Intellectually curious visitors to the heart of Texas can enjoy exploring Brady's offerings of museums. A large collection of country music memorabilia is housed at the Heart of Texas Country Music Association Museum (hillbillyhits.com). The museum accepts appointments for guided tours on weekdays. History buffs can gain knowledge about the region by visiting the Heart of Texas Historical Museum (heartoftexashistoricalmuseum.com), housed in the former county jailhouse. Contact the museum in advance to schedule a weekday visit, as formal visiting hours are limited to Fridays and Saturdays.
Visitors to Brady can enjoy award-winning, traditional pit barbeque at Brady's Hard Eight BBQ Restaurant (hardeightbbq.com). In addition to a variety of meats available by the pound, visitors can enjoy authentic side dishes and desserts, including banana pudding, corn on the cob and complimentary beans. Hard Eight also offers lunch specials and catering plans. For traditional diner fare and free wireless Internet, visit Brady's Restaurant in downtown (no website; 503 S. Bridge St., Brady; 325-597-9990). Call ahead, as hours can vary.
Gain entry to Texan hunting culture by scheduling a visit to Jacoby's Feeds for hunting supplies, gossip and a hearty lunch (jacobyfeed.com). In addition to offering vaccinations and an extensive stock of supplies for livestock farming, the on-staff experts can offer guidance on hunting supplies, locations and permits. The store offers a contest for the hunter who captures the largest buck. The full-service cafe can provide fuel before a long day with offerings from a rotating menu.
Plan an early September visit to Brady to take advantage of the town's unique, annual celebration of regional barbecue traditions. The Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual world championship goat cook-off. Participation in the event is open to registrants from around the globe. Even vegetarians can enjoy the festival, as events include a five-kilometer race and a food court with a wide variety of options. Specific activities are planned for children, including a horseshoe-throwing competition.
