Beaumont, Texas, is a city on the outskirt of Houston, best-known for the big oil boom in the early 1900s. Beaumont shares the Gulf Coast with Louisiana and has a flavor much the same as the low country does. Expect amazing food, primo outdoor adventures, spectacular murals, and a few other special attractions sprinkled along the way. Here are 7 things to love about Beaumont, Texas, that keeps me coming back for more.
Start your day with the Neches River Adventure Tour, a relaxing open-air boat ride along the Big Thicket National Preserve. Be on the lookout for gators, world-class birds, and beautiful nature as you cruise through this unique ecosystem adorned with hardwoods and pine trees.
The comfortable and spacious boat departs from Collier Ferry and is well worth the drive and ticket price. Knowledgeable seasoned guides shared intriguing stories about Beaumont and showed us how to spot wildlife. I swear, our guy could see a bird or gator from a mile away. He kept the entertainment level strong throughout our journey.
Drinks and snacks are permitted on the boat tour. Weather and water conditions may determine what you see during your adventure, so know that all tours are not created equal in terms of spotting wildlife.
Fun Offering: Are you traveling with children? You can participate in the Beaumont Birdies Official Passport program offered by the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau. Beaumont is a hot birding location, offering 28 birding trails and opportunities for spotting rare bird species. Collect stamps for your passport by visiting the locations mentioned in the guide. Once you collect eight stamps, redeem your passport for an adorable Beaumont Birdie plush toy.
As I mentioned above, Beaumont has a great selection of cajun and creole dishes, as well as the freshest seafood and incredible local eateries. My favorites include Floyd's (a Beaumont institution), Bruno's Italian Kitchen, and Lupe Tortilla.
At Floyd's Cajun Seafood, start your dining experience with some fried gator, perfect for this part of the country. Then, roll up your sleeves and belly up to the table for a spectacular dish simply called Floyd's Bar Trash. This tasty plate of blackened shrimp and lump crab meat is served with garlic toast and lemon butter, but caution, it is very addictive. Floyd's also has excellent sweet and unsweet tea, for all you Southerners.
Bruno's Italian Kitchen was a surprise to me. I didn't except to come to East Texas and find a fantastic Italian restaurant. My daughter and I loved it. You can't go wrong with an appetizer that has fried ravioli and mozzarella, wings, and garlic cheese bread. Right? For your main course, the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Toscana (with artichoke hearts and spinach) are both exceptional. If you still have room, try the Bread Pudding for dessert.
Lupe Tortilla is the place you see from the road, a really cool building with lots of artful decor and neon signs, and you already like it before you even enter the door. All your Tex-Mex favorites are on the menu, plus the chips and salsa are really good. My favorite thing at Lupe Tortilla (besides killer margaritas) are the Pina Coladas, something that sounds so foreign to write not being associated with a Caribbean cruise or something.
Lupe Tortilla uses condensed milk (Hello Eagle Brand!) to take this creamy concoction to the next level. They are delicious!
One of the best historic home tours we've ever been on was to visit the McFaddin Ward House, opened to the public in 1992. The circa 1906 home is beautiful and one of twelve Beaumont homes built in the same era of the same style. The McFaddin-Ward House is in mint condition and filled with original furniture and decor. The many china collections are fascinating!
Included with your ticket is a chance to visit the Carriage House. Here, you will learn about the connections with those who lived there (Louis Lemon and Cecelia Smith) and the part they played in the McFaddin's lives.
If adventure is more your speed, consider trading out the river or home tour with a mind-blowing visit to Gator Country. This is an attraction you have to see to believe! Walk through the grounds of this intriguing animal sanctuary property that is filled with gators of all shapes and sizes, reptiles, and a few other animals. Don't miss the animal encounters and dare-devil feedings!
When the owner Arlie Hammonds (pictured here) and Gary Saurge of TV fame, and one of his helpers entered the river to hand-feed Big Al, the celebrity gator, I held my breath the entire time. Big Al is an 84-year-old gator that weighs more than 1,000 pounds. This attraction is not for the faint of heart.
Perhaps I am biased due to the awesome Frida Kahlo mural (660 Fannin Street) in Beaumont, Texas, but I found their mural scene to be on point. You'll find many cool things to see and take photos of while working on perfecting your selfie.and it's free. A few others of interest include Janis Joplin, the flowers at Calder Avenue, and Jack Brooks Regional Airport. You can also find a list of the murals to visit on the Beaumont CVB website
The Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown, a living history museum of sorts, is great fun for all ages and dedicated to preserving the history of the famous gusher era in Beaumont. Learn about the Lucas Gusher, the largest oil discovery in the world, and how that changed the country as we know and catapulted the United States into becoming the world's largest oil producer.
A monument to the gusher is located on the property. Let your kids participate in the Spindletop scavenger hunt, available when you purchase tickets and wander through the historic reconstructed Gladys City buildings with authentic artifacts.
A fascinating way to get in touch with nature is the visit the 23.5-acre Beaumont Botanical Gardens. They have both indoor and outdoor gardens with exotic plants, water features, sculptures, and lots of pretty things to take in. If you continue driving past the gardens, you will come to Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands & Boardwalk. This attraction has restroom and picnic facilities, and is an excellent place to see the wetlands up close and personal.
I saw dozens of different kinds of birds and shorebirds, though no gators were out of hiding while I was there. The sounds, smells, and sights are a visual delight and definitely a unique place to add to your travels. Kudos for having the educational storyboards to help me identify what I was seeing. That helped tremendously.
Pro Tip: Bring binoculars. You will be able to see so much more with their help.
The MCM Hotel Elegante was our home-away-from-home during our time in Beaumont. Known for stellar customer service, the Hotel Elegante has been voted the best hotel in Beaumont for over a dozen years. It is conveniently located and has several nice restaurants to choose from, including a grab & go eatery that serves Starbucks beverages. The swimming pool is not to be missed!
A second choice is a new hotel at I-10 and Walden, the Holiday Inn & Suites Beaumont-Plaza. The hotel lobby has a multi-level waterfall that adds a nice ambiance to the indoor atrium, while guests packed in the hotel bar for happy hour and food. The Holiday Inn & Suites has really large rooms, a pool and hot tub, plus daily breakfast. It was pet-friendly and WiFi was also included.
A special thanks to the Beaumont, Texas CVB for hosting my stay. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased.
The Gusher Age was a period of major economic growth in the state of Texas during the early 20th century. It began with the discovery of a huge petroleum reserve near Beaumont, Texas. The Lucas No. 1 well blew at Spindletop near Beaumont, spewing 100,000 barrels of oil a day, 100 feet into the air until it was capped nine days later. The impact of this fantastic event catapulted Texas in terms of corporate development, wealth, and the overall economy of the state and politics. It became THE place to come for work, wealth, and living the American dream.
Though oil is no longer the predominant factor behind Texas' economy, it is still an essential commodity and provides a major job market in Beaumont. Unbeknownst to most of us, nearly everything we use in our day-to-day lives contains petroleum in some form.
FYI: One barrel of oil equates to 42 US liquid gallons
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