Things to Do in Madisonville

Madisonville is a laid-back town that’s perfect for unwinding and de-stressing. With fewer than 5,000 residents, you’ll never have to content with big-city lines or traffic, regardless of what you decide to do. No matter the time of year, the best things to do in Madisonville involve slowing down and appreciating the finer things in life: good food, live music, and nature in all her splendor. You can’t ask for anything more than that out of any vacation. Check out the following suggestions on how to spend a getaway of your own to the quaint town of Madisonville.

Be a Fun-Guy at the Texas Mushroom Festival

Madisonville is known throughout the Lone Star State as hosting Texas’ biggest annual celebration of mushrooms. Held in October, the mushroom festival kicks off with the Shiitake 5K Run/Walk in downtown Madisonville.

Be sure and join in so you work up an appetite for all the food and drink there will be to enjoy throughout the day in downtown Madisonville, from fajitas made with Monterey mushrooms to Texas wine on Winery Row and craft beer in the Biergarten.

Speaking of wine, for a modest fee you and a teammate can enter the Grape Stomp race and see how fast you can pound some grapes.

There will also be an auto showcase, cooking demonstrations (with mushrooms as the key ingredient), art and photography exhibits, a kids’ zone, a quilt show, and live entertainment. By the end of the day, you’ll agree that Madisonville’s nickname as the Mushroom Capital of Texas is well-deserved.

Explore the Downtown Square

Even if you don’t make it for the mushroom festival, the downtown square offers plenty of shopping and dining throughout the year.

Shop for home decor, boots and Western wear, antiques, art, jewelry, and more at the shops and eclectic boutiques here.

For dining, your options include both American and Mexican cuisine. To mingle with the locals and hear the latest gossip, swing into Walker’s Cafe for some sweet tea and peach cobbler or some good old-fashioned down-home cooking.

Play on Lake Madison

At 75 acres, Lake Madison may not be the largest lake in Texas. However, it does offer more than its fair share of things to do in and around the water. If you’ve got a boat, get out on the water and fish for bass or catfish, lie on the deck, and soak up the sun’s rays. The lake is located inside the larger Lake Madison Park, which has been updated over the years to make it one of the most fun places for kids and families in town. There are baseball and softball fields, hiking and biking trails, playscapes, basketball courts, a fishing pier, grills for picnicking, a covered pavilion, and more. The Madisonville Splash Park is adjacent to the lake, as well, providing a safe place for youngsters to get wet and wild while you relax in the shade.  

Stay at the Historic Woodbine Hotel

One of the best things you can do for yourself on any trip is to book a room somewhere that delivers both classic charm and modern comfort. In Madisonville, that place is the historic Woodbine Hotel and Restaurant. Built in 1904, the building exudes Victorian-era elegance, while the interior is decked out with antique furniture and rare pieces, like a pull-chain commode salvaged from a Houston bus terminal. Flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi provide the touches of technology to please 21st-century travelers.

If you don’t stay at the hotel, at least stop by the restaurant for one of the best meals you’ll have in all of Madisonville. For breakfast, this B&B serves up dishes such as the Woodbine Waffle and Rattlesnake Ranch Pecan French Toast. You’ll see Monterey mushrooms sprinkled throughout the lunch and dinner menus, from the Monterey Alfredo to the Pork Monterey. The restaurant is even pet-friendly and allows well-behaved animals to join you while you eat. A tasty meal in a historic hotel with your best furry friend? It doesn’t get any better than that.