There are seemingly innumerable ways to set up a successful group itinerary in the Texas Gulf Coast area, where it’s easy to entertain groups outside the meeting room during the day or at night.
According to CVB representatives throughout the region, sightseeing, visiting attractions and feeding alligators are among the afternoon options, and at night, a great meal, dancing, bowling and watching beautiful sunsets positively punctuate the end of the day.
Houston
Exploration of downtown Houston’s Historic District could start and end the day in this magnetic metro. An ongoing revival is happening here, and groups will find new restaurants, bars and shops around the popular Market Square Park, the neighborhood’s anchor.
A sporting event could also fit into a Houston agenda either day or night. At an NFL Houston Texans game, delegates will see the largest in-stadium HD video display in the world, which is running at Reliant Stadium for the 2013-2014 season.
During the day, attendees might like an outing to area attractions such as the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where Hall of Ancient Egypt, a new exhibit that opened in May 2013, showcases hundreds of artifacts dating back more than 5,000 years.
Houston also has a slew of new group-friendly eateries that opened this year for lunch or dinner, including Mr. Peeples, a steak and seafood restaurant, and Osteria Mazzantini, which offers Tuscan-inspired fare that includes pasta made in-house daily.
In the evening, groups might toast the day at a local bar, including The Pastry War, a mainly tequila and mescal purveyor that opened in September and also offers classic Mexican cocktails, Mexican beers and French wines.
Galveston
A trip to Galveston wouldn’t be complete without seeing one of the country’s largest collections of well-preserved Victorian architecture, including the popular 1892 mansion Bishop’s Palace and the Moody Mansion, which are open as museums.
Walking the streets of the Historic Downtown Strand Seaport District, which is lined with unique art galleries, boutiques and mom-and-pop shops such as Hendley Market, is another favorite group outing, says Meg Winchester, director of the Galveston Island CVB.
Two other popular daytime attractions are the adventure resort Moody Gardens, where groups will find an aquarium, discovery museum, water park and golf course, and the Lone Star Flight Museum, which houses a rare collection of World War II and Vietnam War aircraft.
At nightfall, after walking the Seawall—the nation’s longest continuous sidewalk—to see the sunset, and then having dinner at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant, groups will enjoy visiting Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, an amusement area that stands over the Gulf of Mexico.PageBreak
“The pier is beautifully lit at night, making it just as nice to look at from the Seawall,” Winchester says.
Port Arthur and Beaumont
In Port Arthur, daytime excursions with water views include outings to Pleasure Island’s Palms Golf Course and Berry’s Treasure Disk Golf Course.
In nearby Orange is Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center.
“It’s a world-class outdoor showplace that connects nature lovers with birds, bayous, herbs and butterflies,” says Callie Summerlin, director of sales and marketing at the Port Arthur CVB.
After hours at Larry’s French Market & Cajun Restaurant, attendees can take to the dance floor and groove to live music after a delicious meal of gumbo, boudain and crawfish.
And at Max Bowl’s Cosmic Cajun Bowling Night, fun awaits groups via a disco light bowling party complete with drinks and eats in a lighted karaoke bar.
For a free afternoon in Beaumont, groups should visit Gator Country, where they’ll meet Big Al, the largest gator in captivity in Texas. Convention delegates can also help feed gators—some 300 reside here—and take home a picture to prove it. Gator Country also accommodates off-site dinners and receptions.
“Having dine-around events in downtown is a wonderful way to experience the city’s revitalized entertainment and cultural district on Main Street,” says Stephanie Molina, spokeswoman for the Beaumont CVB.
Groups visit and taste local favorite recipes at local museums, she says, including Texas Energy Museum, Fire Museum of Texas, Edison Museum and Art Museum of Southeast Texas, before dancing and experiencing the nightlife on Crockett Street.
Corpus Christi
Located on Upper Padre Island, Horses On the Beach provides a terrific daytime horseback beach riding experience in Corpus Christi.
Groups might also enjoy a sailing outing via Harrison’s Landing, which facilitates relaxing rides aboard Japonica as well as a hands-on introduction to sailing mini-course.
When the sun goes down, Tavern on the Bay at Harrison’s Landing, complete with a floating bar out back, is Corpus Christi’s newest outdoor restaurant and bar within walking distance of downtown hotels.
A nice end to a day in Corpus Christi is taking a stroll along the Upper Padre Island Seawall for sunset views before taking in the nightlife at Water St. Market, which is jam-packed with art, live music, eateries and eclectic shopping opportunities.PageBreak
Rockport and Fulton
In the Rockport-Fulton area, daytime activities include birding, shopping, fishing, outdoor recreation and visits to attractions such as the Texas Maritime Museum, Fulton Mansion, Rockport Center for the Arts and Aquarium at Rockport Harbor.
After the sun goes down, dining out is a popular pastime. The Rockport-Fulton area has some of the best seafood restaurants on the coast, according to Sandy Jumper, director of tourism and events at the Rockport-Fulton COC.
After a great meal, she says, attendees can enjoy area nightlife, take a sunset sail or fish off of one of the many lighted piers.
South Padre Island
Sun-splashed afternoons in South Padre Island, according to Sylvia Soliz, director of the South Padre Island CVB, could include team-building activities such as snorkeling for treasures, sand castle-building competitions or a sword and water gun fight and dance with pirates aboard the Black Dragon Pirate Ship.
An altogether outdoorsy destination, South Padre Island’s other pursuits for active groups range from windsurfing, dolphin watching and jet skiing to horseback riding on the beach, shopping and playing tennis or golf.
“For the eco-conscious group, there are many opportunities to give back to South Padre Island or tour our conservation efforts,” Soliz says, explaining that beach cleanup outings, touring the Sea Turtle, Inc. facilities and observing natural wildlife along a boardwalk at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center are popular with groups.
As the day turns to night, with picturesque sunsets over the bay and fireworks every Friday starting Memorial Day and running through Labor Day, nightclubs and restaurants are great places for groups to unwind with conversation, dining, music and dancing.
Brownsville
Afternoons in Brownsville can be filled with visits to local attractions, including the Costumes of the Americas Museum, Gladys Porter Zoo and Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, among others.
Or groups can enjoy a day of birding, as more than 500 bird species share the refuges and wild places in and around the Brownsville area.
Sabal Palm Sanctuary, home to migrating birds, butterflies, the endangered ocelot and other wildlife, is a perfect place for nature lovers in the group. Meanwhile, at Resaca de la Palma State Park and the pristine, undeveloped 7.5-mile Boca Chica Beach, attendees will find more birds and waterfowl.
In the evening, Brownsville’s historic downtown is hopping with live music.
The Half Moon Saloon, for one, features local salsa, rock and blues, and at El Hueso de Fraile, an upscale coffee house, groups will find local musical talent in genres including folk, classical and rock.
