• Restaurants + Bars
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Real Estate
  • City Life
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • City Guide
  • Events
  • Charity Guide
  • Subscribe
  • Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
culturemap logo
  • Restaurants + Bars

    THE LATEST

    Melissa Gaskill: 7 best Central Texas craft brews to beat the summer heat
    Pour a cold one
    7 best Central Texas craft brews to beat the summer heat
    By Melissa Gaskill
    Brandon Watson: 7 things to know in San Antonio food right now: SoCal juice bar squeezes into Alamo Heights
    News you can eat
    7 things to know in SA food: SoCal juice bar opens in Alamo Heights
    By Brandon Watson
    Teresa Gubbins: San Antonio makes showing on list of top 20 vegan cities in U.S.
    Vegan News
    San Antonio makes showing on list of top 20 vegan cities in U.S.
    By Teresa Gubbins

    SPONSORED BY

  • Entertainment

    THE LATEST

    Alex Bentley: Minions: The Rise of Gru finds the fun again by going back in time
    Movie Review
    Minions: The Rise of Gru finds the fun by going back in time
    By Alex Bentley
    Paige Turner: Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio this 4th of July weekend
    Weekend Event Guide
    Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio on 4th of July weekend
    By Paige Turner
    Alex Bentley: Cynical filmmaking brings down stars Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson in The Man from Toronto
    Movie Review
    Cynical filmmaking brings down Hart & Harrelson in Man from Toronto
    By Alex Bentley

    SPONSORED BY

  • Arts

    THE LATEST

    Brianna Caleri: San Antonio's McNay paints a new picture with opening of interactive studio
    Studio Art
    The McNay paints a new picture with opening of interactive art studio
    By Brianna Caleri
    : Texas author thrills with new romance and murder mystery titles set in the Lone Star State
    made in texas
    Texas author thrills with 2 new titles set in the Lone Star State
    By Natalie Harms
    Brianna Caleri: Texas Women for the Arts champions 2 local organizations with annual grants
    Wish Granted
    Texas Women for the Arts champions 2 San Antonio organizations
    By Brianna Caleri

    SPONSORED BY

  • Real Estate

    THE LATEST

    Steven Devadanam: Charming Texas Gulf Coast community named one of the most affordable beach towns in U.S.
    shore thing
    Charming Texas spot named one of the most affordable U.S. beach towns
    By Steven Devadanam
    John Egan: San Antonio suburb sizzles with one of the hottest ZIP codes for homebuyers
    Building a reputation
    San Antonio suburb sizzles with one of the hottest ZIPs for homebuyers
    By John Egan
    Arden Ward: San Antonio's median home price closes in on $350,000 in new report
    Real Estate Report
    San Antonio's median home price closes in on $350,000 in new report
    By Arden Ward

    SPONSORED BY

  • City Guide

    THE LATEST

    : Bite - San Antonio
    Restaurants
    Bite - San Antonio
    : Biga on the Banks
    Restaurants
    Biga on the Banks
    : Mixtli
    Restaurants
    Mixtli

    SPONSORED BY

  • Events

    THE LATEST

    : Traders Village presents Sunflower Field
    7.3.22 | 9:00 am
    Traders Village presents Sunflower Field
    : World Heritage Office presents Mission Marquee Plaza Farmers & Artisans Market
    7.16.22 | 9:00 am
    World Heritage Office presents Mission Marquee Plaza Farmers & Artisans Market
    : San Antonio Botanical Garden presents Steve Tobin: "Rooted"
    7.3.22 | 9:00 am
    San Antonio Botanical Garden presents Steve Tobin: "Rooted"

    SPONSORED BY

  • Subscribe
  • City Life

    THE LATEST

    Steven Devadanam: Texas entrepreneur scales to new heights with innovative marketplace for the outdoors
    a mountainous achievement
    Texas entrepreneur scales to new heights with innovative marketplace
    By Steven Devadanam
    Hannah J. Phillips: University of Texas System invests $16.5 million for student mental health resources
    What Starts Here
    UT System invests $16.5 million for student mental health resources
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Hannah J. Phillips: H-E-B establishes $10 million donation to rebuild Uvalde's Robb Elementary
    H-E-B for Uvalde
    H-E-B establishes $10M donation to rebuild Uvalde elementary school
    By Hannah J. Phillips

    SPONSORED BY

  • Fashion + Beauty

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Texas jewelry star Kendra Scott shines with dazzling engagement ring collection
    Great Scott
    Texas jewelry star Kendra Scott debuts dazzling new engagement rings
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Steven Devadanam: Texas superstar Simone Biles unveils new clothing line full of girl power
    GOAT GEAR
    Texas superstar Simone Biles unveils clothing line full of girl power
    By Steven Devadanam
    Hannah J. Phillips: Texas jewelry maven Kendra Scott clocks in with timely new collection
    Clocking In
    Texas jewelry maven Kendra Scott clocks in with timely new collection
    By Hannah J. Phillips

    SPONSORED BY

  • Home + Design

    THE LATEST

    Holly Beretto: Step back in time inside 9 grand and historic Galveston homes on popular tour
    living history
    Step back in time inside 9 grand and historic homes on Galveston tour
    By Holly Beretto
    Lindsey Wilson: Cozy additions and calming colors top Zillow's 2022 home trends
    Do's for 2022
    Cozy additions and calming colors top Zillow's 2022 home trends
    By Lindsey Wilson
    Chantal Rice: San Antonio interior designer unveils DIY style kits for home makeovers
    The whole kit and caboodle
    San Antonio designer unveils DIY style kits for home makeovers
    By Chantal Rice

    SPONSORED BY

  • Travel

    THE LATEST

    Arden Ward: Texas drives to No. 3 spot on list of best states for summer road trips
    Hit The Road
    Texas drives to No. 3 spot on list of top states for summer road trips
    By Arden Ward
    Steven Devadanam: Galveston Island State Park reopens for beachside fun after major makeover
    park it in galveston
    Galveston Island State Park reopens for beachside fun after makeover
    By Steven Devadanam
    : Texas' 10 best water parks for families, thrill-seekers, and everyone in between
    Ride the Wave
    Texas' 10 best water parks for families, thrill-seekers, and more
    By Jennifer Simonson

    SPONSORED BY

  • Charity Guide
  • Tastemaker Awards
Travel Texas SA
Promoted articles are produced by CultureMap sponsors and not by the editorial staff.
Home » Travel
On the Road
Stop and smell the roses in Tyler, which is blooming with experiences
Museum news
Unique design plans unveiled for National Juneteenth Museum in Texas
LATEST NEWS
An unforgettable summer vacation is only a short drive away in Plano
On the Road

Bite into Pearland's juicy history and current barbecue best-of status

Bite into Pearland's juicy history and current barbecue best-of status

By CultureMap Create
Jun 20, 2022, 12:00 pm
Enlarge
Slideshow
Killen's barbecue
Don't miss the smoked goodness at Killen's Barbecue. Photo courtesy of Visit Pearland
Pearland pear sculptures
Pear sculptures pay homage to Pearland's history and culture — and you'll find them all around town. Photo courtesy of Visit Pearland
pearland bakfish craft brewery
Bakfish is the city's first craft brewery and has inventive beers on tap. Photo courtesy of Visit Pearland
pearland birding
Pearland is in the heart of a major migratory path, making it a good place for birding. Photo courtesy of Visit Pearland
pearland outdoor event
Family-friendly events are hosted here year-round. Photo courtesy of Visit Pearland
Killen's barbecue
Pearland pear sculptures
pearland bakfish craft brewery
pearland birding
pearland outdoor event

Situated just south of Houston, Pearland is both a destination all its own and the ultimate starting point for exploring the Texas Gulf Coast.

To kickstart your list of things to do while in town, here are seven ways you can see — and taste — the best of what the city has to offer.

Visit a temple
With its towers covered in carved statues, the Sri Meenakshi Hindu Temple is not only an architectural and cultural wonder, it’s a local icon.

The temple is the only one outside of India dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, the wife of Shiva. With shrines and figures of animals, deities, and gods, it's an immersive experience where you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the other side of the world.

Go birding
Located in the heart of a major migratory path, Pearland is for the birds — literally! Its variety of habitats, from wetlands to riparian forests, provide a safe haven for a rare mix of avians, including roseate spoonbills, great blue herons, colorful songbirds, and more.

Head to the John Hargrove Environmental Complex or the Shadow Creek Ranch Nature Trail for the best birding scenes, each of which has their own trails to explore. 

Taste true Texas craft beer
Take your pick from the selection of seasonal and flagship brews like the fruity All Y’all Texas golden ale, the bold Defying Gravity double IPA, or the Swim Shady hard seltzer at Bakfish Brewing Company, Pearland’s first craft brewery.

There are even more brews to enjoy at Vallensons’ Brewing Company, purveyors of such inventive beers as a tea beer with lemongrass and hibiscus, a pink cherry Berliner, and a peanut butter blonde ale.

Enjoy some of the best barbecue in Texas
Sink your teeth into some slow-cooked brisket and ribs at Killen’s Barbecue, which has been heralded as one of the top barbecue joints in Texas. The line regularly extends out the door, but the smoked goodness is worth the wait.

Follow the Pear-Scape Trail
Pearland was named for its abundance of pear trees during the community’s earliest days. Now, you'll likely see some four-foot-tall pear sculptures spread across town, each painted by a local artist.

Go on a scavenger hunt for all 20, which will also take you to places you want to go anyway, like Pearland Golf Club, Pearland Town Center, and Independence Park.

Do it for the ’gram on a mural tour
Murals are popping up all over Pearland, and they’re located at hot spots so you’ll want to not only snap a photo, but also stay for a while.

For example: Good Vibes Coastal Kitchen has tiki bar-style tropical cocktails, the best burgers around, fresh oysters, and more, and outside there’s a colorful shaka hand-sign mural.

One of the most recognized outdoor murals in Pearland spans a full exterior wall in Old Townsite, Pearland’s historic district, on a building facing Killen’s Barbecue. The colorful mural is a collage of iconic images painted within each letter of the city’s name.

The amphitheater tunnel in Pearland’s Independence Park features a large, colorful graphic that celebrates the performing and visuals arts.

Green, leggy frogs jump off the walls of the Delores Fenwick Nature Center, where you can also walk nearly two miles of nature trails and wetlands behind the building.

Get in a good dose of geocaching
Hunt for geocaches amidst beautiful scenery, hiking trails, and lush parks along with historical haunts and cultural gems. There are more than 30 geocaches on Pearland’s GeoTour, and it’s a great way to experience everything the city has to offer, too.

To learn more about Pearland’s attractions along with their vibrant culinary, shopping, and events scene, head over to Visit Pearland.

Read These Next
2022 Tastemaker Awards
Where to sip summer drinks from San Antonio Tastemaker's top spirits
frida fest in edinburg
From tasty Texas festivals to must-see museums, Edinburg has it all
louis mueller barbecue restaurant
Sink your teeth into legendary barbecue in film-famous Taylor
2022 Tastemaker Awards
Where to sip summer drinks from San Antonio Tastemaker's top spirits
frida fest in edinburg
From tasty Texas festivals to must-see museums, Edinburg has it all
louis mueller barbecue restaurant
Sink your teeth into legendary barbecue in film-famous Taylor
  • Latest News
  • Most Popular
  • Texas beach town among most affordable in U.S., plus more top stories
  • Where to sip summer drinks from San Antonio Tastemaker's top spirits
    - promoted -
  • Texas entrepreneur scales to new heights with innovative marketplace
  • The McNay paints a new picture with opening of interactive art studio
  • From tasty Texas festivals to must-see museums, Edinburg has it all
    - promoted -
See All Latest News >
  • Texas beach town among most affordable in U.S., plus more top stories
  • Charming Texas spot named one of the most affordable U.S. beach towns
  • These 3 San Antonio businesses punch in among Texas' best employers
  • Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio on 4th of July weekend
  • San Antonio suburb sizzles with one of the hottest ZIPs for homebuyers
Vote Now
Home | About Us | News Tips & Suggestions | Submit An Event | Submit A Charity | Advertise | Media Sponsorship | Jobs | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
© 2022 CultureMap LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Be A CultureMap Insider
Get Our Emails
Sign Up

We will not share or sell your email address

Newsletters for exploring your city

Thank you for signing up Please verify your e-mail by following the link we just sent you.
Look for an e-mail from CultureMap <info@culturemap.com>