Despite recent visits by several potent Gulf of Mexico hurricanes, the Sea Rim State Park of southeast Texas continues to be open to the public. Located between Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas, this park offers visitors an uncrowded outdoor experience, despite the close proximity of America's fourth largest city, Houston, and several oil refineries.
The Park
Sea Rim State Park is separated into two distinct management areas.They are the beach and the marsh. Though separated by only a small strip of sand, these two ecological zones are very distinct from each other. The beach management zone provides campsites, primitive camping, swimming, fishing and boating. Visitors on the marsh side will want to take a walk on the boardwalk into the wetlands to observe the bird life and alligators.
Gateway
Travelers coming into Texas from points east can continue along the shore of the Bolivar Peninsula, where Sea Rim State Park is located, to other Lone Star seaside state parks. To cross over to Galveston Island, a ride on a ferry is necessary, but once in Galveston, the Galveston Island State Park is not far away. Further down the coast is Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi and Goose Island, a state park on Aransas Bay, known for its fishing and wildlife viewing. Mustang Island State Park features wide beaches and drive-in campsites.
Learning Center
For those who would like to better understand the environment of the Texas Gulf Coast, a trip to the Sea Center might be a worthwhile venture. Located near Freeport and Lake Jackson southwest of Galveston, the center has an aquarium and several fish hatcheries, where saltwater fish are raised. This day-use area also has educational programs on the region and a wetland area that features several birding trails.
Lake Livingston State Park
Near the town of Livingston, East Texas travelers will find a large lake and popular state park on the Trinity River. Lake Livingston is a long expanse of water surrounded by low rolling hills, covered with a mixture of grasslands and patches of forest. Fishermen can enjoy the lake for its large catfish and winter bass fishing. Many campsites are available, and there are stables on the park grounds, where riders can rent horses. Travel just a few miles east and you will find yourself in the midst of a swampy terrain called the Big Thicket.
Sabine River Battleground Historic Site
Just east of Sea Rim at the mouth of the Sabine River is a small but important Civil War battlefield. Recently transferred from the state park system to the Texas Historical Commission, the Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site supports an interpretive pavilion, where history students can learn about the failed attempt by Union gunboats to enter the river in 1863. Instead of using the Sabine waterway to penetrate into Texas territory, the boats were repelled by a small group of Confederate soldiers.
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