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Victoria is a city of about 65,000 people on the Guadalupe River in the Coastal Bend of Texas, roughly halfway between Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Founded in 1824 by the Mexican empresario Martin De Leon as Guadalupe Victoria, it is one of the oldest towns in Texas and later grew as a ranching, rail and oil center.
The historic downtown is the heart of a visit. The Romanesque 1892 Victoria County Courthouse faces DeLeon Plaza with its bandstand, and the surrounding streets hold dozens of restored 19th-century homes and commercial buildings. The Nave Museum shows art in a Greek Revival building, and the Museum of the Coastal Bend covers the region from prehistoric times through the French and Spanish eras.
Riverside Park follows the Guadalupe River for hundreds of acres and holds the Texas Zoo, a rose garden, picnic areas and a launch for the Victoria Paddling Trail. Day trips lead to the Fannin Battleground, Coleto Creek Reservoir, Goliad's missions and the Gulf beaches near Port Lavaca.
A small nonprofit zoo inside Riverside Park focused on animals native to Texas and the region, from ocelots and black bears to alligators, birds of prey and reptiles. Paths are shaded and easy to walk with children. Plan about two hours and go in the morning before the afternoon heat sets in.
A large city park stretching along the Guadalupe River with shaded picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, a golf course, a rose garden and river access for fishing and paddling. It is home to the Texas Zoo. Bring a picnic and drive the loop road to find a quiet spot under the old pecan and oak trees.
A museum on the Victoria College campus that tells the story of the Texas Coastal Bend, from early Native American cultures to the French colony of La Salle and the Spanish missions. Highlights include artifacts recovered from La Salle's era and Fort Saint Louis. Check hours before visiting, as they are limited.
A grand limestone courthouse designed by architect J. Riely Gordon in the Romanesque Revival style, with a clock tower and arched entrances facing DeLeon Plaza. It is one of the finest historic courthouses in Texas. Walk around the outside to see the stonework, and step inside on weekdays for a look at the halls.
The central plaza of old Victoria, set aside in the original town plan and named for founder Martin De Leon. It has a Victorian bandstand, monuments, shade trees and benches, and it hosts concerts and seasonal events. Start a downtown walking tour here and look for the historic markers around the square.
A small art museum in a Greek Revival building built in 1932 as a memorial to the painter Royston Nave, whose works form part of the collection. It hosts rotating exhibitions of regional and Texas artists along with lectures and events. Admission is usually modest; check the schedule for current shows.
One of the oldest burial grounds in the city, laid out in the town's early years and now a quiet historic park. It holds graves of early settlers and a historic windmill that was moved here and restored. Read the markers for stories of Victoria's founders and walk the grounds slowly to see the old stones.
The site of the 1836 Battle of Coleto, where Colonel James Fannin and his men surrendered to Mexican forces before the Goliad Massacre. A monument, picnic area and markers explain the events. It lies about 25 minutes southwest of Victoria, and pairs well with a visit to the missions and presidio at Goliad.
A Texas Parks and Wildlife paddling trail on the Guadalupe River that runs through Riverside Park and past wooded banks full of birds, turtles and herons. The calm stretch is good for kayaks and canoes. Bring your own boat or rent from a local outfitter, carry water and check river levels after heavy rain.
A park on Coleto Creek Reservoir between Victoria and Goliad with campsites, cabins, a fishing pier, boat ramps, a swimming area and a nature trail. The warm water lake is known for bass and catfish. Day use requires a small fee; arrive early on summer weekends when campsites and picnic spots fill quickly.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Daniel Capilla, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The original uploader was Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ProfReader, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The original uploader was Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Renelibrary, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ernest Mettendorf, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Renelibrary, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
