LBK Saturdays are for the Boys

If you are anything like me, saving up all my PTO this summer while being stuck at home is giving me the travel bug! Now is the time to get away for a couple of days. Let’s round up your boys, take off next Friday and set the GPS to Lubbock, Texas!

First thing’s first, you’ll need a place to crash at the end of the day. I highly recommend staying downtown.

My first choice is the Pioneer Pocket Hotel. At the historic Pioneer Building, the Pioneer Pocket Hotel is a quick elevator ride from some of the best food, beer and wine in Lubbock with The West Table Kitchen and Bar and The Brewery LBK in the lobby and Burklee Hill Vineyards down the street. It is also a quick Uber ride to the Depot District. If all of that isn’t convenient enough, your booking, check-in and room access are all virtual as well!

The Cotton Court Hotel is another great option! Opening in late September, Lubbock’s newest boutique hotel is conveniently located right off the Marsha Sharp Freeway on Broadway in downtown. Modern and rustic, this hotel is a one-of-a-kind property complete with the on-site restaurant and bar, Midnight Shift. Cotton Court is also a short jaunt over to my personal favorite, Flipper’s Tavern. It is also in close proximity to Dirk’s Chicken, a must-try for all fried chicken fanatics. Also opening in late September, this will soon be a Lubbock favorite as it is the creation of local Chef Cameron West of The West Table Kitchen and Bar.

My next recommendation is Doubletree by Hilton. Opening in early 2021, this downtown hot spot will feature a lobby bar and restaurant, with our good friend Chef Antonio Pena behind the scenes serving up delectable dishes with a West Texas twist.

Those looking for a more granola experience can hook on the camper and head toward Buffalo Springs Lake. Adventurers can rent a boat, jet ski or one of many water toys from Lakeside Rentals. There are hiking, biking and ATV trails as well that are ready be explored. While there, jump over to Ransom Canyon and get your Instagram post at the Bruno Steel House.

Now that we have the accommodations planned, let’s make sure you’re well-fed!

Nothing gets the day going like an old-fashioned southern breakfast, and by staying downtown you don’t have to go far to get it. The Original Pancake House is internationally known for having one of the best breakfasts in Lubbock. Order the Summit and a coffee and thank me later.

If you’re looking for tastes from even farther south, Jimenez Bakery and Restaurant has you covered with authentic, Tex-Mex breakfast burritos and all your favorite Mexican pastries.

Ice cold beer, generous portions and plenty of TVs make Caprock Cafe an ideal spot to catch the game in the afternoon. It’s also a popular local spot for Red Raider fans. Get your guns up and wreck ‘em!

Crafthouse Gastropub has a superb beer list and their food is always on point. I usually start with the pickle jar followed by the fish and chips. If you need to catch your favorite team’s soccer match, they’ll probably have it on here.

I’d be remiss if I also didn’t point you toward the ninth-best BBQ joint in the state, according to Texas Monthly. Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque brisket will cure what ails you. The green chili grits help the medicine go down! I strongly suggest you get there early because the line starts between 10 and 10:30 a.m. and they run until they sell out, which is usually between 2 and 3 p.m.

For a sophisticated steak supper, I’m sending you to Las Brisas Southwest Steakhouse for a farm-to-table feast. Sit out on the patio next to the waterfall and pick your favorite cut of their all-natural, ethically sourced Angus beef with a side of truffled mashed potatoes.

Now for the fun.

Start your day by heading east on Broadway to Mackenzie and Mae Simmons Park for SUPLBK stand-up paddleboarding and some of the best disc golf courses in Texas. If you bring your bike, there are mountain biking trails and dirt jumps as well.

If golf is your thing, schedule a tee time at one of our many beautiful courses throughout the city. The Rawls Course is Golfweek’s 4th best college course in the country and the public Shadow Hills course is always green.

If your handicap is as high as mine, a more laid back golfing experience might be the thing to do, like The Range. On the edge of town with a brand new facility, they’re ready to serve you food, drinks and a good time. Hit a bucket of balls, toss some washers and listen to live music at their new facility!

There’s something about throwing an axe at a chunk of wood that will make you forget about the stresses of the daily grind. Raider Axe Gallery & Entertainment knows a thing or two about that. Along with them, Grab Axxes will also provide you with axe and wood but with the added bonus of having a cold one while determining which among you is the manliest.

Admittedly shopping usually isn’t at the top of any guy’s getaway list, but Lubbock has a couple special spots you should check out.

Head by H.G. Thrash on Broadway to get fitted. Pick your fabric, enjoy the famous West Texas hospitality while knowing that you’ll soon be turning heads in your new threads. From the office to happy hour, Signature Stag will make sure you’re looking your best. Pick up a Mizzen + Main shirt and tell Natalie I sent you by.

Add to your vinyl collections with a stop at Ralph’s Records. Plan your day accordingly as you may find yourself lost in the sea of new and vintage records.

At the end of the day, head back toward the hotel to one (or all) of the breweries featured downtown. Less than a mile from each other, you can safely and cheaply hop from one to the next.

Sit out on the patio at Two Docs Brewing Co. and sip on a Buddy Hoppy IPA or a Chilton Gose, which tastes remarkably similar to the famous Lubbock cocktail. Then, head over to The Brewery LBK for one of Sally’s special brews. I personally love the Lieutenant Dan hazy IPA but I’ve got a side thing going with their new EPV IPA (Easy Peasy Vietnamesey IPA) named and flavored in honor of Co-owner Mike Nghiem’s heritage. Mozy on over to the OG Lubbock brewery Triple J Chophouse & Brew Co. and take your pick of solid beers starting with a Raider Red. This is also the time for you to learn about Choppy Bob Nachos. Check out my other post for a little more in-depth look at the beers.

Live music is the heart and soul of this town. These are strange times and musicians are just getting back into bars, patios and parking lots. Many of our local spots have been fantastic in their support for these artists. In fact, each night live music is playing at locations all over town. We like to think the next Buddy Holly, Josh Abbott or Mac Davis is making music in Lubbock right now. So, even if it’s not a twenty in the tip jar, get their name and jam to their music on the way home. Tell your friends about them…you might have just heard the next headlining act sitting on a patio drinking a beer with your friends.

Phew! I know that’s a lot, so I mapped it all out for you. There are a few more places I didn’t have time to mention that you should check out and a couple more picture spots for your Instagram story. If you can’t get it all done in one weekend, I promise we’ll be here when you come back.

Share with us your favorite way to spend a Saturday with the boys using #LiveLoveLubbock!

Bonus tip: If you and your boys loved Lubbock so much you want to start, move or expand a business here, check out Lubbock Economic Development Alliance’s podcast Hub City Spokes. Pick out an episode that sounds interesting to you for your drive home and hear why so many people have built their brands in the “Hub City”.