A love letter by the Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau
Did you know that triangles are the strongest shape? The name the Golden Triangle isn’t a fluke. It may have come from oil, but we’re rich in resources far beyond money. We’re rich in history. Nature. Culture. Community. People. You.
You are our greatest resource. We don’t ask for much, but right now, we need your help. Whether you live in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, Nederland, or Port Neches, it’s time for the Golden Triangle to stand strong, come together and rise up.
It’s time to shed our burdens and worries and be proud. Be proud of where we live, where we come from, and what we’ve accomplished. Not just now, but the countless times we’ve been tested and overcome. It’s time to dig deep and remember that restless, relentless spirit that bonds us.
It's time for us to Stand Strong
Despite the hardships, we’ve seen countless examples of people stepping up and supporting one another. Local restaurants like Madison’s, Dylan’s, Rao’s and many others fed the first responders and provided a safe haven during the natural disasters we have gone through. Satchel Smith, a college student at Lamar Univeristy, manned a 32-hour shift at Homewood Suites by himself during Imelda. John Wilson, owner of J. Wilson's, opened his restaurant early so a local girl fighting leukemia could eat her favorite meal. The first Beaumont Restaurant Week launched on the one-year anniversary of Harvey intentionally changing the dialogue from disaster to delight.
Most recently, Tokyo, Outback Steakhouse, Willy Burger, Tacos La Bamba and several other restaurants, have been feeding medical personnel who are on the front-line of dealing with COVID-19. The Beaumont CVB delivered pizzas to all area hotels. H-E-B and Favor ensured seniors and at-risk individuals can get free same-day grocery deliveries.
It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture to continue to support local during this time. Visit the webcams and virtual tours of your favorite museum or attraction until we get a chance to explore them again. Take home your favorite meals from the restaurants you love, to help keep their doors open. Host a virtual happy hour with some of your to-go drinks and cheers to a time when we can do it all together in person.
Celebrate those experiences – however big or small. Shout them from the rooftops. Share them with friends and family. And tell us your story.
What memory resonates with you? What makes you proud to be part of this community?
It’s Time for Us to Come Together.
When we get past this, as a community, state, country and world – we urge you to reemerge with fresh eyes. Many things will have changed, and one of those should be your perspective.
Tourism brings people together through food, traditions and family. It grows networks, expands horizons and instills a sense of pride for where we live and work.
Become a local expert. Explore our backyard. Be grateful for what’s here right now. Take advantage of the programs and resources you didn’t know were available to you.
Be Boastful:
• We have over 50 museums and attractions from historic homes to entertainment venues. Seven are completely free, and even more are less than $5.
• There are over 200 area restaurants, most of which are locally owned. You could literally eat your way around the world from Asia to Italy.
• We have a Nature Trail, Crawfish Trail, Beer Trail, Black Gold Trail, and Faith Trail full of sights and bites to enjoy.
• Birding is becoming one of the area’s fastest-growing hobbies. Thanks to our location on two major flyways, you can see over 250 species annually. We’re part of 28 Great Texas Coastal Birding Trails.
• Cattail Marsh, the converted wastewater treatment facility turned wildlife refuge, has free yoga every other Saturday along with a host of other workshops and activities.
• The Birdie Passport is a fun, free program that provides stuffed birdies to anyone who collects 10+ stamps from area attractions.
• The city supports local artists and regularly invests in area beautification projects. There are currently eight murals and over 70 painted electrical boxes.
• We’re constantly adding new events and entertainment like the Museum Pub Crawl and Restaurant Week. We have a flagship festival almost every month of the year from Mardi Gras to Main Street Market.
• We’ve launched an entirely new website, GoBeau.co, providing limitless ideas and inspiration for things to do around the area.
It's time for us to Rise Up
Visitor spending impacts you in ways you don’t even know — it keeps your property taxes low. It employs thousands of people. It generates millions of dollars in revenue for the city. It keeps your favorite restaurant’s doors open. And most of all, it keeps us connected.
When this is all said and done – we’ll need you more than ever. We need you to be our advocates, our cheerleaders, and our ambassadors. A welcoming voice and an emphatic greeter. Every interaction matters. Whether it’s with a local or a visitor, a tourist or a meeting attendee, make them remember you for the right reasons. Make them want to stay and more importantly, want to come back.
By advocating for your city, you’re advocating for all of us.
Ways you can help right now:
• Brainstorm. We’ve set up a virtual idea box for you to offer constructive suggestions.
• Share photos, videos, stories about our area.
• Support your local restaurant, bar, or boutique with an online order.
• Be an ambassador.
• Be Beaumont proud. Not just now, but always.
