On Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal Waterway and Brazos River. Activities include fishing, beach-type recreation, primitive camping. Southwest 2 mi. on F.M. 1495, then 3 mi. south on Gulf beach.
Quintana Beach County Park
Offers exceptional recreational facilities on picturesque island. Day-use facilities include: paved, off-beach parking, shaded pavilions, rest rooms, showers, multilevel fishing pier, and playground. Two historic homes within park: Coveney House features period museum and natural history display, and Seaburn House is park office. Elevated boardwalks (all with wheelchair ramps) connect pavilions, rest rooms, and showers. RV facilities include 56 camping sites, full hookups, dump station, RV bathhouse with rest rooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Reservations accepted for camping. From Texas 288, take F.M. 1495 south 1.7 miles; County Road 723 east three miles to park entrance. 409/849-5711, ext. 1541, or 1-800-872-7578. Fees.
Surfside Beach
Name is both a town and a description of this resort-recreation area. Swimming, sailing, surf fishing, camping and shell collecting. Cottage rentals available. Surfside, San Luis, Bryan and Quintana beaches and numerous bays and sloughs are nationally known roosting grounds for migratory birds. The highest national 12-hour bird count ever taken was in Brazosport area in 1973--226 species.
Brownsville
Brazos Island State Park (Boca Chica Beach)
Although state-owned, park is actually an undeveloped beach on the Gulf of Mexico--beautiful beach, but no facilities. And it's not an island, but a small spit of land (Boca Chica) just south of South Padre Island. Permitted activities include camping, surfing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and nature study. Half-mile-long stone jetty at northern end provides Gulf fishing. About 22 miles east of Brownsville via Texas 4.
Bagdad Beach
This beach lies at the meeting of the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande River.
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Beach
North of downtown over the bridge, is the site of the USS Lexington and Texas State Aquarium, and offers park areas, picnic tables, showers, and rest rooms. For more information, call City Parks & Recreation; 512/884-7275.
Cole Park
On bay front features pier, playground, amphitheater, and Kid's Place recreation area for children and families. Outdoor concert series in summer. 1526 Ocean Dr. For more information, call City Parks & Recreation; 512/884-7275.
Galveston
Galveston Island Beach
Thirty-two miles of sand beach washed by Gulf of Mexico. Within city, beach is edged by hotels, condos, restaurants, and amusement attractions. Camping is permitted in designated areas and commercial facilities only, and at Galveston Island State Park. Parking fees are charged at certain beach recreation areas; free parking available elsewhere along the 32-mile beach front.
Galveston Island State Park
Spanning Galveston Island from Gulf to bay, the 1,935-acre park includes much salt marsh, rich in bird life. Viewing from elevated boardwalks and observation platforms. Campsites with hookups, dump station, screened shelters, rest rooms and showers. Picnicking, fishing, swimming, and nature trail. From early June through late August outdoor musicals are presented nightly except Sun. Six miles south on F.M. 3005 at 13 Mile Rd. Admission.
Dellanera Beach Park
Offers beach activities, RV hookups, showers, rest rooms, picnic area, grocery store, and laundry room. West of Seawall on F.M. 3005.
Stewart Beach Park
Large park on Seawall Blvd. at Broadway, offering pavilion, beach service, bath houses, restaurants, concessions, with attractions such as mini-golf, water slides, and bumper boats.
R. A. Apffell Park
East of Stewart Beach at Boddecker Dr., is wide beach with boat launching, jetty and surf fishing, bath house, concessions, and rest rooms.
Three "pocket" parks are along F.M. 3005 and offer beach front picnic areas, rest rooms, and playgrounds. They're at 7 1/2 Mile Rd., 9 1/2 Mile Rd., and 11 Mile Rd.
Seawolf Park
Picturesque location provides close look at ocean-going vessels entering and departing port and yacht basin. Excellent fishing from commercially operated pier. Striking three-level pavilion with snack bar; picnic facilities and children's playground. Main attraction is naval exhibit featuring tours of WW II submarine USS Cavalla, destroyer escort USS Stewart, Navy jet, and military vehicles. Open daily on Pelican Island. Admission.
Harlingen
In the subtropical tip of Texas, visitors are lured by balmy temperatures throughout most of the year, landscapes edged by palm trees and flaming bougainvillea, the nearness of enchanting Old Mexico, and proximity to surf-washed Gulf beaches.
La Porte
Sylvan Beach Park
32-acre county park at site of famous resort/dance pavilion of the 1920s-30s. Modern air-conditioned pavilion overlooks Galveston Bay; fishing pier, launch ramp, playground, picnic areas for families or large groups. At park entrance, caboose and depot from old Houston-Galveston-San Antonio railroad serves as Heritage Society's showcase for memorabilia of city and area. Depot open 2nd Sun. of month 2 - 5 p.m.
Portland
Indian Point Park and Pier
55-acre city park attracts both nature lovers and anglers. 720-ft. pier with 280-ft. T-head over Corpus Christi Bay featuring some of the best saltwater fishing grounds in the Coastal Bend. Two raised boardwalks extend more than one thousand feet into wetlands; home to 36 bird species, 33 sea creatures, and 35 plant species, several listed as endangered. Wade fishing area, picnic area. Concession building with restaurant, rest rooms, live bait and other fishing necessities (512/643-5483). Admission to pier; no fee for use of park. Open 24 hours. On U.S. 181, northbound side. 512/643-6501.
Port Aransas
Mustang Island State Park
3,474 acres of sand dunes, sea oats, and beach morning glory with five miles of Gulf beach frontage offering the best of seaside camping, surfing, fishing, swimming, and shell collecting! Multi use campsites with hookups plus large beach area for primitive camping. Other facilities include picnic arbors, rest rooms, showers, dump station, nature trail, and fish-cleaning station. Rewarding bird-watching for abundant shore and migratory birds. Fourteen miles south of Port Aransas on Texas 361; admission.
Port Arthur
Pleasure Island
Connected to city by M. L. King-Gulfgate Bridge that arcs 138 feet above ship channel; access from island via Texas 82 causeway to Cameron Parish, LA. Island is in Sabine Lake, 100-square-mile lake which opens into Gulf of Mexico. Golf course, marina, boat ramps and miles of free roadside fishing levees from which anglers take redfish, drum, speckled trout, croakers and other species; excellent crabbing year round.
Sea Rim State Park
With a 5.2-mile coastline and 15,109 acres of marshland, the park offers a variety of recreational opportunities. From the visitors center, a boardwalk nature trail acquaints the visitor with marsh ecology. Boat trails provide access to the marsh. Camping in designated areas (with hookups), along beach, or on platforms in marsh area. Abundant wildlife. Fishing, swimming. On Texas 87, 14 miles southwest. Admission.
Port Isabel
In Port Isabel-Padre Island area, anglers can fish from beach, piers, and jetties where catches may include redfish, speckled and sand trout, sheepshead, flounder, croakers, skipjack, and drum. Group boats provide bay and deep-sea fishing for half and full days; charter cruisers are available for offshore sport. Offshore species may include tarpon, sailfish, marlin, kingfish, mackerel, ling, pompano, bonito, red snapper, warsaw, and others. Marinas provide fuel, bait, tackle, launching ramps, and boat rentals. Small boats with guides available for bay fishing.
Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca Causeway State Recreation Park
Old highway causeway, replaced by modern span, now popular lighted fishing pier extending 3,202 feet into Lavaca Bay. Swimming, boating and saltwater fishing. Facilities include snack bar, bait stand and rest rooms. Port Lavaca City Park at base of pier has boat ramp, picnicking and recreational vehicle facilities. Fee for pier use. Alongside Texas 35 causeway.
Port Mansfield
Ship channel completed 1962, slicing across shallow Laguna Madre, through Padre Island into deep waters of Gulf of Mexico. Today colorful shrimp fleet plies Gulf from home docks at Port Mansfield; former "occasional" fishermen have lots of company--sports editors rate Port Mansfield as one of 10 best fishing spots in nation!
Port O'Connor
Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Management Area
The park is seven miles south of Port O'Connor, separated from the mainland by Espirito Santo and San Antonio Bays. Facilities include primitive beach campsites, dockside campsites, pit toilets and outdoor showers. Picnicking, camping, fishing, boating, swimming, beachcombing, and nature study. Birding is very popular; more than 300 species of migratory birds have been spotted here. Among most noted birds that migrate to the island are whooping cranes, which spend winter on portions of the island across from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Accessible only by charter or private boat.
Rockport-Fulton
Copano Bay Causeway State Park
Former highway causeway across bay north of Rockport (replaced by a modern span); now excellent fishing piers administered by Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. Piers extend from north and south sides (not connected); total length of both over mile and a half. Concessions on both sides provide tackle, bait, food; public boat ramp south side. Near the present Texas 35 causeway. Modest fee.
Goose Island State Park
307 acres on peninsula between Copano and St. Charles Bays. Rest rooms, showers, picnic sites, open shelters, children's play area, fishing pier, fish cleaning table, boat ramp. Tent and trailer camping permitted; unsupervised bay swimming beach. Site of "Big Tree," an immense live oak certified as largest in Texas, estimated 2,000 years old. About 12 miles north of Rockport; Texas 35, Park Road 13. Admission. 512/729-2858.
South Padre Island
Island Equestrian
Take a romantic horseback ride along secluded beaches while savoring the beauty of miles of sand dunes encrusted with sea oats and beach morning glory along the Gulf of Mexico and Laguna Madre. Horses usually available from sunrise to sunset. Just north of town on Padre Blvd.
Padre Island
The long, narrow sand island sweeps in a golden arc north some 110 miles to Corpus Christi. Modern hotels and motels edge several miles of the Gulf at the island's southern tip. Farther north, the island is entirely natural--sand dunes, sea oats, and beach morning glory. (There is no bridge or ferry between South and North Padre.) Beautiful, gently sloping beaches are perfect for swimming and surf fishing. Beachcombers will find bright shells, perhaps floats from the West Indies, driftwood, and occasionally flint points of Karankawa Indians who roamed area.
Andy Bowie Park
Just north of the city limits, features the popular Laguna Madre Nature Trail for nature enthusiasts and bird-watchers. Other facilities include beach front picnic pavilions, children's playground, and a ranger station. For information and reservations, call 210/761-2639.
Isla Blanca Park
On the southernmost tip of the island, features more than a mile of clean, white beach along the Gulf of Mexico, for waterfront recreational facilities. The park includes picnic and playground areas, fishing jetty, restaurants and clubs, a full-service marina with daily charters, a water park, and boat ramp. There's even a nondenominational church, the Chapel by the Sea. Camping facilities include more than 600 RV sites with full hookups. For information and reservations, call 210/761-5493.
