Top Things to do in Texas Gulf Coast
Top Hotels in Texas Gulf Coast
- 1. Best Western Texas City
- 2. The San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center
- 3. Blossom Hotel Houston
- 4. Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center
- 5. Holiday Inn Resort Galveston-on the Beach, an IHG Hotel
- 6. Hilton Americas-Houston
- 7. Best Western Plus Katy Inn & Suites
- 8. Hyatt Regency Houston West
- 9. Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria
- 10. La Copa Inn Beach Hotel
What to do and see in Texas Gulf Coast, Texas Gulf Coast: The Best Nature & Parks
Discover the best top things to do in Texas Gulf Coast, United States including TGR Exotics Wildlife Park, Port Aransas Beach, Padre Island National Seashore, Gladys Porter Zoo, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Rockport Beach, Malaquite Beach, Houston Zoo, Mary Jo Peckham Park, Cockrell Butterfly Center.
Restaurants in Texas Gulf Coast
1. TGR Exotics Wildlife Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 82 reviews
Grab Your Safari Gear. Your adventure begins HERE! At TGR Exotics Wildlife Park, you will get up close and personal with some of Planet Earth's most exotic, fascinating, and endangered animals. Here you will find more than 100 animals representing over 25 species. All our animals are raised hands on, if not completely hand raised, and they have amazing personalities and dispositions. Go to our website to book your tour.
Reviewed By TexSuzan
This was a fun, positive experience for our granddaughters. Traci led a very informative sloth encounter where we fed three sloths. Nick shared interesting trivia about the exotics we saw on the tour. The girls enjoyed petting the pigs, goats and llamas wandering around. It's evident that owner Gwen is passionate about providing good care of the rescued animals.
2. Port Aransas Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,064 reviews
Public beach on Port Aransas that is clean, has a lifeguard and has car-free locations.
Reviewed By MichelleGarcia84
No vehicle traffic sucks when it comes to bringing stuff to set up at the beach, but nothing a wagon can’t fix, the trade off has been no vehicle traffic, and no cars all over the beach! This is so nice and I wish Port A would keep this rule even after Covid, maybe year down a condo and build a parking lot lol Anyway, clean beach, warm water, bathrooms and rinse stations, trash cans available, watch out for jelly fish and sting rays, plenty of sea shells, various crabs to look for if you enjoy that sort of thing. Sand is perfect for sand castles! Pretty sunsets too!
3. Padre Island National Seashore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,859 reviews
A 15-minute drive from downtown Corpus Christi transports you to this magnificent 70-mile stretch of white sand beach, scenic dunes and warm ocean water, offering ideal conditions for swimming, fishing, beach-combing, windsurfing, camping, bird-watching and viewing wildlife.
Reviewed By M8870IWjasonr
A fantastic national asset. Best enjoyed though with a capable 4x4 vehicle. Tourist crowd the first 5 miles of beach while the real beauty exists South of the 20 mile marker. Ask some locals before taking off down the beach, it does have it's risks. For those adventurous types a trip 60 miles south to the Mansfield jetty is worth the trip.
4. Gladys Porter Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 515 reviews
The Gladys Porter Zoo is a visitor-oriented zoological and botanical park, dedicated to the preservation of nature through education, conservation, healthy outdoor recreation and research.
Reviewed By Valkyrie1227
Incredible zoo, definitely the highlight of not just brownsville but the entire Rio Grande Valley for that matter. A definite must-visit, the herpetarium in particular has an incredible array of extremely rare reptiles and amphibians on display, with most of them being actively bred and several conservation projects ongoing.
5. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
National Wildlife Refuge with opportunities for enjoying nature and wildlife through hiking, bicycling, photography, fishing, hunting and guided tours.
Reviewed By curioustraveler65 - Richardson, United States
I went with 7 other visitors and 2 volunteer leaders on a bird tour of the refuge; we were gone from 8 am to 12:30 pm and saw about 75 species. It was a great trip on a small bus with frequent stops; 3 of the group had scopes they were quick to set up to see the birds. Highlights for me were: hooded oriole, Altimira oriole, Wilsons snipe, orange crowned warbler, kingfisher, Aplomado falcon, and LOTS of herons and egrets. There were many more birds, of course, and others in the group were interested in different things than I was. We also saw wild turkeys and a coyote. The trip was so successful because of the size of the refuge, and the fact that the land has been largely returned to native condition, and the friendly knowledgeable volunteer leaders, Kathy and John. There is no food available nearby, so plan to take a lunch and have a picnic at one of the available tables after the tour.
6. Rockport Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 729 reviews
A mile-long sandy beach that offers swimming and a variety of water sports.
Reviewed By fltexan5
Clean beach. Great for families. Nice bathroom, showers, and changing area. Ample parking and easy access to the beach.
7. Malaquite Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 481 reviews
This beach on Padre Island is a great camping and beach-going spot.
Reviewed By katv55
Malaquite Beach is a jewel along the Texas Gulf coast as part of the Padre Island National Seashore. With the adjacent NPS Visitor Center and its showers, restrooms, interpretive programs, and gift shop, this vehicle-free stretch of beach is the perfect for a day’s outing year round. Visitors are in for a treat from May to September when the hatching and releasing of baby sea turtles occur.
8. Houston Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,164 reviews
The Houston Zoo provides a fun, unique, and inspirational experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world. Essentially a small city encompassing a world of ecosystems and experiences, the Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts. We have over 6000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and, yes, even education! In addition, we have over 1.84 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well being of our residents and guests.
Reviewed By oxfordcg - Houston, United States
Whenever I visit the Zoo, of which I am proud to say I am a member, it feels as if I am visiting several countries in one day. The variety of well-cared for animals is outstanding. I particularly love how the animals interact with us. During the season of Christmas lights, we visit the animals and then as it darkens and we return for the Christmas lights, it is great to picture where the animals are sleeping and resting.
9. Mary Jo Peckham Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Known as the "park for all children."
Reviewed By Roam741589
Excellent indoor pool - check monthly pool schedule for classes and times. Changing room is clean with lockers and showers. Indoor exercise room. Putt putt facility undergoing renovation. Children’s outdoor play area. Fishing pond. Walking trail around the pond. Plenty of picnic tables.
10. Cockrell Butterfly Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 704 reviews
Next to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the glass-enclosed butterfly habitat includes a simulated rainforest and thousands of colorful butterflies. A dramatic 50-foot waterfall and exotic plants transport visitors.
Reviewed By fueledbymoxy - Houston, United States
Lucky for me I am not scared of flying bugs/insects so I loved this. There are so many beautiful butterflies you will be in awe and will be able to get up close and see the stunning patterns on their wings. I spent easily an hour in here and look forward to visiting again.
TAGS
