Here is a short list of things to do and see and places to visit while in the Rockport - Fulton area.  We have included a variety of activities and attractions which may be of interest and tried to include phone numbers or websites for each.  We will be happy to assist you with other information you may like to have if we can.  Just call or email.

Located in Rockport next to the Rockport Harbor.  Feat.  Featuring the "La Salle Odyssey".  Open Tuesday through Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 1-4.  Cost Adults $5, Seniors $4, children 6-12 $2, under 5 free. Recommend combining with Rockport Art Center and Beach.  1-866-729-2469 www.texasmaritimemuseum.org

Located in Rockport at the Beach Park & Rockport Harbor.  Free Admission.  Recommend combining with Maritime Museum and Beach.  Open Tuesday through Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 1-4 - (361) 729-5519  www.rockportartcenter.org

Swimming Pool and Skate Park.  Located in Rockport at 2001 Stadium Drive by High School.  Open Tuesday-Sunday. (361) 727-9989 Call for hours, rules and party information.  Facilities available for rental for private parties.

Located in Corpus Christi before the bridge,  Really neat to see.  Quite a bit of climbing depending on what you want to see.  See the legendary aircraft carrier first hand.  Also has old airplanes that have been restored on upper deck.  Recommend combining with Aquarium  visit.  Open 7 days a week 9-6.  Admission $11.95 Adults, $9.95 Seniors, $6.95 children 4-12, under 3 free.  (361) 883-8361  www.uslexington.com 

One of the World's largest and oldest Live Oak trees.  More than 2000 year old.  Admission Free.  Located in Lamar only a short drive from the house.  Might also want to visit the historical Lamar Cemetery.  Worth a look on your way into "town".

Located in Lamar.  Dates back to the 1800's with significant historical ties to Lamar, Rockport and the surrounding area.  Neat if you are a History buff.  Worth a look especially if combined with The Big Tree.

FULTON OYSTERFEST - MARCH 4-7, 2010 - Arts, Crafts, Food, Parade, Music & Fun - Lot's of fun for the whole family.  Supports the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department.  Email bgaris@garisfamily.com

CLASSIC AUTO SHOW - MARCH 27, 2010 - Located at Rockport Beach Park with plenty of classic autos to admire.  Featuring Sports cars, classics and hot rods, American and foreign makes.  There is a Car Corral with cars offered for sale.  Vendors will be on hand with automotive products and food.  For entry forms call Kevin Shelling at (361) 949-7850.  For information about the show call Bob Jantz (361) 949-7850

ROCKPORT ANNUAL TOUR OF HOMES - APRIL 2010 - Tour some of Rockport's finest custom homes.  (361) 729-5519

ANNUAL NAUTICAL FLEA MARKET - MAY 2010 - Buy, sell and trade new and used nautical items.  Find that great bargain or hard to find item.  

BABES ON THE BAY FISHING TOURNAMENT - May 7-9, 2010 - The Aransas Bay Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) to promote women's fishing in the Aransas Bay area.  Contact (361) 727-1466 or email taminoling@aol.com

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF WINES - MAY 2010 - MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND  - Wine tasting, beer sampling, cooking and entertainment - Benefiting the Texas Maritime Museum - For infomation (361) 729-1271  or www.texasfestivalofwines.com

4-H WILD GAME DINNER AND DANCE - JUNE 2010 (date to be announced) - Food, Live Auction, Chinese Auction, Raffle and Dance.  Benefiting the Aransas Counter 4H Booster - Contact Les Miller (361) 727-1140  for more information

POWDERPUFF TOURNAMENT - JUNE 2010 - Port Aransas Bay Fishing - LADIES ONLY - Call Woody's (361) 749-5252 for information

DEEP SEA ROUNDUP - JULY 2010 - Offshore and Bay/Surf fishing tournament.  Children's Piggy Perch Division.  Call (361) 749-6339 for information

ANNUAL 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS DISPLAY - JULY 4, 2010 - Fireworks display over Little Bay at Rockport Beach Park.  Usually begins around 9:00pm - Recommend not parking on the beach unless you don't mind the wait to get off.  Call (361) 729-6445 for more information.

ROCKPORT ART FESTIVAL - JULY 2010 - JULY 4th WEEKEND - Multi media art booths, displays, and activities - FIREWORKS DISPLAY!  (361) 729-5519 or www.rockportartcenter.org

TEXAS LEGENDS BILLFISH TOURNAMENT - JULY 2010 - Offshore billfishing tournament.  Depart from any port.  Weigh in in Port Aransas. Bob Byrd, Jr (281) 474-4000 or Capt. John Cochrane (409) 739-4817 or www.stingerhooksystems.com/legends.htm for more information

ROCKPORT OFFSHORE CHALLENGE "THE ROC" - JULY 2010 - Located at Key Allegro Marina in Rockport.  Offshore fishing tournament.  (361) 729-8264 or keyallegromarina@sbcglobal.net

TEXAS WOMEN ANGLERS TOURNAMENT - AUGUST 2010 - All women offshore fishing tournament.   Affectionately known as the "TWAT".  (361) 882-6000 or (361) 960-1362 Sharon Miller or www.gofishtx.com for information

BABES OFF SHORE SPECTACULAR "BOSS" - JULY 2010 - All Women offshore fishing tournament.  Call Karol Scardino (361) 729-5353 or dakglobal@earthlink.net

HUMMER BIRD CELEBRATION - SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2010 - Hummingbird information & education, booths, demonstrations and tours. List of homes where you can go see hummers.  Located at Rockport-Fulton High School. For information call (361) 729-6445 or www.rockporthummingbird.com

ROCKPORT SEAFAIR - OCTOBER 8-10, 2010 - Arts, crafts, food, parade, crab races, music and entertainment. (361) 729-6445 or www.rockportseafair.com

DUCKS UNLIMITED BANQUET - OCTOBER 2010 - Annual local Ducks Unlimited fundraiser.  Live, Silent and Chinese Auctions, Green Wing, raffle, crafts, dinner and dance.  Tickets available at Rockport Tackle Town, Rockport Mail Center, Frame of Mind and from DU Committee Members.  For information call (361) 790-5917

TROPICAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL - DECEMBER 2010 - New last year and was a big hit.  Lighting of the Christmas Tree at the end of Rockport Beach.  Food, Booths, Santa, Parade and Entertainment

CHRISTMAS IN FULTON - DECEMBER 13-16, 2010

Located in Corpus Christi.  A fantastic way to spend the day.  Truly representative of the area.  Dolphin Bay and Otter exhibits are definitely worth a look.   Would recommend spending the day seeing both the Lexington and Aquarium since they are very close together.  Gift shop and food court. Open 7 days a week 9-5.  Admission $14.95 Adults, $13.59 Seniors, $9.95 ages 3-12, under 3 free, parking $3.50.  (361) 881-1200 or www.texasstateaquarium.org

Located in Fulton on Fulton Beach Road.  Built by George and Harriet Fulton in 1877.  Wonderful historical home.  Guided tours only Wednesday-Sunday 10-4.  Admission $6 Adults, 12 and under free.  (361) 729-0386 or www.thc.state.tx.us/hsites/hs_fulton_mansion.shtml

Relax with a day of shopping in Rockport.  Lots of little interesting shops, galleries, coffee bar, day spa, antique shops, shell shops and more.  Find that perfect souvenir or painting to take home all within a comfortable walking radius.

One of Texas only "Blue Wave" beaches.  There is a small fee to enter the Beach Park.  Enjoy a picnic and a day at the beach.  There is a ski basin and boat launch on one side for water sports and kayaking and pavilions (can be rented for parties), BBQ pits, cabanas, salt water pool (it drops off quickly and it's deep), children's playground and a beach on the other side that is especially nice for children because of its calm waters, shallow depth and sandbars.  This is not a Gulf beach but a Bay beach so there is some shell but overall a nice place to spend a day in the sun.  Ski Basin is excellent for Jet Skiing and the more adventurous can always go out into the bay.  Concession, showers and restrooms available.  Entrance Fee $3 Daily or $10 yearly or $14 for one that is transferable between vehicles.  Free for vehicles with boat/watercraft trailers.  www.cityofrockport.com  (361) 729-2213

Just off Port Aransas lies the Gulf of Mexico where sport fishing is abundant.  Charter a boat or go with a group.  Fish for Kingfish (see One Sided Fishing photos), Ling, Dolphin/Mahi Mahi/Dorado (pictured above center), Shark (not sure why anyone would want to catch one but people do), Barracuda (or this), Tuna and Red Snapper to name a few.  Peak season for most species is May to September.  For the serious and not so serious angler, trolling for Sailfish (above right) and Marlin (above left) is always an unforgettable adventure.  All photos were taken by me personally in Costa Rica.

Short drive to the ferry landing to cross over to the Island.  "Really Cool" shops to explore.  Stop and have lunch or pack your own and head to the beach.  Gulf sand beach, sometimes has a little tar and seaweed but a really nice beach.  Enjoy surf fishing, boogie boarding, beachcombing, surfing on a good day, shelling and more.  You can drive for hours down the beach.  For 4-Wheel Drive adventure I would head for Malaquite Beach at the Padre Island National Seashore.  Best seafood lunch or dinner at Ocean's of Seafood.

Texas State Park located in Lamar on Park Road 13 only a short drive from the house.  Has a fishing pier, bird watching sites, playground and camping.  Also has a nice facility which can be rented for family gatherings.  Small fee to enter.  (361) 729-2858

1200' lighted fishing pier located in Fulton on Fulton Beach Road at the Fulton Harbor.  Live and dead bait available.  Public restrooms, concession & fishing tackle.  $1.50 per pole.

Lighted public fishing pier at both ends of the Copano Causeway.  Entrance is just before bridge.  Concession, live and dead bait, tackle and restrooms.  Small fee to fish - Free to use boat launch.

Just a short drive North from the house towards Tivoli/Victoria to Austwell.  Home to the world renowned Whooping Crane.  Lots of birding, flora and fauna and wildlife to see.  Observation tower, picnic area, walking trails and wildlife museum.  Be sure to take mosquito repellant and watch for snakes.  No food, gas or lodging on site.  (361) 286-3559 or www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas/

Rockport and the surrounding area is home to somewhere around 400 species of birds, including thousands of migratory birds.  Whooping Cranes migrate and nest at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and are a sight to see.  There are many birding/sightseeing tours and trails available check www.rockport-fulton.org for more info.  The only boating tour I have been on was a sunset cruise for a private party but it was nice so you might give Rockport Adventures a try.  Call (361) 727-0643 or www.rockportadventures.com 

Rockport is host to numerous fishing and hunting guides.  They all have their own secret spots and tricks of the trade.  Obviously some are better than others but nearly all will catch fish.  Our personal choice for excellent service and fishing is Capt. Austin Nesloney, USCG Licensed (361) 230-2736.  Austin comes from a family of top-noch fishing guides, some of the best in Rockport.  However should he be booked we will be more than happy to direct you to another more than capable guide.

Located at the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.  Has a lot of other good information and resources, especially birding information.  www.rockport-fulton.org

Fulton Harbor - No Fee

Copano Bay Causeway - No Fee

Cove Harbor - No Fee

Cove Harbor North Entrance - No Fee

Conn Brown Harbor - Aransas Pass - No Fee

Goose Island State Park - inside Park - $2.00 Fee

Sandollar Marina - Fulton Beach Road - $1.00 Fee

Rockport Beach Park - Inside Beach Park - Free to vehicles with watercraft trailers

Palm Harbor Marina - $4.00 Fee

Sea Gun Marina - Small Fee

ROCKPORT COUNTRY CLUB - 101 Champions Drive, Rockport, Texas (361) 729-4182 Private Course - Call for rates.

LIVE OAK COUNTRY CLUB - 318 Country Club Road, Rockport (361) 729-7311 - Private Course - Call for rates

SINTON MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE - 3 miles North on Hwy 181, Sinton - Public Course (361) 364-9013  Call for rates.                               

NORTHSHORE COUNTRY CLUB - Portland, Texas - Guest Rates include Green Fee, Cart Fee and Range Balls - $61 Tuesday-Thursday and $71 Friday-Sunday - Twilight $45 Any Day (361) 463-1546 or www.northshore.cc

MY HOUSE - But....I can hook you up with some of the freshest seafood on the coast.  My brother owns Oceans of Seafood (wholesale and retail) Seafood Market and Restaurant in Port Aransas.  Take a trip to Port Aransas and enjoy the best lunch around and add a leisurely drive on the beach.  Take some seafood home, the more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

****All of the above information is provided to you based on personal opinion, experience or knowledge of the area and is most likely accurate but not guaranteed.  This is not an advertisement for those entities (well maybe my brother) but merely a listing of places and things you may like to do and see.  Please note that any requested recommendations I may give are based on my personal opinion, experience and tastes.  I am pretty picky when it comes to restaurants and good food and consistency are a must with me.  If I eat there we will have a menu in the basket on the table.  We hunt, we fish, we work, we fish, we play...not necessarily in that order but we do know the ins and outs of the area and we are here to help if we can.  There are some things I have no opinion on (not likely though) or recommendation for but will be happy to provide you with a list of persons or businesses which provide that service.