Beaumont is an affordable weekend getaway that won’t break the bank just an hour from Houston, yet worlds away from big city prices. Centrally located between the beach, pines, and urban core, it’s a choose your own adventure destination with outdoor attractions, museums, and restaurants aplenty. Boasting a 48 hours under $48 itinerary and a $100 challenge to see how far you could get with a Benjamin Franklin, here’s everything you need to know to ball on a budget.

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.