IH-10 BRIDGE, SABINE RIVER CROSSING, ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS - This bridge includes entrance and exit…read moreramps for tourist information centers on both sides of the river and the turn-arounds at both approaches for this mile long, 120-ft. wide bridge on IH 10. It seems both Louisiana and Texas have been playing tic for tac since the settlers first appeared here in the 1820's. The center of the river represents the official border between these two states and have been the focal point of disputes since the territory was first divided and conquered. There really nothing magnificent about this concrete structure besides being the largest bridge crossing the Sabine River which is 33rd longest river in the U.S. at 553 miles long. Most of the river crossings prior to this bridge was via ferries or wooden truss bridges.

It's a bridge! I didn't fall in the water. It's structurally sound. I think. Close enough anyway…read more 10/10 would bridge again.

Incredible experience honoring those who served our country in the military. Thank you for the…read moresacrifice you made on our behalf. Freedom isn't free. There were plaques for each war celebrating those who served. Also, there were displays of a helicopter, a jet, a tank, and a torpedo to name a few. Please head out there to see what you are missing. You won't be disappointed! I was extremely pleased!

I am a disabled Veteran who was an Army Paratrooper, My name is listed on these walls twice, and I…read moregrew up here.. so let that be known now as my review will contain some bias. While I served overseas my family and I helped have this Memorial and Honor sanctuary be built by donating what we could. This area of Southeast Texas started this project before it was nationally popular thing to be patriotic. They started building this place out of the respect of the community and the veterans that help this country everyday. Personally, I am honored to be listed among so many heroes. Personally, I am proud of the Veteran that lives on the site to protect it daily since some years back a bunch of local kids vandalized the place and tore up the grounds. Yes, they were caught and truly ridiculed by the community and they served their judicial sentence given; but the harm was done, and once again a Veteran stepped up to stand guard with honor over this local landmark. If you spend any amount of time out there you will learn many things and meet Veterans from many areas that travel here to see their friends and other tokens of memories gone by. If you spend enough time here, you will learn that the gentleman guarding the area served on a transport vessel... if you talk to him further you will learn that he manned the Anti-Aircraft gun on that vessel... and if you hold the conversation long enough he will show you a picture of that vessel he served on and point to the ACTUAL AA GUN from that vessel sitting right near the building and ceremony area. (how cool is that?) I have taken many pictures of this area, and this review is long over due, so please spend a moment to go here and respect the care and love that has been placed into building this area. It may seem tattered and weather beaten, but remember that the site has remained through many Hurricanes and floods, weather beaten winters and winds, and honestly.. as a Veteran... I would not want it any other way; spit shine and polish is saved for the parades, the weather distressed monuments attest to the true Veterans that make these places memorable and how they will never go away. God Bless ALL of our Veterans.. and God Bless the United States of America... "This We'll Defend"[U.S. Army Motto]

Wonderfully quiet spot to bet online, grab some free brew, or relax in clean restrooms. Also nice…read moreplace to walk the dog around a terrific pathway

One of the best welcome centers on I-10. Nice job Louisiana on this scenic and clean facility…read more This is a great spot for a walk around the lake. Watch out for gators sunning themselves. If you are a fisherman grab your rod and drop a line. Bathrooms are maintained. Probably safe enough for a short nap as it is video monitored.

We decided to do a day trip to Orange to visit the Shangri-La Botanical Gardens (see my other…read morereview) and thought we'd stop at this old home for our elderly guest. You cannot go straight to the house for a tour, you must meet at the Stark museum across the street, purchase a ticket, and then be accompanied by a tour guide to the house. The museum is free if you'd like to visit that while you are there. Once you walk over to the house you cannot bring a camera in with you. A knowledgeable and very long winded tour guide will bring you around the average sized home for about an hour describing every room in detail. It's a pretty home from the outside and I wish that was all I had seen. The long tour of the inside was boring. Our tour guide was obviously very proud of the home and the history of the house in relation to Orange, Texas, but it wasn't as interesting to out of town people. I don't think that I am being overly harsh. My 70 year old mother-in-law accompanied us; she is a huge fan of old homes and antiques. She found the tour to be too long and to focus on mundane items in the house. My suggestion... go to Orange for the day. Visit Shangri-La and stop in front of this home to see how pretty it is from the outside.

We like going here around Christmas when the house is decorated and there is a small ensemble…read moreplaying Christmas music.

I visited the museum today for the second time. It's really a great place. They had a special…read moreexhibition called Branding the American West. I thought it was very interesting, but I love paintings and sculptures that feature lonely landscapes and typical North American animals. This did not disappoint. The museum itself isn't so big that you're overwhelmed. In fact, an hour or two is sufficient to take in what's on display. The bookstore is also good, with lots of interesting books and a couple of comfortable chairs to sit in for a brief read through. Admission is free and parking is plentiful. So, there's every reason to enjoy this Texas gem!

My kids and I had a great time. And it was free! The art was all "old west" themed, including the…read moreexhibit of work by local students. Not sure if it changes or if it's a permanent exhibit. We probably spent two hours here.

A small, but mighty botanical garden with everything free at your fingertips. This attraction did…read morenot disappoint. Upon walking into the garden, my friend and I were immediately greeted by one of the volunteers. She gladly gave us a map of the garden and asked if were interested in seeing a free movie to learn about the history of the garden and asked if we were wanting to go on the free boat tour as well. We gladly said, yes and was shocked that they so many payless amenities. I thought to myself out of all the botanical gardens I've visited over the years, this was by far the less expensive. The movie was fascinating. It was held in this big modernized auditorium. We were the only ones in there. Once the movie started, the room got really dark. Mr. Stark, a native and local of Orange, TX was inspired by the 1933 movie, The Lost Horizon (which can be found on Tubi), but Shangri La translates into utopia and paradise, so he sought out to make an impression in the small city by creating a place people can enjoy nature on 252 acres. The selection of plants are natives, annuals, perennials, some tropical plants (located in the greenhouses). The boat tour was a real treat! We were given instructions to remain safe on the water vehicle and put on life jackets. The tour was held on Adams Bayou where we saw ospreys, Christmas lichen on the trees, houses off the bayou, cypress trees with their huge roots, moss hanging from the branches, and even the bayou was filled with debris and trash. It definitely felt like we in a swamp. The boat ride was peaceful as the tour guides gave explanation of what we viewed. After the tour, my friend and I walked around the park observing all the beauties around. There wasn't a lot of plants in bloom yet, but nevertheless, the air was crisp and fresh. Great outing. They even have a restaurant/cafe on site. Shangri La exceeded my expectations!

April 18, 2024 [I forgot to check in]…read more But, we went to the sip & stroll tonight after the garden closed to release butterflies! Isn't that cool?! We paid $10 for a butterfly, fed it some oranges, and then released it. Wine from Free State Cellars was there, sandwichs and macarons were made by them, too. Fantastic! Now about this garden, it's beautiful. They have put a lot of work into it since Hurricane harvey... and are doing a great job in making it more lucious each year. LOVE this place

My girls are 12 and 13, and we were all a little nervous about holding a baby gator. Paige…read moreimmediately put us at ease with her patience and kindness. She even took pictures of us holding the gators! A huge thank-you to Paige for taking the time to answer all of our questions about the reptiles and for helping us relax enough to hold a snake for the first time in our lives. She mentioned it was only her first week on the job, and I have to say--Gator Country made a great hire. We're so glad we got to meet such a sweet person!

Had such a fun time visiting Gator Country in Beaumont! This is definitely a different kind of…read moreTexas adventure and a great place to visit with the family. The main attraction is obviously the alligators--and there are a LOT of them! Seeing so many swimming around the ponds and gathering near the feeding areas was pretty incredible. You really get a chance to see them much closer than you would at a typical zoo. There's plenty more to see besides gators. We walked around checking out the tortoises, goats, ducks, rabbits and other animals, and really enjoyed the petting area where you can get up close and interact with some of them. I also liked the rustic, outdoor feel of the place. It's not a huge polished zoo, but that's part of what makes it interesting. It feels more like an up-close wildlife experience, and there's plenty for kids and adults to enjoy. If you're visiting Beaumont or looking for something different to do in Southeast Texas, Gator Country is definitely worth checking out. We had a great time and seeing that many alligators together was easily the highlight of the visit!