Palacios, Texas, "The City by the Sea."

Palacios, Texas is located on State Highway 35 half way between Houston and Corpus Christi. It is about a two and half hour drive from Austin. Palacios is a small town just under 6,000. It is famous for its wide diversity of bird life. It has been consistently reported that Palacios has more bird species than anywhere else in the United States. On December 19, 2005 it was reported that a record 250 different species were observed. Palacios is a wonderful destination if you love bird watching. Humming birds are on of the species that arrive each year in Palacios. These small, colorful birds are fun to watch.

Birds are not the only thing that attracts visitors to this small "City by the Sea." Palacios derived its name from a legend of a Spanish ship that was ship wrecked off the nearby coast. Sailors from the ship saw a mirage of three palaces, and swam towards them. The palaces disappeared, but the name stuck.

Shrimping is another popular thing in Palacios. There are many Shrimping boats along the bay in Palacios bringing in freshly caught shrimp daily. Visitors can buy just about any size shrimp they desire. In 2007 Palacios shrimpers landed more than 6 million tons of shrimp.

Tres Palacios Bay was voted best sailing bay in Texas, and it is no wonder. The big bay offers sailors a wide and beautiful place to sail and catch some wind and surf.

Palacios also has a pavilion that offers a spectacular view of the sunrise and sunset over the waters of Tres Palacios Bay. There is also a seawall walkway along the Bay Shore that allows visitors to stroll and enjoy the scenery or visit the adjoining fishing piers and try your luck at fishing. There is also a beach area for swimmers and sunbathers to enjoy.

Palacios has many vacation homes available for rent as well as several bed and breakfasts and hotels and RV parks. There is always somewhere to stay in Palacios. Visitors can choose from simple vacation homes with one or two bedrooms or the Serendipity Bay House located on the Bay at Serendipity Resort. Many of the vacation homes or bed and breakfasts have limits on how many people can stay and if they are pet friendly. Be sure to research where you plan to stay before you make reservations.

Palacios also has several museums to visit as well, including the "City by the Sea Museum." It has information about the La Salle shipwreck and how this excavation in 1995 was one of the most important shipwrecks ever discovered in North America.

If you and your family love visiting the coast and the beach, but hate to drive several hours to get to your destination, Palacios is just what the family needs. It is close to home and has beautiful scenery and something for the entire family, whether it is fishing, boating or just sitting and watching a beautiful sunset. It is a trip you can easily make a day trip out of. Load up the family and head to Palacios!