24 Hours in Beaumont

One Perfect Day in SETX

Only have one day to spend in Beaumont? That’s ok! You can still get a good taste of the area. Here’s how to cram as much as possible into 24 hours with all the must-hit spots.

Grab and Go Breakfast: Rao’s Bakery

The oldest Italian bakery in Southeast Texas, Rao’s is the go-to local coffee shop with tasty morning treats. Try a signature kolache stuffed with locally made Zummo’s sausage, a breakfast burrito, or muffin the size of your head. They are also the king cake capital of the region come Mardi Gras season, pumping out over 40,000 annually.

Catch a Sunrise or Sunset at Cattail Marsh

The city's shining gem, Cattail Marsh is a reclaimed wastewater treatment plant turned 900-acre wetland and wildlife sanctuary. Over 250 species of birds can be seen annually and nearly 400 during peak migration season. Pop in the wetlands education center for free weekly yoga, kids crafts, van tours, and binoculars/disc golf to borrow anytime you visit.

Meet the Locals: Gator Country

An alligator adventure park and animal sanctuary, Gator Country is home to over 450 “nuisance reptiles” that have been rescued from the community. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to hold and wade with the gators, interact with snakes, lizards, tortoises, caimans, and many other animals. Be sure to say hi to Big Al and Big Tex, two of the largest gators in captivity, each weighing in at over 1,000 pounds. There are daily feeding shows at 12, 2, and 4.

Lunch: Tia Juanita’s

Mexi-cajun favorites with Nola vibes, there’s nothing bad on the menu at Tia Juanita's, especially after you’ve had a few of their frozen cocktails, which are as big as your head (pro tip: get a flight). Their gumbo is some of the best in town, and you’ll also want to try the shrimp and crab dip.

See Spindletop  

Where oil changed the world forever, Spindletop was the start of Texas’s major economic boom. Wander from the saloon to the barbershop (where they rented chairs to sleep there was such a housing shortage) as you tour the recreated Old West town, learning all about Southeast Texas’s colorful history. Be sure to check the schedule as they have gusher reenactments a few times a month.

Marvel at the McFaddin-Ward House

A shining example of an early 1900s period home, the McFaddin-Ward house is a stunning Beaux-Arts revival mansion built at the turn of the 20th century. You can tour the property from the rose garden to the carriage house and see the lavish Tiffany furnishings from a turn of the century oil boom family.

Tour Downtown -- on Foot or By Bike

All of downtown Beaumont is listed on the National Historic Register, one of the few areas like it in the country with many major attractions clustered in a few blocks’ radius making it easy to see in a short amount of time. Not-to-miss photo spots include the world’s largest working fire hydrant, the murals at 660 Fannin and the Children’s Museum, the beautiful architecture at the Tyrrell Historical Library, classic movie nights are one of the best cheap dates in town!), Crockett Street, and the free Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Our new Beaucycles bike rental program lets you scoot around and see it even faster with wheels for just $5 for half a day!

Dinner  - Crazy Cajun

An outpost of a Louisiana favorite, Crazy Cajun gets daily shipments of Cajun/Creole favorites like fresh crawfish (in-season), catfish, alligator, crabs, and shrimp. They’re known for their oversized BBQ crab and seafood platters, so get ready to messy and dig in.

Cheers to a Great Day 

Finish the day at one of Southeast Texas's favorite watering holes. A swingin’ good time, Little Woodrow’s and Madison's have two one of the best patios to post up at. For upscale cocktails, Lacuna Tequila Bar's flights and creative concoctions are a joy to the taste buds, while Pour09 boasts the first double decker rooftop bar in the area. For a more low key atmosphere, the Logon Cafe was a former computer repair shop and regularly hosts live music, trivia and karaoke.