Allie Gator’s Port Arthur Picks

Allie Gator Loves Port Arthur

Who is green, smiling and happy to see you? Allie Gator is a Visit Port Arthur mascot at home in the marsh, and ready to let the good times roll. You might spot Allie at welcome reception or enjoying some local views, especially the waterways scenery. Allie loves good food and is always sampling some @flavorsofpatx

Let Allie share some favorite things to do in Port Arthur, the Cajun Capital of Texas!

Allie’s Port Arthur Picks

If Allie is entertaining out-of-bayou guests, Museum of the Gulf Coast is on the list of things to do. Guests love hearing tunes from Swamp Pop, zydeco, jazz, country, Creole and Cajun musicians who represent the area. Check out their juke box full of area artists. The over-the-shoulder scrub board was created in Port Arthur and is recognized at the Museum. Also, there’s a 13.5 foot taxidermy alligator to peruse. His name is Gulf Coast Charlie.

More cousins are usually on the Sea Rim State Park paddling trail and maybe at Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site, where anglers cast into the Sabine River. Louisiana is just on the other side of the banks!

Sabine Woods is famous for spring and fall migration. Gators like the pond near one of the drips. Golden Triangle Audubon Society helps keep this natural wonder looking lovely for the Texas Ornithological Society.

Allie’s Best Bites

This gator loves to eat. Allie told us Cajun and Creole flavors are a fave, and that spicy doesn’t always mean super-hot. Be warned, we tend to like it that way around Port Arthur. But guess what! This gator also craves Tex-Mex platters, steaming bowls of Asian pho and a good steak. We’d advise you to try some authentic Cajun gumbo and boudain while in town. March through May is considered the peak of crawfish season. For some Cajun and seafood flavors, look here.

A Social Creature

Catch Allie cutting a rug at the Cajun Heritage Festival, posing with children at Museum of the Gulf Coast free family days, learning at fun Port Arthur Public Library events and riding in parades. If there is a party going on, Allie wants to find it. In fact, if you hear of someplace Allie might want to be, call us, her friends at the Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau and we’ll relay the message. If you find this smiling gator right behind you, introduce yourself! Allie hates to see you “ba you self!”

SNAPPIN’ SELFIES

For some “jawsome” fun in Port Arthur make memories by “snapping” selfies. Here’s where Allie may “chews” to pose:

• Flash those chompers at at Gator Selfie Station at Museum of the Gulf Coast. This concrete bad boy in the parking lot is styled after a gator pop artist Robert Rauschenberg used in a poster. Visit the Rauschenberg gallery at the Museum.
• Sand in your claws: The Sea Rim State Park boardwalk gives you a Gulf of Mexico shoreline as your background.
• Seawall: Allie looks great in green as huge tankers pass by along the seawall. Barge, tug and tanker traffic is frequent.

Make sure your photos include our hashtags: #loveportarthurtx #flavorsofpatx, #birdportarthur

On the Water with Allie

Allie finds all sorts of seafood delicacies along our waterways. If you are looking to spot a real-life cousin, here are some likely spots:

• Sea Rim State Park Gambusia Nature Trail – Look in the tall grasses along the boardwalk.
• McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge – Keep your eyes on ditches along the road. The area is the largest remaining freshwater marsh on the Texas coast.
• Swamp and River Tours – Expect to view wild gators and other wildlife on the Blue Elbow Swamp from this Orange service.
• Gator Country – Hold a gator and learn about snakes, lizards and more at this Beaumont area attraction.
• The American Flag Airboat Marsh Tours L.L.C. is another chance get up close with wildlife.

Sometimes, people are looking to eat alligator. Texas Highways once featured a story on this, here, but don’t tell Allie,

Alligator Etiquette

If you meet Allie’s real-life cousins, take precautions. Don’t tease them, for sure.

The J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area is known for brooding area for Mottled Ducks and habitat for several birds, nutria, swamp rabbit, river otter and more of Allie’s friends. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department reports alligators are the single most important reptile and predator on the area, with a population not likely to exceed any other site in Texas.

Alligator Etiquette and TP&WD safety tips include:

• Absolutely do not feed or harass alligators. If you love your pet, keep it on a leash. Do not throw objects into the water for your dog to retrieve.
• Do not assume alligators are slow moving or sluggish.
• Keep a safe distance at all times, at least 30 feet from the alligator.
• When an alligator stands its ground, opens its mouth and hisses, you have come too close.
• Plan a route of retreat: Retreat slowly; make no quick moves; keep your eyes on the alligator; Keep retreating in this manner until the alligator no longer shows aggressive behavior.

Gator Family Fun Facts

The American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, was once on the verge of extinction. Delisted from endangered status in 1985, they’re baaaaack, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Look for 5 toes in front and 4 webbed toes in back. Gators float and swim with eyes and nostrils exposed. They’ll eat anything they can catch and the young make a bark. Adults bellow, grunt and hiss.

Texas gators are mostly inactive from Mid-October until early March, when they brumate. That’s a cold-blooded kind of hibernation. From March 1-May 30, they breed and nest. Females typically lay more than 35 eggs in the center of a large vegetation mound. Mama’s nest is up to 6 feet wide and several feet high. Eggs, 35 or more, incubate in the middle. Babies “yip” as they emerge from eggs at about 9 inches long. They’re with mama about two years and she is very protective. Both drought and heavy rain can increase gator movement. Be careful!

See Ya Later, Allie Gator

Port Arthur is all about the great outdoors. Explore Pleasure Island’s disc golfing, bird blind and pirate ship playground. Charter a fishing trip on Sabine Lake. Explore the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management area. Learn more about some of Allie’s natural habitats here, and be prepared to enjoy us now and see us again, later!