Gulf Coast Vacations

You Don't Have to Be an Angler to Visit Grand Isle

Hiking and birdwatching on Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island.

04/25/2019 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Beach Day

A Guide to All the Cool New Stuff on Galveston Island

Heading to Galveston for Memorial Day? Read this first.

05/24/2018 By Gwendolyn Knapp

Texas Beaches

South Padre Island Is the Perfect Family Getaway—11 Months of the Year

Padre’s waters are the closest to blue in all of Texas, its sands closest to white.

06/14/2017 By John Lomax

Texas Beaches

Port Aransas: The Classic Seaside Town That Takes All Comers

And with more hotel rooms than residents, there’s something for every budget in this quirky coastal village.

06/14/2017 By Michael Hardy

Spotted

There Are Bald Eagles in Houston?

As crazy as it may sound, the majestic bird of prey is fairly common in these parts.

01/14/2017 By Jeff Balke

Get Out

Beachcombing and Birdwatching: This Weekend at Houston's Closest State Parks

Brazos Bend and Galveston Island are offering two very different ways to reacquaint yourself with nature in the new year.

01/04/2017 By Katharine Shilcutt

Duck, Duck, Goose

Bird-Watching for Beginners at Brazos Bend

And if you're not into birds, how about bobcats?

05/26/2016 By Katharine Shilcutt

The Great Outdoors

Get Out: Buffalo Bend Nature Park

The beautiful new 10-acre wetlands conservation area is just the beginning for this previously industrial section of the Ship Channel.

04/08/2016 By Katharine Shilcutt

The Great Outdoors

Get Out: Guided Canoe Trips at Armand Bayou

From alligators to bobcats, you never know what you'll see at the 2,500-acre nature center.

01/08/2016 By Katharine Shilcutt

Under 100

100 Miles or Less: Onalaska

A picturesque peninsula on Lake Livingston offers a swift, simple retreat.

01/05/2016 By Katharine Shilcutt

Hit the Road

Four Texas Coastal Getaways

That aren't (our beloved) Galveston

05/29/2015 By Kayla Stewart

Nature

Ducks Descend Upon Forest West

Giving ‘Duck Dynasty’ a whole new meaning.

08/03/2014 By Jeff Balke

The Enemy Within

The New Face of Terror: Peacocks

Peacock attacks are on the rise—here’s what to watch out for to stay safe.

04/07/2014 By John Lomax

Travel

It’s Grapefruit Season in the Valley

The water may be too cold to swim, but fresh fruit, migratory birds, and other wonders abound.

02/02/2014 By Robb Walsh

Texas Beaches

The Eccentric Appeal of Bolivar Peninsula

Along this spit of sand, everyone drives on the beaches—even environmentalists on their way to the shorebird sanctuary.

07/01/2013 By Robb Walsh

Odd Birds

Audubon's Society

Orioles, dowitchers, Sam Houston, and backyard birdwatching

03/14/2013 By Michael Berryhill