Located along the Louisana border, Beaumont melds its Texas swagger with Cajun flavors. Visitors will find a National Park Service site close by, dedicated to several different ecosystems. About an hour east of Houston, visitors will find lots to do from museums to biking to kayaking. Here are the top things to do in Beaumont, Texas.
15 Top Things to Do in Beaumont Texas
Art Museum of Southeast Texas
Beaumont Children’s Museum
Beaumont Sign
Bike Downtown
Fire Museum of Texas
Texas Energy Museum
Beautiful Mountain Skate Park
Rotary Centennial Playground
Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center & Boardwalk
Beaumont Botanical Gardens
McFadden Ward House
Village Creek State Park
Gator Country Adventure Park
Eat Seafood
Is Beaumont Worth Visiting?
After living in Texas for decades, I have to admit I’d never visited Beaumont until a few years ago. Based out of Houston for many years, it was a close neighbor but never a destination.
On my recent visit, I discovered it offers many museums and natural areas to explore. I also found many different restaurants to enjoy. So if you are looking for a stopover while traveling on Interstate 10 or visiting a new-to-you area, then definitely consider Beaumont.
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 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Free to enter.
Beaumont’s Public Art
Kids love to engage with public art, especially whimsical murals. Several murals,, are located across the Beaumont Commercial District.
The You Are the Best Thing About Me mural is located at 701 Main St.
The Frida Kahlo, the Dragonfly, and the Mermaid are located at 660 Fannin St.
Beaumont Children’s Museum
This is one of 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 Civic Center at 701 Main St. Open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission for everyone over 12 months old is $6. Babies are free.
Beaumont Sign
The kids might spot the colorful Beaumont sign along Interstate 10 as they enter town. Stop; it’s the Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitor Center. Here, you can find information and maps covering Beaumont and 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 Downtown 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.
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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, and antique equipment.
Located at 400 Walnut St. Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Texas Energy Museum
As the name implies, this museum is dedicated to the Texas energy industry. Outside the Texas Energy Museum, you can find colorful dinosaur sculptures. Inside, you can 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.
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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.
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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 the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. This is one of the top things to do in Beaumont, Texas.
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 from dawn to dusk.
Tyrrell Park
This is the largest municipal park in Beaumont, covering about 500 acres. It features picnic tables, sports courts and playgrounds. Visitors will also find a municipal golf course and a horse stable. This is one of the top things to do in Beaumont, Texas.
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 from dawn to dusk and free to enter.
Beaumont Botanical Gardens
At the entrance of Tyrrell Park, the Beaumont Botanical Gardens features the 10,000-square-foot Warren Loose Conservatory. Its outdoor displays offer water features along with seasonal plantings of color.
Located at 6088 Babe Zaharias Dr. Open from dawn to dusk and free to enter.
McFaddin Ward House
This private home was constructed from 1905 to 1906 in the Beaux-Arts Colonial Revival style. The 12,800-square-foot house is furnished with original furniture and decorated during the holidays. The house sits on a large, landscaped lot. This is one of the top things to do in Beaumont, Texas.
Located at 1906 Calder Ave. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. It offers docent-guided and self-guided tours. 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. This is one of the top things to do in Beaumont, Texas.
With about 40 percent of the Neches River covered in wetlands, consider taking a guided tour of the 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, Water Tupelos, and 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 Visitor Center for maps and information. Inside, you can find interpretive exhibits to learn more about the area’s different ecosystems.
The best hikes for families are nearby, like the Kirby Trail, a 1.5-mile to 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.
National Parks of 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 and 15 primitive campsites. The campground features a bathhouse with showers.
Located at 8854 Park Road 74 in Lumberton. Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for day-use. 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.
Grab some hotdogs and a cane pole, and the kids can feed the gators. Inside, there are lots of aquariums with reptiles, and you can hold a baby alligator. This is one of the top things to do in Beaumont, Texas.
Located at 21159 FM 365. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $19.99 and kids (3 to 12) are $16.99. Feeding is extra.
Where to Eat in Beaumont
Since it’s located in Southeast Texas and less than an hour from Louisiana, you can sample some of the best Cajun food in Texas.
Rao’s Bakery Coffee and Cafe
Kids can be picky about breakfast, and Rao’s bakery cases will make their eyes bulge. Find lots of baked goods and treats, like amazing seasonal cookies and cakes, for later. There’s also barista-made coffee for the adults and a drive-through.
Two locations in Beaumont:
2596 Calder Ave is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on the weekend.
The 4440 Dowlen Rd. location is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
DaddiO’s Burger
Kids love burgers. DaddiO’s is a local favorite with lots of toppings and options.
It is located at 4230 Calder Ave and is 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 to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp
Tia Juanita’s is a family-friendly restaurant with a colorful, casual feel. Its menu blends Cajun and Tex-Mex flavors. Tia Juanita’s also offers a kids’ menu.
Located at 5555 Calder Ave. in Beaumont and 322 S. Main St. in Lumberton. Open Tuesday 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 3 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.
Consideration for locations mentioned.
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