Horse riding at the County Beach (Follet’s Beach)
Delve into summer family fun in the Brazosport Area – Gulf of Mexico!
The Brazosport Area consists of beaches up and down the Gulf of Mexico, a scenic golf course in Lake Jackson, a wildlife refuge, bird watching, and historical museums. These attractions are only a part of the Brazosport Area. Have fun choosing how to have family fun in the Brazosport Area. We stayed four nights and got in quite a bit.
About an hour from downtown Houston on the Texas Gulf Coast lies beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife that depends on the area, and plenty of outdoor attractions to keep you and your family busy. So, things to do in the Brazosport area might surprise you – it did us, plus we got to ride horses on the beach. It was a bucket list check-off for us!
Disclosure: Texas Trave Talk partnered with Visit Brazosport on a destination visit with Kim and her grandson. This partnership included accommodations, meals, and compensation. All opinions here are her very own.
How To Have Family Fun In The Brazosport Area
Most of the Brazosport Area consists of Clute, Freeport, Lake Jackson, Surfside Beach, and Quintana, with smaller communities of Jones Creek, Oyster Creek, and Richwood.
Everything we did in the Brazosport area was free (except horse riding on the beach). One of my grandson’s favorite things we did was the Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson. It was so neat that we went back through it a second time.
Pretty much everything we did was only about 15 to 20 minutes of driving distance. But because I wasn’t familiar with the area, I caught myself going back and forth from town to town. Maybe you won’t do this with the information here.
Below, the towns are in alpha order, but it goes like this.
From Houston: Lake Jackson, Clute, and Freeport to the west, Quintana and Surfside Beach to the east.
Oh, and there seemed to be a Buc-ee’s on every corner. But they are smaller stores than what you would see off major highways.
So, when you’ve had enough of the beach and the sun, here are other things to do in the Brazosport Area.
Clute, Texas
Home of the award-winning Great Mosquito Festival held in July every year. Clute has invested in local markets and does all it can to support them.
Where To Stay: Table of Grace
I chose a charming farm-style Bed and Breakfast in Clute. It’s not by the water or a beach house, but it’s exactly what I was looking for—affordable and a soft breakfast each morning. It’s also brand new. Take a look at Table of Grace on Airbnb.
Restaurants In Clute:
El Toro – Classic Tex-Mex – we ate there the first night. The service was excellent, and so was our food.
Bread Bowl at Table of Grace
Table of Grace – serves breakfast and lunch. We had breakfast here twice. It’s also where we stayed. I recommend having at least one meal here during your stay in the Brazosport Area.
Freeport, Texas
Freeport is an industrial area with chemical companies taking up much space. But there are family fun attractions there and the Freeport History Museum. We didn’t find much to do in this area, but we did have a nice lunch.
Also, about two miles south of Freeport, the Brazos River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The Brazos River is over 800 miles long and starts somewhere above Possum Kingdom Lake—that is far!
Freeport Wetlands And Bird Observatory
If you’re a birder, this is a must-see. You might see nine or so birds on the trail and all around. There is a sign that shows the birds and describes them. During the winter, ducks and geese come out to play.
Restaurant In Freeport
On The River
I had the fried catfish and shrimp dinner with veggies, and Brody had the catfish dinner with fries. It was good, and we loved the cornbread and coleslaw we received before the meal the most. We also took leftovers with us.
Lake Jackson, Texas
I was told that Lake Jackson is an excellent area to live in. The community seems to be well-kept and maintained. From a traveling standpoint, Brody and I visited a couple of attractions (both free), and we had a couple of nice meals in the city. We even met my uncle at one of the restaurants last night there.
What To Do In Lake Jackson:
Sea Center Texas
We had the best time at Sea Center Texas. So much so that we went back through for a second time. Brody liked touching the snails and crabs with his bare hands, learning about the fish, and seeing what fish lived in the Texas Gulf.
It’s a great place to learn about the gulf’s fishing industry and sea life and how the ecosystems of salt marshes, gulf waters, and nearshore waters work together. Sea Center Texas has several aquariums and a boardwalk extending over the marsh –you might get lucky to spot a turtle or an alligator.
Travel Pro Tip: Admission is free—closed on Mondays.
Lake Jackson Historical Museum
Whenever Brody goes into a museum, he wants to read everything. Of course, I’m happy about this, but I know we will be in there for a while. I’m not complaining, but we got there at closing time and they were waiting for us to leave so they could close. The Lake Jackson Historical Museum is an excellent resource of everything Lake Jackson was and is now.
Free Admission.
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
The Discovery Center at the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge was closed when we were there. I suggest calling ahead if you want to visit inside.
Free Admission.
Where To Eat In Lake Jackson
There are several restaurants in Lake Jackson – from burgers to seafood, from fast to slow food … and I found a winery.
Swamp Shack – Cajun
I enjoyed a delicious meal of shrimp and grits and the Bayou Punch. Brody had gator nuggets. My meal was enough for two – I couldn’t finish it all.
Dairy Bar – hamburgers
Brody had a burger and chocolate shake at Dairy Bar. He said it reminded him of a Dairy Queen.
Grape Taste In Lake Jackson
I had a Cab flight and a cheese board at Grape Taste. My waiter knew why I was there and presented me with a delicious strawberry dessert.
Casa Tequila in Lake Jackson
I have an uncle who lives in Dickenson, and he and his girlfriend met us for dinner at Casa Tequila. We had a pleasant visit with family and ordered the fajitas with flour tortillas.
Surfside Beach, Texas
Surfside Beach is the city beach in the area. If you get there early enough at Surfside Beach, you can park for free before entering the beach area. If not, you must buy a permit at a local store to park right on the beach (next to the water). We parked free every time because there were plenty of open parking spaces. But I’m sure these parking spots will fill up quickly as summer gets closer. I’d get there as early as you can.
Horseback Riding On The County Beach
Some call it the County Beach, and some call it Follett’s Beach. Locals I talked to call it the County Beach.
Beach Bum Horse Rides is who we used. The lady only takes experienced horse riders, so don’t get disappointed if she says no. Brody and I crossed this activity off our bucket list and greatly enjoyed the ride. She only uses the County Beach (Follett’s Beach) for horseriding. She also would not let us ride the horses in the water.
Fee: $80 per person
Travel Pro Tip: There is no horseback riding on Surfside Beach during the summer.
Check out the Crabbing Pier At Surfside Beach
A walk to the water on the pier was nice even though it started to rain on us.
Free to use. Free to park.
Surfside Jetty Park (County park)
Free to use. There are picnic tables to use, so bring a picnic. I believe there is a place to swim. It was raining hard, and everyone was running to their cars. When you’re at the coast, you can expect rain anytime!
Where To Eat In Surfside Beach:
Red Snapper Inn – seafood and Greek specialties
Seahorse Bar & Grill – seafood, burgers
Quintana, Texas
Quintana is a popular destination for beachgoers, especially if you want the beach to yourself. Brody and I stumbled on a pretty empty area, except for one family. We pulled up close to the water, Brody got out his boogie board and headed for the water, and I opened up the back of the car to sit and watch him. Soon after we got all settled, it started to rain. The family beside us started packing up, so I did the same. But we liked not having a bunch of people around us. All I remember was Quintana Beach was close to 8th Street.
Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary
We climbed the stairs to the top, looking for wild birds. The view was beautiful at the top, and the breeze was even better. We got in some good exercise climbing to the top.
When you’ve spent enough beach time at Surfside Beach or any other beach, you now know other family fun in the Brazosport Area. Check out the Brazosport Chamber of Commerce site for more information and things to do.
If you’re looking for other things to do on the Gulf Coast, get a Texas Travel Guide because there are some fun attractions all around the Texas Gulf. The book is free at any Texas Travel Center.
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