Port Aransas Texas

Family Fun ~ Island Style
Welcome to Port Aransas, an island getaway for beach, sun and family fun! Nestled between the dunes of Mustang Island and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, its picturesque shoreline is the perfect place to meander among the seashell, frolic in the waves, bask beneath the sun, and relax in the gentle  breezes.

Mustang Island’s nature-related sites abound, offering optimum opportunities for birding, kayaking, fishing, surfing and swimming. Reflecting a unique laid back attitude, the intimate coastal community of Port Aransas brims with eclectic boutiques, shops and galleries, charming cafes, exceptional restaurants and lodging, ranging from clean and comfortable to upscale and luxurious. Escape to Port Aransas to experience family fun ~ Island Style!

Where We’ve Been
Mustang Island’s beginnings included wild horses, Indians, Spanish explorers, pirates, and eventually, settlers to this primitive barrier island. Undergoing numerous changes, the once sleepy fishing village of Port Aransas continues its progression into one of the most popular coastal destinations in Texas.

Many families have made the beaches of Mustang Island a summer vacation tradition, spanning generations, bringing along a few new friends and family every year. These, along with the thousands of ‘Winter Texans’ that flock to its sandy shores from November through March, have enriched the feeling of camaraderie unique to this island community. Affectionately referred to as “Port A”, the term ‘extended family’ has formed new meaning as locals eagerly anticipate the return of guests from the north each winter.

Natural Points of Interest
• Great Texas Birding Trail Sites
• Wetlands Park
• Leona Belle Turnbull Birding Center – Novices to experts can discover new species every Wednesday at 9am, during “Birding on the Boardwalk,” a guided tour free to the public courtesy of the City of Port Aransas’ Parks and Recreation Department
• Joan & Scott Holt Paradise Pond – this fresh water pond is a migratory haven.
• Port Aransas Nature Preserve – our newest nature lovers paradise with hike and bike trails and boardwalks to view a variety of species.
• South Jetty – Granite jetties form the pathway to the Gulf of Mexico
• Lydia Ann Lighthouse – Privately owned and operated, this structure holds important historical significance. In existence since the 1800’s, it is the only lighthouse on the Texas Gulf Coast with 24-hour caretakers. Visitors may view it from water only
• Kayak Trails
• Mustang Island State Park
• St. Joe’s Island – A privately owned island across the ship channel, offers excellent beachcombing and surf fishing
• Spoil Islands in the bays and waterways surrounding the island offer fantastic birding and wildlife viewing opportunities from the channel only (Shamrock Island, Hog Island, Dagger Island, etc.)
• UTMSI Wetlands Education Center – Port A’s newest educational resource sits on a 3.5 acre salt marsh surrounded by sheltering dunes where visitors will discover the importance of wetlands to both nature and man. The site offers an extensive boardwalk system and several observation platforms for viewing migratory waterfowl and resident marsh birds. Weekly, free, guided tours will expand your knowledge of our eco System.

Getting Here
Port Aransas is located on the northern tip of Mustang Island. Take your choice of two ways to access the island. From Corpus Christi, the island is linked by the JFK Causeway, which climbs high above the Laguna Madre making a direct line to SH 361 and Port A. Alternately, take the ‘scenic route.’ The free ferry system brings visitors to the island across the Corpus Christi Ship Channel via car ferries, which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Often bottlenose dolphins accompany the ferries back and forth
to the delight of those aboard. Seagulls and pelicans are frequent flyers along the short trip, too!

Beaches
The beaches of Mustang Island are fantastically unique. There are eighteen miles of uninterrupted public shoreline, open for vehicles and all things beachy! It includes the Horace Caldwell Pier, open 24/7 extending from the beach into the Gulf of Mexico, certified lifeguards to watch over the crowds in designated areas during peak season, and outdoor showers and bathrooms. Pets are welcome, but they must remain leashed at all times.

Things to do
• Experience salt water fishing at its optimum – from deep sea or surf to bays & channels to lighted piers
• Visit the local art galleries
• Ride the trolley
• Rent a variety of other transportation modes to cruise the Island
• Visit the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s Visitor Center where self-guided tours and educational movies are among the attractions offered.
• Play volleyball, shuffle board or picnic at Robert’s Point Park or the Community Park
• Hunt for seashells or build sandcastles
• View dolphins & ships as they glide through the ship channel
• Buy one-of-a-kind gifts, clothing and home décor with a coastal flair
• Swim, surf & kite board in the waves
• Enjoy local theatrics at the Port Aransas Community Theatre
• Go kayaking
• Golf - Play a round of golf at the Arnold Palmer signature-links course

Dining & Shopping
Whether you are craving a meal complete with succulent shrimp or a gallery brimming with inspiring works of art, Port Aransas will whet your appetite! Fresh seafood, served in more ways than you can imagine, can be ordered from restaurants scattered throughout the city. Savor your own ‘catch of the  day’ or others fresh from the docks, such as grouper, yellow fin tuna, amberjack, mahi-mahi and  wahoo. Whatever your choice, fabulous coastal cuisine prepared to order will satisfy even the most discriminating palette.

Numerous unique shops, galleries and boutiques promise to quench your sense of sight, touch and sound. Island treasures for home décor, fashion statements, and gifts from the heart bring lasting memories of Mustang Island.Stroll the streets of Port Aransas and get a taste of the Island’s
businesses. Their friendly service, laid-back surroundings and unique feel encourage you to take your time & enjoy yourself.
Port A is Port Artsy - The art community is alive and well in Port Aransas and ready to show you their work. Choose from numerous settings to view works of island art, ranging from casual home studios  to the more sophisticated galleries and even fabulously artistic interior decorators.

The Art Center for the Islands is a local hub for artists young and old and is host to numerous year
round activities such as classes, First Friday showings and the Annual Songwriters Showcase and Art Festival, held annually in May. Stroll the streets of “Port A” and get a taste of the Island’s spectacularly unique artwork. Their friendly service, laid-back surroundings and unique feel will encourage you to  take your time. In fact, some of our visitors have decided to really take their time… and make Port A  home!

During Your Stay…
While you could simply rest in your room and snooze your vacation away, the best way to shed the worries of the working world is to harness your energy into something fun and adventurous. And for that, Port Aransas is the perfect place.

Go fish!
Known as the ‘Fishing capital of Texas,’ Port Aransas boasts the best in all areas of the sport.  Deep-sea fishing is BIG in the waters of this small city. Offshore excursions ranging from 6 – 56 hours depart from Port Aransas docks, filled with eager participants. Zealous anglers aboard local charters  and party boats frequently bring in record-breaking fish! Bay fishing is also outstanding in the waterways surrounding Mustang Island, where limits of Redfish, Flounder, Black Drum and Trout are commonplace. Take your pick of numerous experienced guides, or go it alone, tonight’s dinner is just a few casts away! Summer is the season for fishing tournaments and Port Aransas plays host to one almost every weekend from June thru August. Those who prefer to keep their feet on dry ground can  also enjoy the sport of fishing from area lighted piers, accessible 24-hours a day.
• Horace Caldwell Pier
• Charlie’s Pasture Fishing Pier
• J.P. Luby Pier
• Ancel Brundrett Pier

Kids and adults alike delight when bottlenose dolphins make their appearance beside watercraft traveling through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. Excursions from area docks offer the opportunity to marvel at the grace of these mammals that populate the waters surrounding Mustang Island. Trips lasting from 1 ½ to 2 hours provide magnificent views of the Lydia Ann Lighthouse, spoil islands and other areas otherwise inaccessible. Bird enthusiasts have ample opportunities to view and interact with our fine feathered friends in Port Aransas. In the heart of the Central Flyway, hundreds of species of permanent residents and thousands of migrating birds consider it the perfect rest stop. With five sites on the Great Texas Birding Trail, Mustang Island serves as an optimum spot for bird watching.

Natural wetlands, inlets and 18 miles of beach and dunes, rock jetties, piers and Evenings on the Island can be spent taking a moonlit walk on the beach, attending the latest theatrical production, dining beneath the stars on succulent seafood, grooving to the beat during outdoor concerts, sipping libations while taking in scenes at local watering holes, or kicking back on your own private balcony.

True Port Aransas talent is set to entertain the entire family at the Port Aransas Community Theatre (PACT) on SH 361. Take in a performance, where quality productions often portray everyday life on the island.

Sunset Sounds concerts are held the second Friday of each month, April thru October, and feature the talent of local/area musicians.

Mustang Island’s panoramic sunsets provide the perfect backdrop for this musical event. Just bring along a few lawn chairs, blankets and maybe a cold drink or two to the grassy area surrounding the amphitheater at Robert’s Point Park to enjoy a night of family fun!

Tee Time
One of Port Aransas’ newest attractions, Newport Dunes Golf Club is the only ocean side golf course
along the Gulf of Mexico. This Arnold Palmer signature-links designed course is a challenge for even
the most expert golfer with the steady gulf breeze, strategically arranged fairways, fast and true greens,
deep stacked-walled bunkers, and native coastal grasses waiting to catch missed shots. Newport
Dunes recently received recognition as one of the top ten “America’s Best New Golf Courses for 2010”.

Early Island Lifestyles
One of two catalog houses that came to Port Aransas via barge somewhere around 1913 or 1915, the newly opened Port Aransas Museum features an exhibit that begins with the arrival of Robert Ainsworth Mercer to the island in 1863, and continues to the present, showing this early 1900’s kit house saved from the wrecking ball. Located adjacent to the Port Aransas Community Center don’t miss the opportunity to visit our new heritage center.

Did you know?
The first inhabitants of Mustang Island were the Karankawa Indians? Port Aransas’ names have  included Sand Point, Ropesville, & Tarpon. Port Aransas celebrates its century mark as an incorporated city in 2010. Such notables as Franklin D. Roosevelt enjoyed fishing the waters of Mustang Island during his presidency. He even has an autographed tarpon scale on display at the historic Tarpon Inn, the island’s oldest structure.

Accommodations
Port Aransas offers a large variety of accommodations. Whether you prefer a cozy cottage, conventional motel room, luxury condominium, or the privacy of your own beach house, the island offers a myriad of choices. In addition, there are numerous campgrounds and RV parks for those who prefer to sleep under the stars. Visit our website at www.portaransas.org for complete listings of places to stay on Mustang Island. You’re sure to find one that fits your lifestyle.

Whooping Crane Festival
Annually the last weekend of February During the fall migration, tight-knit family units of Whooping
Cranes make an astounding 2,400-mile journey from Canada’s Northwest Territories to the Texas Coastal Bend. Their final destination is located on Aransas Bay at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge where they enjoy temperate climate and an abundant food source.

Join the festivities each year the last weekend in February as we celebrate our area’s distinguished privilege as winter hosts to these amazing giants. Activities and events include lectures and workshops by world-renowned experts in ornithology and wildlife, guided boat trips to the Refuge for an up close and personal look at the Whoopers in their natural habitat, guided bus tours to the fantastic birding sites on Mustang Island and other favorite area sites, narrated boat tours of the waterways and spoil islands for optimum birding and photo opportunities, and a first rate nature related trade show.

The annual celebration scheduled for February 25-28, 2010 promises to be the best ever! Registration begins in December; forms are available via mail or you may download from our new festival website www.whoopingcranefestival.org Call 800-452-6278 for more information. Sign up for some activities and join the fun as we pay homage to the magnificent Whooping Crane!

Texas SandFest
Annually in April Texas’ official Sand Sculpting Festival originated on the beach in Port Aransas thirteen years ago and has become one of the biggest beach festivals in the state! It received world attention this year by being named one of the five qualifying contests for The World Championship of Sand Sculpture later in the year. All proceeds benefit non-profit organizations. Featuring contests in four categories, participants from across the globe fascinate onlookers as they create unbelievably detailed sculptures of sand. World-class Master sculptor as well as amateurs and over a hundred others will compete throughout the weekend.

Additional free activities and programs include vendor tents filled with jewelry, art, and food, games for the kids, sand sculpting lessons; music, entertainment; photo contest & more.

The 2010 SandFest is slated for April 9-11, 2010. Plan to attend this incredible family-style event on the shores of Mustang Island and prepare to be amazed!

Harvest Moon Regatta
Annually in October Fall’s harvest moon means cool winter breezes and a slower pace for Mustang Island. Its appearance also brings the expectation of the popular Harvest Moon Regatta. As the carrot colored orb rises above the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, wind driven vessels of all classes are slicing through the waves on the annual 150-mile offshore regatta from League City. A favorite among locals and visitors, the rainbow of mainsails billowing in the South Texas wind brings admiration and a sense of tranquility to onlookers of all ages as the sailboats parade through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. Bring your chairs and sit along the jetties or bulkhead for an astonishing view your entire family will enjoy! The regatta will occur October 21-23, 2010.

What’s New

Port Aransas Nature Preserve Phase 1 of the new Port Aransas Nature Preserve offers nature lovers another option to enjoy the great outdoors in Port Aransas. Located just off the ferry landing along the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, the 1,217 acre preserve encompasses over 2 miles of hike and bike trails within the park and includes a Pavilion, boardwalks over algal flats, crushed granite trails on the uplands, covered seating sites and a tower overlooking wetland areas around Salt Island. Phase 2 is currently in the design stage and will add another 1.25 miles to the existing trail system and provide a link to the Leona Belle Turnbull Birding Center.

For more information on accommodations, events and everything Port Aransas log on to: www.portaransas.
org or call 1-800-45-COAST.
call Port Aransas and Mustang Island home.