The Rockport-Fulton area’s interesting museums and historic landmarks, vast natural areas, and picturesque beach make it a standout destination on the Texas Gulf Coast. Want to enjoy some fun in the sun? Head to Rockport Beach, a recreational area with a sandy beach and Blue Wave Beach designation. Looking to do some fishing? Try your hand at catching the many fish indigenous to the area. For a break from the sun and the sea, stop by the Texas Maritime Museum or the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, two of the top attractions in Rockport-Fulton. Read on to see what this thriving community has to offer.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a vast protected natural area that is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including several endangered species like the whooping crane, North America’s tallest bird. The whooping crane, and many other animals, can be seen from the wildlife watching and nature trails found within the refuge, which USA Today named among the top 10 national wildlife refuges in the country. Fishing and hunting, with a special use permit, are allowed within the refuge as well.
1 Wildlife Circle
Austwell, TX 77950
(361) 286-3559
Bay Education Center
Browse the interactive exhibits and displays at the Bay Education Center in Rockport to discover the natural forces of estuaries like those found along the Texas Gulf Coast. Special presentations on topics such as earthquakes and tsunamis, waterfalls, and solar energy are held Tuesday through Saturday afternoon. Admission to Bay Education Center is free.
121 Seabreeze Drive
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 749-6832
Big Tree
The Big Tree is a more than 1,000-year-old live oak thought to be one of the largest of its kind in the United States. For good reason: the tree is 44 feet tall with an 89-foot crown and an average trunk diameter of more than 11 feet. To see the Big Tree, head to Goose Island State Park just east of the small town of Lamar.
202 South Palmetto Street
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-2858
Community Aquatic and Skate Park
If you’re looking for some fun in the sun, it’s hard to beat Rockport’s Community Aquatic and Skate Park. This recreational area, settled within a 12-acre forest of live oak trees, features a heated eight-lane lap pool and diving area, a zero-depth children’s pool with slides and sprays, and a 6,000-square-foot skate park. The park is open Tuesday through Sunday throughout the year.
2001 Stadium Drive
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 727-9989
Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
Get a glimpse into 19th-century life on the Texas Gulf Coast at the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, a beautifully-restored home built with the sloping roofs and ornate detailing found in French Second Empire architecture. When it was completed, the house had gas lighting, central heating, and indoor plumbing, technology that was rare in the area at the time. The historic home is open Tuesday through Sunday.
317 Fulton Beach Road
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-0386
Fulton Schoolhouse Museum
The Fulton Schoolhouse Museum offers a look at Texas history through the eyes of students. Tour the museum, located within Fulton’s original one-room schoolhouse, and you’ll see numerous original artifacts from the early 20th century, including desks that feature inkwell holes. All of this can be seen on Saturday and Sunday afternoons year-round.
201 North 7th Street
Fulton, TX 78358
(361) 729-5533
From fishing and hiking to kayaking and birdwatching, there are many great ways to enjoy the Texas Gulf Coast. Goose Island State Park in Rockport provides an idyllic setting to relish all these adventures. Miles of hiking and biking trails take you through the park, and you can fish off the 1,620-foot pier. In addition, more than 100 camp sites are available. Goose Island State Park is open every day, and a small entrance fee is required for adults.
202 South Palmetto Street
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-2858
History Center for Aransas County
Get up to speed on local history through the abundance of captivating exhibits at the History Center for Aransas County. Admire the impressive collection of artifacts and make sure you're in town for one of the history center's annual events, such as the Rockport-Fulton Tour of Homes in early December.
801 E Cedar Street
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 727-9214
Memorial Park
Home to 1.65 miles of hiking and biking trails, a 3/4-mile nature trail, and more, Rockport-Fulton's Memorial Park is just the place to go when you want to enjoy some time outdoors. Watch native and migratory birds from the one of several observation areas, play a round on the nine-hole disc golf course, work up a sweat on the outdoor fitness court, or soak up the abundant Gulf Coast sunshine as you savor a picnic.
Rockport, TX 78382
Pathways Center Pavilion and Bridge
Scenic birding and nature trails, unique historic sites, and kayak launch areas can be accessed from the Pathways Center Pavilion and Bridge. The center can be accessed just north of the northern-most entrance to Walmart.
2491 Highway 36 North
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-6445
For warm sea breezes, blue waves, and soft sand, few places are better than Rockport Beach. This public park includes the first beach in Texas certified as a Blue Wave Beach by the Clean Beaches Coalition, a national organization that promotes clean beaches around the world. Relax on the pristine sand, swim in the clear-water surf, or simply enjoy the beach’s beautiful views.
210 Seabreeze Drive
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-6661
Rockport Center for the Arts
Tour an art gallery, expand your skills in a class, and stroll through a sculpture garden at the Rockport Center for the Arts. This community arts center, set within a blue-walled Victorian-style home, is open Tuesday through Sunday.
406 South Austin Street
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-5519
Rockport Cultural Arts District
Browse for one-of-a-kind piece of art and home decor in unique shops and check out the performing arts venues and historic sites as you explore the Rockport Cultural Arts District. Designated as a cultural arts district in 2016 by the Texas Commission on the Arts, this walkable part of town is full of sculptures, art studios, and more.
Rockport, TX 78382
Rockport-Fulton Little Theatre
If you're a lover of the performing arts, don't miss a performance by the Rockport-Fulton Little Theatre. Located in downtown Rockport, the theater features performances by some of the area's most talented actors in productions held at least one month a year.
Rockport, TX 78381
Rockport-Fulton Visitors Center
Start your stay in the Rockport-Fulton area on the right foot by visiting the Rockport-Fulton Visitors Center. Here you'll find all the information you'll need to know about area attractions, local businesses, upcoming events, and historic sites, as well as a wall of history and a shop that stocks a range of souvenirs.
319 Broadway Street
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-6445
Schoenstatt Shrine & Stella Maris Chapel
Find some peace and tranquility at two of the Gulf Coast's most unique places of worship. The Schoenstatt Shrine is a small chapel modeled after the original constructed in Vallendar, Germany in 1914, while the 1858-built Stella Maris Chapel is the first recorded church in Aransas County and the oldest building in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi.
Rockport, TX 78382
Texas Maritime Museum
Discover the rich ocean-faring heritage of Texas, from early European exploration to the present day, at the Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport. Browse the museum’s exhibits of maritime navigational tools and artifacts related to the shipbuilding and oil and gas industries, then take in a remarkable sunset from the observation tower.
1202 Navigation Circle
Rockport, TX 78382
(361) 729-1271
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