Destination attractions attractions and things to do in beaumont tx

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Beaumont is located in southeastern Texas near the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana, and elements of Cajun culture, the Old South, Tex-Mex and more are found in this warm, sunny city. Built along the Neches River, Beaumont has lots of things to do; nightlife, shopping, museums, sports, dining, and annual festivals are some of the many attractions available in the city. Beaumont is on Interstate 10 between Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and is the largest city in southeast Texas. The mild climate allows visitors to participate in outdoor activities almost year-round, and the city is served by the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. Here are some places you may want to visit on a trip to Beaumont.

MUSEUMS

Beaumont has several interesting museums located in the downtown area. The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is located on Main St. and attracts notable exhibits, has a caf and a section for children. Theres also an outdoor sculpture area.

The Edison Museum, located on Pine Street at the Edison Plaza, has many exhibits on Thomas Alva Edison and his inventions.

The Fire Museum of Texas has the worlds largest fire hydrant, painted white with dalmatian spots, and is housed in an old fire station on Walnut Street. Kids love touring this museum, as they get to see several old fire trucks, living quarters of the firemen, and theres even a safety house where they can learn fire safety. Even adults like to take a turn at sliding down the fire pole.

The McFaddin-Ward House, on McFaddin Street in Old Town, is a beautiful mansion restored to its former glory. You can tour the house and the carriage house and ballroom behind the main house. Good times to visit the house are in the spring, when the azaleas are in bloom on the grounds, and Christmas, when the house is decorated in a grand Victorian style. Special events are held throughout the year at the house.

The Texas Energy Museum is on Main Street beside the art museum and has wonderful exhibits detailing the oil industry. There are huge photos of offshore oil rigs, talking robots that tell the story of the Spindletop oil field in a humorous manner, and lots of information about the petrochemical industries based in Beaumont.

The Tyrrell Historical Library is housed in a lovely old Romanesque-Gothic church built at the turn of the 20th century. The restored building is home to a genealogical library and has many sources for those seeking family trees in southeast Texas. The library is on Pearl Street in downtown.

The Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum is located on Interstate 10 and is surrounded by a large park. This museum has exhibits celebrating the life of Olympic athlete Didrikson and also contains a visitor center. Theres a walking trail around the park.

Gladys City Boomtown Museum on Highway 69 near Lamar University features a turn of the century boomtown and a replica of the Spindletop oil derrick. The little town has a number of replicas of shops that were there in the early 1900s, and group tours are available for those who want to relive frontier history.

NIGHTLIFE

The Crockett Street Entertainment District is downtown in the 200 block of Crockett Street. There are nightspots, bars, restaurants and music venues there housed in historic buildings that have been recently restored. You can hear many different types of music, such as Zydeco, country, rock and blues, attend frequently-held outdoor festivals, and eat and drink with friends there. Theres a trolley that will take you to your car, or you can walk on the brick streets. Crockett Street is near the Neches River and Riverfront Park.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ford Park is located on Interstate 10 west of Beaumont and includes a large indoor arena, a softball complex, RV park and an amphitheater. Events such as hockey games with the Wildcatters, the Southeast Texas State Fair and Rodeo, concerts, and sports tournaments are held at Ford Park.

The Jefferson Theater, located downtown on Fannin at George Jones Place, was restored recently and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The impressive theater offers frequent performances in dance, music, drama, comedy and more.

The Julie Rogers Theater is at Pearl & Forsyth in downtown, and this beautifully restored building offers performances of many kinds, including music, dance, and touring plays. The theater is located next to the Beaumont Public Library and is across the street from the Beaumont Civic Center.

SPORTS

The Montagne Center at Lamar University offers sporting events for Lamars basketball team, the Cardinals and the Lady Cardinals, and often hosts concerts and other events.

There are several golf courses in Beaumont, including Bayou Din Golf Club on LaBelle Road., Brentwood Country Club on Major Drive, Henry Homberg Municipal Golf Course at Tyrrell Park, and Idylwild Gold Club on SH 105. Games People Play on College Street offers a driving range.

Horseback riding is available at Tyrrell Park Stables, and the park offers 5 miles of trails on which to ride.

Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, fishing and other river sports are available on the Neches River, which winds through downtown Beaumont. There is a public boat ramp near the Beaumont Country Club, and rentals are available along the river. Swamp tours on air boats are available in nearby Orange; you can see alligators up close if take a tour.

NATURE

The Beaumont Botanical Gardens are in Tyrrell Park and include beautiful gardens, water elements, and walkways. The Warren Loose Conservatory and Binks Horticulture Center is adjacent to the botanical gardens and includes waterfalls, gardens representing different climate zones and a visitor center.

Sea Rim State Park is near Beaumont in Sabine Pass and offers over 4,000 acres of marshes and beaches. There are nature trails, a large visitor center with showers, restrooms, an observation deck and gift shop, and camping. Swimming, fishing, boating and beachcombing are popular activities on the beaches.

The Big Thicket National Preserve includes more than 97,000 acres of marshes, rivers, wooded areas and wildlife. Activities in the park include birding, hiking, canoeing, fishing and camping. Theres a visitor center that has exhibits about the history of the Big Thicket.

SHOPPING

Parkdale Mall is a large shopping mall containing major department stores and over 100 smaller shops. Its located on the Eastex Freeway at Dowlen Road. Dowlen Road has many shops and shopping centers, from Parkdale to Phelan. Other streets with significant numbers of shops include Phelan, which has several shopping centers, Calder Avenue, which has many antique shops and gift shops, and Stagg Drive, which has Gateway Shopping Center.

DINING

Beaumont has many restaurants reflecting the mix of cultures found there. Seafood restaurants are abundant, with some offering platter service, which is an all-you-can-eat, messy ordeal popular with those who like to sample a wide variety of crabs, shrimp, fish and other Gulf Coast seafood. Tex-Mex restaurants are popular in Beaumont, and range from chains to small locally owned shops. Barbecue, Italian, and Cajun food are also popular, as are steakhouses and Chinese. Bakeries, delis and small casual cafes, fine dining and buffets are all found in Beaumont, and whatever your tastes, youre sure to find something you like to eat.

Beaumont has many types of accommodations, ranging from large hotel complexes to RV parks. Transportation includes the airport, a Greyhound bus terminal, city buses, taxis and rental cars, limos, and tour buses. The surrounding cities of Orange and Port Arthur also have attractions and annual events, as do other areas in southeast Texas, including Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Toledo Bend Reservoir. As the major city between Houston and New Orleans, Beaumont has a lot to offer visitors.