drive. At a Glance: The 2023 Chevy Equinox Capable Performance The 2023 edition of the Equinox comes with a 175-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter engine under the hood and 6-speed automatic transmission, which translates to responsive performance and exceptional fuel efficiency. With an estimated 31 mpg on highways and 28 mpg in combined city/highway mileage, you can go further in this SUV with fewer fuel stops on long journeys. For improved traction in different driving conditions and across different terrains, all-wheel drive is available, and models equipped with this system still get excellent fuel economy, with an estimated 30 mpg achievable on highways. There's also a standard MacPherson front suspension and performance brake linings, which help deliver smooth, quiet rides and excellent handling around turns. more A Tech-Ready Interior If you're looking for a comfortable cabin with plenty of tech and entertainment features, you'll easily find it in this SUV, with room for up to five passengers, heated leather-trimmed seats, and the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus System, which offers everything from audible navigation instructions to help you chart journeys to wireless smartphone connectivity and access to convenient apps. Also offered are multiple USB ports and both 12-volt and 120-volt power outlets, giving you multiple options to plug in personal devices or recreational gear. If you need to haul large cargo, the 60/40 split-folding seat is sure to be appreciated, as you can fold it fully or partially down based on your needs. Safety for All Occasions All of the safety features that come with this vehicle are also impressive, like the Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, and Automatic Emergency Braking. The first system tells you just how far away you are from vehicles in front of you, while the other two systems can jump into action to help you avoid collisions if you're approaching too quickly. The available Front and Rear Park Assist use radar-based sensors to tell you if there are objects in front of you or behind you while in parking lots and if you'd like to see your surroundings, HD Surround Vision is a multi-camera system that can more than accommodate with split-screen views around the vehicle. With its excellent handling, dazzling tech features, and a lush cabin that can make even the longest trips more comfortable, the 2023 Equinox deserves a closer look. Come see it from the driver's seat to experience everything else it has to offer by contacting us today at Bacon Auto Ranch.

If you're in or around Athens, TX, and you've got a thirst for knowledge or a love for all things historical, beautiful, or just plain interesting, then you're in for a treat. Climb into your GMC Sierra, buckle up, and take a drive to some of the best museums around! more Make the Drive to These 3 Best Museums Near Athens, TX 1. Henderson County Historical Museum Located right in the heart of Athens at 201 E Larkin St, the Henderson County Historical Museum is a treasure trove of local history. From Native American artifacts to Civil War memorabilia, there are exhibits from a wide range of historical periods in a building set up to imitate an old general store. The museum is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who are passionate about preserving and sharing the rich history of Henderson County. They're always ready to answer your questions and share fascinating stories about the exhibits. So, if you're a history buff or even just curious about the local area, the Henderson County Historical Museum is worth a visit. 2. East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society Next head over to the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society at 1601 Patterson Rd. This 100-acre wonderland offers a different kind of learning experience: it's home to more than two miles of nature trails, the historic Wofford House Museum, and a variety of plants and trees native to East Texas. The Wofford House, a 19th-century log house, gives visitors a glimpse into the past, showcasing what life was like for early East Texas settlers.  The surrounding arboretum is a living museum, where you can learn about local flora and fauna. Whether you're a nature lover, a history enthusiast, or both, the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society is a destination worth driving to. 3. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, at 5550 FM2495, is a unique facility combining outdoor education with a production fish hatchery. The center's mission is to educate visitors and promote freshwater sport fishing while encouraging the conservation of the aquatic ecosystems in Texas. There, you can explore aquariums teeming with  Texas' native fish species, watch a dive show, walk along the wetlands trail, and even try your hand at fishing in the stocked casting pond. It's a fantastic place for families, with plenty of interactive exhibits and activities to keep kids engaged and learning. There are so many places to go around Athens that you'll never have a dull moment! It doesn't matter if you prefer history, plants, or wildlife, there's something that will appeal to you. Once you're finished checking out these great museums, come by Bacon Auto Ranch and let us help you explore our inventory, too! Image Via Pixabay