The first thing that comes to mind about the Gulf Coast region is precisely
that; the shore along the Gulf of Mexico. And no wonder, since there are more
than 624 miles of coastline arching southward from the Louisiana border to the
Mexican border near Brownsville.
The warm water of the Gulf beckons visitors who want to swim, fish, sail,
sunbathe, build sand castles, surf or just take a relaxing stroll on the
beach.
Searching for some solitude? Look no further than the North Padre
National Seashore, which has the longest undeveloped stretch of
barrier-island beach in the world. If you prefer to be where the action is, join
the crowds and party-like atmosphere up and down the coast during Spring Break,
or in Galveston and Port Arthur during Mardi Gras.
From the sun-kissed valley near the Texas-Mexico border to the swamps in Orange, and everything in between, the
region has something that appeals to every kind of traveler.
If you enjoy wildlife watching, you’ve definitely come to the right place.
Texas hosts an amazing variety of local and migrating birds—many of which can be
spotted from parks, nature centers, preserves and refuges along the Gulf Coast.
Most of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail sites are here, and the Rio Grande
Valley, part of which falls in the region, is the nation’s No. 1 bird-watching
destination. Catch glimpses of the endangered whooping cranes that winter at the
Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy the Whooping Crane Festival in late
February. Visit Rockport-Fulton in September for
the Hummer/Bird Celebration.
For history buffs, travel back to a different time in Texas with a visit to
one of many sites of profound historical importance, such as the San
Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in Deer Park, where Texas won its
independence from Mexico, and Spindletop in Beaumont, which set off the oil boom in
Texas in 1901.
For museum lovers, the region is rich with art and heritage museums, as well
as historic homes and buildings. Houston’s Museum District is ranked
among the country’s five best, and its Museum of Fine
Arts is the nation’s sixth largest.
With Texas’ largest city, Houston,
and its surrounding metropolitan area, along with Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Harlingen, Port Arthur, Beaumont, the Brazosport Area and Bay Area Houston, there are
plenty of opportunities for people who want to shop, visit art museums, attend
theatrical performances, splash around at water parks, and enjoy rides at
amusement parks. For a truly out-of-this world experience, visit NASA/Space Center
Houston and have some fun learning about our nation’s space program.
With so much to see and do here, it might be hard to decide where to start,
but you don’t want to miss a thing. So, be sure to review the following pages to
learn more about the cities and attractions found within the area, and use the
information to plan your adventure.
Whether you are a beach or water fan, history buff or living for the present,
urbanite or nature-lover, the Gulf Coast has something for
you!