Baytown Texas is located on the upper northeastern shores of beautiful Galveston Bay, which produces more seafood than any bay in the United States except Chesapeake Bay off the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. Among the main Baytown attractions are its fine seafood restaurants, which also allow you to enjoy dining on uniquely Texan Cajun food. This is part of the same Gulf and Delta region where New Orleans is located, and much of the regional food is quite similar—based heavily on catfish, shrimp, gumbo, red beans with rice, and the spicy sausages you find in the Big Easy. Things to do in Baytown include fishing, and there are several public parks with boat ramps and piers as well as private fishing camps along the shoreline. You can also charter boats that head out of the bay for some deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Baytown Texas is only about six miles southeast of the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas, and things to do in Baytown include visiting these two spots that are such an integral part of Texas history. The first pioneer settlers put down roots here during the early 1800s. Originally three different towns, the city was not actually consolidated and officially named until 1948. Baytown tourism began to grow, as it did throughout the Houston and Galveston Bay area, after oil was discovered off Tabbs Bay in 1908. In 1916, the Goose Creek Oil Field became the first offshore drilling operation in Texas, and it grew into one of the largest oil producers in the world. Much has changed since then, but one of the most iconic Baytown attractions remains—its magnificent live oak tree with a nearly 30-foot diameter that sits on the main street. It was already a landmark when the Pruett family homesteaded around it in 1902, and experts believe it is more than 1,000 years old.

Many of the things to do in Baytown feature the region’s rich wildlife. The city’s unique Nature Center encompasses about 450 acres of prime coastal wetlands and is refuge for myriad wildlife including 317 species of birds. There is everything from colorful butterflies to the endangered osprey. There are nature trails and observation platforms, fishing piers and picnic tables. If you’re enjoying family vacations, the children will love the Discovery Area with its playground and fascinating supervised nature activities.

Houston Map

Other Baytown attractions include several golf courses and country clubs, including the Evergreen Point Golf Course that was part of the nineteenth-century Evergreen Plantation. Slightly more raucous fun occurs at the Houston Raceway Track, one of the Deep South’s premier drag racing complexes. When to go to Houston for these race events is during the March through October race season. The Baytown Texas Historical Museum is located in the city’s old post office, and will give you more insight on the city’s history. The Baytown Little Theatre (affectionately called BLT by locals) is one of the longest continuously operating community theaters in Texas. The productions are highly respected, and the performance season of six productions lasts most of the year. There are also plenty of hotels in Baytown, should you wish to spend more than one day here.