Visit southeast Texas and discover the top things to do in Beaumont, like birding, kayaking, and museum-going—and don’t forget Cajun food.

Beaumont, about 90 minutes east of Houston in Southeast Texas, gushed onto the map when oil was discovered in 1901. Soon after, gracious homes dotted the downtown and a thirst for culture grew. More than a century later, you can find the oil legacy still flowing and learn more at a couple of museums dedicated to energy. In this corner of Texas, Cajun influences meld with Tex-Mex, especially in the local cuisine. Additionally, this is where the Piney Woods of East Texas meets the Coastal Marsh of the Gulf of Mexico, making outdoor activities plentiful around Beaumont. Its unique ecosystem is so important that a National Park Preserve lies just north of town. Not only is the landscape notable, but the Beaumont area is also a premier birding site for the Gulf Coast. Find lots of wow moments on your next getaway when you discover the best things to do in Beaumont, Texas.

Getting to Beaumont

Most people come to Beaumont from elsewhere in Texas. It sits on Interstate 10, and is well worth a stop. While driving east on I-10, a brightly painted Beaumont sculpture caught my eye. Pulling over, I found a regional visitor center along with a sculpture so big I stood in the U. Knowledgeable attendants and a lobby full of brochures greet visitors to the Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitor Center. Here you will find information and maps covering Beaumont, along with the nine counties in Southeast Texas. The visitor center is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitor Center. Photo by Catherine Parker

Explore the Cultural District in Downtown Beaumont

The entire downtown Beaumont Commercial District is considered a U.S. Historic District on the National Register. With a bikeable downtown, consider grabbing a Beaucycle to enjoy the museums and public art scattered across the area. Be sure to stop by the Frida Kahlo, Dragonfly, and Mermaid murals at 660 Fannin St. The You are the Best Thing About Me mural is another must at 701 Main St.

Find public art throughout downtown Beaumont. Photo by Catherine Parker

Rent bikes for $5 for 3 hours at the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau at 505 Willow St. or the Beaumont Civic Center at 701 Main St.

Art Museum of Southeast Texas

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas in the cultural district should be on your list of things to do in Beaumont, Texas. Stroll through the museum for a collection of 19th to 21st century fine and folk art. It also features displays with local artists.

The museum, at 500 Main Street, is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Admission is free.

Fire Museum of Texas

The World’s Largest Fire Hydrant is painted with a familiar Dalmatian pattern at the Fire Museum of Texas. Inside the 1927 historic Central Fire Station, you can see a visual history of the fire departments in Texas with memorabilia, uniforms, and antique equipment. The Fire Museum of Texas, at 400 Walnut Street, is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Visit the World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant near the Texas Fire Museum. Photo by Catherine Parker

St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica

Completed in 1907, St. Anthony Cathedral was declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. One of only four minor basilicas of Texas, you can tour the cathedral with a docent. You do need to make advance reservations. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, at 700 Jefferson Street, also holds regular services.

St. Anthony Basilica. Photo by Catherine Parker

Beaumont Children’s Museum 

Find several different interactive exhibits with hands-on activities for kids from babies to tweens at the Beaumont Children’s Museum. The museum is divided into rooms with activities like a foam area for toddlers 4 and under. The Our Town section features a grocery store and bank. There are areas dedicated to the arts like a puppet theater and an arts and crafts area. 

Located in the Beaumont Civic Center at 701 Main Street, the Beaumont Children’s Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission for everyone over 12 months old is $5. Babies are free. 

Edison Museum

A local collector contributed more than 1,000 artifacts and objects detailing the impact of Thomas A. Edison and his inventions to the Edison Museum. Learn more about the everyday objects Edison invented in the only facility like this east of the Mississippi River. The Edison Museum is located at 350 Pine Street. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. 

Things to Do in Beaumont, Texas: Explore History

Founded in 1835, Beaumont was an agricultural community, notably rice farming. Then in 1901, the Spindletop Gusher came in and ushered the oil boom in Texas. That oil history is an essential part of Beaumont and you can explore it at two museums in town.

Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum

Texas is an energy capital and oil was discovered at Spindletop Hill Salt Dome. Located on Lamar University’s campus, learn how the discovery of oil changed the economy of Texas and made Beaumont a boomtown with a visit to the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum.

Spindletop Museum at Lamar University. Photo by Catherine Parker

Spindletop Museum, located at 5550 Jimmy Simmons Boulevard, is open Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. Adult admission is $5 and kids (6 to 12) are $2.

Texas Energy Museum

Stroll through the interactive exhibits at Texas Energy Museum to learn how crude oil is turned into everyday products. The museum discusses petroleum science and technology along with the history of oil at Spindletop.  

Texas Energy Museum, at 600 Main Street, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Adult admission is $5 and kids (6 to 12) are $3.

Historic Homes of Beaumont

As the oil industry boomed, the oil barons and their families built grand mansions. Many of those still stand today, and exploring the historic homes is one of the things to do in Beaumont, Texas that will give you a glimpse into the area’s history.

McFaddin-Ward House Museum

Old house lovers will enjoy meandering through the McFaddin-Ward House. This gracious home with opulent interiors is on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed in the Beaux-Arts Colonial Revival style, you can see many of the original furnishings. Mamie McFaddin-Ward lived in the house for 75 years and it became a museum after her death.

Completed in 1907, the McFaddin-Ward Mansion offers guided tours for the historic home. Photo by Catherine Parker

Visit the McFaddin-Ward House Museum at 1906 Calder Ave. It is open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 am to 2:30 pm and is free to tour.

John Jay French Museum

Take a guided tour through the John Jay French House, built in 1845 and is the city’s oldest surviving home. Back in the mid-1800s, homes were constructed of logs in the area. The milled and painted lumber exterior of the John Jay French home was new. Inside, find antique furnishings. 

The John Jay French Museum is located at 3025 French Rd. You can tour the home and outbuildings at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm. Tuesday to Friday and at 10 am and noon on Saturday. Admission is $5 for everyone 5 and older.

Beaumont’s Outdoor Spaces 

Enjoy the outdoors of Southeast Texas by exploring the birding sites along with the unique ecosystems of the area. There is much to see and this is an ideal outdoor destination for the spring, fall, and winter months.

Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center & Boardwalk

Beaumont is a premiere birding site in Texas, especially during the spring and fall migration. The birds traveling through Beaumont migrate along the Mississippi Flyway and the Central Flyway, before heading overwater to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.

One of the best birding spots in Beaumont is the Cattail Marsh. Photo by Catherine Parker

The Cattail Marsh Wetlands is a 900-acre area dedicated to birding and was once a water reclamation site. Now the wetlands boast boardwalks and an elevated interpretive area, perfect for viewing the more than 250 species of birds that visit annually. Be sure to bring your binoculars for the best viewing. The wetlands are open from dawn to dusk and there is no admission charge. 

Tyrrell Park

Beaumont’s largest municipal park—Tyrell Park—offers about 500 acres with activities for nearly everyone. Originally developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Great Depression work relief program for young men, it is now home to the Beaumont Botanical Gardens (near the entrance) and the Cattail Marsh Wetlands Education Center & Boardwalk. Nature lovers can spend all day in Tyrrell Park. Find picnic tables, sports courts, and playgrounds along with a municipal golf course.

Tyrrell Park is also home to Warren Loose Conservatory. You can enjoy a taste of the tropics and rainforests as you walk through the 10,000-square foot enclosed garden space. The park is located at 6088 Babe Zaharias Drive and is open from dawn to dusk with no admission charge.

Big Thicket National Preserve 

Just outside of the Beaumont city limits, the Big Thicket National Preserve protects nine different ecosystems in an area where the East Texas Piney Woods meets the Coastal Marsh. It’s a wow moment in the outdoors, where the water lilies outnumber the people. 

Big Thicket National Preserve near Beaumont, TX. Photo by Catherine Parker

The area is so rich in plants and animals species, it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve along with a National Park Service preserve. It is one of 16 National Park Service sites and trails in Texas.

With about 40% of the area covered in wetlands, consider a guided tour of the Neches River. Local guide Gerald Cerda of Big Thicket Outfitters takes paddlers of all ages along the Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail, a 4.8-mile loop trail designated by Texas Parks and Wildlife. With the slow-moving water, you can relax and take in the Bald Cypress and Water Tupelos along with marine birds and aquatic wildlife. Don’t miss the Madonna tree, thought to be nearly a thousand years old. 

Additionally, visitors can take a hike through the Big Thicket National Preserve. Stop by the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center for maps and information along with interpretive exhibits to learn more about the different ecosystems of the area. A nearby, top-rated hike is the Kirby Trail, a 1.5-mile to a 2.5-mile loop trail, suitable for most hikers. Or for plant lovers, the Pitcher Plant Trail is a one-mile trail with carnivorous plants found along the first quarter mile.

Where to Eat in Beaumont

Enjoy the Cajun influences while exploring Beaumont. Here, you will find a unique cuisine that blends Cajun with Tex-Mex and even Vietnamese cuisine. Dining at some of these hot spots is definitely one of the things to do in Beaumont, Texas.

Rao’s Bakery Coffee and Cafe

For a quick breakfast before heading out on your adventure, head to Rao’s Bakery Coffee and Cafe. While you might be tempted by the drive-thru, I recommend that you park and go inside. Sample a scone, or dive into a muffin that requires two hands. Along with your to-go coffee, don’t leave without an assortment of seasonal cookies to satisfy your afternoon sweet tooth. There are two locations in Beaumont.

Katharine and Company

Explore a casual meal with superb salads and sandwiches along with baked goods at Katharine and Company. It is located in the historic Mildred Building at 1495 Calder Avenue. This is your spot for a leisurely lunch and you won’t be rushed if you linger. It’s open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 2 pm.

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp, with several locations across Southeast Texas, offers a creative setting and great seafood. Sample traditional Cajun favorites like gumbo, or enjoy a bit of Cajun Tex-Mex fusion cuisine.

Sample some Cajun favorites at Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp. Photo by Catherine Parker

You’ll find Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp at 5555 Calder Ave. in Beaumont and 322 S. Main St. in Lumberton. Both locations are open Monday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm. 

Sweet Basil Vietnamese Noodle House

For a unique fusion meal, consider blending Vietnamese and Cajun. Fun fact: even though they are across the world from each other, both cuisines include French influences and enjoy a bit of heat. The Bahn Mi is your go-to at Sweet Basil Vietnamese Noodle House.

Sweet Basil Vietnamese Noodle House, located at 4026 Dowlen Road, is open Monday to Saturday for lunch from 11 am to 3 pm and for dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm (9:30 pm on Friday and Saturday) and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. 

Crazy Cajun

With the largest covered patio in Beaumont, Crazy Cajun is a must for a sunny afternoon. Grab a serving of seafood and Cajun favorites, like gumbo, étouffée, and crawfish. Seafood selection depends on the season and is available as either a fried or grilled sampler platter.

Crazy Cajun, at 2310 N 11 Street, is open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 am to 9 pm, Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm. 

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Things to Do in Beaumont, Texas

Beaumont is the destination to blend the flavors of the regions like Tex-Mex and Cajun along with superb outdoor recreation opportunities, like exploring the wilderness or discovering birds. Be sure to check out Wander for more great outdoor activities and other places you can explore when you visit Texas.

Things to Do in Beaumont, Texas