Feta Cheese in Aggie Land?

An Aggie walks into a deli a few blocks from the Texas A&M University campus and orders a Greek salad with Kalamata olives, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, artichokes, cucumbers, romaine lettuce and vinaigrette dressing.

No, wait...this is not an Aggie joke. Contrary to the countrified, meat and potato image most non-Aggies may have of Bryan-College Station, Texas an Aggie really could get a well-tossed Greek salad within senior-boot-walking range of the university. So could you.

In fact, the next time you visit the Brazos Valley, with a little foreknowledge you can almost pretend you're in that other big university town in Texas - Austin. You won't see any "Keep Bryan-College Station Weird" bumper stickers in Aggie Land, but if you've been in Texas for a while, you'll find some things that may surprise you.

Let's start with reasons to visit these twin cities. In the fall, of course, a home Aggie football game probably tops the list. But College Station also has the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library and Museum. If politics drives you to drink, go to Bryan and check out the Messina Hof Winery, a combination winery, restaurant, inn and gift shop.

Bryan also has been working on revitalizing its downtown. The LaSalle Hotel, built in 1928 and closed for years, has been restored as a luxury accommodation. Within walking distance are 10 restaurants, 7 antique stores or malls, 26 assorted shops and stores, two theaters and a children's museum.

If you prefer the suburbs, and a place that feels as close to a Mediterranean resort as you can get without getting on a ship, try the Vineyard Court Designer Suites Hotel in College Station. The hotel is built like an Italian villa around a garden-filled courtyard. At first blush, a new visitor might think the hotel is part of a chain, but it's not. As its promotional brochure explains, the property is "Proud to be Aggie owned and operated."

The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast as well as snacks and wine in the evening, but man cannot live on muffins and cheese alone. Across the street is a deli called the Blue Baker, a place that will make the most California-like Texan feel right at home. Not only can you get a Greek salad so good that you'll start humming the theme song from Zorba the Greek, their homemade peanut butter cookies will make the most ardent University of Texas fan start saying "Howdy" real loud to anyone passing by.

The details:

The Bush Library is at 1000 George Bush Dr. and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit the museum's Web site at www.bushlibrary.tamu.edu or call 979-691-4000.

The Vineyard Court is at 1500 George Bush Dr. East in College Station. For rate information and reservations, call 1-888-VINCORT, or 979-693-1220 or look at their Web site at www.vineyardcourt.com

The LaSalle Hotel is at 120 S. Main St. in downtown Bryan. Call 1-866-822-2000 toll free or visit www.lasalle-hotel.com for more information.

For more information on downtown Bryan, visit www.DowntownBryan.com or call 979-822-2000, ext. 303.

The Messina Hof Winery is at 4545 Old Reliance Road in Bryan, 1-800-736-9463, ext. 34. Their Web site is www.messinahof.com.

The Blue Baker is located at 201 Dominik Dr. near the intersection of George Bush Dr. and Texas Ave. The café-deli-pizzeria-bakery has everything from Spartichoke sandwiches (spinach, artichoke hearts, red peppers, goat cheese and balsamic glaze on homemade white bread) to barbecued chicken pizza. To check out the menu, visit www.BlueBaker.com

For more information on Bryan-College Station, contact their Convention and Visitors Bureau at 979-260-9898, 1-800-777-8292 or visit www.visitaggieland.com