Matagorda Beach stretches for about 58 miles, alongside marshland, wetlands and places to discover birdlife. History and local events also give Matagorda County its distinct character. Depending on whether you’re interested in the coast, nature or culture, you can shape your discoveries in many different ways.
Coastal stretches and river landscapes
Of Matagorda Beach’s approximately 58 miles, 23 miles east of the Colorado River are open to vehicles. The remaining 35 miles west of the river are accessible only by boat, kayak, canoe or other watercraft. Check access conditions before setting out. To reach the East Matagorda Peninsula CMA, travel south from Matagorda on FM 2031 to the beach. From there, depending on your entry point, continue about 2 to 3 miles east along the beach.
At Matagorda Bay Nature Park, the Colorado River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, with marshland and wetlands surrounding the park. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Matagorda County Birding Nature Center offers another way to experience the landscape: its 38 acres feature walking trails, ponds, wetlands, picnic areas and diverse wildlife. At the eastern end, there is an observation platform and access to the Colorado River for canoes and kayaks.
There’s also a specific activity to enjoy on the water: fishing is permitted in the navigable waters of Boggy Creek at Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge. You can reach the creek by boat from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
Birdlife and habitats
Mad Island Wildlife Management Area is home year-round to wading birds, shorebirds and neotropical migratory birds. The Nature Conservancy’s Clive Runnells Family Mad Island Marsh Preserve offers a different focus: its landscape includes coastal prairie, freshwater wetlands and salt marshes. More than 250 bird species find habitat there for nesting, feeding, resting and roosting.
The Great Texas Birding Trail offers numerous observation sites where you can see diverse bird populations as well as breeding, feeding and migratory areas. Options range from visiting a nature center with walking trails and ponds to observation sites along the trail. When planning, you can choose between a natural area, a river landscape and designated observation sites, rather than experiencing every natural attraction in the same way.
Museums and traces of history
The City by the Sea Museum displays Karankawa artifacts and replicas, along with three murals depicting Karankawa life. Another exhibit explores Palacios’ role in the excavation of La Belle and includes recovered artifacts as well as a feature-length film. La Petite Belle is on display behind the Palacios Educational Pavilion: a seaworthy, half-scale replica of La Belle.
At the Matagorda County Museum, you can explore a re-created small town from 1890 to 1910. Fully furnished, interactive spaces include a schoolhouse, a general store and a post office. The museum building opened to the public as a federal post office on May 15, 1918, and reopened to the public in 1992 after extensive renovation.
Other historic sites offer different points of reference in time. Matagorda Cemetery is one of the earliest cemeteries in Texas and was established around 1829 as part of Stephen F. Austin’s colony. Hotel Blessing was built in 1906 for land seekers and as a residence for prominent developers Jonathan E. Pierce and Abel B. Pierce; it is listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark dating to 1965. Bay City U.S.O. Building is the only surviving one of five U.S.O. buildings constructed along the Gulf Coast at the beginning of the war.
Market day, festival and golf
Bay City’s Market Day is held around Courthouse Square on the third Saturday of each month from March through December. More than 100 booths offer handmade crafts, jewelry, antiques and artisan foods. If you’d like to plan around the event, check the date in advance.
The Taste of Palacios Seafood Festival features fresh seafood, Texas Gulf Coast farmed oysters, local culinary talent, live music, children’s activities and waterfront experiences. Another activity is Rio, a public 18-hole golf course with a championship layout on the Colorado River.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Bay City, Palacios, Van Vleck, Runnels, Bowie, Bastrop, Taylor, Williamson.
Back to the main travel overview: Texas.
