A short drive southwest of Port Arthur is the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Anahuac. At the refuge, visitors can explore the wetlands of Galveston Bay and learn all about the extreme and exciting wildlife that calls the warm Gulf of Mexico home. Visitors to the refuge may see migratory songbirds and water birds, such as the rare mottled duck. Visitors may also catch a glimpse of the American alligators that call the banks of the wetlands home. You can even try your luck fishing at some of the designated piers and fishing areas. A short drive to the east of town is the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge near Orange. Even though Orange, Texas is the largest nearby town, the refuge is actually over the border into Louisiana. Here, you can explore the swamplands of Louisiana and learn about the incredible biodiversity that calls the Bayou State home. With over 125,000 acres to explore, you can hike along the trails of boardwalks, the nature trails, and even try your luck at some local fishing and hunting. As you venture around the park, you might see some American alligators, white ibis, and even raptor birds of prey. To the north of Port Arthur awaits the perfect East Texas day trip at Big Thicket National Preserve near Lumberton. Here, you will see ecosystems merging, with bayous and pine forests blending together and giving way to other marshes and wetlands. With roughly 40 miles of trails winding their way around the various ecosystems, you can travel through much of Southeast Texas in just an afternoon. If you’d rather see the park from another angle, you can rent a kayak or canoe and head out on the waterways and bayous that segment the forest. If you’re looking for something a little unique, you can go wildlife viewing, but not in the traditional sense. Big Thicket is home to four of the five different carnivorous plants found in the United States. You can hit the trails and see if you can find these rare anomalies.