San Jacinto Monument and battlegrounds

The San Jacinto Monument

Every lover of Texas history should visit the San Jacinto Monument, where Texas secured her place in history as a free nation!  But there is alot more to do and enjoy at the monument.  Growing up in nearby Pasadena, I have countless memories of field trips to the monument, family outings in the park and fishing trips.  
The grounds are beautiful, covered with trees and perfect for a picnic!  The day we were there, a local archeology group was conducting a dig, and my kids enjoyed watching them as they found .... nothing.  Well, not while we were there, but it was fun watching!  There is a nice hike, it starts off on a boardwalk through the marsh, then takes you down to Houston Ship Channel, and back through more of the marsh.  You can encounter lots of native wildlife, especially waterfowl. 

View from the observation tower

The observation tower is the highlight of a visit to the monument.  15 feet higher than the Washington Monument, thanks to the star at the top, it is the tallest column monument in the world!  An elevator ride takes you up to the top.  You can also watch the movie, Texas Forever, in the theatre.  Texas artifacts can be found in the Monument's museum, including Sam Houston's personal diary!

My Mommy Tips:

• The park bathrooms have real plumbing, not port a potties, which is a good thing!
• Take the fishing poles, there are lots of great places to fish. 
• Pack a lunch, the museum does not have food, and there are not any really close restaurant nearby. 
• For a nice, sit down lunch or dinner, try the Monument Inn, and watch as ship pass along the Houston Ship Channel; http://www.monumentinn.com/ 

For more information on the San Jacinto Museum; http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/

Nearby attractions:
Battleship Texas; http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/battleship-texas

Armand Bayou Nature Center; http://abnc.org/