While Palacios offers plenty of coastal charm and fun things to do all on its own, there are several cities, towns, and coastal areas near Palacios that are worth exploring during a trip to the Texas Gulf Coast. Be sure to add the following destinations to your itinerary while spending time in Palacios!
Nearby Towns and Cities
The Texas Gulf Coast is home to several small towns that offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, fun events and activities, and a welcoming community spirit. Explore the following destinations near Palacios to experience the best of what Matagorda County and the Texas Gulf Coast has to offer:
Bay City
Bay City is home to the Matagorda County Birding Nature Center (a must for birding enthusiasts!) and the Matagorda County Museum, where visitors can take a deeper look into the rich history of the Texas Gulf Coast, including artifacts from the La Belle shipwreck. One of the most anticipated events in Matagorda County — the Matagorda County Fair — also occurs in Bay City each spring.
Victoria
With a charming, historic downtown, Victoria is an exceptional place to shop, dine, and experience the local culture of the Texas Gulf Coast. Victoria also offers plenty of attractions and fun things to do, including spotting the animals at the Texas Zoo, fishing and boating on the Coleto Creek Reservoir, and learning about state history at the Museum of the Coastal Bend.
Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca is a hub for outdoor recreation and adventure, located on the other side of the bay from Palacios. Cast a line to catch trout, redfish, or flounder, go bird-watching along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, or spend the day at Magnolia Beach — the only natural shell beach on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Matagorda
With a prime location between Matagorda Bay and East Matagorda Bay, the town of Matagorda is an ideal spot for catching fish of all shapes and sizes, including redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the beauty of Matagorda Bay Nature Park, filled with miles of pristine coastlines, nature trails, and beach campsites.
Coastal Areas
Matagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay is one of the premier fishing destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast. It spans 422 square miles and features several extensions and smaller inlets, making it ideal for catching redfish, speckled trout, black drum, flounder, and sheepshead on fishing charters and boats or from nearby piers.
Tres Palacios Bay
Tres Palacios Bay — one of the extensions of Matagorda Bay — is a sheltered bay right off Palacios that offers plenty of grass flats and some of the region’s best fishing spots. Palacios is home to the largest shrimp fleet in Texas, and you can also pull in tons of blue crab from the piers near Tres Palacios Bay.
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay is located southwest of Tres Palacios Bay and offers a mix of shallow water channels and marshlands. This area is best for kayak fishing and allows fishermen to explore hidden coves, reel in redfish and trout, and even catch a blue crab or two!
Colorado-Lavaca Estuary
The Colorado-Lavaca Estuary (otherwise known as the Colorado Bay System) is the second-largest estuary in Texas, spanning just shy of 250,000 acres. It encompasses Matagorda Bay and smaller extensions, including Lavaca Bay, Tres Palacios Bay, Turtle Bay, Keller Bay, and Carancahua Bay.
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico stretches 600,000 square miles and is the ninth-largest body of water in the world. With over 1,600 miles of shoreline in five US states — Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida — the Gulf of Mexico has created a treasure trove of places to explore, from white-sand beaches and barrier islands to incredible habitats for marine wildlife and bird species.
Texas Gulf Coast
The Texas Gulf Coast is the stretch of coastline in Texas bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Though it encompasses several of the state’s largest cities and well-known destinations, like Houston and Corpus Christi, it is also home to small, coastal towns, such as Palacios, Matagorda, and Port Lavaca, that offer a warm, welcoming community and are hubs for fishing and outdoor recreation.
Colorado River
The Colorado River (which is different from the Colorado River that winds through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and other western states) is an 800-mile river in Texas. The Colorado River basin includes more than 7,500 miles of creeks and streams, and the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico at Matagorda Bay.
Experience the Best of the Texas Gulf Coast with Beachside
Come explore all that the Texas Gulf Coast has to offer with Beachside!
Our build-ready homesites offer the perfect launching point to explore the Texas Gulf Coast while digging deep roots into a warm, welcoming community in Palacios.
Schedule a tour to learn more about the lot types, amenities, and surrounding community. We can’t wait to welcome you to Palacios!