This is a great little park. Nice boat ramp and parking with plenty of places to bank fish as well.read more

This park is fantastic. It's got a playground, splash pad, plenty of space to fish, bathrooms, ball…read morefields and beautiful sunset views. The pier was great too because it was windy out there which was nice since it was so hot. Great find while killing time waiting to pickup family at a wedding nearby.

Sorry but I will always refer to this by it's correct and rightful name, Anahuac National Wildlife…read moreRefuge. This is a great place to go to see life in the salt marsh east of Galveston Bay. The bird are numerous and of so many species. And besides birds there are tons of alligators, both large and small. The main attraction towards the center of the refuge is Shoveler Pond. The pond is surrounded by a 6 mile one way road and you shouldn't be in any rush to get around. The road is narrow and one way but there are pull-offs where you can stop to let someone go by or just to sit and watch the wildlife. As you stare off into the cat tails and grasses, if you wait long enough you will realize there are a myriad of creatures both big and small there. Tiny wrens red winged black birds and warblers, ducks of all kinds, rails, stilts, avocets, moorhens and then the bigger birds like egrets and herons and ibis. And then there are the alligators, sunning themselves after a mud bath. It's nice when there is a slight wind blowing as the mosquitoes can be kind of bad as the weather warms up, you might want to apply some OFF. And it can be hot and humid in the winter. I like to go in the cooler months. There is also a large boardwalk and deck area for viewing farther out in the marsh but the benches are usually covered in bird poop so be aware before sitting down. There is a shop at the entrance and it is worth a visit as well as restrooms and a butterfly garden. There is a pavilion with picnic tables but last time we were there a lot of wasps and hornets had made nests so we found another spot to have our lunch. The refuge is about half way between Winnie and High Island and a good stop if you are going to or coming from Smith Oaks Bird Refuge at High Island.

What a lovely way to spend a beautiful, clear skies winter day!…read more We loaded up the bikes, backpacks with snacks, binoculars, bug spray, clothing layers, SPF, water, hand wipes, etc, and drove out to explore this 34K acre wildlife refuge an hour or so outside of Downtown Houston. There are hiking trails, biking trails, and people exploring the wetlands from their cars. I DON'T recommend that. I mean, if you have people who are elderly or people who find it challenging to bike around, by all means - you can drive around and treat it like a drive-thru wetland experience. But my biggest rec is to take your bike and explore that way. Aside from the wetlands, we went over to the bayside to watch the sunset. There were LOADS of mosquitos, so prepare for that. And a few families were harvesting oysters. We missed some of the hiking areas and oyster bayou, but looking forward to returning earlier in the day to explore.

We love the convenience of being able to park on the beach! Bathrooms are nearby and easily…read moreaccessible. But watch your step! We've been going to this beach, multiple times a year, for the last 10+ years. On our recent visit July 2026, my entire crew were stung by jellyfish! We even saw a few in the water, less than 10 ft from the shore line, after we were stung. I've never seen them here before. Words to the wise...pack vinegar in your beach bag. Flush with seawater, not fresh water.

Ok let's get the yucky part out of the way 3 stars for the…read moredebris and garbage everywhere - that's being generous. There are garbage cans, but overflowing and the curious birds have clearly gone dumpster diving. Broken travel gazebos are at nearly all cans - we counted 20!! I would think a pretty community like this would have garbage service more often. The beach is narrow, but goes for miles! Whats cool is it's dog/family friendly. The surf was a little rough but the wind had picked up. Still could play/swim in water.It's a decent beach for shell hunting, hanging out, having a BBQ with friends and people watching. . It was very diverse yet had a community feel to it. People were very friendly, most everyone waved when we drove by! I forgot to Mention you CAN drive and park on this beach! A permit is required and can be purchased at a local store. We stopped, walked the beach, struck up A conversation with some awesome Texans who were dog lovers. Someone had created some dunes to ride on and There were a few people with ATV's having a blast! This beach gets 5 stars for people watching and friendliness. Also almost everyone had some sort of flag on their vehicle - whether ATV/ROV or a car ( which I find it really weird someone takes their BMW to the beach, but hey whatever). It was much nicer than west end Galveston beach and not insanely packed like east end Galveston. TIP: there are two routes to access beach. 1. The Galveston Ferry - which can take up to 2 hours waiting in lines - but only a 15 min ride to peninsula 2. You can drive around to access on east end - after waiting 2 solid hours to access ferry - we realized we could have gone the 'long way' and been there quicker, plus had sites to see en-route.

I can't say how much I enjoyed being with real elephants at such close quarters and being able to…read moretouch them too... As a child, I have seen real elephants in old temples, they don't have them anymore. Other than that its been zoo and safari. But this was different.... Kennedy introduced himself as the guy who was taking care of animals since 5 generations and he is studying to be a vet. The main mahout was a small guy and he was hilarious. He did most of the talking about all the animals. These elephants are rescue elephants which have been handed over by the zoo for various reasons, or, so I understand. There are 3 elephants Paige with longest teeth, Jeanie with a little short ones , and Krissy with none. With poaching increasing, the number of Krissy's are increasing. That will keep them safe I guess. Not sure why the previous reviews are so brief. We got to learn about them, feed them carrots, even phones if u r willing to give away ( ha ha- Paige really seemed to want them), how to keep their foot and nails in shape, bathing them so on and so forth. This was the first time I had heard a live trumpet and it was adorable. In the end we posed for pics. They are tamed and trained no doubt, but seemed to be enjoying our company and well treated by their owners. They have plenty of parking. Tickets are purchased online, most often they are open only one weekend a month. Restrooms are available. Food not allowed, but a bottle of water is ok. Got to meet Abu the camel, his partner, a zebra and a billy goat and his family too. I wanted to hold one and did not know how to- one of the helper guys I approached said just pick them up and hold - really ! Then some other fellow visitor helped.

This was a nice surprise. This is a family owned business but they are very kind and welcoming…read more They teach you all about the animals and give you time to interact with them and take pictures. We got to feed the camels and hold the baby goats. We also got to feed the elephants and touch them and bath them . They give plenty of chances to take pictures and everything is orderly and well run. They ensure safety of the guests and you can tell the elephants and animals are well taken care of. The entrance was kinda of hard to spot as the sign is kinda small but we found it! Come here if you love animals and learning about animals. Great for families and couples.

The park by the beach was huge and there was a lot of ample parking space in the parking lot.It had…read morebeen a while since we went to sylvan beach.The last time we were here before the 4th of July this year,they only had the pier so I was very impressed with what they have done. Another plus was free wifi!!

Nice local beach close to Houston to go for a walk and see some water seagulls and fish…read more We saw a few dolphins and lots of flying fish on their pier. The last time we visited was for the Sylvan Beach triathlon and it was just as tranquil today. Parking: plentiful Bathrooms: available and clean Return: most likely

This is a beautiful place. It's not very big and will probably only take about an hour to an hour…read moreand 1/2 to walk through, but It's very peaceful and there's lots to see. Take time to look at the beauty. The conservatory has beautiful greenery and water fountains. I thought it was really cool. There is a 911 memorial that is very moving. It's a great place to take a walk if you're looking for some peace and quiet.

I thought there would be more to this. I understand the dry weather is a bit prohibitive, but even…read morethe indoor tropical lacked care and upkeep. Gentleman inside was nice. He was a nice change from the frowning snooty ladies. The foyer is nice so I was surprised that restroom was in rough shape as well as the plants inside. A little more care this could be a nice oasis.

The Neches River and surrounding bayous play an important part in the life of the Coonie Triangle…read more It's odd that so few businesses and public spaces take advantage of this. Maybe it's because of the occasional hurricanes, I don't know. Riverfront Park tries to rectify this situation, and does so splendidly. This is a typical city park, with a large lawn area, many picnic tables, playground, lots of oak trees. Many houses close by, so I'm sure that it's used quite a bit by residents who walk there to relax. The hunny and I visited during the annual Riverfest. Most of the large lawn area was taken up by food booths and carnival rides. At the eastern edge was a portable stage where several hundred sat to hear Tauren Wells sing. And now for the five-star rating: It's on the river. Yes, this is a true waterfront park. There is a large parking lot with boat ramp, and a classic Southern riverfront restaurant on the other side of that parking lot. It was a treat to see the barges go by during the Tauren Wells concert. Riverfront Park took advantage of its setting with a boat show on Sunday. I'm going to go back there. One of my favorite dates with the Hunny was when we drove into the California Delta south of Sacramento, stopped at a choke-and-puke deli and got some food, then crossed over the levee road to sit on a dock and eat. No improvisation is necessary here, although if you don't go to the nearby restaurant, you'll need to bring your own grub. She'll love the setting. And you will too. Parting thought: it's not an easy drive from the freeway, and FM 365 does not lead directly to the park.

The coolest park! It's a giant wooden park with lots of spaces for kids to play in. Across the…read morelittle street is a newer playground but we spent so much time at the wooden one. It is right by the lake. Super clean, it is our new spot.

Considering this just an unassuming neighborhood park, it's a nice hidden gem if you want to stop…read moreand eat your lunch of have a picnic. I'm not sure if non-residents can come here too or not but I'm sure if you don't abuse it, nobody minds. I actually just found this place on Google after hiking at Lake Houston Wilderness park and that was a huge disappointment and wanted to at least go to a park that had a view of the Lake. It may not be the best view of the lake, especially with a dead half eaten Pelican on the shore, but it's still much better than the other park I mentioned!

Randomly came across this parking looking for a new walking trail. It's clean, peaceful, relaxing,…read moresmall private access controlled park, with beautiful views of Lake Houston. They have a new restroom area, with shaded picnic tables, a playground, and gazebo's over looking Lake Houston. They have a dock(no boat ramp)great for leisure kayaking, but be prepared walk a few hundred feet (200). Overall great experience on a week day was a wonderful peaceful experience....

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

This playground is my favorite! It is gated for the safety of the kiddos, and located next to the…read moreevent centre pond, which means you can bring old bread, cereal, popcorn, etc to feed the duckies!! there is a walking path around the pond for exercise or casual stroll, in the playground itself is adapted for special needs kiddos as well! They have large seat & "tire style" swings with bottoms for handicapped kiddos, a wheelchair accessible ship that rocks, and tons of sensory equipment! There are a few picnic tables for the kiddos to have snacks or eat lunch, and right around the corner is the community skate park that is open to the public & FREE.99! It's mine & my son's favorite by far!

My 5 yr old loved it. There's a lot of interesting equipment for the little ones. Someone…read morerecommended bringing food for the ducks so we had crackers with us. If you hold out a cracker, the ducks will take it right out of your hand! My son couldn't have been happier, even though there were only 3. It was a nice change from the usual swings and slides