On Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal Waterway and Brazos River. Activities include fishing, beach-type recreation, primitive camping. Southwest 2 mi. on F.M. 1495, then 3 mi. south on Gulf beach.
Quintana Beach County Park
Offers exceptional recreational facilities on picturesque island. Day-use facilities include: paved, off-beach parking, shaded pavilions, rest rooms, showers, multilevel fishing pier, and playground. Two historic homes within park: Coveney House features period museum and natural history display, and Seaburn House is park office. Elevated boardwalks (all with wheelchair ramps) connect pavilions, rest rooms, and showers. RV facilities include 56 camping sites, full hookups, dump station, RV bathhouse with rest rooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Reservations accepted for camping. From Texas 288, take F.M. 1495 south 1.7 miles; County Road 723 east three miles to park entrance. 409/849-5711, ext. 1541, or 1-800-872-7578. Fees.
Surfside Beach
Name is both a town and a description of this resort-recreation area. Swimming, sailing, surf fishing, camping and shell collecting. Cottage rentals available. Surfside, San Luis, Bryan and Quintana beaches and numerous bays and sloughs are nationally known roosting grounds for migratory birds. The highest national 12-hour bird count ever taken was in Brazosport area in 1973--226 species.
Brownsville
Brazos Island State Park (Boca Chica Beach)
Although state-owned, park is actually an undeveloped beach on the Gulf of Mexico--beautiful beach, but no facilities. And it's not an island, but a small spit of land (Boca Chica) just south of South Padre Island. Permitted activities include camping, surfing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and nature study. Half-mile-long stone jetty at northern end provides Gulf fishing. About 22 miles east of Brownsville via Texas 4.
Bagdad Beach
This beach lies at the meeting of the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande River.
