While Rockport, TX may not be a major tourist attraction by normal standards, this small beach town has all the charm of an All-American town as well as artistic flair. If high-rise condominiums with luxurious pools are what you are looking for, Rockport is not for you. If your idea of a vacation is a slow-paced mindset accompanied by great fishing, an art scene and golf, then come on down!
Fishing is one of the top outdoor activities in which residents and visitors take part. Aransas County has several locations from which to launch a boat for those who prefer fishing on the water to staying on the pier.
Fishing guides offer many services, so it is recommended interested fishermen visit the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce and pick up a list of local guides.
Questions you may have for your guide are: cost, type of fish you may expect to catch, method of fishing primarily used by guide, and the guide’s qualifications. Line up a guide, have a great trip, and be ready to reel in some big fish!
Currently, the Aransas County Navigation District is working on a proposed project to expand and improve the launching facilities at the Copano Causeway. It is anticipated this project will not only increase the capacity of one of the busiest launching sites in the county but also increase the safety and ease of use there as well.
The following are existing launching locations:
* Fulton Harbor - south end. No fee.
* Copano Bay Causeway - Business Highway 35 North, south end. No fee.
* Cove Harbor South - Business Highway 35 South, entrance across from 16th Street. No fee.
* Cove Harbor North - Business Highway 35 South, north entrance. No fee.
* Conn Brown Harbor - in Aransas Pass. No fee.
* Goose Island State Park - within the park on the north side of Lamar. There is a $5 fee to enter the park.
* Sandollar Marina - adjacent to Sandollar Pavilion on Fulton Beach Road. There is a $1 fee to launch a boat.
* Rockport Beach - at Rockport Beach Park. There is a $3 fee to enter the park for the day, however, vehicles with boat trailers have free access to boat ramps.
* Palm Harbor Marina - at the back of the Palm Harbor subdivision on Business Highway 35 South. There is a $4 fee to launch a boat.
* Seagun Marina - Highway 35 at the north end of Copano Causeway, no fee.
The Rockport Center for the Arts is located in the charming blue Victorian building on the Rockport Harbor across from the Maritime Museum. The center contributes to Rockport being ranked as one of the top 100 best small art towns in America. Typically, one will find between 100 and 150 original artworks on exhibit at any one time. Most of the work is for sale and is created by hundreds of contemporary artists who hail from the Coastal Bend and from across the world.
Admission is free, although donations are accepted by this nonprofit corporation. The Rockport Center for the Arts is also a place to enjoy the out-of-doors, between Aransas Bay and Rockport Harbor. The building, which in itself is an interesting historical structure, does not house galleries alone. Classrooms and a working studio are in constant use, day and night.
In addition to this center you can also enjoy the numerous art galleries in Rockport’s Heritage District. People come here to buy art to take home that reminds them of the experience they had on the coast. Most artists live here because of the exceptional wildlife and the area’s natural beauty that drew them here. New galleries are opening almost monthly, cooperation among the galleries, artists and patrons is growing and word is getting out that Rockport is the place to come to purchase quality fine art while enjoying this charming coastal town.
The historic Fulton Mansion dominates the shoreline along Fulton Beach Road just as it did when the Fulton family lived there in the late 1870s and 1880s. George and Harriet Fulton must have amazed their neighbors when they began construction in 1874 on their spacious and extravagant home overlooking Aransas Bay.
In addition to ornate trim work and furnishings, the latest technological conveniences were also installed, including modern plumbing, central heat and a gas lighting system. Since its restoration by Texas Parks and Wildlife, completed in 1983, the architectural landmark has welcomed visitors with a Texas hospitality which mirrors the graciousness originally extended by the Fultons.
The Fulton Mansion presents special exhibits throughout the year which complement the interpretation of the house. During the summer enjoy the Music at the Mansion concert series featuring music ranging from folk, ethnic, blues and classical. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening of live music on the grounds of the Mansion. The 2007 concerts will be held Mondays as follows: May 14, June 11, July 9, and Aug. 13.
The Texas Maritime Museum is No. 38 in the state of Texas. There are 677 museums in the state. The museum consists of two floors, a lighthouse, and outdoor exhibits which await visitors. They can climb up to the hands-on steamship bridge and take a turn as captain. Visitors also may view an offshore oil platform emergency lifeboat and imagine sharing the space with 39 other people in rough seas.
The Texas Maritime Museum's mission is to excite and educate the public about Texas' rich maritime history. Since the days of the Karankawa Indians, the Texas Coast has been a valuable part of history regionally, statewide, nationally, and internationally.
The Texas Maritime Museum fulfills its mission by providing exhibits and collecting objects concerning the following four areas:
1. History and Technology of Offshore Petroleum production/transportation
2. History and development of Texas seaports, maritime communities, and maritime commerce along the Gulf
3. Exploration/settlement history of the Texas Gulf Coast including Spanish and French
4. An overview of the Texas seafood/fishing industry
Aransas County has two private golf courses which will challenge any golfer. Live Oak Country Club (LOCC) is a nine-hole private golf course located off FM 1069, between Rockport and Aransas Pass.
The Rockport Country Club (RCC) is an 18-hole championship golf course that has been rated in the top 50 golf courses in Texas. The main entrance to RCC is Traylor Blvd. at Highway 35 N. RCC features a beautiful clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis facilities, and fitness center. The sand, wind, rough terrain, Live Oak trees and natural beauty present an irresistible challenge to any golfer.
RCC and LOCC are open Tuesday through Sunday and reciprocate with other private clubs. For more information about availability of play, restrictions, fees, and tee times, call RCC Golf Pro Thane Emerson, (361) 729-4182, or LOCC Golf Pro Kevin Jett, (361) 729-7311.
Birders and nature enthusiasts from around the world are drawn here to get a glimpse of the cranes. The last surviving wild flock of whooping cranes winters in and around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Several boat tours are available which allow a close view of the whooping crane from the water. During most of such tours, narrators are on hand to identify the numerous other bird species in the area. Boat trips are also available in the spring to view colonies of nesting birds on rookery islands in the bay. Birding enthusiasts have come to the right place if they want to find places to enjoy their hobby.
Aransas County is known as one of the hot spots in the United States for observing birds. On any given day 35-50 different species of birds can be found at Rockport Beach Park. The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail is a 500-mile long route of which the first official marker is in Rockport and stands at the Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary on Church and First streets.
These are just a few of the different attractions that Rockport has to offer. Interest among retirees and investors has been increasing on this area. According to local real estate data the average sale price of properties in this area has been on the rise for the past year. This time last year the average price was 143K and today it is 167K.
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source: alicedonahue.com
