Top 15 fun things to do in Beaumont, TX
Are you struggling to find some of the best venues in Beaumont? Look no further because we’re going to go over the top 15 fun things to do in Beaumont, TX! Also quick note, if you’re on mobile you can swipe to see more images.
1. Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum
5550 Jimmy Simmons Blvd, Beaumont, TX 77705
Did you know that Beaumont grew in 1901 from 10,000 to 50,000 people in an incredibly short time period? Find out all about it at the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum located right by Lamar University.
The museum re-enacts the burst of the Lucas Gusher, one of the most important oil discoveries of the 20th century. You’ll discover that each of the exhibits contains unique artifacts that were used during the early 1900s. It’s a great place to uncover the amazing historical reasons as to why Beaumont is the thriving city it is today.
If you love history then we strongly suggest stopping by. The Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum is great for family, friends, and more.
Admissions are:
- $5 per adult
- $3 for seniors aged 60 and over
- Free for those 5 and under
Museum Open Hours
Tuesday through Saturday:
- 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday:
- 1 PM to 5 PM
2. The Gator Country Adventure Park
21159 FM 365 Beaumont, TX 77705
Gator Country Adventure Park is all in the name. Do you want to feed some alligators hot dogs, pet some small furry animals, and get a swamp boat tour? Then you’re in for a ride!
They’re the largest alligator sanctuary in all of Southeast Texas, holding 400 to 500 reptiles, crocodiles, and alligators. At Gator Country Adventure Park, you get a chance to interact with the gators from a safe distance and feed them hotdogs ($5 per pack) or pellets ($2 per pack).
The Gator Country Adventure Park also has gator country swamp tours, a petting zoo, and Sulcata Tortoises, to which you can grab a pack of lettuce to feed them for only $3.50
Petting Zoo animals
- Donkeys
- Goats
- Chickens
- Ducks
Park open hours & admissions
They’re available from 10 AM to 5 PM each day. Admissions for adults is $17 per person, and for children aged 3 through 12, it’s $14.
Gator Country Swamp Tours
7000 Fisher Rd Beaumont, Texas 77705
Navigate around Taylor Bayou and discover species of animals and plants exclusive to the Beaumont area. Here’s a video of one of the many boat tours you can book at the bayou.
3. John Jay French Museum
3025 French Road Beaumont, TX 77706
For those interested in some of Beaumont’s rich history, the John Jay French Museum is the oldest house you can find in the city.
It was constructed in 1845 when a merchant named John Jay French and his family decided to settle in the area. The John Jay French Museum has since been a terrific kid-friendly thing to do in Beaumont, TX. The museum also provides school group tours for $5 per student.
If you’re thinking of checking it out, it’s $5 per person five years and over and free of charge for those four years and younger.
4. The Dishman Art Museum
1030 East Lavaca Street Beaumont, TX 77705
Located at Lamar University is the Dishman Art Museum. A place where students and adults can immerse themselves in diverse visual arts. Since its opening in May of 1983, the Dishman Art Museum collection has continued to grow, with over 1500 artworks and objects.
It’s a great free thing to do in Beaumont on the weekend, and they even have virtual lectures you can check out!
5. Lucas Gusher & RV Park
407 Hillebrandt Rd #9663, Beaumont, TX 77705
The Lucas Gusher at the Spindletop oil field marked the first major Texas oil boom of the 20th century, and the area was aptly named Spindletop due to the appearance of the hilltop and the trees.
In 1901 The Lucas Gusher got up to nearly 150 feet in height and erupted from a drilling site at Spindletop. Suddenly, the gusher was producing almost a hundred thousand barrels of oil a day from the site.
The Spindletop oil field is one of many great things to do in Beaumont, TX. The Lucas Gusher RV Park is close by offering RV rentals at reasonable rates. We strongly recommend checking out the Lucas Gusher if you love early Beaumont history.
6. Beaumont Botanical Gardens
6088 Babe Zaharias Drive, Beaumont, Texas, 77705
The Beaumont Botanical Gardens feature a 23 and a half-acre public garden center complex where you can experience the lovely plant life environment. It’s an excellent place for bird watchers and those who want to take their time enjoying the scenery.
The Garden Center Building can fit over 250 people and is a great place to host events. You can rent the garden center area from 9 AM to 12 AM.
The Warren Loose Conservatory
Inside the Beaumont Botanical Gardens is the Warren Loose Conservatory. It’s a 10,000 sq ft conservatory that boasts itself as one of the largest public garden conservatories in all of Texas.
Some garden sites
- An aesthetically pleasing waterlily pond with goldfish
- The champion Koi fish long pool
- Friendly tikis at the front of the conservatory
Beaumont Botanical Gardens Open Hours
Mondays & Tuesdays:
- 9 AM to 4 PM
Thursdays & Fridays:
- 9 AM to 4 PM
Directions to the Beaumont Botanical Gardens
On IH-10, use the exit at Walden Road and go south. Then at the intersection between Walden and Fannett Road, continue forward. You’ll soon see the street name change to Tyrrell Park road; after a mile drive, take a left to the entrance to Tyrrel Park. The Beaumont Botanical Gardens is on the left.
7. Tyrrel Park
6088 Babe Zaharias Drive, Beaumont, TX 77705
Easily the largest park in Beaumont, Tyrrel Park is home to many sports and outdoor activities. It’s one of many great free things to do in Beaumont, TX. You can visit the Tyrrel Park Horse Stables, check out the golf course, and participate in the hiking and biking nature trails.
The park is also very close to the Beaumont Botanical Gardens and Cattail Marsh, which we’ve included further down this post. All in all, if you love being outside, Tyrrel Park is the place for you.
8. Art Museum of Southeast Texas
500 Main Street Beaumont, TX 77701
Since late 1987 the Art Museum of Southeast Texas has been a trendy venue for art dating back to the 19th century. They have several unique collections, exhibits, and educational programs perfect for a fun night out with friends and family.
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas also hosts events and club meetings such as the AMSET Book Club, Magnolia Garden Club, and individual fun things to do in Beaumont, TX.
Art Museum of Southeast Texas Open Hours
Monday to Friday:
- 9 AM to 5 PM
Saturday:
- 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday:
- 12 PM to 5 PM
9. Explore the Big Thicket National Preserve
The Big Thicket National Preserve offers hiking, camping, canoeing, trails, and more if you’re the adventurous type.
Hiking and trails
The routes vary from half a mile to almost an 18-mile round trip, and it takes you through an environment that shows diverse plants and wildlife. The Big Thicket National Preserve is home to tall, long-leaf pine trees that can reach 100 feet. That said, not everything in the forest is friendly, and it’s probably best to stay clear of the carnivorous plants!
Paddling at the Big Thicket National Preserve
The preserve comprises established water trails: rivers, lakes, sloughs, and waterways. There are plenty of canoe and kayak rental companies nearby and two recommended paddle routes: The Paddle Village Creek and Cypress Slough.
Places to see
You can start at the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center, located in the national park center. It has lots of helpful information like maps, exhibits, and short films about the park.
The Beaumont unit covers the Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange counties and is best for camping, bird-watching, hunting, and fishing. Backcountry camping is allowed from the spring to the summer, and in the fall and winter, you can hunt in certain areas. To do so, you’ll need a permit from the visitor center.
There’s so much about the preserve that I can’t cover it in this post! You can feel free to check out the national park service website for more info.
10. Chambers House Museum in Beaumont
2240 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX 77701
The Chambers House Museum in Beaumont, TX, was built by a local settler back in 1907. He then sold the house to the Chambers family in 1914, and the home has remained unchanged since 1924.
It shows a brief view of the life of a middle and upper-class family from the 1920s to the 1940s. The chambers house remains the last standing old home of Calder Avenue, where they give tours of the home.
Admissions to the Chambers House Museum in Beaumont
- $5 per person to anyone five years old and over
- Free to anyone four years old and under
- $5 per student for school group tours
11. Cattail Marsh scenic wetlands & boardwalk
The Cattail Marsh is an excellent bird-watching and aquatic wildlife spot for swamp scenery. You can find it inside Tyrrel Park, and the city of Beaumont manages it. The long boardwalk is suitable for wheelchairs, and there’s an elevator to get to the information center and observation deck.
Cattail Marsh is another place to watch for alligators that like sitting out in the sun. There’s a decently sized area for parking, a pavilion area, and it’s picture-worthy for Instagram.
12. The enormous Beaumont Fire Hydrant
219 Main St, Beaumont, TX 77701
Did someone say giant fire hydrant? Yes, you heard that right. The world’s largest working fire hydrant is in Beaumont at the Fire Museum of Texas. It’s one of many unique things to do in Beaumont, TX, and the history behind it is intriguing.
The Beaumont Fire Hydrant was built in 1999 following the animated version of Disney’s 101 Dalmations film. It features a dalmatian spot design as a 24 feet tall hydrant weighing close to 5,000 pounds! The Beaumont fire hydrant was the largest ever built for a short period and has now remained as the world’s largest working fire hydrant and has kept that title since 2013.
13. The McFaddin Ward House Museum
1906 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX 77701
The McFaddin Ward House Museum is a colonial-style estate constructed between 1905 and 1906. It’s a place dedicated to uncovering and preserving the rich history of the McFaddin home. You’ll find the architecture and lifestyle of the house nothing short of incredible.
They provide several podcasts online to imagine what life was like at the McFaddin Ward House. It’s undoubtedly one of the best free things to do in Beaumont, TX.
Tour hours at the McFaddin Ward House Museum
For regular tours, they are available:
Wednesday to Saturday
- 9 AM to 2:30 PM
Sunday
- 12:30 to 2:30 PM
McFaddin House Docent-led tours:
Wednesday to Saturday
- 10 AM to 2:30 PM
Group tours:
- Tuesdays by reservation
You can view their orientation video for more information about the McFaddin Ward House Museum.
14. Colorado Canyon Beaumont, TX
6110 Folsom Dr, Beaumont, TX 77706
I know what you’re thinking, but I can promise we’re talking about Beaumont and not Colorado. The Colorado Canyon Family Fun Center is one of the most kid-friendly things to do in Beaumont, TX.
They have miniature golf, an arcade with tons of fun games, a laser maze, and a gemstone mining area. You can host birthday parties, get special deals on golf and food, and book online. Overall it’s a fun family experience that everyone can cherish.
Additional amenities at Colorado Canyon
- Two 18-hole putt courses
- The Whackies Candy Factory
- Snack Bar
- Two Private Party Rooms
- A covered porch & picnic table area
15. The Clifton Steamboat Museum
8727 Highway 124, Beaumont, TX
Like war history? The Clifton Steamboat Museum covers everything from the Steamboat Era through the Vietnam war. It’s a two-story 24,000 sq ft museum in Beaumont, TX, consisting of original bronze sculptures, frontier paintings, and Native American artists.
Before you enter the museum, you’ll see Hercules, the 36 ft tall tugboat. The Clifton Steamboat Museum honors both military and civilian heroes throughout history. They even have multiple banquet facilities that can hold up to 300 people for any event you need.
Clifton Steamboat Museum Admissions
- $7 individually for Adults
- $5 each for Senior citizens, veterans, and students
- $3 per person for groups with over 20 people
- Free for those five and under
The museum is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM. You can also schedule by appointment.
That was Beaumont’s top 15 things to do in Beaumont, TX! Feel free to check out some more attractions and things to do below. Want to add a listing on Beaumont.com? You can make a listing in our add listing section completely free.
