Explore The Texas Coastal Bend

PORT ARANSAS

Family Fun ~ Island Style

Welcome to Port Aransas, an island getaway for beach, sun & 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 seashells; frolic in the waves; bask beneath the sun; and relax in 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 & comfortable to upscale & luxurious. Escape to Port Aransas and Mustang Island to experience Family Fun ~ Island Style!

Where We’ve Been

Mustang Island’s beginnings include wild horses, Indians, Spanish explorers, pirates, and eventually, settlers to the primitive, hurricane prone 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 members 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 intimacy and 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.

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.
• 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 the water only.
• Kayak Trails
• Mustang Island State Park
• St. Joe’s Island- A privately owned island across the ship channel, offering excellent beachcombing, surf fishing, and surfing.
• 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)

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”. Alternatively, take the “scenic route.” The free ferry system brings visitors to the island across the Corpus Christi Ship Channel via car ferries, which operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Often, a bottlenose dolphin accompanies 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 street-legal vehicles and all things beachy! It includes the Horace Caldwell Pier, a lighted 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. Pets are allowed, 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 coastal flair
• Swim, surf & kite board in the waves
• Enjoy local theatrics at the Port Aransas Community Theatre
• Go kayaking

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. Take in the panoramic sunset; take-out a menu selection to the comfort of your room; or settle in eclectic, intimate surroundings. 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 Mustang 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, which is held annually in May. So 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 “A” 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 6-48 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! 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, choose from those extending into the Corpus Christi Ship Channel or the Gulf of Mexico.
· Horace Caldwell Pier
· Charlie’s Pasture Fishing Pier
· J.P. Luby Pier
· Ancel Brundrett Pier

Kids and adults alike delight when Bottle Nose 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 1/2 hours 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 Coastal Birding Trail, Mustang Island serves as an optimum spot for bird watching. Its natural wetlands, inlets and 18 miles of beach and dunes, rock jetties, piers and boats offer dozens of perfect vantage points to view all the birds that call Port Aransas and Mustang Island home.

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 the scenes at local watering holes, climbing aboard the casino cruise to try your luck, or kicking back on your own private balcony.

True Port Aransas talent is set to entertain the entire family ~ island style at the Port Aransas Community Theater (P.A.C.T.) on State Highway 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 musicians. Mustang Island’s panoramic sunset provides the perfect backdrop for this outdoor 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 Roberts Point Park to enjoy a night of family fun!

Try Your Luck

The Texas Treasure Casino Cruise departs Tuesday through Sunday from its dock across the Corpus Christi Ship Channel from Mustang Island. The fun begins as soon as you board. Food and live entertainment will delight you as the 419-foot ship cruises to international waters. Once it has exceeded the 9.2-mile distance in the open Gulf of Mexico, gambling begins. Good Luck!

Did You Know?

The first inhabitants of Mustang Island were the Karankawa Indians.

Port Aransas’ names have included Sand Point, Ropesville & Tarpon.

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, celebrating their 120th
anniversary this year.

The beach is never far from
most Accommodations

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.

Celebration of Whooping Cranes & Other Birds
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 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; narrated boat tours of the waterways and spoil islands for optimum birding and photo opportunities; and a first rate nature related trade show.

The Celebration’s 12th Anniversary, February 22-24, 2008, promises to be the best ever! Registration begins in December; forms are available via mail or you may download from our website, www.portaransas.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
Held annually in April

Texas’ official Sand Sculpting Festival originated on the beach in Port Aransas ten years ago and has become one of the biggest beach festivals in the state! The event is hosted by the Port Aransas Community Theater (P.A.C.T.); all proceeds benefit their non-profit organization. Featuring contests in four categories, participants from across the globe fascinate onlookers as they create unbelievably detailed sculptures of sand. World-class master sculptors and over a hundred others will compete throughout the weekend. Additional free activities and programs include fashion shows; vendor tents filled with jewelry, art, and food; games for the kids; sand sculpting lessons; music; entertainment; a photo contest & more.

The 2008 SandFest is slated for April 18-20, 2008. Plan to attend this incredible family-style event on the shores of Mustang Island and prepare to be amazed!

Harvest Moon Regatta
Held 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 yachts of all classes are slicing through the waves on the annual 150-mile offshore regatta from League City. The fleet, with their spectacular colors flying, is on the way to the finish line in Port Aransas! 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 is set for October 16-18 in 2008.

What's New

The University of Texas Marine Science Institute's Wetlands Education Center is a fantastic new education resource for visitors, and a living laboratory for students and scientists. The 3.5 acre salt marsh located adjacent to the UTMSI Visitors Center is the newest natural attraction that will soon include an extensive boardwalk system and observation platform to allow visitors to walk around the marsh area without disturbing the environment. For more information log on to www.utmsi.utexas.edu/ Opening Spring, 2008.

Newport Dunes Golf Course at Newport Beach and Golf is an Arnold Palmer Signature, 18-hold Links golf course scheduled to open in May, 2008. The world famous pro golfer personally is overseeing decisions about how the course is designed and built. Located on both sides of State Hwy. 361, it will be the only golf course directly bordering a Gulf-facing Texas beach. This one of a kind course will be privately owned, but will be available for play by the public. Open May, 2008.

For additional information on accommodations, events and everything Port Aransas log on to: www.portaransas.org, or call us at 1-800-45-COAST.