Explore The Texas Coastal Bend

The Charm of the Texas Coast

Located just 30 miles northeast of Corpus Christi lies a charming community of glistening bay waters, birding, sightseeing boat trips, museums, fishing, art galleries, shopping and strolling on the beach. What a perfect setting for a vacation getaway!

Artists Galore

Windswept oak trees, permanently bent by prevailing winds off the water, bow their welcome and are a picturesque sight. The towns of Rockport and Fulton offer a special charm, the kind of charm that has led many prominent artists to make this area their home. In fact, it's been said that Rockport-Fulton has the largest per capita percentage of artists of any community in the country. As a result, the area boasts one of the best collections of art galleries anywhere.

Whooping Crane Visitors

The same seascape that attracts artists also attracts our most famous winter visitors, the great Whooping Cranes. The majestic birds mesmerize and capture the hearts of all who travel from around the world to see them. Standing over five feet tall, the stately white Whooping Crane is an endangered species and the nearby Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is their winter home. Theirs is a story of survival - the wild flock numbered only 18 in 1938, but with successful conservation efforts, they now number over 200.

Birding

The Whooping Cranes are not the only feathered visitor to Rockport-Fulton, because on any given day of the year over 75 different species can be spotted in the marshes and along the sandy beaches. The climate and geography draws thousands of birds as the seasons change.

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge has an observation deck with telescopes for spotting migrating birds in the winter or birds from Central and Sough America that come north to nest in the summer. September is the perfect time to see hundreds of miniature hummingbirds on their way through town. Don't miss the Hummer/Bird Celebration held the second weekend in September.

Points of Interest

Fulton Mansion - Wander the elegant halls of this extravagant Victorian mansion overlooking the Aransas Bay. Visit the gift shop loaded with Victorian type souvenirs. Guided tours Wednesday - Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 361-729-0386 for reservations and more information.

Rockport Center for the Arts - Visit this lovely art center nestled between picturesque Rockport Harbor and beautiful Aransas Bay. Don't miss the sculpture garden and the exhibits in three galleries. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. FREE admission.

Texas Maritime Museum - the official maritime museum of Texas. Located across the street from the Rockport Harbor, the museum features nautical artifacts, hands-on displays, outdoor exhibits and a museum store stocked with a treasure of gifts both nautical and natural. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Small admission charge for non-members.

Other places to check out include Big Tree and Goose Island State Park, the Rockport Beach Park, Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Stella Maris Chapel, Schoenstatt Shrine, Copano Causeway Pier, Nature Trail and Demonstration Garden. No matter what time of year, visitors enjoy strolls along Rockport or Fulton Harbors where they can walk right up to the bait stands and purchase fresh shrimp, fish, crabs and oysters when in season.

Beach The Rockport Beach Park remains Texas' only Blue Wave Beach. A certified Blue Wave Beach is clean, managed responsibly, and has a focus on the protection of human health and the environment. They are also litter free, have handicap accessibility, public restroom facilities and swimmable waters.

Aquarium
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Rockport Marine Lab, located on the Rockport Harbor, has housed an aquarium since it was built in 1947. The aquarium hosted over 2,000 visitors a month before it was required to close in 1987, due to building structure issues. "For the past 20 years we have had visitors on a weekly basis looking for the aquarium which they visited as a child. This sustained interest and the opportunity to provide an educational outlet to many local tourists has inspired us to reopen the aquarium," explained Ed Hegen, Regional Director, Coastal Fisheries Division.

The Aquarium project benefited significantly from an initial cash contribution from the Aransas County Commissioners' Court and a generous gift of surplus exhibition tanks from the Texas State Aquarium. "It is projects like this, where everyone works together, that make our community the wonderful place that it is," states County Judge Burt Mills. "We appreciate TPWD Coastal Fisheries for their work in the project."

Aquarium - Photo courtesy of Glenn Harper

Events Every Month

Throughout the year, enjoy such festivals as Gospel Music Festival in January, the Bountiful Bowl in February, Fulton Oysterfest in March, Tour of Homes in April, Festival of Wines in May, Rockport Art Festival on July 4th weekend, fireworks and Patriotic Boat Parade on July 4th, Fiesta en la Playa Labor Day weekend, the Hummer/Bird Celebration in September, the Rockport Seafair in October and the Tropical Christmas in Rockport with a lighted boat parade, lighted land parade, and fireworks. Enjoy Christmas in Fulton on the Fulton Harbor and Caroling at the Mansion in December.

For more information call the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 242-0071 or (361) 729-6445. Visit our website at www.rockport-fulton.org.