Baytown from Houston: the day trip

Thirty miles east on I-10, and most Houstonians have only ever seen the exit sign. Here's the day that changes that.

9:00 — Breakfast. Get off at Garth and go to the Cuban Cafe on Decker Drive. You've missed the 4 a.m. shift crowd, which is fine; the café con leche is the same. Alternate: Heart and Whisk on North Main for pastry and better coffee, if it hasn't sold out.

10:00 — The Nature Center. 6213 Bayway Drive. A neighborhood that sank into the bay after Hurricane Alicia in 1983 and became 500 acres of peninsula between three bays. Boardwalk, herons, the Fred Hartman across the water. Two hours, a few dollars a person, and the best thing in Baytown that Houston doesn't know about. Stop at the Wetlands Center on the way in if you have kids.

12:30 — Lunch. Mi Parrillada for asada, Black Bayou if it's crawfish season, El Sinaloense if you like lime and don't mind a line. Or Rooster's for the burger, if you'd rather sit down properly.

2:00 — The ferry. The Lynchburg Ferry, 1001 South Independence Parkway North, free, a few minutes across — under three by the county historical commission's count, seven to ten in wind and traffic by the Chronicle's — with the San Jacinto Monument on one side and the refineries on the other. Weekdays it's been running since 4:30 in the morning; weekends from eleven. Cross, and you're at the San Jacinto Battleground — the monument is taller than the Washington Monument and the elevator goes to the top. Give it an hour.

4:30 — Downtown. Back over the bridge (drive it slowly; that's the view), park on Texas Avenue, walk Art Alley, coffee if Heart and Whisk is still open, a daiquiri at the Dirty Daiquiri if it isn't.

6:30 — Dinner and home. Thompson's Fish Camp on Simms Road for shrimp on the water, then I-10 west with the sunset behind you. Or the Hyatt's terrace if you'd rather end with a view of the plants than of the bay.

If it's the third Saturday of the month: start downtown instead — the Market at Town Square, ten to two — and push everything else an hour.

If it rains: the Wetlands Center, Sterling Library, Max Bowl, lunch as above, and the ferry anyway; it runs in rain.

Getting here. I-10 east to exit 792 (Garth Road) or 793 (Main Street / Highway 146). From downtown Houston, 35 to 45 minutes outside rush hour; from Hobby, 40 to 55; from IAH, 40 to 45. No transit worth planning around; drive.

En español. Baytown está a 30 millas de Houston por la I-10. Desayuno en el Cuban Cafe, el Centro de Naturaleza, almuerzo Tex-Mex, el ferry gratuito de Lynchburg y cena de camarones en Thompson's. Un día completo.