Recreational Activities

Another aspect of life in Bay City that set us apart from urban dwellers is how close we are to nature and the recreation it provides us year around. All you have to do is go out your back door and look at the sky to see wonders that are missed in bright city lights. Drive a little ways in your car or take a short bike ride and you have numerous of choices that all lead to beautiful, natural recreation sites. So what are you waiting for? Get on out there and start enjoying it all.

If we missed an activity you want to know about, just contact the Welcome Circle for more information.

  1. Birding
  2. Camping
  3. Fishing
  4. Golf
  5. The Gulf
  6. Hunting
  7. Kayaking
  8. Surfing

Birding Group of PeopleAh the birds in Matagorda County. If you have gotten this far, you probably noted we are known for our birds. Hundreds of them. Best birding anywhere. Largest Christmas count in the nation. And if you have not discovered wildlife viewing as an outdoor activity, now is the time to think about it.

With the Matagorda County Birding Center, Central Coast Birding Trail and Matagorda Bay Nature Park in our backyard, we are a bird watcher's delight.

Nationally Recognized Location

Did we mention that we have birds in Matagorda County? You may be excited to know that we are a nationally recognized location for bird watching. We have hundreds of species and some of the best birding anywhere. We are on the major Central Flyway zone where migratory birds come to winter. They include:

  • Song birds
  • Shorebirds
  • Water fowl
  • Raptors
  • Many others who seasonally fly between North and South America

Audubon Christmas Bird

Every year since 1997, Matagorda County has produced the largest Audubon Christmas Bird Count in North America. Check out the Audubon video of the Mad Island Christmas Bird Count to see what a great time you can have bird watching just a few minutes down the road from Bay City. Audubon has also listed seventeen priority birds that can be seen nesting or viewed year round in our neighborhood.