Don’t drive past; drive in for fun activities for the whole family.
The history of Alvin, TX, dates back to 1845, and the city is home to numerous historical sites worth visiting. Still, it has become a metropolitan area conveniently located a short drive from Houston and the beach. With its charming southern atmosphere and a wide variety of attractions, Alvin is the perfect place for a family weekend getaway or a day visit. Fun things to do in Alvin, TX, include feeding furry animals, eating unique foods, art in the city, and exercising with goats!
Texas Travel Talk partnered with Visit Alvin, TX, on a destination activation. This trip included accommodations, meals, attractions, and compensation. All opinions are our own.
Fun Things To Do In Alvin, TX, For Families
The best things happen when outdoor activities involve nature, animals, and exercise and Alvin, Texas, has plenty. From all the animals to see at the local zoo to trying your hand at goat yoga, taking your dog to the park, and viewing animal tree sculptures, there’s so much love for animals in this town…that kids love, too!
Alvin, TX, is situated halfway between Houston and Galveston, and although it has been a hidden gem for years, it’s no longer. You can be at the beach in under 30 minutes; if you want to visit Space Center Houston, it’s a 15-minute drive. Alvin is an excellent choice for a weekend getaway from Houston.
Play Disc Golf At Briscoe Park
Briscoe Park spans 42 acres and offers a variety of fun activities for the entire family.
- A disc golf course with 18 holes and a par of 58 using Innova DISCatcher Pro 28 baskets.
- Dog-friendly area with a leash-free zone.
- A bike trail and a walking trail
- Playground equipment with swings and slides
- Picnic tables
- A great place to relax on the green lawn
- and more
Address: 3625 Briscoe Dr.
Bayou Wildlife Zoo In Alvin, TX
For fun things to do in Alvin, TX, start your day at the Bayou Wildlife Zoo – the perfect place to make many memories with the whole family.
Ride the safari tram to see and feed the animals. The admission fee includes the tram ride, and a bucket of animal food is $5. Watching their long tongues dip in those buckets is worth every penny!
Before you leave the zoo, visit the petting zoo at Addie Lou’s Barnyard to pet the farm animals. Great for small children.
Be sure to stop at the big red barn to see the giraffes, the miniature ponies, and the Bayou General Store. You might get a visit from one of the deer farm animals (pun intended).
Alvin Art Trail
Alvin is full of color and history, with its murals and tree sculptures throughout the city. If you like colorful murals, the art trail is a sight to see and is Instagram-worthy.
National Oak Park – Alvin, Texas
As you stroll down the walking trail, notice the three tree sculptures in the park. These tree sculptures were made from fallen trees from a previous tropical storm that the town suffered, to showcase art using a stump.
A picnic area features covered pavilions and picnic tables, perfect for enjoying lunch or a snack.
Address: 118 S. Magnolia St.
Restaurants in Alvin, TX
Not even six months old, the Alvin Foodie Trail is off to a great start. There are six restaurants – all offering something different: A coffee shop, the best shake place that also serves pizza, or vice versa, and restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I visited all six restaurants from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Yes, I was stuffed, but boy, was it all delicious! You don’t have to visit all of them in that short time, as I did, but when you do, you can win prizes from Visit Alvin.
Pick up a food trail card from any participating Alvin restaurant or the Visiting Center. Filling up the card with five stamps gets you more prizes, plus a chance to win an Alvin weekend getaway, but you can turn it in with at least two stamps for a prize.
After your meal, be sure to have the restaurant stamp your card. Return your card to the Visiting Center for your prize(s).
1. Smokin’ D’s BBQ Fusion – Update – Closed for good.
2. Grace Pizza & Shakes
Oh my goodness, I would return to Alvin just for another one of those delicious shakes. Oh, and I’ll order pizza this time around!
Celebrate your birthday at Grace Pizza & Shakes with a Birthday shake. Three birthday parties were going on when we were there, and each had a birthday shake. It was topped high with – well, I remember cake on top and a lighted sparkler shooting out on top of that! It was pretty cool.
Address: 113 E. Sealy St.
3. Gordon Street Tavern
A very tasty menu at Gordon Street Tavern with its unique plates, located in one of Alvin’s oldest relics.
From the top in the photo above:
- Devonshire Cream with mandarin oranges and strawberry puree.
- Jammin Wagyu Burger – locally sourced from RC Ranch.
- Go Pig Or Go Home – not your average cut of pork short rib. Cooked to perfection sous vide style and served with the most delicious mac and cheese.
- Served as an appetizer – Warm Goat Cheese Spread
- Served as an appetizer – Toast Aux Champignons
It’s impossible to tell you which was my favorite, but I did a lot of damage to that Toast Aux Champignons – four types of mushrooms with garlic sautéed in sweet cream, parmesan, and green onions served with the best crust banquettes I’ve ever tasted.
With nine years in business, they are doing something right.
Address: 114 N. Gordon St.
4. 1820 Coffee House
A local coffee shop serves the public with seasonal drinks and iced coffee flights. Have you ever had an iced coffee flight? I enjoy trying any flight because it’s a great way to discover a new favorite drink. With this one, I fell in love with iced matcha with almond milk. I could tell it’s a local’s favorite, with everyone coming in and out and knowing each other. Check out 1820 Coffee House when in town.
Address: 419 W. Sealy St.
5. Juanita’s Taqueria
Locals love Juanita’s for breakfast and lunch, and a local favorite is Migas for breakfast, which I ordered. You’ll love this dish if you enjoy crunchy corn tortilla pieces, scrambled eggs, and a mix of jalapeños, onions, and tomatoes. I also hear that a side of Nopales is worth ordering with any meal.
Address: 106 S. 3rd St. Hours are 6 am to 3 pm.
6. MyLeigh’s Cafe (catering)
Chef Penney transitioned from catering events to opening MyLeigh’s Cafe, serving made-from-scratch classic American comfort food, including soups, burgers, lobster rolls, and this mouthwatering turkey cranberry club on a croissant (the cashier said, “Good choice”). Her menu features many of her favorite recipes and dishes you love. The tuna melt must have been good because it was sold out when I arrived for lunch. However, if you like something a bit spicy, try her Ghost Pepper Cheeseburger – it’s sure to get your taste buds hopping.
Address: 2370 W. Hwy 6
Goat Yoga In Alvin, TX
I’m sure you’ve heard that the exercise trend is goat yoga. It’s more like an experience you must try at least once. The goats know what to do and will jump on your back when the time is right. It was my first time doing goat yoga, and I loved all the attention from the goats, as I’m sure they did the same. It was a fun experience. Alvin Goat Yoga services a wide area, including Houston and Galveston.
Peredo Spirits Gentle Ben Tasting Room
A great distillery in town offering tastings of bourbon, gin, and vodka. While you’re there, let them tell you about the unique and innovative methods they use to craft their spirits. I was very intrigued by their story, and when I compared my favorite spirit to theirs, I found it smooth and delightful. For a flight tasting, a tour of the facility, and to relax at a table or on one of the couches while watching TV, head to Gentle Ben Tasting Room.
Places To Stay In Alvin, Texas
The Goatel On The Chocolate Bayou
The Goatel, The Luxe Loft @ Barn on the Bayou (Airbnb), is a precious loft above the barn for rent. There are two additional places available to rent on the farm: a safari tent (soon to be upgraded) and a trailer. All three are as adorable as can be. And when you rent at The Goatel you’ll get to play with the animals (the best part, in my opinion), including goat yoga!
Camp Mohawk
About eight miles south of Alvin is this 55-acre day-use park, featuring overnight, self-contained, climate-controlled cabins spread along Chocolate Bayou. Camp Mohawk is a great place to unwind in the woods and let the kids run around the park.
La Quinta Inn & Suites
La Quinta Inn is a nice hotel located near downtown Alvin and conveniently accessible from Highway 880 S. and Bypass 35. This is where I stayed and enjoyed the open window at night. So glad the weather was good for that because I love hearing the sounds of the night.
Pro Tip: A complimentary breakfast is served every morning.
Other Fun Things To Do In Alvin, TX
If you have more time to spend in Alvin, here are a few additional attractions you may want to explore. I didn’t have time to visit these places, but I’ve read great things about each one.
- Slover–Rogers Cottage (formerly Marguerite Rogers House Museum)
- Froberg’s Farm and Greak’s Smokehouse.
- Alvin’s claim to fame: the Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan is from Alvin. Check out the Nolan Ryan Exhibit at the Alvin Historical Museum.
There you have it: fun things to do in Alvin, TX. I enjoyed my visit to this quaint southern town.
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