Brackenridge Main Event Center

The Great Outdoors

Attwater’s prairie-chicken once numbered over a million in the coastal prairies of southeast Texas, but conversion to farmland due to expanding European settlements in the 19th century almost decimated the population of these fascinating birds. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge is meant to protect their vulnerable population, but the wildflower-dotted fields also harbor 250 other bird species that include fulvous and black-bellied whistling ducks in the wetlands, white-tailed hawks, and roseate spoonbills in the refuge impoundments. Book an RV rental near Brackenridge Main Event Center and add species to your birding list.When camping with an RV in Edna, you're well placed to enjoy sun and sand at Matagorda Beach, 90 minutes' drive from the Brackenridge Main Event Center. Over 20 miles of beach open up to vehicles while the beach on the other side of the Colorado River is only accessible by watercraft. Camping on Matagorda Beach is possible if you can find a durable enough surface to park on, as the beach is notorious for its soft sand. (Historical ships have run aground in the vicinity.) Swimming, beachcombing, and paddling in Matagorda Bay are popular activities here.At the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, it's the whooping cranes that are given special attention when they flock here in winter. Before conservation efforts, the birds numbered only 15, but now the population has rebounded to a healthy 500+. Plan your trip between December and February to watch them feed in the marshes by day. You can also spy on 400 other avian residents and migrants from the auto tour loop or refuge trails.

Exploring the Area

While RV camping in Edna, you can get a taste of the area's history. Edna marks the start of the "LaSalle Odyssey" that takes you to seven museums beginning at Texana Museum on Wells Street. The museum tells the story of the native Karankawa and the role they played in the La Salle expedition. Other exhibits on display include early Jackson County relics, a mastodon's jaw, and a 300-year-old violin. If you want to see artifacts from the La Belle shipwreck dug out from the bottom of Matagorda Bay, step inside the Matagorda County Museum in Bay City to see bronze cannons and navigational instruments that came from the ship.Though the Spanish explorers and missionaries are long gone, the restored Mission Espíritu Santo remains, its whitewashed walls hard to overlook as the centerpiece of the Goliad State Park & Historic Site. The San Antonio River skirts the park and yields sunfish, bass, and catfish.Alternatively, float on canoe or kayak on the six-mile Goliad Paddling Trail. Put-in is upstream, at the High­way 59 bridge or Ferry Street Landing. On land, explore the 2.5-mile Angel of Goliad Hike and Bike Trail or stroll along the riverside walk or Aranama Trail near the mission.Rent a camper near Brackenridge Main Event Center and round out your journey with a glass of wine. The Texas Gulf Coast is no Hill Country, but Jackson County boasts homegrown wines with a vineyard in Lolita. Lenoir, Blanc du Bois, and native Mustang grapes are grown on the estate and form part of the tasting room menu.Lots of wildlife, a touch of history, and a sip of wine make this southeast Texas adventure unforgettable. Find a family-friendly campground on the Texas Gulf Coast today, book a rental RV in Edna, Texas, and savor the good life.