5. Things To Do Outside Rockport
Rockport is well situated as a base to visit other sites on the southeastern Texas coast. Corpus Christi is 40 minutes to the south. Closer is Port Aransas, where you take a fun and free ferry ride to get to Mustang Island, part of the famous Padre Island area. There is no bridge to Mustang Island at Port Aransas, so either board the ferry or drive to Corpus Christi to take a bridge. There are plenty of great restaurants in Port Aransas on the beachside, along with fun bars and island culture. Roberts Point Park is great for picnicking and walking on the beachside of Aransas Pass. Watch the boats and enjoy the salty air.
North of Rockport. you can spend a morning or afternoon at Goose Island State Park on Copano Bay. The main park is a lovely setting for RV camping along the paved Lantana Loop. You can enjoy walking the loop as well. The native vegetation is lush. Cross over to a little island, and you’ll find waterfront campsites and a bayfront drive. You can sit in the sand on the bay and catch the sunrise on one side and watch the sunset on the other. Everything has been restored since the 2016 hurricane, and new facilities have been added. There is a daily, per-person fee for park entrance unless you have a Texas State Park Pass. Camping fees are extra.
An interesting day trip (a little over an hour away) is the Goliad State Park and Historic Site in Goliad, Texas. Admission is around $5. There are two significant Spanish missions to visit, along with several other landmarks and a museum. You’ll get a sense of what this frontier area was like in the 1800s for Mexicans, settlers, and the U.S. Army. The Fannin Battleground State Historic Site is in the area. Goliad is a very small town at the crossroads of two U.S. highways. Packing your own lunch may be wise. A pleasant picnic can be made at Branch River Park in Goliad.
Rockport has everything a snowbird needs, including great weather, a beach, fun things to do, and a full complement of retail and services within the city or within easy driving distance. I look forward to my next winter with salty air and fresh breezes.
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