Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 979-292-0100;
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/seacenter
; 300 Medical Dr, Lake Jackson; 9am-4pm Tue-Sat, 1-4pm
Sun; )
One attraction worth tracking down in the tangle of Brazosport is this fun
aquarium. Learn about Texas salt marshes, the surf zone and coastal bays. A large tank
holds gulf stars like huge groupers and slithery eels. Out back are 35 acres of fish hatcher-
ies which you can tour at certain times. A walkway extends across 5 acres of wetlands.
Varner-Hogg Plantation
( 979-345-4656;
www.visitvhp.com
;
1702 N 13th St; adult/child $6/4; 8am-5pm Tue-Sun)
This plantation
dates to the early 1800s and includes a grand mansion built by slaves. Amidst beautiful
pecan and magnolia trees, visitors learn how past owners made money growing, drilling
and distilling - often with indentured help. It's located 18 miles northwest of Lake Jack-
son.
HISTORIC SITE
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Matagorda
POP 1300
Place-names in this area must have been hard to come by, because authorities decided to
confuse everybody by christening a bay, a town, a county, a peninsula and an island with
the same name - Matagorda. The tiny town offers a link to the peninsula (Matagorda Pen-
insula, not to be confused with Matagorda Island, the remote state park off Port
O'Connor), a popular spot for fishing.
The town still has a vintage feel to it and has a few stores. Head south on TX 60 over
the grand new bridge which arches high above the busy Intracoastal Waterway (views
from the top show the land seeming to dissolve into water), and drive 6 miles to the end of
the road to meet the gulf.
There are 22 miles of lonely white-sand
beaches
out here. With a permit ($10; buy it at
any gas station in Matagorda), you can drive out and onto the beach and stake out your
source with numerous programs where you can learn about the wetlands and barrier is-
lands. Check for schedules; the guided kayak tours ($40 including kayak rental) are excel-
lent. You can also rent kayaks in summer for $20 per day.
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