Neatly situated halfway to Lake Charles on Interstate 10, Beaumont may seem easy to dismiss at first glance. But it’s far from just another drive-by town.
Rich with historical significance and teeming with biodiversity, Beaumont is a quick, easy, and affordable getaway, especially for families. If you’re searching for fresh perspectives and fresh scenery, give Beaumont another look with these seven completely unique activities and things to do in Beaumont this summer:
1. See Gator Races, Do Reptile Yoga & Join a “Try”athalon at Beaulympics
All ages are invited to a free, jam-packed, Olympics-inspired festival and Cajun carnival in Downton Beaumont on Saturday, July 17, 2021. With food competitions, beer relays, more than 40 games and craft activities, live music, an inflatable kids zone and Bubble-palooza, the one day event is not to be missed. Make a weekend out of it or use the rings and this list to to guide your Beaumont-area adventures all summer long.
2. Roll Around Downtown Beaumont
BeauCycles, Beaumont’s brand new bike share program, allows anyone to explore downtown Beaumont on just two wheels for only $5. Choose from 3 suggested routes or explore on your own. Given that the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and most attractions are within a 3-block radius, there’s no wrong way to explore. Or opt for a guided tour with Spindletop Cruisers’ glow-in-the-dark night bicycle tours.
3. Go Cajun Food Crazy on the Cajun Trail
Beaumont is an fascinating mix of cultures and culinary traditions, drawing from Cajun, Tex-Mex, barbecue, and other cuisines. The natural result is a delicious mix of flavors and delectable creations. Visitors and locals can enjoy the city’s native cuisine and earn prizes for checking in to 5, 10, or 15 local restaurants on the Cajun Trail. Make it a food crawl, or grab some grub to go and take a taste of Beaumont home with you.
4. Embark on a Mural Crawl & Photo Scavenger Hunt
Texas Monthly just highlighted Beaumont for its striking and exploding art scene. So take a break from BeauCycling and push pause on the Cajun Trail Crawl to take a gander at what the buzz is about. With 12+ vivid murals—and more being added—it’s a great spot to snag those critical backgrounds for Instagram, Tik Tok, and more while creating memorable moments.
5. Cache Beaumont Outside (GeoCache, That Is)
GeoCaching is a free, real world scavenger hunt you can do on your phone. Go treasure hunting while seeing some of Beaumont’s biggest attractions on the official Beaumont GeoTour which takes you to 25 featured attractions around town.
6. Explore the Great Outdoors
From the beaches to the bayous, the woods to the wetlands, Beaumont boasts 4 distinct eco zones and countless outdoor spaces to explore. Rent a canoe or kayak and hit up the Village Creek Paddling Trail, or pop by Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center for free yoga and kids activities every Saturday (or free binoculars and disc golf rentals anytime). If you’re hungry for more, there’s always the Big Thicket National Park and more 40 miles of hiking trails, which is hailed for being one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world.
7. Get Cultured or Experience History Today
Once dubbed “The Museum Capital of Texas,” Beaumont is city literally steeped in Texas and U.S. history. You can visit the birthplace of the Texas energy economy at Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown, a replica of an old west town complete with a working gusher. And you can also dig deeper into oil industry history at the Texas Energy Museum or snap a photo at the World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant at the Texas Fire Museum. Families and the young-at-hear can get hands on with STEAM activities at Beaumont Children’s Museum or burn off energy feeding, wading and holding gators at Gator Country. Most activities are under $10 or free, so there’s no shortage of opportunities for fun that doesn’t break the bank.
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