Beaumont, TX Road Trips

Beaumont was chartered in 1838 just a few years after three businessmen purchased a farming community known as Tevis Bluff and named the newly formed town after one of the men's wives. From that point, Beaumont charted a course through several epochs, namely from one revolving around rice farming to one devoted to oil extraction with the famous Spindletop oilfield discovery and finally to one centered on shipbuilding as it pertained to World War II needs. This last period was marred to a degree by heightened racial tensions and a race riot. Beaumont is still a very industrialized city, with even essentially a canal for a river that would normally be the Neches, but it is also somewhat of a cultural nucleus, with plentiful museums and culture venues and the Crockett Entertainment District. It has also been home to a number of celebrities such as The Big Bopper and Babe Zaharias (a famous female athlete).

1 Texas Energy Museum, 600 Main St, ☏ +1 409 833-5100, fax: +1 409-833-4282, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM; Su 1PM-5PM. Adult $2, senior 65+ or child under 12 $1. (updated May 2017) 2 Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, Highway 69 at University Dr, ☏ +1 409 835-0823, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Museum at the site of the first oil gusher in Texas. Adult $5, senior $3, child $2,. (updated Nov 2023) 3 Fire Museum of Texas, 400 Walnut St, ☏ +1 409-880-3927. M-F 8AM-4:30PM. Demonstrates the history of firefighting in a 1927 restored firehouse with engines and equipment and hydrant statues with Dalmatian spots. (updated Feb 2023) 4 Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum & Visitor Center, 1750 I-10 E, ☏ +1 409-833-4622. M-F 9AM-5PM. A tribute to this multi-game professional female athlete, who excelled in baseball, basketball, track, but especially golf. For some reason there's also a retired military jet on display. (updated Feb 2023) Edison Museum, 350 Pine St, ☏ +1 409-981-3089. Numerous artifacts on display to depict the inventor Thomas Edison. Clifton Steamboat Museum, 8727 TX-124, ☏ +1 409-842-3162. M-Th 10AM-1PM. A peculiar museum about steamboats and war efforts. 5 Art Museum of Southeast Texas, 500 Main St, ☏ +1 409-832-3432, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. An art collection spanning works from the 19th century to contemporary era, with some emphasis on Texas-related pieces. (updated Feb 2023) 6 Dishman Art Museum, 1030 E Lavaca St (on Lamar University), ☏ +1 409-880-8959, [email protected].

1 Beaumont Botanical Gardens, 6088 Babe Zaharias Dr, ☏ +1 409-842-3135, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-4PM. Very cathartic. (updated Feb 2023) Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands & Boardwalk, 4233 Babe Zaharias Dr, ☏ +1 409-554-2447. Daily 6AM-7PM. This 900-acre marsh preserve with boardwalks looming out over the water will likely be a memorable experience, especially at sunrise or sundown. 2 Village Creek State Park, 8854 Park Rd 74, Lumberton, ☏ +1 409-755-7322, [email protected]. Daily 8AM-10PM. Offers a chance for recreation and camping in and around black tannin waters. $4 (over 12). (updated Feb 2023) Julie Rogers Theatre for the Performing Arts, 765 Pearl St (in Theater District), ☏ +1 409-838-3435. It's a large complex for major venues. Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St (in Theater District), ☏ +1 409-838-3435. Homey old-school place with the vertical marquee outside and proscenium inside. Southeast Texas Fair, a major event that takes place in March at the Ford Park with a livestock show, rodeo, and midway. Gusher Marathon Beaumont Blues And Jazz Fest Boomtown Film And Music Festival Downtown Winter Parade in December and Neches River Festival Parade in April.

1 Carlito's Mexican Restaurant, 890 Amarillo St (at College and Amarillo), ☏ +1 409 839-8011. (updated May 2017) 2 Dorothy’s Bar & Grill, 4637 Rolfe Christopher Dr (across the street from Lamar University), ☏ +1 409-333-1014. Excellent gyros - maybe the only gyros in Beaumont. Also serves American food. 3 Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, 3815 IH 10, ☏ +1 409-840-5333. Cheddar's is a nice place to have dinner. Honey barbecue back ribs is the favorite choice. (updated May 2017)

1 MCM Elegante Hotel, 2355 I-10, ☏ +1 409-842-3600, toll-free: +1-877-842-3606. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A hotel with full service restaurant, beautiful tavern with live entertainment, a Starbucks, and a day spa. Outdoor pool and hot tub. Refrigerator and microwave in rooms with great beds. Great value. (updated May 2017)

Amtrak stops at Beaumont via its tri-weekly Sunset Limited service between New Orleans, Lake Charles, Beaumont, Houston, San Antonio and Los Angeles at the 1 Beaumont station is at 2555 W Cedar St, west of downtown. The station is not within walking distance of downtown. 2 Greyhound, (bus stop) Gateway Travel Plaza at 1480 W Freeway Blvd (Chevron gas station off of Exit 859 from the westbound lanes of I-10 and Exit #858 from the eastbound lanes, 8 mi (13 km) northeast of Beaumont), ☏ +1 409 769-0848. Travels primarily on Interstate 10 between Houston, Beaumont-Vidor, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Other variations of the route detour through Port Arthur, Beaumont-Vidor, Orange, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. (updated Feb 2018) Flixbus, (bus stop) Gateway Travel Plaza at 1480 W Freeway Blvd, Vidor (Bus will board at the Exxon gas station along the southeast curb parallel to the air pumps.). Travels primarily on Interstate 10 between Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles, Lafayette, New Orleans, Biloxi. They still have the stop at the Exxon Station/Shop at 1055 Interstate 10 Access Rd. Check tickets and website. (updated Oct 2019) Sun Travel Shuttles, (office) 5000 Jerry Ware Drive, Suite 3 ((stops) Jack Brooks Regional Airport, Super 8 at 3985 College St and Lamar University Subway at Virginia and MLK), ☏ +1 409 840-4600, toll-free: +1 888 898-2638. They operate regular scheduled shuttles from Houston Hobby and Bush Intercontinental Airports in Houston to Beaumont Jack Brooks Regional Airport. Call to arrange additional pick-up at your hotel or home.