Becoming A Tourist In Your Home Town

 

Make the most of your summer vacation with a single tank of gas by hitting these local spots

With the chaos and hectic schedules most of us have today, coordinating a multi-day vacation for your whole family while juggling different work and extracurricular commitments is becoming more and more implausible. Getting everyone on board and finding a desirable destination worth your time and money (and the headache of making travel arrangements AND packing for the lot) is a task no one enjoys undertaking. Even if you manage to execute that ideal get-away, odds are at some point along the way – be it during the third or fourth meltdown, when hearing another grumbled complaint about money, experiencing poor customer service, or after paying way too much for a bland meal – you’ll start to think about how nice it would have been to just have stayed at home.

 

It’s okay. We’ve all been there before. Our expectations versus reality rarely line up. And your kids aren’t really the ungrateful little brats they sometimes seem to be; you’re just tired and frustrated. And understandably so! Don’t bother reminding them that you never had such opportunities in your childhood either – they don’t care.

 

The truth is, vacations are hard on everyone, and unless you have a personal assistant to handle every minute detail while also intercepting each grumbling comment from your family, you’ll probably be burnt out from your scheduled respite well before ever setting off.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice to get the satisfaction of a summer well-spent without the stress of planning a vacation? Sure, all your Facebook friends are flooding your news feed with updates on their idyllic trips, but rest assured they’ve seen just as many eye-rolls and have threatened to ground at least one kid for the rest of the summer if they didn’t start acting right along the way. People only share the rare stuff in between the predominately crap-filled minutes. You can have your own moments to share too, and do so without every having to pack a bag!

 

Yes, you read that correctly. And yes, I am discussing Brazoria County, Texas. I grew up here, you see, and like most people, I believed you had to venture outside County lines in order to do, well, anything. But looking back, I realize that some of my fondest memories occurred in my literal backyard or just a little ways down the road. It didn’t matter that my family never took dream vacations, because my childhood was filled with love and laughter and FUN. The only thing that really matters are the memories you create together, regardless of where it’s done. I only wish that I had known back then that Brazoria County had so much more than just the beach to offer (though it is a wonderful offering, to be sure). Lucky for you, I have compiled a list of ideas for your summer vacation.

1.) Movies Under the Stars: Both Angleton and Lake Jackson Parks and Recreation Departments hold monthly outdoor showing of family-friendly films. And they’re entirely free! Bring your own snacks and a blanket to enjoy your kids’ favorite movies. Pirates Alley in Surfside also hosts periodic movie nights on the beach. Keep in mind that you’ll be on the sand for these events, so bug spray is a must!

City of Angleton Link:  https://www.angleton.tx.us/164/Special-Events

City of Lake Jackson Link: https://www.lakejackson-tx.gov/315/Special-Events

2.) Sea Center Texas: https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/sea-center-texas/

3.) Bayou Wildlife Safari: Experience a real-life safari in Alvin!  https://www.bayouwildlifezoo.com/

4.) Nature Camp at Quintana Beach County Park and Camp Mohawk County Park: offered in Quintana and Alvin respectively, this week-long “camp” focuses on educating children on the beautiful nature of two very different environments. Parks Department staff and Master Naturalist volunteers help kids develop an appreciation and love for the outdoors through various informative and fun classes. No sleeping bag required – Nature Camp is held from 8 – 12 on the scheduled weekdays.

5.) Migration Celebration: https://www.brazosport.org/event/migration-celebration/

6.) Local Museums / Visitors Centers:

Lake Jackson Historical Museum: https://www.lakejacksonmuseum.org/

SFA-Munson County Park: https://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/parks-department/munson-park-stephen-f-austin-statue

7.) Brazoria County Parks Kayaking Trips: https://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/parks-department/special-events

8.) Kids Fishing Tournaments: check special events pages for Brazoria County and its surrounding cities.

9.) Quintana Bird Sanctuary and Park Office Exhibits: https://brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/parks-department/quintana-beach

10.) Brazoria County Library Special Events: Check out the listings for each branch in cities across the County!                                        https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?showCalendars=0&mode=AGENDA&height=768&wkst=1&bgcolor=%23FFFFFF&src=jg5e0ogg0fhv7t7r4btpd2397s@group.calendar.google.com&color=%2323164E&ctz=America/Chicago

These are just some of the many worthwhile places and events that Brazoria County has to offer. Unfortunately, locals remain largely uninformed on their options. I personally had little knowledge of our options until I began working for the Parks Department ten years ago. I didn’t even know about several of the great parks within our area before then.

One little known destination, for example, is the Kelly Hamby Nature Trail off of Bluewater Highway, just before the Galveston toll bridge. This small park provides a gorgeous beach outlet and boardwalk that almost always has thousands of shells to pick through. It’s the perfect spot for a beach day without having to drive on the sand and dirty your vehicle. Or if you’re looking for a day outdoors without a drive to the beach, Hanson Riverside County Park just outside West Columbia has wooded-trails, covered picnic tables, a playground and fishing pier, and multiple acres of outdoor space. While you’re in the area, take a drive to the State Historical Site off of Highway 36 heading toward Needville. In this beautifully maintained patch of land, you’ll find a historical marker that marks the place where Stephen F. Austin took his last breath. And if this is enough to spark your interest in the Father of Texas, head on over to his giant statue at SFA-Munson Historical County Park in Angleton. The staff on site are always eager to provide a colorful history lesson for curious listeners.

As you can see, there’s plenty of fun-filled events and places with which to occupy those free days ahead! Explore what Brazoria County has to offer! You won’t regret it 🙂