Clute TexasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Clute, Texas.
1. Brazosport Museum of Natural Science
FOSSILS AND SEASHELLS GALORE
The Brazosport Museum of Natural Science houses one of the largest public seashell collections in the region along with impressive fossil and archaeological exhibits. Visitors can explore extensive displays of natural history, including dinosaur remains and wildlife exhibits. The museum is part of The Center for the Arts & Sciences complex and was named one of the 10 best museums in Texas by Frommer's.
2. The Center for the Arts & Sciences
CULTURAL HUB OF BRAZOSPORT
The Center for the Arts & Sciences offers a comprehensive cultural and educational experience with an art gallery, science museum, planetarium, and two performance theaters. The facility features the longest running community theater on the Texas Gulf Coast. Visitors can discover various forms of art, science, theater, space, and music all in one location.
3. Brazosport Planetarium
STARS AND SPACE EXPLORATION
The Brazosport Planetarium provides exciting night sky shows with knowledgeable staff guiding visitors through astronomical wonders. Guests have the opportunity to view celestial objects through telescopes during special events. The planetarium is located within The Center for the Arts & Sciences complex, making it a perfect addition to a day of cultural exploration.
4. Clute Municipal Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTER
Clute Municipal Park offers extensive outdoor recreation facilities including a pavilion, playground, gazebo, horseshoe pits, and basketball courts. Visitors can enjoy walking along trails through wooded areas while observing local birds and wildlife. The park also features a nine-hole disc golf course perfect for beginners and hosts the annual Great Texas Mosquito Festival.
5. Mammoth Lake Scuba Park
PREHISTORIC DIVING ADVENTURE
Mammoth Lake Scuba Park was developed from a sand pit where the remains of two Colombian Mammoths were discovered in 2003. The underwater park offers divers the opportunity to explore sunken boats and planes in a controlled environment. The on-site restaurant displays a replica of the mammoth tusk found at the location, connecting visitors to the site's prehistoric past.
6. Clute Event Center
VERSATILE COMMUNITY VENUE
The Clute Event Center serves as a multipurpose venue for various community gatherings and private functions. Located within the Clute Municipal Park complex, the center provides a convenient space for celebrations, meetings, and special events. The facility offers the amenities needed for occasions of all sizes in a central Brazosport location.
7. Krazy Sk8
FAMILY SKATING FUN
Krazy Sk8 provides a fun-filled roller skating experience for visitors of all ages in Clute. The facility offers regular skating sessions as well as special themed events throughout the year. Families can enjoy active entertainment in a safe, supervised environment.
8. Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
COASTAL WILDLIFE HAVEN
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge encompasses thousands of acres of pristine natural coastal habitat just minutes from Clute. The refuge offers fantastic birding opportunities with numerous species of migratory birds and resident wildlife. Visitors can explore salt marshes, freshwater sloughs, and coastal prairies through driving tours, walking trails, and observation platforms.
9. San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
BIODIVERSE ECOSYSTEM PARADISE
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge showcases incredibly biodiverse ecosystems spanning from coastal marshes to bottomland forests. The refuge provides critical habitat for hundreds of bird species and serves as an important stopover for migratory birds. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, wildlife photography, fishing, and environmental education programs throughout the protected area.
10. Brazoria County Historical Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE PRESERVED
The Brazoria County Historical Museum is housed in the historic 1897 Brazoria County courthouse in nearby Angleton. The museum showcases the people, places, and events that shaped Texas through displays of photographs, maps, oral history tapes, microfilm, artwork, and various artifacts. Throughout the year, the museum hosts concerts and educational events that bring history to life for visitors.
11. Surfside Beach
RELAXING COASTAL GETAWAY
Surfside Beach offers a relaxing coastal escape just a short drive from Clute with miles of sandy shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can enjoy swimming, surfing, fishing, beachcombing, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The laid-back atmosphere provides a perfect contrast to museum visits and other cultural activities in the Brazosport area.
12. Great Texas Mosquito Festival
QUIRKY CELEBRATED TRADITION
The Great Texas Mosquito Festival is held annually in Clute the last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in July, presided over by the legendary mascot 'Willie Manchew.' This quirky celebration has been named America's wackiest summer festival by TripAdvisor and features a 5K race, mosquito legs contest, barbecue cook-off, carnival rides, and live entertainment. The three-day event draws thousands of visitors to Clute Municipal Park for a uniquely Texan cultural experience.
13. Quintana Beach County Park
HISTORIC COASTAL RECREATION
Quintana Beach County Park combines beautiful Gulf Coast beaches with historic sites and modern camping facilities. The 52-acre park features the restored Quintana Mansion and remains of Fort Velasco alongside beachfront pavilions, fishing areas, and nature trails. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, bird watching, and camping with easy access to both the beach and the Intracoastal Waterway.
14. Sea Center Texas
MARINE EDUCATION FACILITY
Sea Center Texas is a marine aquarium, fish hatchery, and education center operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in nearby Lake Jackson. Visitors can explore aquaria representing diverse Texas marine habitats from salt marshes to offshore underwater environments. The facility offers free guided tours of the hatchery where millions of red drum, spotted seatrout, and southern flounder fingerlings are produced for release into Texas bays.
15. Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site
PRESERVED TEXAS HISTORY
Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site preserves the history of one of Texas' earliest plantations, established in 1824 during the initial American colonization period. The site includes a Greek Revival-style plantation house, pecan orchards, and outbuildings that tell the story of Texas from Mexican rule through the mid-20th century. Visitors can tour the historic structures and learn about the diverse people who lived and worked on the plantation, including enslaved individuals, oil field workers, and one of Texas' first governors.