Baytown is Family, History & Nature Together!

 

Situated among the scenic waterways that once witnessed the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, the Baytown Nature Center (BNC) and the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education and Recreation Center (WERC) are both perfect environments for wildlife and birding enthusiasts! The BNC, designated as UTC 039 on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail’s San Jacinto Loop, offers prime spots to watch many varieties of butterflies and is home to over 200 species of birds.

 

The BNC also features both fresh and saltwater wetlands, over five miles of nature trails, a butterfly garden, a music garden, and many nature observation and photography opportunities! The WERC is also a designated area for birding on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, labeled UTC 040. There you can visit the exhibit hall which features Gator World with juvenile alligators, Land of Milk and Honey which highlights honeybees, a snake exhibit and much more.

 

Trace Baytown’s history as you visit the Baytown Historical Museum or view the San Jacinto monument from the Baytown Nature Center. Ride across the historic Lynchburg Ferry located where the original Lynch Ferry was operated by Nathaniel Lynch in 1836 during the “Runaway Scrape” merely days before Sam Houston’s army defeated General Santa Anna at San Jacinto.

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Get outdoors and experience Baytown’s recreational opportunities! Explore the great fishing holes from freshwater bayous to saltwater bays! Or grab a professional fishing guide and have them do all the planning! 

 

When you need to cool off, splash into Pirates Bay Waterpark! Pirates Bay features a lazy river, an action packed Flowrider surfing machine in addition to many water slides! In the mood for something a bit more fast-paced? Enjoy an adrenaline rush at Houston Raceway Park, the only major multi-motorsports venue in the region! There are events nearly every weekend from Legal Street Racing to hosting the annual NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series National Event!

 

Stroll down Texas Avenue where the historic boomtown, Goose Creek, TX sprang up as a result of Goose Creek Oilfield in the early 1900s. While exploring Texas Ave, visit the Portrait of a Warrior Memorial Art Gallery to view amazing works of our fallen heroes memorialized through art. You can also stop by the Art Center of Baytown to view their gallery exhibits and grab a bite to eat at one of several great eating establishments located along the way. View the largest oil refinery in the United States, ExxonMobil’s Baytown Refinery while driving over the Fred Hartman Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Texas!

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Embrace the local culture in Baytown as you attend one of the annual events such as Grito Fest in October, the Fireworks extravaganza and concert on July 4th or one of the numerous other events held throughout the year, such as the high school all-star Bayou Bowl, Christmas on Texas Avenue, or the Nurture Nature Festival! Relax on the patio at Yepez Vineyard which features an adobe style winery reminiscent of the Southwest along with their handcrafted wines. Throughout the summer enjoy their concert series every Thursday evening and music on the patio every Sunday year round! Enjoy great local performances at the Baytown Little Theater or the Lee College Performing Arts Center which brings in top performances such as the Texas Tenors, Roberta Morales, and Arturo Sandoval throughout the year!