With 2,500 acres of protected natural wetlands, forest, prairie and marsh environment, Armand Bayou Nature Center is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the country. The center allows hundreds of animal species and thousands of native plants to thrive. Visitors are invited to get away from the busy city and immerse themselves in nature at ABNC through hiking, paddle trails, bayou cruises, canoe trips, and other unique outdoor experiences.

See indigenous wildlife like American alligators, hawks, river otters, white-tail deer, turtles and more. Say hello to the resident bison that graze one of ABNC’s prairies, or get an up-close view of spiders and snakes at the facility’s education center.

The site is one of the top birding locations in the Galveston Bay area and attracts bird enthusiasts from all over the world. The center also features the restored 1890s Martyn Family Farm, where guests can experience life as it was on a 19th-century farm in Southeast Texas through live demonstrations.