How to spend 48 hours in Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock is the perfect place for a weekend getaway for wine lovers, hikers, and foodies

Although Lubbock was never on my radar growing up in the DFW area, my recent exploration of the city has shown me its hidden gems. I am excited to share with you some of the incredible places I discovered! Below you’ll find the perfect itinerary on how to spend 48 hours in Lubbock, TX.

Your 48 hour itinerary on what to do and where to go in Lubbock, Texas

DAY 1

Start your day at Monomyth Coffee

Looking for a spot to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, matcha, and pastries? Monomyth Coffee is the perfect destination! Whether you're in the mood for a morning meal or a midday boost, this cafe has got you covered. Brothers Trenton and Randall Jackson founded Monomyth Coffee in 2019 with the intention of placing people at the forefront of their stories. The word "monomyth" means "one story," referencing the "Hero's Journey," which is a story that repeats itself everywhere, despite differences in names, interests, and backgrounds. We all embark on a journey, facing obstacles and overcoming them with the help of friends or the strength within us. Their mission is to provide encouragement on their customer’s journey, to serve as a source of rejuvenation and support as they confront challenges day in and day out, and to celebrate victories, whether big or small.

Check into the Cotton Court Hotel

If you’re planning a trip to Lubbock, you can’t go wrong with Cotton Court Lubbock. This accommodation is conveniently located near excellent coffee shops, wineries, and restaurants that you can easily walk to. One of the best things about this place is the many outdoor areas where you can relax, hang out, and even make s’mores over a fire. Despite its large size, Cotton Court has a cozy aesthetic that makes you feel right at home. Check it out here.

Pop into McPherson Cellars while downtown

In the earliest days of Texas grape growing, the founder of McPherson, Dr. Clinton ‘Doc’ McPherson, championed an industry that existed only in his dreams. The vines he planted were some of the first to yield true Texas wines. Forty years later, the McPherson family proudly carries on his legacy through farming and winemaking inspired by the world yet deeply rooted in the High Plains. This was the first wine we tried when we arrived in Lubbock, and it was the perfect place to start. The tasting room was absolutely lovely and cozy, and the wine was great! We loved tasting high plains wine in the actual Texas high plains. Most of the wine in Fredericksburg, TX, actually comes from their vines in the high plains, so it was lovely to actually BE in the place where the grapes grow. Overall, be sure to put McPherson Cellars on your list of places to visit while in Lubbock.

Enjoy tapas at La Diosa Cellars across from McPherson Cellars

This cutie bistro offers its take on classic Spanish and Mediterranean tapas, inspired cuisine from the owner’s Spanish background. We loved sippin’ on their famous sangria and enjoying all the different types of light bites! La Diosa is within walking distance of McPherson Cellars, making it the perfect place to pop into after a wine tasting. This is a great place for a date night, a girls’ night out, or whatever brings you out of the house, especially since they offer live music, too! The atmosphere will absolutely make you want to sit and stay awhile.

Stroll through the Buddy Holly Museum

Learn all about Buddy Holly and his incredible impact on the music industry. Buddy Holly was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. The Buddy Holly Center collects, preserves, and interprets artifacts relevant to Lubbock's most famous native son, Buddy Holly, as well as to other performing artists and musicians of West Texas. Learn more about this cool museum here.

Taste the high plains cuisine at Nicolett

The Nicolett is a new fine dining destination for West Texas, from Chef Finn Walter. With a focus on High Plains' cuisine, the elegant menu is rooted in showcasing ingredients that are natural to the region with techniques that reflect Walter’s experience in Paris, Austin, Napa Valley, and Santa Fe. One of the most beautiful aspects of this restaurant is the greenhouse. If you want a table in the greenhouse, definitely call for reservations, as there are only about 4 tables in this area. However, if you aren’t able to get a table in the greenhouse, the other tables are in beautiful areas of the restaurant as well. The food was delicious, inventive, and the overall vibes of the restaurant were upscale chic while making me think I was in The Secret Garden. Overall, it’s a wonderful dining experience, and I highly recommend the homemade biscuits because I’m still dreaming about those dang things!

DAY 2

Road trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park or Caprock Canyon

While in Lubbock, you’re only an hour from one of Texas’ hidden gems, Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It is the second-largest canyon in the country and an absolute must-visit while in the area. The canyon offers incredible hiking, biking, horseback riding, and more! This trail was truly one where all the hiking and climbing were WORTH IT! The views were absolutely beautiful and didn’t even feel like Texas. No reservations are required for this trail in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, but it’s highly recommended to go EARLY! Like 6/6:30 am to avoid crowds and have the place to yourself. The trail is fairly flat the entire time until you’re right before the lighthouse. Once you get to that point, I would rate it moderate because of the climbing and hills. Overall, not too bad! The total hike is about 5.7 miles round trip and is definitely worth it.

Experience Texas wine at Burklee Hill Vineyards

Upon entering Burklee Hill Vineyards, one is instantly transported to a chic, modern, and welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of a lush bistro in Uptown Dallas. Situated in the Historic Knesset Building in downtown Lubbock, this beautiful winery is an ideal location for a picture-perfect moment or a delectable lunch with friends. Their salads and sandwiches are truly superb and if you like brussels sprouts at all, order these because they are amazing!

Sip wine at one of the oldest wineries in Texas at Llano Winery

Did you know the second-oldest winery in Texas is in Lubbock?! The Texas Panhandle is actually home to more than two-thirds of the grapes grown in Texas. I had no idea 🤯 Llano Winery is a must-visit while exploring historic Lubbock, TX. Enjoy some delicious charcuterie paired with even more delicious wine when you visit this incredibly gorgeous tasting room — it’s great for a girl’s day, date, or family outing. It’s about a 15-minute drive into the countryside of Texas and well worth it for its delicious wine and charcuterie board.

Check out Texas Tech University

I love touring universities while visiting new cities because they’re all so uniquely different. Texas Tech is right downtown and a great spot to walk around after enjoying lunch at any of the various spots nearby.

Grab dinner at Rave On before seeing a performance at Buddy Holly Hall

Before heading to a fabulous show at Buddy Holly Hall, grab dinner at Rave On. I still have dreams about their corn crème brûlée… I mean, have you ever heard of that before? It’s what dreams are made of, that’s for sure! Everything we had was fabulous, from the salmon to the potatoes and crab cakes, it was all so lovely.

Watch a show or ballet at the gorgeous Buddy Holly Hall

The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences is a regional, multi-purpose performing arts center dedicated to enriching the lives of those who live in Lubbock, the South Plains area, and beyond. We saw Cinderella while visiting over the weekend and it was lovely! I grew up going to the ballet in DFW, and this really felt like I was back in Dallas. It was a lovely experience and the performance hall was stunning! I highly recommend checking out their calendar before planning your trip to Lubbock to see if you’re able to see a performance. See the calendar here.

Growing up in Texas, I had never considered Lubbock to be anything special. However, upon visiting, I discovered a city bursting with culture, art, cuisine, and wine. Its rich history only adds to its charm. Have you visited Lubbock before? What did you think?

XOXO

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