4 Essentials for Your Houston Summer Bucket List

The Dickinson Bayou is located in southeast Texas, halfway between Houston and Galveston. The city of Dickinson sits along the Dickinson Bayou and is regarded for its outdoor activities and events. Here are six ways to have fun on the Dickinson Bayou. Fishing and Crabbing Fishing is a popular pastime on the Dickinson Bayou. Largemouth bass, red drum, and black drum are some of the common types of fish found here. Bar ditches, especially where sand has been excavated, are good fishing spots. Late March through mid-May is prime season for freshwater fish in coastal areas. During a dry summer, the water becomes saltier and you'll find smaller saltwater fish not typically seen there. Some of these fish include redfish, piggy perch, ladyfish, speckled trout, and croaker. You can also do some crabbing here too. Crabs are found along the shore, piers, jetties, and docks. Just ensure you know the difference between blue and blue claw crabs, as you can catch as many blue claw crabs as you like, but blue crabs, or stone crabs, have strict catch limits. Canoeing Canoeing is another fun activity to enjoy on Dickinson Bayou. From Dickinson Bayou Boat Ramp Pier 2, you can launch kayaks and canoes. There is parking available, but no restrooms on site. Camping You can camp along the river in spots like the Bayou Campground. It's open all year, and you can set up tents and there are pop-ups and pull-thru sites. The campground also offers Wi-Fi access, a store, and laundry facilities. Nearby activities include San Jacinta Battleground, Texas City Dike, and the campground is only six miles from NASA. Paul Hopkins Park Spend a day at one of Dickinson's parks, like Paul Hopkins Park. You'll find picnic areas and a picnic pavilion that has 10 tables, a playground, multi-purpose trail, pier, and canoe launch. There are restrooms available as well. If you're visiting in late November up until Christmas, you'll want to check out the Dickinson Festival of Lights. This free, walk-through event has been an annual tradition for two decades. Enjoy the beautifully decorated light displays and have your photo taken with Santa. The event gets busy, so there are shuttle buses that get guests to and from Dickinson Plaza Shopping Center. Dickinson Bayou Ranch While the majority of the activities here revolve around water, Dickinson Bayou Ranch offers some different fun on the bayou. The ranch hosts numerous seasonal events, and you can take riding lessons and even get your horse trained! Chaparral Golf Club If you want to golf along the river, you'll want to visit Chaparral Golf Club that offers two 9-hole courses that include water in play on five holes. The course is noted for its very narrow fairways, and you'll start off with the hardest hole, a 375-yard par 4, which is then followed by the longest hole at 520 yards, par 5. You'll find other activities available on the bayou too. With the city of Dickinson running along the river, there is no shortage of ways to have fun! Image by zmortero, used under CCO 1.0

When you think about dining in Texas, one thing comes to mind: steak. Home of longhorn and cattle drives, cows are an enduring symbol of the Lone Star State. In Dickinson and the surrounding towns, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to steakhouses. From a traditional meal of steak and potatoes to a modern Cajun interpretation, you'll get your fill of our signature dish. These are five of the best steakhouses around Dickinson that all meat eaters will love. Logan's Roadhouse A traditional "peanut shells on the ground" roadhouse just up the road from Dickinson in League City, Logan's Roadhouse serves up butcher-selected steaks grilled over an open flame using mesquite wood. Their menu includes all the classic cuts of beef, including bone-in ribeye, New York strip, Porterhouse, and filet mignon. For a decadent addition, order your steak Onion Brewski style, and it will come with garlic butter, Samuel Adams beer-braised onions and crispy fried onions. Dickinson BarBQue & Steakhouse The yelp reviews say it all. One reviewer claims it was "by far one of the best steaks I've had in the area." This hole-in-the-wall joint has a menu that caters to all things Texas, from hand-cut ribeye to burgers, to good old fashion Texas Bar "B" Que ribs, pork, and brisket. If you're not sure what to order, one of the chefs will bring out a sample plate for you to try. Main St. Bistro For a Cajun twist on the traditional steak, try Main St. Bistro in League City. A hidden gem with a bistro atmosphere, they serve a variety of dishes, but the steaks stand out. Try the beef & bleu ribeye, a Cajun-spiced blackened steak with bleu cheese crumbles, shallot rings and red wine reduction. TripAdvisor reviews mention exceptional service as another reason to grab dinner at Main St. Bistro. Craft 96 Draught House & Kitchen Beer and steak go together like Texas and cowboy boots. At Craft 96 Draught House & Kitchen, you can order their ribeye served with garlic butter and garlic mash and pair it with one of the 60 beers that are always on tap. Start your meal off with one of their soft pretzels. Guess what? That goes great with a beer too. Saltgrass Steak House Saltgrass is an upscale traditional steakhouse with a rustic Texas-styled decor in nearby Kemah. At Saltgrass they serve only Certified Angus Beef steaks always topped with fresh garlic butter and seasoned with their Saltgrass-7 Steak Spice. Try their Wagon Boss Center-cut Top Sirloin or 16 oz. Texas T-bone, the cut you picture when thinking about Texas steak. The delicious steaks are made even better by the view over the boardwalk toward Trinity Bay. When it comes to steak in Texas, you can't go wrong. Texans pride themselves on having some of the best beef in the country. Around Dickinson, meat eaters are spoiled for choice. Do you go for peanut shells on the floor or a cold craft beer with your steak? Here in Dickinson, the only bad choice is not ordering the steak. Image by Divily, used under CCO 1.0

Hunting is a popular past-time in Dickinson and the surrounding areas. Whether you enjoy collecting trophies, enjoy the meat, or enjoy the sport, hunting offers a fun way to spend your weekend. Learn everything you need to know about Dickinson hunting by checking out the tips below. What Can You Hunt in Dickinson? There is a wide array of game that can be hunted in Texas and around the Dickinson area. What you can hunt will depend on the season. The most popular game and hunting seasons of the area are listed below. more December through February These winter months include seasonal hunting for animals as woodcock, Wilson's snipe, sandhill crane, moorhens, and pheasant. March through May There are not many hunting seasons open in the spring months aside from alligator season, which usually starts at the beginning of April. September through November The prime hunting seasons for the area will run during the fall months. There are a number of game types that will have opening seasons in the fall including quail, squirrel, turkey, deer, pronghorn, geese, duck, and dove. What Permits and Licenses Are Required? If you are hunting an animal in the state of Texas, no matter if it is a bird, frog, or deer, you will be required to purchase a hunting license for the season. Regular hunting licensee can be purchased by anyone over 17. Those under 17 will be required to obtain a Youth Hunting License. You are permitted to trap any nuisance fur-bearing animals as well as animals that may be deemed vicious or feral without having a license. These exceptions can include coyotes that are attacking or feral hogs. If you are trapping fur-bearing animals to make use of their fur, you are required to obtain a trapper's license. If you are going on a guided hunt with an outfitter or hunting guide, the facility may be able to assist you in obtaining licenses for what you will be hunting on the excursion. Things to Note About Hunting in Texas Almost 97 percent of all land in Texas is privately owned, but many of these landowners are more than willing to let hunters hunt on their land for a small fee. You will have three primary options when it comes to finding a piece of land to hunt on. You can: Hunt on the public land that is available Gain a membership in a hunting club that provides access to specified land Retain the services of a hunting guide who will often have arrangement with certain land owner's to use their property in exchange for payment While these options may not always seem ideal, they are the best way to ensure that you are not violating private property laws in Texas. Enjoy some hunting with some friends, on a guided hunt, or at one of the many hunting clubs in and around the Dickinson area. Follow the tips above to ensure your hunting experience goes off without a hitch. Image by cocoparisienne, used under CCO 1.0