Houston Region
RETURN TO GOSH2022
Chynna Clugston Flores
Stephen F. Austin STATE PARK / San Felipe de Austin Historic Site
HISTORY | Houston
Walk the area where the first Anglo-Americans began to settle in Texas. Stephen F. Austin, the “father of Texas,” brought families to the region under a contract with the Mexican government. Explore the state park, then visit the nearby San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site in San Felipe, the seat of government for the Anglo-American colonies in Texas.
Snap a selfie outside the state park or in front of the state historic site.
Chynna Clugston Flores
Bayou Bend Gardens
PARKS | Houston
Houston civic leader and philanthropist Ima Hogg, together with her brothers, Will and Mike, selected 14 acres in the new River Oaks development of Houston as the site of their home. Today, the formal gardens at Bayou Bend reflect Ima’s love for flowers and natural beauty. Bayou Bend also houses the Museum of Fine Arts collection of American decorative arts and paintings.
Snap a selfie in front of the statue of the Greek goddess Diana or one of the statues of the muses Euterpe or Clio, which anchor the north gardens.
Chynna Clugston Flores
SEA RIM STATE PARK
SPLASH | Houston
At the far southeast corner of Texas, you’ll find Sea Rim State Park. Anglers, paddlers and surfers enjoy the 5.2 miles of Gulf shoreline, while birders love the almost 4,000 acres of marshlands, which attract ducks, geese, egrets, herons and roseate spoonbills. The park is also home to the spookily named ghost crabs, which live among the dry portion of the beach, known as the backshore.
Snap a selfie along the Gambusia Nature Trail Boardwalk, which takes you through the marsh.
Sponsored by Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
Chynna Clugston Flores
Waugh Drive Bat Colony
WILD TEXAS | Houston
Waugh Drive Bridge, nestled among the vegetation of Buffalo Bayou Park, is home to an estimated 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats. On warm nights, the bats emerge at sunset and fly east along the bayou before dispersing to devour their fill of insects.
Snap a sunset selfie with bats in the background from any of three bat viewing locations: the southeast viewing platform along Allen Parkway, the northeast bank near the bridge (by Memorial Drive) or the east rail sidewalk of the bridge itself.
Chynna Clugston Flores
World'S Longest car wash
QUIRKY | Houston
Completing the Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt means you’ll need gas — and probably a car wash. Get both at the Buc-ee’s in Katy, which is home to the Guinness World Record-certified longest car wash in the world. At 255 feet, the five-minute experience will clean your car with more washers, scrubbers and multicolored foam than you’ve ever seen, and will make your car sparkling clean.
Snap a selfie from inside your car as you go through.
Chynna Clugston Flores
Janis Joplin Porsche Replica
MUSIC | Houston
For the Houston-area leg of your GOSH journey, why not kick things off with the Queen of Rock, Port Arthur native Janis Joplin. Learn more about her story (and that of 82 other musicians) at the Museum of the Gulf Coast’s East Texas Music Hall of Fame.
Snap a selfie with a replica of Janis Joplin’s psychedelic 1965 Porsche Cabriolet, located inside the museum.
Sponsored by Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
Blue Bell Ice cream Factory
GOOD EATS | Houston
What’s summer without ice cream? Visit Brenham, home of Blue Bell ice cream, for a factory tour or just a scoop of your favorite Blue Bell flavor from the Little Creamery ice cream parlor, located inside the factory.
Grab a Blue Bell paper hat, then snap a selfie enjoying a scoop of your favorite flavor.