But First, Brunch

You know what they say, brunch without mimosas is just a sad late breakfast and thankfully, there are plenty of spots around Beaumont for a little mid-morning pick me up… whether that means a caffeine jolt or something stronger. Toasted Yolk is the talk of the town for their savory benedicts and churro donut towers. Or, give local favorite J.Wilson’s a try for pecan waffles and chicken and biscuits. And who said man candy was just for the men? Their candied bacon is a sweet and savory treat for everyone at the table.

Yoga at Cattail

A free class offered every Saturday morning, Cattail Marsh is the most zen spot in the city. A wetlands boardwalk, stretch and get ready to namaslay the day. While you’re in the area, the botanical gardens is another great free spot to stroll and get back to nature.

Snap Some Photos

Get your 10,000 steps on a DIY walking tour of downtown, scouting out all the colorful murals and historic architecture. The entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with beautiful buildings wherever you turn. Make sure to check out the Jefferson Theater, Tyrrell Historical Library, and pose with the giant fire hydrant and murals at 660 Fannin Street to make some fun new memories with the crew.

Fuel Up at Amelia Farm and Market

You’ve heard of farm to table dining but what about dining right on the farm? Amelia is a third-generation pecan farm with a sprawling patio. Grab a cocktail and salad and enjoy the fresh air and big Texas skies.

Shopping is the Best Cardio

Whether boutiques or antiques are your jam, Beaumont has plenty of places to treasure hunt. For gifts and home décor, hit up local favorites like Texas Reclaimed or Flagship Mailroom or find the perfect outfit and accessories for your night out at Bungalow or Gaudie and Co.

Swing Life Away

A state-of-the-art entertainment venue, 5 Under features a high-tech outdoor driving range with 140 different games, private suites and a full-bar. Even if you’re not a golf pro or good on the green, it’s a fun and interactive afternoon — you really can’t go wrong with injectable donuts.

Who’s Up for Asian?

Beaumont is a melting pot of cuisines and while Cajun is a staple food group, there are tons of other international influences. Koi is beloved for its “tapas-style” sashimi and creative sushi rolls, but if you’re more into Thai, Chaba’s Asian-style floor seating makes for a memorable dining experience. Sweet Basil is a unique blend of Viet-cajun fusion, but if you simply can’t choose, make it a food crawl and eat your way around town.

Don’t Skip Dessert

Vacation calories don’t count and we hope you’ve saved some room because the Mexican ice cream at La Real Michochana is unreal. Their colorful freak shakes are as tasty as they are photogenic and definitely big enough to share.

Go for a Nightcap

Unwind and let loose at Little Woodrow’s, which has swings, fire pits and games on the patio. Madison’s is another popular spot to revel late into the evening, or if divey is more your scene, The Logon Café is a quirky former computer repair shop turned bar, often with live music. If you’d rather get turned up, Tia Juanita’s also has live music and their frozen cocktails flights and giant margaritas will have you feeling the Bourbon Street vibe in no time.

More Ideas:

• Get messy and get your Cajun fix with boiled seafood platters from Crazy Cajun or Rockin’ Crab, which are especially amazing during crawfish season.
• Throw axes at Avenue Axe (a great stress relief) or work together to solve a scavenger hunt or escape room.
• Get crafty at a BYO wine and paint class and embrace your inner artist.
• Cowgirl up and try two-stepping at Sawdust Saloon or go horseback riding at Tyrrell Park Stables.
• Taste your way through the four local breweries or un-wine-d at one of the area wineries, Cotton Creek or Free State.
• Pamper yourself with a much-deserved spa-aah day.
• Get cultured at the area museums. Tour the opulent McFadden-Ward home, one of the original boomtown families complete with Tiffany fixtures. Pay homage to a female sports legend, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the greatest female athlete of all time at her namesake museum or peruse the free art museum.

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Fuel Up at Black Bear Diner

An old-fashioned and cravable comfort breakfast, Black Bear Diner is a great spot to fuel up for the day on huckleberry lemonade, bacon and biscuits. Whether you’re a sweet or savory morning fan, there’s everything from cinnamon roll French toast to omelets and pancake towers. If you’re lucky, you may even get a bear-y special visitor to the table.

Play at the Beaumont Children’s Museum

The Beaumont Children’s Museum has a variety of exhibits focused on S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) learning that’s hands-on and fun while being educational. From the Tot Spot to make believe stations, everything from dinosaur excavations and crafts provide sensory experiences that encourage interactivity and stimulation.

Enjoy a Retro Lunch at Willy Burger

Willy, willy good, Willy Burger has hamburgers, funnel cakes, and shakes served in a vintage airstream. Your classic American diner with funky Southeast Texas flair, the menu is relatively straightforward but it’s the aesthetic details that wow like pool balls fused into the walls. Burger purists will enjoy quality meat on a toasted bun, but if you’re looking for a more local flavor, give the Booty Burger a try, which boasts Creole mustard, cheddar cheese and a hand-fried boudin patty.

Meet the Locals at Gator Country

Have you ever wanted to hold an alligator? How about swim with one? The largest alligator adventure park and wildlife sanctuary in Southeast Texas, Gator Country is home to over 450 gators and many other reptiles. You can touch a snake, visit the petting zoo, and watch a live feeding show to learn all about how these fascinating creatures interact with the environment.

Eat Dinner at Mellow Mushroom

Did someone say pizza night? Artistic stone baked ‘za with retro décor, enjoy eclectic or traditional pie combinations with fun names like the Funky Q. or Kosmic Karma. Get a taste of the area’s Cajun flair with regional bites like muffuletta cheese bread and the bayou bleu pizza.

Treat Yo’ Self at Sub Zero Ice Cream

Ice cream or science class? You decide. Developed by chemists, Sub Zero is completely customizable liquid nitrogen ice cream with tasty and decadent toppings like marshmallow cream, candy mix-ins, berry blasts, and so much more. The combinations are only limited by your imagination and it tastes as good as it is cool – literally.

Stay and Play at Colorado Canyon

Play a round of after-dinner putt-putt. A family amusement center with mini golf, laser tag, and an arcade, you can hit the green, play some pinball, and mine for gems, which is both a perfect nightcap and spot to snag a souvenir!

More Ideas:

• Jump around at Urban Air Adventure Park, a trampoline park and gladiator course.
• Go for a Swamp Safari. For the adventurous families, opt for an airboat ride through the backwater bayous.
• See the Spindletop Gusher blow and get a living history lesson as you meander through a recreated Boomtown.
• Take some stress out throwing axes at Avenue Axe or work together to solve puzzles at Beaumont Escape Room.
• Follow the Birdie Passport Program. Visit at least 10 area attractions and earn a free stuffed souviner.

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But First, Brunch – J.Wilson’s

A relaxed neighborhood gem, J.Wilson’s new American cuisine is upscale comfort food. Indulge in pecan waffles, biscuits and gravy, and hearty artisan benedicts, and don’t miss the signature man candy, candied bacon. Order a few dishes to share because there’s no way you’ll be able to choose just one.

Too Hot to Trot

Work it off by riding off into the sunset at Tyrrell Park Stables. Beaumont’s premier equestrian center, whether you’re a regular horse whisperer or new to the saddle, the staff is there to help guide you on a trail ride and ensure you’re comfortable on your steed.

Picnic in the Park

Grab some goodies from Abbie’s Imports, which boasts artisan sandwiches, Mediterranean salads, and European pastries for a tasty afternoon treat. You can post up at the free botanical gardens in Tyrrell Park or head to Cattail Marsh, which has a beautiful wetlands boardwalk along with painted picnic tables.

Sip and Swirl

Have you ever heard of a winery on a bayou? Enjoy flights of wine, sangria, and charcuterie boards overlooking the vines at Free State Cellars or cozy up at the Italian themed tasting room at Cotton Creek Winery. Find your favorite pour as you sample the local grapes.

Have a Splurge Meal

The ultimate date night dinner, dine under the twinkling lights of the patio at Finch Hutton. One of Beaumont’s best fine dining establishments expect succulent steaks and seafood on white tablecloths as you treat yourself to dinner under the setting sun.

Grab a Nightcap

Whatever your scene, Beaumont has drinking spot to set the mood. Swing life away at the Little Woodrow’s patio, which has outdoor fire pits, lawn games, and a relaxed vibe. Catch live music at Madison’s on Dowlen or the Logon Café. Put on your dancing shoes to two-step at Sawdust Saloon or play some pool and bar games at Fast Eddie’s.

More Ideas:

·      Work up a sweat kayaking the Big Thicket or Village Creek Paddle Trail.

·      Strike out with a whimsical bowling date at Crossroads or Star Lanes.

·      Go retro at the roller rink – whip out your best ‘80s gear and hit up Manning’s Texas on Wheels.

·      Make it a sp-aah day. Treat yourself to a much-needed couple’s massage.

·      Explore the craft beer scene. Sample the local pours at Pour Brother’s high-tech tap wall or share a flight at Struggle Street.

·      Get cultured at the symphony, opera, ballet, or catch a show at the Jefferson Theatre, which is known for their bi-monthly Classic Movie Nights.

·      See a wildlife show and hold baby gators at Gator Country.

·      Go for a swamp safari or airboat ride and feel the air rushing through your hair.

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Free – Farmer’s Market

Held nearly year-round (thank you, Texas temps), the Beaumont Farmer’s Market is a staple of the community every Saturday, February through December, with all vendors coming from a 150-mile radius.
Breakfast – Rao’s

The oldest Italian bakery in the region, Rao’s has had a home in SETX since the ‘40s. Grab a cinnamon roll, kolache (our local delicacy), or breakfast burrito for less than five bucks.

Free – Enjoy the Outdoors

Cattail Marsh and the Beaumont Botanical Gardens are two beautiful and completely free nature spots just minutes from one another in Tyrrell Park. At Cattail, a reclaimed wetlands boardwalk, there’s always free binoculars and disc golf to rent, plus free yoga and activities for the kids on Saturdays or simply enjoy a stroll through the gardens.

Lunch at the Original Jason’s Deli

The national chain has homegrown roots, and despite expanding to almost 300 locations, the original Jason’s Deli has a small town, family-run feel with regional specialties like muffulettas. Most opt for soups and sandwiches, but the salad bar is nothing to sneeze at either, and everyone gets free soft serve upon visiting. Eat-in or pick it up and make it a picnic.

Free – Downtown Walking Tour

The entire downtown core is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it the perfect place to get your 10,000 steps. Take in the beautiful Jefferson Theatre, Crockett Street, the old entertainment district, and be sure to selfie with the World’s Largest Working Fire Hydrant. There are colorful murals, historic architecture, and photo ops everywhere you turn.

 Free – Museum Hop

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET), The Fire Museum of Texas, Dishman Museum, the Art Studio, Shangri La Botanical Gardens, the Dutch Windmill Museum, and the Edison Museum are all completely free. Even more like The Beaumont Children’s Museum, Spindletop, the McFaddin-Ward Home, John J. French Museum, and the Museum of the Gulf Coast are less than $10.

Dinner – Tacos La Bamba

A local Tex-Mex favorite for their tasty dishes and colorful interior painted by local artists, fill up on tacos, tortas, and treats. To save even more dough, Tacos La Bamba also has $1 tacos the first Thursday of every month and a 20 for $20 deal on Sundays.

Other Cheap and Free Options

• Looking to make it a treasure hunt? Go antiquing and seek out all the best bargains.
• Craving a burger? Daddio’s has the best in town with gourmet patties and all the fixings.
• Try geocaching – a completely free, socially-distanced, real-world scavenger hunt.
• Fill up on local favorite, Crown Pizza, with crazy toppings like etouffee and boudin.
• Go for a hike at the Big Thicket National Preserve, called America’s Ark for its insane biodiversity.
• Hit up Classic Movie Night at the Jefferson, where they show cult favorites for just $5
• Take a day trip to the beach for free fun and sun.
• Dine in a vintage airstream at Willy Burger, which has funnel cakes, shakes, and nostalgic treats.
• Visit during crawfish season when you can get good and messy for less than $10/pound.
• Come down for First Thursdays on Calder, a monthly street fair with vendors, live music, and window shopping.

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5555 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX 77706

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