A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip to the city of Beaumont, Texas, and I tried a few attractions that seemed relatively authentic to the culture.
Had it been this week, the weather would have permitted a lot more exploring, but, unfortunately, it was quite hot when I went. Nevertheless, I still found several places I would absolutely recommend to any friend.
Here is a list of some of the things I tried (and a few I missed out on):
1. Colorado Canyon.
I will admit that, on the surface, Colorado Canyon seemed to be a tourist trap geared toward pleasing children, but when I went I was determined to have a good time. I found that the mini golf course was actually pretty challenging. Two sets of holes of all sorts of difficulty were placed throughout the decently sized course. Unique features like a waterfall, tunnels, and ravines were placed in different spots in and around the holes.
There were even pieces of carpet made to resemble sand traps. Colorado Canyon also offered food arcade games and a laser Grid puzzle attraction, but I did not participate in those. The price for one round of Colorado Canyon mini golf is $7.25, and it is $12 for both courses. I thought the experience was well worth the price.
2. Second and Charles.
Second and Charles is a unique store that is an amalgamation of Hastings, Music World, Game Xchange, and the dream store of the hobbyist or gamer. You could tell Second and Charles does well for itself because of the diversity of its product and the quality of its advertisements in store. For example, one of its most creative designs was a giant wall of books, actual real books, with the Second and Charles logo hanging on it. I was slightly saddened to see so many books being unread, but it did seem as though there were many repeats. So, perhaps these books were just taken from Second and Charles’ excess product.
I met a sales associate who was incredibly personable. He talked all about different, new and old, games on display at the store, his many years of experience in used game exchanges. He offered great advice on different places to go in Beaumont, and by telling me his story of getting a job at a different corporate game store so he could make more money for his girlfriend and baby on the way, he inadvertently gave me hope that a young couple could make it in today’s economic situation.
3. Chaba Thai Cuisine.
Chaba Thai Cuisine is a deliciously different restaurant from most of the cuisine of East Texas. Thai food is a lost art excluded from the tables of the South, except in Austin and other big cities. Chaba Thai Cuisine uses spices I had never ingested before. These are spices I had smelled and used in essential oils, but I had never eaten them. I left very satisfied with with both the taste and the price of my food.
4. Art Museum of Southeast Texas.
Browsing through the Art Museum of Southeast Texas was an excellent experience. It is a fairly large exhibit for East Texas, and it features art from a range of genres. Traditional, 3D, and eccentric pieces of art caught my eye as I wandered the halls. The main exhibit was closed for remodeling when I went, but the art that was in the other exhibits was fascinating. I saw pieces I did not believe to be very good, and I saw pieces that took my breath away. It is free to enter the museum, and there is a logbook of all of the people who come visit and where they are from. Right across from the art museum is the energy museum. It is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children to enter.
5. Downtown Beaumont.
I took some time to visit his the historic downtown of Beaumont. Like other cities’ downtown areas, Beaumont’s was full of slightly rustic buildings that varied in ranges of size decay. It was full of personality and beauty, and I enjoyed walking and driving through it. I also enjoyed playing the game Pokemon Go as I walked. More exploring would have commenced had it been at least less hot than Hades.
6. Things I missed.
There are several old houses in Beaumont that I wanted to go to. However, most of them were only open during a certain day of the week. There was also a place in downtown Beaumont called the Haunted Hotel where I really wished I could have gone. Unfortunately, it was two weeks before opening season for the hotel; I might just have to make another trip during Halloween season to attend one of the nights of attractions. I have also heard of several lakes and other natural attractions in the Beaumont area that I may go back and attempt to visit.
Overall, Beaumont is a beautiful and historic city that I found to have many quirks and interesting activities. It carries with it several of the same trends as most of East Texas, but it also has its own unique flare. I am excited to keep this series going and to keep exploring the amazing cities in East Texas.
