Easy Texas Road Trips – Tour the Battleship Texas
Texas has a rich history.
A great deal of it can be explored in a way that is fun for children and families.
One easy day trip for East Texas and Golden Triangle families is visiting the Battleship Texas.
For most of our readers, it is a one to two hour drive.
The Battleship Texas helped the United States become the world’s greatest naval power. The ship saw heavy action in World War I and World War II.
The Battleship Texas was the first US battleship to become a permanent “museum ship” and to be declared a US National Historic Landmark.
During a tour of the USS Texas, your child will get a feel of what it was like to serve on an American naval ship. We have actually interviewed local veterans who joined the navy at 15 and 16 years old to serve in WWII. Note: The Battleship Texas has been undergoing a major renovation, so check before promising them a tour. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/battleship-texas
While you are in the area, don’t miss the San Jacinto Monument, Museum, and Park. The San Jacinto Memorial commemorates Texas’ victory over Mexico.
All of this sight-seeing will work up an appetite for your family. There are a number of very nice picnic tables available throughout the large park area (larger than Central Park in New York City). Many have grills and running water.
The area is also home to the Monument Inn, a popular and historic Texas seafood restaurant. My dad tells stories of when the restaurant was family style and you went and just ate fresh seafood until you could barely walk out. Today, you order off of a menu, but the portions are still very generous. I went with my teenage son. He had played a baseball game and wade fished, and the Shrimp Jamboree was more than he could handle. It had shrimp cocktail, broiled shrimp, fried shrimp, stuffed shrimp, a salad, rolls, and cinnamon rolls for about twenty dollars. MonumentInn.com
My family frequently tries to add fishing in as a bonus activity on our vacations.
Fishing near The Battleship Texas in and around the ship channel can yield flounder, redfish, and speckled trout. Most people fish from the shore, but some wade fishing access is available.
