End of Summer Destinations

Though summer doesn’t officially end until Sept. 22, or so says your handy wall calendar, Labor Day usually reminds us that it’s really the last holiday to enjoy those outdoor activities, especially at the beach.

Texas has more than 370 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico beginning with Sea Rim State Park near Sabine Pass. The park has 5.2 miles of Gulf shoreline and 4,000 acres of marshlands where you can camp, go birding and beach combing, paddle in a canoe or kayak, swim, fish and walk. Stroll along the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk, which takes you through the marsh to view many different species of animals and birds.

Daily admission fee at Sea Rim State Park is $3 and overnight camping is available by calling (512) 389-8900.

Next door to Sea Rim in Jefferson County is McFaddin Beach. This is a 20-mile stretch of sandy beach extending from High Island to the west to Sea Rim State Park and can be accessed near Sea Rim on Highway 87. This extensive and spacious beachfront parcel consists of hard-packed sand, which is good for walking as well as driving. Entrance is free and overnight camping is allowed.

All 27 miles of Bolivar Peninsula are beachfront. Driving on the beach, campfires, grills, beach camping and beach combing are permitted on the Bolivar beaches including Crystal Beach, Port Bolivar, Gilchrist and High Island. If you go, you must visit the historic Bolivar Lighthouse, which was built in 1872, and Fort Travis – the first fort established by the Republic of Texas (1836) to protect the Galveston harbor entrance.

There will also be plenty of live music on Bolivar this weekend including three shows by Jason Boland & The Strangler (Fri., Sept. 2), Shinyribs and Cory Morrow (Sat., Sept. 3) and Giovannie & The Hired Guns with Kody West (Sun., Sept. 4), all at the Bolivar Beach Club.

Those not wanting to feel the sand beneath their toes can visit Cattail Marsh in Beaumont. This area located at 4233 Babe Zaharias Dr. includes 900-acres of wetlands and offers a variety of recreational activities with a new boardwalk and more than 8 miles of gravel levee roads for jogging, hiking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching and wildlife photography along the banks of Hildebrandt Bayou and Willow Marsh Bayou.

Cattail Marsh is a wildlife refuge for a variety of aquatic mammals and more than 250 species of birds annually, including pelicans, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ducks, ibis, doves and red-winged blackbirds. In 2016, a new boardwalk and viewing platforms were opened to provide new access and incredible views of one of the most active birding areas of the wetlands. It also features 12 miles of trails.

And how could we forget the Big Thicket?

Located in Kountze, the Big Thicket National Preserve consists of 40-plus miles of official hiking trails that include the popular Kirby Nature Trail, Sundew Trail, and Pitcher Plant Trail, which all are available for daytime use.

Visitors can also enjoy fishing, canoeing, kayaking and motor-boating remains abundant along the Neches River, Village Creek, Turkey Creek and numerous other small tributaries throughout the preserve. All boat launches are open, including the Confluence Boat Launch in Orange County and McQueen’s Landing Boat Launch in Jasper County.

All picnic areas are accessible including Edgewater Day Use Area in Jefferson County, the picnic shelter at the Sundew Trail in Tyler County and many other informal picnic spots at trailheads throughout the park.

Entrance into the Big Thicket is free and overnight camping is available by calling (409) 951-6700.

Beaumont also offers plenty of city parks to enjoy an afternoon or evening visit such as Babe Zaharias Park, Colliers Ferry Park on the Neches River, Klein Park, Tyrrell Park and Wuthering Heights.

-Chad Cooper, Entertainment Editor