Matagorda County Birding Nature Center

We are from Houston and came here on a spring break side trip. I have a tween and a teenager and we really enjoyed ourselves. We were able to see many birds with our binoculars and were excited to see the bluebonnets in full bloom!

Our trip was unfortunately cut short because we were literally chased for half a mile by an aggressive duck. He quacked, flapped his wings and charged at us so that we were not able to enjoy the end of our trip.

Also, there are no more golf carts, per the gentleman that checked us in. That was disappointing to my kids.

Overall a great visit!

I don't really know a spoonbill from a warbler, but I needed a shaded non-beach activity to bring some novelty to the family vacation in Matagorda Bay. This stop on the highway between Palacios and Bay City did just the trick.

For only $5, our family had use of the park for the afternoon, and an additional fiver gave us an hour of golf cart use. That's pretty cheap entertainment for a carload of people (maybe 4 adults and 1 kid or some combination thereof). Our 3 year old was most impressed with the motoring aspect of the outing.

As our visit fell at high noon at the end of August, there was little chance of seeing much wild beasts (like smart members of the circle of life, they all had the good sense to hide and take naps about this time). We did get to chase butterflies and see lots of beautiful flowers, but alas, no gators or birds were sighted. We also were able to pass by ponds, streams, the Colorado River, and check-out some turtles and minnows.

After about 45 minutes, we'd traveled every trail at least once and our boy was ready to go. The nice lady at the ranger stand told us early morning is the best time for viewing the critters, and we'll plan that for next time we're in the area.

Kayak Rally, what a great experience, as a beginner, there was all the help one needed to feel like you were taken care of, apart of, and welcomed into the love of nature.
We did nine miles down the Colorado River, it was the perfect weather, and viewed the most beautiful scenery of nature, Eagles, Mating Gar, Deer, and multiple bird species, what a great experience!

This is one of our favorite family activities, especially during the Spring and Fall. My kids love to pretend they are explorers and it is easy to get caught up in their make believe with all of the winding trails and variety of gardens and habitats. We try to set out early in the morning, about 8 or 9, to beat the heat and see the animals. There are a good number of trails (easy walking), so carry a water bottle with you. There are orange trees planted at various spots throughout the park; my kids probably ate three or four little oranges apiece each time we were there that the oranges are ripe!
There is always wildlife to spot, even if it is just the turtles. Typically, however, we see rabbits, alligators, and deer. You can rent a golf cart - I prefer to wear my children out well before taking them home for nap, but my littlest one (2 years old) usually gets tired about half way through and I carry him for bits of time to give his little legs a rest. There are plenty of benches spaced out to stop and rest or just sit quietly to bird watch. It is a 1.5 to 2 hour activity for our crew.
Remember that the 'beauty' of the park and whether the cultivated gardens are blooming will depend on the season; in addition to the natural area, there is an English rose garden, butterfly garden, hummingbird garden (which truly attracts a wonderful amount of birds!), cactus, bamboo, palms, herb garden - Pretty much a bit of everything that will grow decently in southeast Texas!