Top Ten Fun Things To See & To Do In Rockport

Rockport offers lots of fun things to see and do and here is Texas Outside's list of our Top Ten Favorite Things To See and Do In Rockport:

• Be A Tourist - take a walk through Fulton Mansion, Texas Maritime Museum, and Rockport Center For the Arts for just a few of the points of interest that draw many tourists and "Winter Texans" to the area. Visit Texas' first and only blue wave beach, enter their sand sculpture contest, take a dip in the Natural Saltwater Pool at the north end of Rockport Beach Park or just walk the beach collecting sea shells.
• Go Birding - the Rockport area is famous for it's birding activities, some of which include: Aransas Wildlife Refuge which is the wintering ground for the near-extinct whooping crane and is home to some 400 species of birds; a boat ride in the Intra-coastal canal is the best way to view the wildlife and several boats are available from the Rockport Marina; visit the Bird Garden and Wetlands Pond; or the Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary which has a number of trails and opportunities for spotting resident and migrant birds
• Hit the Trails - a. Goose Island State Park is great place for a bike ride or to take a short nature hike. Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary has natures and Memorial Park has walking/jogging trails with exercise stations and rest rooms. We like to roam the city by bike and visit the Maritime Museum and Memorial park, ride out to Key Allegro to check out the homes along the water and stop at Paradise Key Island Grill for an appetizer, cold drink, lunch or dinner

• Go Fishing - if you enjoy fishing Rockport is a great spot for you. You can charter a boat from one of the many charter companies in the area of fish from the surf, in the bay, from the beach, in the channel, from jetties, or from the Copano Bay State Fishing Pier - the longest pier in the world with a length of over 1.5 miles with concessions for food, bait, and tackle. You might also enjoy crabbing off the piers in the area. But best of all, you should go out with one of the local fishing guides or charters if you want to catch a trophy or a great dinner. We can highly recommend Copt. Mike O'Dell at A Fishing Fantasy Guide Service!

• Go Golfing - there are a number of good golf courses within 30 minutes to an hour away. One of Texas Outside Favorites is Newport Dunes just south of Port Aransas - check out our review of this outstanding course - a must play if you're in the area. You can find other courses on our South Texas Golf Map.
• Explore Port Aransas - Rockport is a charming location to stay and do some exploring in the nearby town of Port A which is about 15 miles away across a ferry and offers excellent fishing, places to bike, good beach, golf, great restaurants, and fantastic nightlife. A number of the bars have live music or karaoke, some have outside patios, a few have games (pool, darts, shuffleboard), many have appetizers or bar type food, and all of them have a lively, friendly, and fun loving crowd. We enjoy Shorty's - "the Island's Oldest and Friendliest" Bar.  Be prepared for a very unique experience stepping through the doors of Shorty's. Next door is Bernie's on the Beach, and just outside of town is Sharky's (downstairs on the weekends is mostly for younger crowds with rock bands). Some of our other favorites include: The Back Porch (open air waterfront hangout) and Salty Dog (“coolest honky-tonk on the Texas Riviera!”).

• Check Out Corpus Christi - you're only 25 minutes or so away from downtown Corpus Christi which has lots of fun things to see and do. One of our favorites is biking along the seawall, touring the Lexington, or visiting the aquarium. The Corpus Christi Outside Guide will highlight what to see and do when you visit Corpus.

• Enjoy the Local Restaurants - if you enjoy a great setting overlooking the boats and water, Paradise Key Island Grill is the most fun place in Rockport! They are located at the Marina on Key Allegro. Enjoy great food and a casual tropical atmosphere. We rode our bikes to The Moon Dog restaurant, (361) 729-6868, which is also on the water. The atmosphere is very casual with a great outdoor area with picnic tables for eating. The menu includes burgers, barbeque, seafood, and salads. Many of the menu items include a twist of some type - for example mild pablano peppers on the pulled pork sandwich. Great place to spend an afternoon eating and stuffing the face

• Get Some Beach Time - spend some time boating, walking, playing volleyball, fishing, or just soaking up some rays on Rockport's Beach Park. You'll find a mile of beach, boat launch, walking trail, sand volleyball court, fishing piers, swimming area, picnic cabanas, children's play area, restrooms and showers.
• Take The Kids Out - the kids will enjoy Aquatic Park which has a 1/4 mile trail, an 8 lane heated pool, children's pool with slides and sprays, skate park, picnic area, and playground.

 



 

To find a lot of the above, check out our Rockport Map.