Gulf Coast

The Texan Gulf Coast region is simply breathtaking. Some of the world’s finest beaches are found along this stretch of Texas. Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast region is known for warm, sparkling water, long sandy beaches, and gorgeous year round weather. The Gulf Coast region goes inland about sixty miles, so it is easy to spend some time in the adjacent Piney Woods, Prairies & Lakes, or South Texas regions during brief day trips.

It is a certainty that tourists have already heard of some of the Gulf Coast regions major towns and cities. Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Katy, Port Arthur, South Padre Island, and Surfside Beach are all located in this region. One thing that locals advise is that tourists spend some time in the more popular beach communities, but do not forget to travel to the smaller towns where beaches are less crowded. There are many hidden gems found along the Gulf of Mexico that tourists sadly miss.

Summers are generally warm, mostly reaching the mid-90s, but tourists should be aware that the Gulf of Mexico breezes keep humidity from building making the temperature easy to withstand. Winter highs rarely drop lower than 50 with nights going into the 30s. Fall and spring round out the year with warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights. The climate in the Gulf Coast region makes this an extremely attractive destination year round.

Galveston Island offers more than thirty miles of pristine sandy beaches and many historic homes and buildings. Be sure to try your hand at salt-water fishing. Many area companies offer charter-fishing trips that cover all of the necessities including fishing equipment, bait, and electronic radars for finding where the fish are hiding. Galveston has another Schlitterbahn Waterpark that has indoor sections that allows guests to use their water slides and tubing rivers year round, even if the weather is bad. The Strand National Historic District is a must for anyone who wants to examine historic buildings while enjoying some of the best shopping and dining in the region.

Houston has its own popular attractions, the most well known being NASA’s John Space Center. Other attractions in this city include San Jacinto Monument, Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Downtown Houston Aquarium, Armand Bayou Nature Center, and the George Ranch Historic Park. There are many excellent shops and restaurants scattered throughout the city. Surfside Beach is a few miles south of Houston. This town has miles of quiet beaches that are less known to the tourist base. If you prefer quiet beaches that are not heavily built up for tourism, this is the area to visit.

The heavily Cajun influenced Port Arthur is located near the Louisiana border and contains some of the most beautiful beaches and nature areas in all of Texas. Port Arthur has become a popular location for nature enthusiasts thanks to the Coastal Birding Trail Sabine Loop. There are many birds visible from this walking trail. Other popular activities include canoe trips from Sea Rim State Park or airboat tours through the marshes where alligators thrive.