An Insider’s Guide to Matagorda, Texas

About two hours southwest of Houston lies Matagorda, a small seashore city for vacationers in search of solitude and a break from on a regular basis life. Not like different seashore cities in Texas, Matagorda is sleepy. You received’t discover crowds, buzzing bars, and site visitors right here; as a substitute, you’ll encounter wide-open stretches of sand, tiny mom-and-pop eateries, and never a complete lot occurring besides fishing, shelling, birding, kayaking, and some different outside pursuits.

It’s the place I am going to unplug and the place, throughout these transitional moments in life, I am going to mirror and relaxation. And in the course of the chilly, darkish winter months, it’s a glimmer of much-needed heat and daylight.

Matagorda Bay sits the place the Colorado River spews into the Gulf. This brackish water teems with wildlife—significantly sought-after fish equivalent to redfish, black drum, and flounder. You may see a dolphin zip by within the river, or a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle feeding close to the jetties.

Matagorda’s marshes are a haven for birds, too, which flock to the world year-round, however particularly throughout winter migration. Greater than 200 species have been noticed right here, and Matagorda County has been primary on the North American Audubon Christmas Bird Count since 1997.

“It’s such a particular place partly due to its distinctive geographic options, together with the Colorado River, the Gulf, and the wetlands—every of which has its personal ecological range,” says Danielle Wolfe, a program coordinator with LCRA Parks.

All through the marshes and alongside sandy seashores, guests will see pelicans wading round piers with their gular pouches filled with fish. The plentiful birdlife additionally contains ospreys, warblers, terns, herons, egrets, black-necked stilts, and roseate spoonbills, that are a vibrant bubblegum-pink colour, on account of their shrimp eating regimen. “My favourite is the belted kingfisher,” says Wolfe. “They’ll fly as much as 36 mph, make their nest by digging burrows within the banks subsequent to a physique of water, and have a 3rd eyelid that permits them to see underwater.”

Once you’re able to hit the water, head out onto the Colorado River close to the jetties, the place you possibly can row alongside empty seashores and park your kayak within the sand for a little bit of land exploration. The entire Texas shoreline is taken into account public land, from the water to the dune line. After leaving your kayak on a sandy financial institution, stroll down the jetties towards the Gulf, the place you’ll discover a wide-open seashore filled with seashells. Lightning whelks (our official state seashell), shark eye moon snails, and murexes are just some of the shells discovered right here. On a latest journey, I had the seashore to myself, with hundreds of shells mendacity within the sand in entrance of me, ready to be admired.

Whereas Texas beaches are open to the general public at no cost, Matagorda Bay Nature Park provides guests each day entry to its 1,334 acres of protected land for a small admission payment. Greater than 900 acres of the park’s wetlands may be accessed by a locked gate, just for guests going birding, kayaking, climbing, and extra. The park additionally affords kayak leases and birding occasions.

The place to Keep

You possibly can keep at Matagorda Bay Nature Park, the place 10 bungalows had been inbuilt 2023 proper alongside the Colorado River. Lodging embrace full kitchens and bogs, cozy dwelling areas, a gasoline grill, and personal decks for watching the sundown. There are additionally 4 Airstream campers and 54 RV and campsites.

The place to Eat

Cassady’s is the native espresso store and breakfast and lunch spot the place I am going for a quick break again into society and to verify emails. Their espresso is nice, and the Mata-Getdown Gorda is their signature drink: espresso with creamy caramel and darkish chocolate. The menu is prolonged, however I really like a stuffed flattie (a quesadilla with bacon, egg, hash browns, and cheese) for breakfast and one of many specialty sandwiches for lunch.

Snappers is a tented restaurant and small bar with a number of the finest native fried shrimp within the space, which comes straight from native shrimpers. Waterfront Restaurant is correct on the marina, with down-home consolation fare and seafood like stuffed flounder and hen fried steak. Coastal Que is usually open from Memorial Day to a number of weeks after Labor Day and serves Texas barbecue classics equivalent to brisket, ribs, pork stomach, sausage, and smoked hen. And don’t overlook Stanley’s General Store, the native gasoline station with breakfast tacos, pigs in a blanket, burgers, fried hen, shrimp and oyster po’boys, and extra.

When to Go to

One of the best occasions to go to Matagorda are spring (March to Might) and fall (September to November) for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Spring additionally affords nice fishing. Swimming and fishing are glorious in the summertime months as nicely, however Texas can get extraordinarily sizzling and humid, so take warning if touring then. Deliver loads of water, bug spray, and SPF. August and September do provide crystal-clear waters and calm waves, nonetheless. “Winter is nice for beachcombers as a result of the north wind and decrease tides push the water line additional out, and fewer guests on the seashore permit one to seek out nice treasures that may have in any other case been picked up if it had been a special time of 12 months,” says Wolfe.

What to Do

There are greater than 50 miles of seashore in Matagorda, a lot of which can be found for swimming. The seashore east of the Colorado River is open to automobiles, and the one to the west is just accessible by kayak or boat. Drive a distance down on the east facet and also you’re certain to discover a quiet spot; head to the west of the Colorado River for beachcombing. Don’t swim close to the jetties, piers, or passes, as currents are robust in these areas. Fishing is plentiful as nicely, as is birding in and round Matagorda Bay Nature Park. The park additionally hosts an array of occasions, together with seashore crafts, guided birding and paddle journeys, oyster training, and extra—all for a small payment. 

In close by Bay Metropolis, the Matagorda County Birding Nature Center encompasses 38 acres of wetlands, strolling trails, picnic areas, woodlands, prairies, boardwalks, and gardens that you would be able to discover seven days every week. An commentary deck allows you to see wildlife of their habitat, and the Colorado River affords quick access to launch a kayak. Additionally in Bay Metropolis, the Matagorda County Museum explores Matagorda County’s historical past with rotating displays and a everlasting assortment. See artifacts from the coastal Karankawa Indians and a cannon from the Seventeenth-century La Belle ship, which wrecked in present-day Matagorda Bay in 1686. 

Matagorda’s ample shores are ripe for fishing, whether or not that’s within the Colorado River, Matagorda Bay, or within the wetlands. You possibly can go offshore fishing with Reel Rush Charters and captain Michael Kubecka, the place you possibly can catch wahoo, shark, blue marlin, grouper, tuna, snapper, tarpon, swordfish, mahi, and extra. Bay fishing may be organized with CM Charters and captain Chris McKinley.