1. Relaxing
Palacios is the perfect place for rest. We're what the Gulf Coast used to be: no high-rise hotels, no crowds of tourists. Just a small, friendly community with a very slow pace of life. So take a stroll along the seafront on a 2-mile lit walkway that starts right outside your door. Take a nap in our hammock. Take a long bath to relax your muscles and your mind. Take the time to read a good book or simply enjoy the company of the one you love.
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| 2. Birding
Our area is well known as one of the best spots for birding in North America, especially during the migration seasons and the winter months, when we are home to more species of birds than anywhere else in the United States. Whether you're a lifelong birder or have only a casual interest, you will be amazed at the diversity of bird life in the skies and in the water right outside your door. And we will be happy to point you to many more of our favorite birding spots.
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3. Fishing
Palacios is a year-round paradise for those who love to fish. Cast from any of three free lighted piers right in front of the house, drop your line anywhere along the seawall, launch your boat at the public boat ramp just down the block, or ask us to arrange for a fishing guide to take you out into the bay or even the Gulf.
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| 4. Water Sports
Our bay is excellent for all kinds of water sports, including sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking or whatever floats your boat. Palacios is still largely "undiscovered" so our waters are never crowded. Our personal favorite is kayaking: it's the perfect way to enjoy the open water, to explore the local wetlands, or to hang out with our resident dolphins... all while getting a good workout!
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5. Dining
Bon appetit! Our area may not have much in the way of "fine dining" but it sure has some great food! Taste local seafood including our famous Palacios shrimp, enjoy a down home Southern style meal, sample famous Texan barbeque, or indulge in authentic Mexican cuisine. Let us know what you want, and we'll recommend the best. We also know all the great spots for an outdoor picnic!
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| 6. Beaches
Treat yourself to a lazy day of sun, sand and surf. Palacios has a few small beaches along its bay front, plus you can experience a huge Gulf beach at Matagorda just a short scenic drive away. Don't forget to bring the sunscreen!
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7. Exploring
Explore all the local curiosities, from the historic markers to murals depicting Palacios history. Check out the City by the Sea Museum and learn about how Palacios played a part in the world-famous excavation of the 1686 La Belle shipwreck, flagship of the early French explorer La Salle. You can also borrow a CD at the museum to take a historical home tour. Just pop it into your car player and it gives you directions and tells the stories of over 20 historical buildings in Palacios. Other nearby towns have their own unique attractions, and we'll be happy to recommend our favorites.
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| 8. Outdoor Sports
Get outdoors and have some fun! Our area offers great opportunities for golfing, biking, hiking and more. (Here at the Peaceful Pelican you can enjoy badminton and croquet right on the grounds!) Temperatures in Palacios are generally comfortable year-round. The coolest month is January, with average highs of 62°F (17°C). And in the summer, refreshing sea breezes make our weather much milder than it is inland. Our average July high of 90°F (32°C) is about five degrees cooler than Houston, Austin or San Antonio.
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9. Local Festivals & Events
Palacios and its neighbors host a huge number of unique festivals and events throughout the year. From Market Days to Artists in Action, from Cinco de Mayo to the Fourth of July Fair, from the Fish Fest Tourney to Shrimp-o-Ree, from the Christmas Bird Count to Santa's Visit (he arrives by boat), we enjoy a full calendar of small-town celebrations, fairs, traditions, parades, contests, concerts, markets, dances, regattas, dinners, historical reenactments and more. Check out the Chamber of Commerce events calendar for special events happening during your visit, or plan your visit around one of them!
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| 10. Shopping
Take in the antique store and gift shops featuring seaside treasures. It's not Barnes & Noble and Starbucks, but we too have our own coffee shop and bookstore combo. Guests come back feeling they've met everyone in town there! One of the most popular things to shop for here is houses! Strange but true, many people who visit Palacios fall in love with the place. It's a perfect spot for a second home, an ideal locale for an affordable retirement, as well as a diverse family-friendly community with exceptional public schools. And prices are so low that it would be hard to find more affordable waterfront or water view property anywhere else in the U.S. Definitely worth checking out!
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