The 9E Ranch is a 300 acre cattle ranch; there are three ponds and wooded Piney Creek with hiking trails, a gazebo in the meadow and one at an overlook, benches for sunsets,  inviting porches and rocking chairs for relaxing.	Within ten minutes of the ranch, visit the Central Texas Antique Car Museum,or visit Owl's General Store for an amazing array of western wear, gifts, decorator items and horse feed, or attend the Wednesday cattle auction at Hill Paririe Auction Barn. What do Hollywood stars Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick, Jr. Sean Penn, Ryan Reynolds, Brad Pitt and Jon Gries have in common?  They've all filmed movies in the small town of roughly 4,000 residents, located just 10 miles from the 9E Ranch Bed and Breakfast. Hope Floats was filmed in 1998, The Denist 2 in 1989, The Breakdance Kid in 2008, Martha in 2009, Artois the Goat in 2009, Five Times Champion in 2009 and The Tree of Life in and Doonby in 2010.  Enjoy a visit to the Hollywood of Texas and shop on Main Street but don't miss Chel Art Gallery on the now famous Olive street where Brad Pitt filmed Tree of Life and the Hope Floats house is located. If you want to taste the BEST Bar-B-Q in Texas go to Zimmerhanzels but be sure and get there by 11:30 AM because the do run out of the mouth watering ribs many days. Smithville broke the Guinness Book of Records for the largest gingerbread man - 26 feet and 1,308 pounds, 8 oz..  The pan used for baking it stands on Railroad Park at the end of Main street next to the rail road museum.  The cute town of Smithville has a number of art and antique shops including Milk and Honey Antiques as well as some great places to eat. Visit Chel Art Gallery in Smithville Milk and Honey Antiques The Arts Cottage
Shoppers can wander off to Bastrop, Alum Creek or Smithville, all within 15 minutes for some wonderful antiques, crafts and even fine art! Gonzales is 30 minutes down 304 and the famous events of Round Top are only 45 minutes away.	Bastrop County is a golfer's paradise with three golf courses:  Pine Forest(15 minutes) and Lost Pines at Bastrop State Park(15 minutes) and the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa (16 miles).  Many guests to the 9E Ranch make it a golf weekend and play several courses.
Buescher State Park has fishing and 7.7 miles of hiking trails. Bastrop State Park has a great swimming pool, 8.5 miles of hiking trails, and the road between the parks is perfect for bicycling. Lake Bastrop Park has boat ramps and is all set for swimming, canoeing, boating and fishing. McKinney Roughs offers hiking and horse trails. BOOK NOW!	A favorite activity is eating! All the cabins have refrigerators, stoves and grills, so HEB and Walmart will get you supplied, but check out the good eating close by: steaks, Mexican, barbecue, Italian, Middle Eastern, and down home Texas cooking. Some of the menus are in the cabins! Bastrop County is having a flurry of new restuarant openings so please ask about the latest additions! Your horse is welcome at the 9E Ranch (with negative coggins and $15 per day, per horse) or just bring an apple and pet our horses, Tia, Cupid, Doc and Joeboy.  If you want a horse experience during your stay we can arrange for you to sit on Tia and ride in an enclosed area.  If you are interested in a trail ride we suggest White Lightning Ranch rides: www.whitelightningranch.com White Lightning Ranch trail rides