There’s no question Southeast Texas likes to do things just a little bit different down here. Bigger, spicier, and with more pizazz. The ultimate bucket list for Beaumont visitors and locals alike, here’s everything you must see, do, and eat in our neck of the woods for a true Southern Texas experience. How many of these have you checked off?
1. Try the man candy at J. Wilson’s
2. Catch a sunrise at Cattail Marsh
3. Attend a true crawfish boil
4. Try a kolache from Rao’s Bakery
5. Snap a selfie at the World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant
6. Hold a baby alligator at Gator Country
7. Twirl in front of the three downtown murals (the dragonfly, Frida, and mermaid)
8. Complete the birdie passport booklet
9. Swing life away at Little Woodrow’s
10. See Spindletop blow and attend a reenactment
11. Ride a horse at Tyrell Park
12. Swing for the fences at Five Below
13. Have a giant margarita or two from Tia Juanita’s
14. Taste the famous queso at Carmela’s
15. Listen to live jazz at Suga’s
16. Tour the McFaddin-Ward House
17. Shop local at the weekly farmer’s market
18. Go big or go home at the South Texas State Fair (March)
19. Attend monthly brunch at Katharine & Co.
20. Dine on the farm at Amelia
21. Pose in front of the geometric Beaumont backdrop
22. Play patio games at Logon Cafe
23. Eat at the original Jason’s Deli
24. Have a Mexican fiesta at Tacos La Bamba
25. Admire the free art at AMSET (Art Museum of Southeast Texas)
26. Chow down a burger from Daddio’s
27. Catch Classic Movie Night at the Jefferson Theater
28. Celebrate spring at the Maypole Festival (May)
29. Mix and Mingle at First Thursdays on Calder
30. Stop and smell the roses at Shangri-La Botanic Gardens
31. Kayak through the Big Thicket
32. Admire the incredible architecture at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica
33. Have a true family style supper at Republic Chicken
34. Eat at the oldest family owned BBQ restaurant in Texas, Patillo’s
35. Catch live music on the patio of the Grill
36. Get in the Mardi Gras spirit at Taste of the Triangle (March)
37. Feed the koi fish at the Beaumont Botanical Gardens
38. Toss one back Texas-style at Oktoberfest (October)
39. Admire the historic downtown on Crockett Street
40. Go for an airboat ride and spot gators in the swamp
41. Take a trip across the state line to roll the dice in Lake Charles
42. Shop back to school fashion at one of our many local boutiques
43. Rent a cabana and chill by the MCM Elegante pool
44. Pay homage to a real legend at the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum
45. Learn all about black gold at the Texas Energy Museum
46. Relive the movie, the Big Year at High Island
47. Make it a beach day at Sea Rim State Park
48. Take the ferry to Galveston
49. Throw yourself a DIY gumbo crawl
50. Act like a kid again at Colorado Canyon