One Day in Port Aransas, Texas

In Port Aransas they like to say you can experience Texas-island style. It is smaller than other Gulf Coast beach towns like Galveston so it makes a great place to get away from the crowds. There are so many different things to do in Port Aransas that we couldn't fit it all in, but we sure had a blast trying. We spent some time aboard a deep sea fishing boat with a patient fishing guide. On another day we hung out on the beautiful beach at Mustang Island. For night life, there were many great restaurants and clubs to keep us entertained.

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Deep Sea Fishing
One nickname given to Port Aransas is the fishing capital of Texas. I found this to be an apt title as opportunities to fish abound. You can simply cast a line off a pier or the beach, but for a real treat I suggest hiring a fishing excursion guide. There are several to choose from right in town. As a bonus, if you are with people who don't like to fish, they can still enjoy a ride on the boat and it gives them a chance for some bird watching or dolphin watching. I recommend checking the Port Aransas website to see a list of available guides and calling them before your visit to make sure your spot is reserved. You don't want to get there only to find out there are no open spots during the time of your stay.
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Mustang Island
Mustang Island State Park is almost 4000 acres and five miles of beach front. The camping facilities are great, featuring running water and electricity at some sites, and clean bathrooms with showers. We didn't camp, but there were still plenty of facilities available for day use including an ample water supply, clean bathrooms and r... More >
Mustang Island State Park is almost 4000 acres and five miles of beach front. The camping facilities are great, featuring running water and electricity at some sites, and clean bathrooms with showers. We didn't camp, but there were still plenty of facilities available for day use including an ample water supply, clean bathrooms and rinsing showers. There were also several undeveloped campsites right on the beach, but I recommend calling ahead or checking their website because sometimes conditions restrict camping on the beach.
You can simply cast a line off a pier or the beach, but for a real treat I suggest hiring a fishing excursion guide.
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Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful protected area of more than 114,000 acres. We rented a couple of bicycles to ride along the sixteen mile auto loop road and thoroughly enjoyed our ride. We were lucky enough to see many birds and deer amongst the lovely scenery. There was a ranger's station with snacks and drinks for sale which were welcome after our long ride. Be warned, however, the mosquitoes are ve... More
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful protected area of more than 114,000 acres. We rented a couple of bicycles to ride along the sixteen mile auto loop road and thoroughly enjoyed our ride. We were lucky enough to see many birds and deer amongst the lovely scenery. There was a ranger's station with snacks and drinks for sale which were welcome after our long ride. Be warned, however, the mosquitoes are very thick. If you forget to bring insect repellent, I recommend that you stay inside your car to avoid receiving several bites.
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Back Porch
The Back Porch Bar is a fun little place to have a cocktail and see some live music right on the waterfront. The atmosphere and the service were great when we went and I would definitely go back. The music was great, too. We spent the whole evening here after dinner and had a blast dancing to the live band. I recommend that if you go, you plan on spending the remainder of your evening here, because they charge a cover when there is a band scheduled, and I like to get my moneys worth out of paying a cover charge. Overall, it was a very fun place for us.
We rented a couple of bicycles to ride along the sixteen mile auto loop road and thoroughly enjoyed our ride.
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About the Author

Ross Pincock
Ross Pincock
I love music! I have spent most of my life either playing and writing music or listening to a live performance. I also love the outdoors, particularly camping, hiking, bicycling and sitting around the campfire. I am a father and I love spending time with my kids.
Websitemyspace.com/rosspincock
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