Rockport- one of the most incredible coastal cities of the lone star state, Texas, is filled with rich historical places, art galleries, parks, and last but not least, the scenic beauty of water. Every city has a story to tell, and so does Rockport. If you plan a trip to Texas beaches, you should include Rockport in your list.
Rockport is a half-hour East of Corpus Christi, about three hours south of Austin, and two and a half hours west of Houston.
This article will find the best things to do in Rockport, TX. So, when you are flying to Texas next time, keep your favorites from this list on your bucket list.
1. Enjoy the Scenic Beauty of Rockport Beach
You can’t miss Rockport beach in Aransas Bay if you are at Rockport. The beach is located at 210 Seabreeze Dr, Rockport, TX 78382, US.
This is the first blue wave beach in Texas, one of the main attractions for visitors. Tourists visit here for the clean, blue waves, spectacular scenic shores, and lovely sunrise and sunset.
This mile-long beach is a place for a variety of things to do.
- You can spend your whole day with your family and friends, just chilling and relaxing.
- Rockport beach has cabanas, so you can easily sit and enjoy or take a nap without burning up even in the sun’s scorching heat.
- Enjoy swimming on the calm and warm coast.
- If you don’t know swimming and still want to go into the water, boat riding is an option.
- You can bring binoculars and enjoy bird watching and exploring the flora and fauna of the vast natural areas.
- Play some beach sports, like- volleyball.
- Bring your fishing gear.
Check out this fantastic video to explore more about Rockport beach.
2. Adventure at The Goose Island State Park
Location: 202 S Palmetto St, Rockport, Tx.
Opening hours: 8 am to 10 pm.
Life by the bay- lapping water and gulf breeze- to experience these, we must be on a coast. Goose island state park offers Bay-front camping, fishing, birding, geocaching, and hiking along St.charles and Aransas bays, north of Corpus Christi on the Texas gulf coast.
2.1. Fishing
If you do not have a fishing license, don’t worry, you don’t need one to fish from a shore or fishing pier in this Texas state park. Here at Goose island state park, the fishing pier extends over 1000 feet. 25% of all sport fishing is done here.
2.2. Camping
You get different campsites here, with restrooms and showers for every camp loop.
The different types of campsites you can get are listed below.
- 44 campsites by the bay.
- 57 nestled under oak trees.
- 25 walk-in campsites.
- Group camping sites for youth groups.
Check out the details from the official website.
2.3. The Big Oak Tree
One of the marvelous things in Rockport, Texas, is the giant oak tree in the Goose Island State Park. It has existed for centuries, and the exact age is still unknown.
This oak tree even won the State Champion Coastal Live Oak award in 1969 and held the title till 2003. The crown is spread over almost 89 feet. Take your camera out and snap a picture with this century-old watchman.
3. Explore the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Location: 1 Wildlife Cir, Austwell, TX, 77950
Opening hours: 6:45 am to 7:30 pm
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is one of the must-visit places on the list of things to do in Rockport, TX.
Established in 1937, Aransas’s National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 115,000 acres of diverse habitat for waterfowl, migratory birds, and other animals in San Antonio Bay along the Texas Gulf Coast.
You can enjoy a vast range of animal-watching in this area. You may come across Alligator and Atlantic ridley sea turtles. The whooping cranes immigrated from Canada in November.
Go for 400 different bird-watching types, drive the park loop road, and hike on one of the nature trails in this wildlife refuge.
4. Enjoy Your Vacation in Downtown Rockport
Roaming about and exploring the historical downtown Rockport area is one of the most incredible things in Rockport, TX. This does not need so much planning. Enjoy a few days there, wandering around, finding and visiting local shops, enjoying seafood plates, and chilling with a cold beer.
No trip is complete without a shopping spree, and that’s where Rockport’s brands come in. Whether you are looking for footwear like premium boots or a trendy style collection for both classic and business style, the local Rockport Group and store have got it all.
You may support local businesses by buying their products. Here is the list of things you can do in downtown Rockport.
4.1. Rockport Fulton Market Days
Rockport Fulton market day is a monthly festival featuring over 100 vendors, artists, resellers, and musicians. You can walk in the maze of stalls and enjoy the local creativity.
If you are a foodie, this is the place where you will get hundreds of food trucks and can taste different kinds of foods.
Rockport Fulton market day is one of the top-ranking places to visit in Rockport to get the raw vibe of Rockport, Texas.
4.2. Enjoy the Seafood and Chill with Brewery
Many famous and not-so-famous but chilling places where you might go with your buddies. We have picked some excellent dining places for you that serve mouth-watering delicious food and beverages.
4.2.1. Winery on The Bay/doggone Brewery
Location
1007 E. North St, Rockport, Tx, 78382, USA
Opening Hours
Sunday: Noon to 5 pm
Monday to Thursday: 2 pm to 7 pm
Friday: 12 pm to 8 pm
Saturday: Noon to 8 pm
Closed Tuesday
Specialty
Winery on the Bay/Dog’Gone Brewery is one of the best places in Rockport to hang out with your friends. This boutique winery offers wine tastings and beer tastings that may have you coming back for a custom-labeled bottle for yourself! But you have to be above 18 to get permitted to enter.
4.2.2. Flower’s Shrimp Market
Location
1119 S Church St, Rockport, Tx, 78382
Opening Hours
From 8 am to 6 pm.
Specialty
They deliver the sweetest and most flavorful shrimp. You have to cook it yourself. They also sell breaded shrimp, calamari, stone crab, squid, and Seafood. They are famous for their homemade egg rolls.
4.2.3. Rock Bottom Park and Pub
Location
507 S Austin St, Rockport, TX 78382, USA
Opening Hours
11 am to 2 am [Except Sunday]
On Sunday: 12 pm to 2 am
Specialty
Locals and tourists love this place because of its great atmosphere and pocket-friendly food and drinks. They have a great selection of craft beer and brews. They also provide a pool table, live music, and video games. Check out Rock bottom park and the pub’s website to know more.
4.2.4. The Boiling Pot
Location
201 Fulton Beach Rd, Rockport Tx, 78382
Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday: 4 pm-9 pm
Friday to Sunday: 11 am- 9 pm
Specialty
The boiling pot has been keeping things hot in Rockport since 1985 when Dot LeBlanc and her son Mike decided to open a seafood shack in the town. Dot passed away in 2013, but her legacy lives on.
The restaurant serves a variety of seafood recipes and drinks too. One of the best combos is the Cajun Combo, consisting of 1 Blue Carb, 1/2 LB Shrimp, 1/2 LB sausage, and New’ taters & Corn. You can find the whole menu here.
If you are in Rockport, you should try their food once; you’ll love it.
5. Visit the Texas Maritime Museum
Opening hours: Tue – Sat: 10 am – 4 pm; Sun: 1 pm – 4 pm
Closed on Monday
Located at 1202 Navigation Cir, Rockport, TX 78382, the Texas Maritime Museum offers you more about the ocean’s history and the gulf coast near Rockport. It has numerous collections of documents, photographs, artworks, and books about Texan maritime.
The journey started in the late 1970s at the Rockport annual Seafair festival, and the Texas Maritime Museum opened its doors on July 1, 1989. During Hurricane Harvey, it faced a huge loss and remained closed. They put near about half-million dollars into repairing it and opened it afterward.
Even though you are not a maritime enthusiast, you should visit this place for a beautiful museum experience.
6. Visit Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
Location: 317 Fulton Beach Rd, Rockport, TX 78382, USA
Opening hours: Tue – Sat: 10 am – 4 pm; Sun: 1 pm – 4 pm
Closed on Monday
If you are interested in history and architecture, the Fulton Mansion State Historic site is a must-visit place along with fulton fishing pier and padre island national seashore. This is located in Fulton on the Texas Gulf Coast, Texas, in Aransas County.
George W Fulton owned it, later served as a second lieutenant for the Army of the Republic of Texas, and his wife, Harriet Gillette Smith. They also had extensive ranching and meatpacking empire in that area.
The mansion is a work of art. Architecture admirers will enjoy going around this mansion’s elegant 3-story Second Empire design. Also admire the architecture, and interior design, and explore the garden of this Victorian villa. This villa is well-known as ‘Oakhurst.’
If you are in Rockport, Texas, you probably won’t want to miss reliving the prosperous 19th century by visiting this place.
7. Explore Rockport Cultural Arts District
Rockport Cultural Arts District-A Harbor for Happy Soul-tie your shoelaces and be ready to explore the place located throughout the downtown Rockport area. The main focus is ‘art’ and educating people about art.
They have a lot of events happening throughout the year, and the best part is they are open to all. Check out the schedule from their website to know more about the event date and timings.
The events include Aransas County Sesquicentennial Celebration, Rockport Film Festival, Rockport Art Festival, etc.
You can visit the Rockport Center for the arts here. It is a non-profit organization that showcases creativity and culture at the state’s cost. You can buy it here at the Rockport Center for the arts to support the local artists.
You might love to create something like them by joining the workshops going there.
8. Enjoy at Community Aquatic and Skate Park
Location:2001 Stadium, Rockport, TX 78382, USA
Opening hours: Tue & Fri: 9 am – 5 pm; Wed, Thu & Sat: 9 am – 6 pm; Sun: 12 pm – 5 pm (closed on Mon)
The Community Aquatic and Skate park is one of the liveliest places in Rockport to indulge in fun activities. It covers 12 acres of land and is situated in the middle of the live oak forest.
The fun activities include:
- Water activities like swimming, and diving.
- Land activities like skating.
- It also has a separate pool for children.
It has picnic spots for families too!
When you are in Texas, visit the park and check their website to follow the schedule.
9. Explore Memorial Park
Location: 1600 Fm 2165, Rockport, Tx, 78382
Opening hours: 7 am to 11 pm
Spread through more than 100 acres, this park includes activity centers and natural habitat conservation. This park has space for:
- Soccer fields
- Basketball courts
- Baseball fields
- Dog Park
- Playscapes and fitness and exercise stations
- Birding areas
- Picnic spots
Memorial park is a perfect spot to spend your holiday with family and friends.
10. Visit Fulton Schoolhouse Museum
Location: 317 S Fulton Beach Rd, Rockport, Texas, 78382
Have you ever imagined what a one-room schoolhouse looks like? Visit Fulton Schoolhouse Museum to experience it. The present is a replica of the schoolhouse built-in 1886. This was damaged by a hurricane and was rebuilt in 1940.
It is open on Saturday afternoons from 1 pm to 4 pm. Tours for large groups are available upon request.
You would like to buy a note card and bookmarks from here as a memory token. Go for a short trip to revisit history.
11. Pedal along the Tule Creek Hike and Bike Trail
Do you want to explore downtown Rockport Texas by two-wheeler? Pedal along the 1.08-mile concrete hike through the oak forest parallel to Tule Creek.
For many, walking, cycling, and jogging are on the top list of things to do in Rockport, Tx. If you are one of them, this is the best option.
The system is open from sunrise to sunset, starting at the trailhead at Walmart’s north entrance and connecting via Enterprise Blvd. to the Memorial Park trail system.
12. Learn at Bay Education Center
Bay education center is located at 121 Seabreeze Drive, Rockport, Tx. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, it is open to the public, with daily Science on Sphere presentations at 2 pm.
The Bay Education center focuses on the South Texan ecology and estuaries. This 3D digital globe is one of the fabulous attractions in Rockport as it is simultaneously informative and marvelous to look at.
Closing Thoughts
Here, you’ll get a chance to understand local coastal wetlands, Hurricane Harvey, tsunamis, waterfalls, and solar energy with more clarity while overlooking aransas bay.
Next time you visit Rockport or go on a cruise nearby, prepare a checklist, keep the activities on your bucket list, and enjoy your trip.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
