When planners seek coastal fun in the sun for their meeting groups, vacation hotbeds like Florida and Southern California surely come to mind. But those turning their attention to the Texas Gulf Coast will be pleasantly surprised by the wealth of outdoor activities on tap for attendees.
From the buzzing metropolis of Houston to welcoming outposts such as Brownsville and Beaumont, here’s the Texas takeaway on the Gulf Coast’s great outdoors.
Houston
The fourth-largest city in the U.S. has plenty of alfresco offerings on hand, beginning with a troika of urban green spaces bursting with activities as well as personality.
Discovery Green serves as a superb “meeting-up” point or a casual site for attendee downtime, as its 12-acre setting adjoins the George R. Brown Convention Center. Among countless other activities, visitors can peruse a weekly farmers market; rent an artistically enhanced golf cart for a little friendly competition at bocce, croquet or horseshoes; dine at The Grove or Lake House restaurants; or take in a noontime or weekend performance at the amphitheater. Event spaces are available for a group to hold their own organized affair as well.
“Discovery Green is truly an urban oasis,” says A.J. Mistretta, public relations manager for the Greater Houston CVB. “It has become a huge amenity for those who live and work around downtown Houston and is very popular with visitors and convention-goers as well. People love having this green space right outside their convention and their hotels. It makes downtime that much better when you have activities like free concerts and film screenings to enjoy.”
On the north side of downtown in Houston’s Historic District, Market Square Park is a pleasant slice of green space offering a memorial garden, creative outdoor sculptures, a spacious central lawn and even a Greek dining spot. Not far away, Tranquility Park provides a unique setting inspired by the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing; depressions and mounds mimic the moon’s surface, and a large fountain with modern design adds to the appeal.
Groups feeling a bit more adventurous might enjoy the Armand Bayou Nature Center, where 2,500 acres of eclectic flora and fauna are practically crying out for exploration. Among the animals attendees could possibly peruse are armadillos, bison, deer, waterfowl and even alligators—with a trio of ecosystems (bayou, forest and tall grass prairie) adding to the diversity. For a memorable outing, consider a night tour. Hayrides along the prairie or moonlit pontoon boat jaunts are conducted by the center, with guides shining their spotlights to point out raccoons and other nocturnal critters.
“Armand Bayou is a natural treasure for Houston,” Mistretta says. “The center allows visitors to hike, canoe and generally explore this untamed wilderness. One of the best things about the nature center is how removed it feels from everything, despite the fact that it’s on the border of the fourth-largest city in the country.” PageBreak
Galveston
About 50 miles from Houston, Galveston Island is practically an outdoor attraction in itself, with 32 miles of beckoning beaches and streets, perfect for a stroll, that boast some of the most impressive Victorian architecture in the U.S. But the inviting isle has plenty of unique and specific sites to explore as well, informs Meg Winchester, director of the Galveston Island CVB.
Artist Boat, for example, provides two- and four-hour kayak outings that include watercolor instruction, “providing the chance to create a personalized souvenir and express your artistic side during a relaxing break,” Winchester says.
She also suggests climbing aboard one of Galveston Island Tours’ electric buses and discovering the Galveston Tree Sculptures on the island’s east end, created from Oak Trees damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Groups can also give in to “pier pleasure” at the recently debuted Galveston Pleasure Pier, a resurrection of a 1940s amusement park on the same site offering high-flying rollercoasters and other thrill-ride fun right over the Gulf of Mexico.
Port Arthur and Beaumont
In little Port Arthur—birthplace of Janis Joplin—the CVB’s destination management specialist, Darragh Castillo, says the small city offers “Cajun hospitality with a Mardi Gras attitude all year.”
She points planners seeking outdoorsy fun toward three promising possibilities: Sea Rim State Park, with miles of natural beach, as well as Sabine Woods, a migratory bird stop that bird-watchers will savor; new floating docks at Pleasure Island’s marina or nearby Frisbee golf on the island’s greens; and a day or evening airboat excursion through the Blue Elbow Swamp, an exhilarating way to spot gators in their natural habitat.
In nearby Beaumont, the CVB’s digital communications manager, Ashley White, suggests groups head for Riverfront Park, where a jaunt on The Cardinal riverboat can take up to 49 attendees out on the Neches River—a fine spot for viewing wildlife, including hundreds of bird species. Other outdoor options are found at The Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum, where attendees can view a working replica oil derrick gushing water into the sky or take in an old-timey Western shootout reenactment.
Corpus Christi
Home to the fifth-largest port in the nation, Corpus Christi is immersed in waterside and water-bound possibilities. Colette Rye, communications director for the Corpus Christi CVB, suggests a sunrise trip around the bay aboard Japonica, a 50-foot touring boat offering hour-long excursions, or, for larger groups, booking the USS Lexington and its massive flight deck capable of hosting thousands of attendees. One recent shindig included 15 John Deere tractors onboard and a fireworks display for 2,000 guests.
Rye also recommends a gallop along the beach through outfitter Horses on the Beach Corpus Christi or an outing to Whataburger Field—one of the most acclaimed minor-league baseball parks in America—to see the Corpus Christi Hooks in action on the diamond. PageBreak
Fulton
The neighboring towns making up Rockport-Fulton provide a bucolic bounty of bird-watching, boating and beautiful beaches, says Sandy Jumper, director of tourism and events for the Rockport-Fulton COC.
“With its windswept oaks, beautiful coastline and over 75 species of birds [the community] is a picturesque sight,” Jumper enthuses. “Outdoor activities range from bird watching to fishing and everything in between. You can laze on the beach or take your kayak out into the bay. You can fish from one of our many piers or have a guide take you out.”
For a group seeking alfresco function space, Rockport Beach Park includes two pavilions perfect for a larger group, she adds.
South Padre Island
“South Padre Island offers a myriad of outdoor group activities,” remarks Mary K. Hancock, special event manager for the SPI Convention Center. “Fishing, snorkeling, dolphin-watching, birding trips and kayak or jet-ski guided tours on the bay are just a few options. A sunset dinner cruise on a 40-passenger catamaran is a popular way to mellow your group—allowing them to focus and enjoy ‘island time.’”
Breakaway Cruises is an excellent one-stop resource for a variety of adventures, including Dolphin/Eco tours, parasailing, wave-runner fun, snorkeling and even amphibious vehicle tours exploring both land and sea.
For some team-building time, consider Sandcastlelessons.com, which has its own special beach area for crafting sandy creations and can also provide the tools and expertise for an oceanfront activity.
Brownsville
“In addition to world-class birding, fishing and golfing, you’ll find a lush, bustling city full of fine arts and year-round fiestas in a pleasant tropical climate,” says Miguel Collis, communication director for the Brownsville CVB, of his destination.
For bird-watching, groups have two awesome options. Resaca de la Palma State Park, part of the World Birding Center Network, offers more than eight miles of winding trails dissecting about 1,200 acres of flora, plus four observation decks. Sabal Palm Sanctuary, owned by the National Audubon Society, is a treasure as well—with 557 acres that include the nation’s last remaining stand of old-growth sabal palms.
Other fun under the sun in the community includes three golf courses, the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park and the Gladys Porter Zoo, considered one of the best of its kind in Texas.
