Buda, Texas Travel Guide

Nearby: Austin, San Marcos

Tucked south of Austin on I-35, the small town of Buda is, like much along the I-35 corridor, growing. Once a sleepy railroad town, today Buda is home to the Texas-sized Cabela's store, downtown boutique shopping, and a growing number of Austin commuters.

How do you pronounce Buda? To sound like a local, just say "b-YOU-da". The name is one of the most mispronounced in Texas (right up there with Waxahachie and Boerne). The name has caused more than one visitor to expect a Budapest connection. The origin of the name, though, is one that most believe dates back to several widows who cooked in the local hotel restaurant that was popular with railroad employees. The Spanish word for widow is "viuda" and, since the v is pronounced much like a b in Spanish, Buda may have been a phonetic spelling for viuda.

Buda remains a railroad town with tracks going right through the downtown.

Where to Shop

Downtown you'll find several small boutiques along Main Street, right across from City Hall and the visitors center.

Texas Hatters If there were a "hatmaker to the stars," this would be it.

Cabela's This Texas-sized outdoors store is a destination in itself for hunters and anglers.

Jardine Foods If you've ever bought Texas food as a gift, you're familiar with the Jardine name; this company produces everything from barbecue sauce to jellies, all specially packaged for gift giving. Check out the gift shop; Exit I-35 at Exit 221 (Loop 4), continue west for 1.1 miles to the Jardine Ranch sign.

Where to Eat

Alice's Restaurant, Niederwald This eatery, housed in a frame house and accompanied by a small biergarten, combines good food and good music in one entree, with a healthy side serving of Austin funkiness.

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For More Information: Buda Travel Resources, Chamber

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