Things to do / Travel Guide
Everything in Texas is big, in terms of square miles as well as population, and the southeast Texas region is no exception: it contains the majority of the state's inhabitants in the big cities like Houston, Austin, Galveston, and San Antonio, as well as the bulk of its outdoor activity opportunities. The region is packed with all the usual outdoors activities, like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and diving, as well as tubing - but in a big Texan way. Newcomers to southeast Texas probably expect to see exclusively tumbleweed and flat desert. Nicht doch, as the German-speakers around Texas Hill Country might say! The region sits at the crossroads between the American South and the West, and, as such, you'll find the famously lush Texas Hill Country in these parts. Closer to the coast are dense forests and verdant swampland.
Land-based Activities in Southeast Texas
If you're searching for the perfect way to experience the wide-open Hill Country on foot, look no further than Lost Maples, which follows a narrow canyon among bigtooth maple trees. Other hiking in the region will take you to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, for a look at alligators, snakes, and bobcats. There's also the rare javelina, which looks like a furry pig with long tusks.
The biking routes in the region are supreme, full of long, hard climbs and screaming-fast downhills. The best place to head is probably Flat Rock Ranch, where the only thing to break your fall is a surprised bovine.
Nothing attests to the superior size of Texas than the spread-out landscape of her cities. And nothing speaks for the size of these cities than there being, smack in the middle, huge bicycle tracks, both road and mountain. Houston, for example, presents Memorial Park. This otherwise normal city park contains a trail known to the locals as “Ho Chi Minh Trail,” due to its thorny, jungle-like environs.
The city of Austin is proud of its Veloway, where native son Lance Armstrong has practiced long hours of cycling; as well as of Barton Creek Greenbelt, the definitive mountain bike city-trail, and a popular escape from the city bustle.
By the way, one attraction not to be missed in southeast Texas is Enchanted Rock. This huge slab of pink granite is the second-largest of its kind, with only Atlanta's Stone Mountain any larger. The monstrosity is a site to behold, and you can hike, climb, or mosey your way all over it to your pink heart's content. Stand on its summit and you can see from miles in all directions, including east toward the Hill Country. Rock climbers will find a variety of routes in the surrounding formations.
Water Activities in Southeast Texas
Tubing is a local passion in southeast Texas. Long before the innovation of official water parks, Texans were tubing down the Guadalupe River and the Comal River in old truck tires. See for yourself the benefits of this relaxing form of water recreation: sunning, you reach for a beer, as you drift gently down with the slow current. Then, reach for another beer. Did we mention the Germans have had a big cultural impact on these parts?
Let's see what's in store for you on a trip to Texas' strip of the Gulf of Mexico. Practically the entire coast - from Galveston to Aransas to Mustang Island to Corpus Christi - is lined by long barrier islands, and the route between these islands and the mainland is shared with the Intracoastal Waterway. That means you can kayak down the coast and wave to the patrons sunning themselves on luxurious yachts. Surfers will likely find some good waves, depending on the season, at South Padre Island and Galveston Island.
The coastal area teems with unique flora and wildlife: prickly pear cactus, mesquite trees, wild flowers, exotic birds, and even coyotes have made their homes on the small islands dotting the waterway's path. A visit down Texas' strip of the waterway allows you to island-hop your way along as you explore and appreciate the outdoors.
Below the water' surface you'll have the chance to scuba dive and explore some fantastic wrecks, like the V.A. Fogg, an enormous tanker, and the Liberty Ships, some World War II-era warships. In both of these locations you'll ogle at the various unique sea life that congregates within and around their rust-filled skeletons.
Just under 100 miles off the coast is Flower Gardens, a U.S. marine sanctuary bursting with fish, turtles, dolphins, and protected coral reefs. It'll make you think you're somewhere in the Caribbean, not off the coast of southeast Texas.
The region is world-famous for its sport-fishing, as its abundance of redfish has approached mythical status. Fishing for redfish is highly regulated, but when legal, highly challenging - these snappers won't go down without a fight. Points of embarkation for deep-sea excursions are usually from the picturesque cities of Galveston, Port Aransas, and South Padre Island.
Southeast Texas is a big, activity-filled region, with lots of wide-open spaces ideal for outdoors exploration. Ride out to the region to check out the rolling, rugged Hill Country, the nature-loving cities of Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, and the coastal areas along the Intracoastal Waterway, like Galveston, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi. There's something for any and all lovers of the outdoors, and there's no way to do it in Texas but big!
Outdoor Recreation in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Padre Island and Southeastern Texas
Outdoor-Sports-Recreation
San Jose Island Beach - Port Aransas, Texas
Big Thicket National Preserve
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center
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