Photos provided by Larsha Flowers
From park picnics to coastal picnics—and even rooftop parking lot picnics—picnic culture in Houston is unmatched.
As the days get hotter and longer, afternoon drives along Allen Parkway, between Taft and Sabine streets, reveal tipi tents, marquee letters and picnic blankets. While there are many other park options, this 6.5-acre “park within a park,” namely Eleanor Tinsley Park, remains a favorite for avid picnickers.
While parks like Eleanor Tinsley boast picturesque scenery and views of downtown Houston, just outside of the city, there are plenty of options for coastal picnics as well. Despite continuous bashings of Texas beaches and coastal towns, they make great picnic destinations for those looking for a quick change of environment.
Here are our top location picks for coastal picnics just outside of Houston—and no, swimming is not required.
#3 Sunny Beach in Galveston, TX
Galveston always finds itself on Texas beach or coastal town lists, but not this particular beach.
Away from the usual hustle and bustle of Galveston, Sunny Beach presents an excellent off-road landscape for mid-afternoon picnics.
Note, as spring hasn’t fully set in yet, the dense fog sometimes present in this area may disrupt picnics scheduled for earlier or later in the day. Still, if you’re looking for less crowds while still being close enough to the seawall for that familial Galveston feel, Sunny Beach is the ideal spot.
#2 Sylvan Beach Park in La Porte, TX
Featuring a park, playground, fishing pier, beachfront and restrooms—a huge bonus for the picnic community—Sylvan Beach sits at No. 2 on our list. If you’ve not yet transitioned from park picnics to beach ones, this destination offers the best of both worlds. It even has picnic benches!
Only 26 minutes away from campus—without traffic, because if you know, you know—this is the shortest-distanced coastal picnic spot on our list.
#1 Surfside Beach, TX
At our No. 1 spot, Surfside Beach is only a little over an hour’s drive from Houston, and it is perfect for sunrise and sunset picnics.
Surfside offers four miles of quaint shoreline to park and picnic on. Its authentic and local feel doesn’t require anything more than a large blanket, stocked picnic basket and icebox. However, if themed picnics are more your style, you can opt for added decor.
During sunrise, the white noise of the early sea birds and the waves foster a serene atmosphere for a more reflective picnic. During sunset, pink and blue hues of the sky drape over the water creating picture-perfect moments—great for a sunset bonfire picnic.
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