The town of Kemah may be small, but it’s just one tiny piece of the massive establishment that is Houston, and part of the Houston subset known as “Bay Area Houston”, consisting of Kemah, Clear Lake, La Porte, League City, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, and Webster. In truth, it’s very difficult to visit one without visiting the others. And why would you want to? As this area is packed with Daytripper goodness.
Culture
The largest attraction in the area is by far Space Center Houston, which is the official visitor’s center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The Space Center has been the brain center for space travel since the 1960s. You could literally spend all day here between the historic museum, space games, mission control tours and more. But one thing you definitely don’t want to miss is the Saturn IV rocket which is identical to the ones that took humans to the moon. TIP: you don’t have to buy a ticket to the Space Center to see the rocket, just ask for the NASA side gate that allows admittance to “Rocket Park.”
Ever wondered how the Longhorn became such a strong symbol for Texans? Head to this museum in League City to learn the story of how the Butlers, a ranching family, saved the Texas Longhorn from becoming just another bull in the 1920s. Hook Em.
As the sunsets on your incredible day, follow the lights to the Kemah Boardwalk. where you’ll find all the entertainment, great dining and good times you could hope for. Whether you’re riding the carousel, braving the roller coaster, listening to live music or eating at one of the many restaurants, this place is sure to please. Don’t miss the Friday fireworks.
Food
Since we filmed this episode, the original owners of Hoagie Ranch have retired after a 31 year-long career. The restaurant is now closed.
For a delicious burger look no further than Tookie’s, where they’re still serving up soda-hop worthy burgers and fries like they have been since they first opened in 1975. Don’t miss out on their famous Pelican Eggs — jalapenos that have been fried, stuffed with cheese and bacon and served with homemade ranch.
Bubba's Shrimp Palace
Unfortunately, Bubba’s Shrimp Palace has permanently closed since we filmed this episode.
Outdoors
To experience the natural side of the Bay, I recommend a visit to the Armand Bayou Nature Center, which boasts being one of the largest urban wilderness areas in the United States. Since being protected, the wildlife and plant life of Armand Bayou have exploded — this includes the gator population… So since swimming isn’t such a good idea, to explore the bayou you can paddle around it in a canoe or kayak. I recommend a guided pontoon ride and “Breakfast on the Bayou” with a resident naturist who can tell you all about the bayou.
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Kemah, TX
