About an hour and a half east of Houston, find lot of things to do in Beaumont with kids like hiking, kayaking and even feeding gators. With a Cajun flavors and a National Park Service sight close by, Beaumont is a natural getaway with kids. Here’s the top things to do in Beaumont with kids.
Top Things to do in Beaumont with Kids
Beaumont Sign
The kids might spot the colorful Beaumont sign along Interstate 10 as they come into town. Stop, it’s the Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitor Center. Find information and maps covering Beaumont along with the nine counties in Southeast Texas.
Located at 5055 IH-10 South. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to enter.
Bike Beaumont on a Beaucycle
The downtown area is bikeable so rent a bike with the kids and ride to the museums and public art scattered across the area.
Rent bikes for $5 for 3 hours at the Beaumont CVB at 505 Willow St. or the Beaumont Civil Center at 701 Main St.
Fire Museum of Texas
The World’s Largest Fire Hydrant is painted with a familiar Dalmatian pattern at the Fire Museum of Texas. Inside the 1927 historic Central Fire Station, see a visual history of the fire departments in Texas with memorabilia, uniforms along with antique equipment.
Located at 400 Walnut St. Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Read More
East Texas Hiking and Camping Getaway
Bastrop Texas Weekend Getaway
Best Wildflower Drives in Texas
Beaumont’s Public Art
Kids love to engage with public art, especially whimsical murals. Find several murals across the Beaumont Commercial District like Frida Kahlo, dragonfly, mermaid located at 660 Fannin St. and the You are the Best Thing About Me mural t at 701 Main St.
Beaumont Children’s Museum
This is the top things to do in Beaumont with kids. The Beaumont Children’s Museum is divided into rooms with activities like a foam area for toddlers 4 and under. Then find several different interactive exhibits with hands-on activities for tweens. The Our Town section features a grocery store and bank. Also find areas dedicated to the arts like a puppet theater and arts and crafts area.
Located in the Beaumont Civil Center at 701 Main St. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for everyone over 12 months old is $5. Babies are free.
Texas Energy Museum
Outside the Texas Energy Museum, find colorful dinosaur sculptures. Inside, find interactive exhibits to learn how oil is turned into everyday products.
Located at 600 Main St. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $5 and kids (6 to 12) are $3.
Art Museum of Southeast Texas
Since it’s free to stroll through, see its collection of 19th to 21st century fine and folk art. The Art Museum of Southeast Texas features displays with local artists as well.
Located at 500 Main St. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Free to enter.
Read More about Texas
Galveston Getaway Guide
Salado–A Small Town Art Town Guide
Top Things to do in Dallas with Kids
Beautiful Mountain Skate Park
Centrally located downtown, skaters of all ages and abilities will find their favorite feature at the Beautiful Mountain Skate Park.
Located at 999 Laurel Ave. Open from dawn to dusk and free to use.
Rotary Centennial Playground
As a barrier-free facility, all abilities can play in downtown Beaumont at a playground funded by the local Rotary International club.
Located next to the Events Centre Lake at 600 Crockett St. Open from dawn to dusk and free to use.
Read More about Texas
Guide to Texas Caves
Weekend Getaway to Fredericksburg
Austin 4 Day Itinerary
Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center & Boardwalk
Beaumont is a premiere birding site in Texas, especially during the spring and fall migration. With its education center, kids can learn about the birds that migrate through Beaumont along the Mississippi Flyway and the Central Flyway before heading overwater to Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.
The Cattail Marsh Wetlands is a 900-acre area dedicated to birding and was once a water reclamation site. Find boardwalks and an elevated viewing platform to see some of the more than 250 species of birds visit annually.
4233 Babe Zaharias Dr. Free to enter and open dawn to dusk.
Tyrrell Park
Head to the largest municipal park in Beaumont covering about 500 acres. Find picnic tables, sports courts and playgrounds along with a municipal golf course and a horse stable.
It is also the home to the Beaumont Botanical Gardens (near the entrance) and the Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center & Boardwalk.
Located at 6088 Babe Zaharias Dr. Open dawn to dusk and free to enter.
Big Thicket National Preserve
North of Beaumont, the East Texas Piney Woods meets the Coastal Marsh. The Big Thicket National Preserve protects nine different ecosystems in the area and families can explore it on water or land.
With about 40-percent covered in wetlands, consider taking a guided tour of the Neches River. Families can explore the swamp in kayaks with local guide Gerald Cerda of Big Thicket Outfitters. Paddling the Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail, a 4.8-mile loop trail designated by Texas Parks and Wildlife is doable with school-age kids. With slow moving water, see Bald Cypress and Water Tupelos along with lots of wildlife. Don’t miss the Madonna tree, thought to be nearly a thousand years old. Big Thicket Outfitters offers boat tours as well.
If the kids want to hike through the Big Thicket National Preserve, stop by the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center for maps and information. Inside find interpretive exhibits to learn more about the different ecosystems of the area.
The best hikes for families are nearby, like the Kirby Trail, a 1.5-mile to a 2.5-mile loop trail, suitable for most hikers. Or even better, hike and see some animal-eating plants along the Pitcher Plant Trail, a one-mile trail and the carnivorous plants are found along the first quarter mile.
The Big Thicket National Preserve is free to enter and the visitor center is located at 6102 FM 420 in Kountze.
Read More
National Parks of Texas
Best Camping in Central Texas
Where to Find Fall Color in Texas
Village Creek State Park
Not far from Beaumont, Village Creek State Park offers over 1,000 acres to explore along with a tributary of the Neches River. Managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife, it offers swimming on Village Creek, a free-flowing creek.
The park features the Village Creek Paddling Trail and the visitor center loans for fishing tackle for those wanting to fish. The Village Creek State Park offers eight miles of hiking and biking trails.
If the kids want to camp, find a cabin for six along with 25 camping sites with electricity along with 15 primitive campsites. The campground features a bathhouse with showers.
Located at 8854 Park Road 74 in Lumberton. Adult day-use admission is $4 and kids 12 and under are free.
Gator Country Adventure Park
The kids will see the giant green alligator on the side of the interstate before the adults in the car. Gator Country Adventure Park is home to 450 reptiles and two of the largest alligators in captivity—Big Al and Big Tex are. Grab some hotdogs and a cane pole and the kids can feed the gators. Inside find lots of aquariums with reptiles and there’s the opportunity to hold a baby alligator.
Located at 21159 FM 365. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $16 and kids (3 to 12) are $13 . Feeding is extra.
Where to Eat in Beaumont in Beaumont with Kids
Since it’s located in Southeast Texas, and less than a hour from Louisiana, sample some of the best Cajun food in Texas.
Rao’s Bakery Coffee and Cafe
Kids can be picky for breakfast and Rao’s bakery cases will make their eyes bulge. Find lots of baked goods along with treats, like amazing seasonal cookies and cakes for later. There’s also barista made coffee for the adults along with a drive-through.
Two locations in Beaumont:
2596 Calder Ave. opens Monday to Friday at 6 a.m. and closed on the weekend. The 4440 Dowlen Rd. location opens Monday to Friday at 6 a.m. and the weekend at 7 a.m.
DaddiO’s Burger
Kids love burgers and DaddiO’s is a local favorite with lots of topping and options. Located at 4230 Calder Ave. Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Crazy Cajun
With the largest covered patio in Beaumont, Crazy Cajun is a must for families looking for a dose of seafood and Cajun favorites, like gumbo, étouffée and crawfish. Find a kids menu and an extensive bar menu.
Located at 2310 N 11 St. Open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp
A family-friendly restaurant with a colorful casual feel and a menu blending Cajun and Tex-Mex flavors. Tia Juanita’s offers a kids menu.
Located at 5555 Calder Ave. in Beaumont and 322 S. Main St. in Lumberton. Open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where to Stay in Beaumont
During my visit to Beaumont, I stayed at the new avid hotels Beaumont, an IHG Hotel, located at 5400 Rexora Dr.
Disclosure:
Consideration for locations mentioned.
Comments are closed.