When you think of Texas, vast open deserts, canyons, mountains, and prairies might immediately come to mind, but those seeking a waterfront destination will likely find themselves just as pleased with what the expansive state has to offer. From Austin’s Lady Bird Lake, complete with wildlife-viewing and kayaking excursions, to the pristine Texas Gulf Coast beaches of South Padre Island, the Lone Star State gives meeting and event planners many shoreline locales to choose from, helping boost attendance and providing stunning views and exciting opportunities for pre- or postmeeting group fun.
In Austin, Lady Bird Lake is the centerpiece, a reservoir created from damming the Colorado River and named after former first lady “Lady Bird” Johnson. Here, attendees might connect with nature by strolling along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail or enjoy it from the vantage point of venues like Austin’s Central Library. Lady Bird Lake Rentals offers paddleboards and kayaks for team lake adventures, and the library has several event spaces available, including the versatile Special Event Center and the Roof Garden, both with beautiful lake vistas. For a convenient hotel option, Hyatt Regency Austin provides easy access to Sixth Street, the Austin Convention Center (currently closed for renovations), and South Congress Avenue, close to entertainment, dining, and shopping. The hotel boasts three ballrooms and the Zilker Terrace, a covered outdoor reception venue enjoyable rain or shine. Attendees can access the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail from just outside the hotel’s back door, and the hotel’s newly renovated outdoor pool boasts sweeping views of downtown and the lake.
Just outside of Austin, Horseshoe Bay Resort is nestled on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (another Colorado River reservoir) and provides ample opportunities to get attendees near and on the water. “Lake Lyndon B. Johnson is a stable-level lake, which makes waterfront programming reliable year-round, and [the resort is] a natural fit for marina-, boating-, and marine-industry events,” says the resort’s Director of Sales Lacee Jordan. “Groups often take advantage of the setting with lakefront receptions, boat outings, dockside networking, and on-the-water team building woven into the agenda.” Jordan notes one standout amenity is the resort’s Lady Bird II dining yacht, a floating venue ideal for hosted dinners that adds, as she puts it, “an unmistakable sense of place.” Horseshoe Bay Resort has over 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including the new Live Oak Pavilion overlooking a large lagoon.
Another riverside gem is the city of Beaumont, about 90 minutes from Houston along the picturesque Neches River. Its notable outdoor venue Riverfront Park—which reopened in August 2025 following nearly eight years of extensive renovations for damages caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017—plays host to the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration, as well as private events. Planners might rent the park’s small amphitheater, suitable for up to 50 attendees, and groups will find ample parking in the adjacent Beaumont Civic Center lot. The park is within walking distance of the Beaumont Civic Center, Julie Rogers Theatre, and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, among other venues in the downtown area.
For planners looking to reel in attendees with the distinct draw of the ocean, Corpus Christi entices with its combination of sunny weather and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. Situated on Corpus Christi Bay, the one-of-a-kind Texas State Aquarium allows attendees to not only enjoy sweeping sea panoramas, but to also immerse themselves in the ecology of the creatures that call it home while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.
“Attendees are drawn to the stunning views of Corpus Christi Bay and its beautiful waterfronts,” says Belia Ortega, event sales manager for the Denver-based visitor amenities company SSA Group, which provides event services at the Texas State Aquarium. “Located directly on the bay, Water’s Edge Boardwalk is a one-of-a-kind venue where visitors enjoy breathtaking scenery while interacting with some of our most popular exhibits.” When booked by itself, the Water’s Edge Boardwalk hosts up to 500 attendees, and planners also have the opportunity to combine this outdoor space with the indoor Living Shores venue, located along the aquarium’s largest chain of animal exhibits, including shorebirds, hermit crabs, shark touch pools, and more. Living Shores holds up to 400 people alone or up to 900 strolling in conjunction with the Water’s Edge Boardwalk.
Corpus Christi’s Hilliard Center (formerly known as American Bank Center) delivers three venues under one roof: an arena, a convention center, and the Selena Auditorium. In total, Hilliard Center features 138,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space overlooking sparkling Corpus Christi Bay and includes four loading bays, an 18,500-square-foot ballroom with bay views, the 10,000-seat arena, and the smaller 2,600-seat auditorium. Attendees often take advantage of the center’s proximity to area attractions, such as the Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History and Whataburger Field (home to the Corpus Christi Hooks, a Double-A Texas League affiliate of MLB’s Houston Astros), as well as waterfront hotels like DoubleTree by Hilton Corpus Christi Beachfront.
For a similar seafront vibe closer to a major city, Galveston is a prime choice that is 50 miles from Houston. The 32-mile Galveston Island that encompasses most of the city is home to more than 5,000 guest rooms, the Galveston Island Convention Center, and plenty for groups to do. For example, attendees can explore the city’s Historic Strand District—a National Historic Landmark with attractions like La King’s Confectionery and the Texas Seaport Museum—or the famous Moody Gardens entertainment destination.
Linked to Galveston Island via the Seawolf Parkway bridge is Pelican Island, where Texas A&M University at Galveston sits poised to host oceanfront meetings and events. Its 38,000-square-foot Aggie Special Events Center, opened in 2018, includes four versatile meeting rooms, an 11,273-square-foot grand ballroom, and prefunction space. The university’s Waterfront Pavilion and Amphitheater is one of only a few venues in the area that looks out upon the Galveston Ship Channel, according to Emily Husmann, event coordinator at the university. She notes groups often take advantage of the school’s ocean proximity in a few distinctive ways.
“Organizations planning a meeting or event at Texas A&M University at Galveston can reserve a vessel from the [university’s] vessel fleet, as available, for hosted ship tours along the Galveston Ship Channel, and also reserve a behind-the-scenes tour of the
[university’s] Sea Life Facility,” Husmann explains. “Additionally, the Waterfront Pavilion is a unique venue that supports events of all kinds, allowing attendees to gather indoors in the pavilion and outdoors at the amphitheater, all with views of active maritime traffic in the Galveston Ship Channel.” The university’s on-site caterer, Century Oak Catering, enables planners to work with its catering manager to create a menu tailored to individual event needs.
A short 30-minute drive away lies a smaller waterfront destination with much to offer: League City, situated on Clear Lake near Galveston Bay and home to attractions like Space Center Houston and the Kemah Boardwalk. One of its most notable waterfront venues is South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center, where 25,000 square feet of stylish meeting and event spaces provide opportunities for attendees to collaborate while taking in the views of Clear Lake or to reset during a retreat-style stay. The resort’s catering menu is expansive, offering Southern-style breakfasts, boxed lunches, hors d’oeuvres packages, dinner buffets, and more.
A discussion of Texas beachfront destinations would hardly be complete without a mention of South Padre Island, just across the border from Mexico with 34 miles of pristine white-sand beaches. For planners who need the utmost amenities without sacrificing the laid-back island atmosphere attendees are looking for, the South Padre Island Convention Center might be the ticket, located along the warm waters of Laguna Madre Bay. “It combines functional meeting space with scenic waterfront character that is difficult to replicate inland,” says Mayra Nunez, sales and services manager for the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It can be configured to accommodate 20 to 2,500 attendees for everything from conferences to large-scale conventions and nonprofit gatherings. … Planners also have access to the Sunset Terrace that overlooks the calm bay waters, adding a coastal setting to group receptions, team-building excursions, or networking sessions.”
For groups that want to dive into sea-centric activities, the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau helps facilitate island team excursions, such as dolphin-watching tours, eco-cruises, and beach cleanups. Nunez notes, “A popular team-building exercise is sandcastle building, which can be enjoyed right across from the convention center at Andy Bowie County Park.”
austintexas.org
beaumontcvb.com
hsbresort.com
tamug.edu/venues
texasstateaquarium.org
visitcorpuschristi.com
visitgalveston.com
visitleaguecity.com
visitsouthpadreisland.com
