Heads up this is from a view of an overnight camper-…read more Me and my husband were looking for a place to camp near Houston for Christmas Eve night. We looked around Houston and everything was booked or rained out! So we found Goose Island and it had decent reviews! We decided to book a campsite for one night- our campsite was 201. When we arrived my goodness!! I've never seen so many deer - one minute outside of the park, there were about 5 deers hanging out- not scared of me or my car or the noises. It was beautiful! When we entered the park, we first was looking for our campsite and drove in many circles- it was in the "wooded area" so it was a bit hard to find! When we arrived it was around 3pm And we started setting up camp. I am thankful the parking was right in front of the campsite but also that whole area I think 201-204 Is shared. I was lucky it was Christmas so no one else Booked the area next to us but it wouldn't have been as fun if others did! We stayed overnight- everything went well as planned! One thing I didn't like the restrooms were driving distance or a longer walk away but this was an amazing weekend getaway for us! In the morning we checked out the pier area. It was nice and very different than our campsite area! Highly recommend this park even for a daytime park!

We got a site on the beach!! It came with a casita/wind shelter with picnic table. Walked to the…read morelong pier. Very windy the time we spent here but sites are spacious and some not level at all, but all wort effort. Many very large rigs can hang out here and chill, bbq, and fish. Great spot! Texas did it again! Great spot. We pulled in on first come first served basis. And hikes in park too!

I thought it was time for another review of this park since the last one was from six years ago…read morefrom this writing. It also looks like there have been some recent additions since the last review. The park is located at a crosswalk next to an RV park on Avenue G. There is actually a lot to see here starting with a very long paved nature trail running through a nature preserve with observation areas and continues on by the ship channel. You will also find 3 ball diamonds, a large baseball field, a little league diamond, and a T-ball diamond complete with batting cages. Other amenities include a fenced in dog park, a community pool, a soccer field, basketball court, public bathrooms and a large children's play scape. On the property is also a frisbee golf course and skateboard park. You will also find five fenced in pickleball courts that look like they were just built yesterday. The pickle ball courts are open to the public at no cost. There are some covered picnic tables directly next to the pool and a couple of tables in the dog park. This is definitely one of the nicest community parks you will find anywhere.

Located on Cut Off Road, jusy behind San Juan Taqueria, this unexpected gem is an oasis in the…read moremiddle of the island, and a nice place to visit with your bird watchers, wildlife lovers or kiddos. Dedicated in 2002, Paradise Pond is a 2-acre habitat that provides an excellent example of public/private collaboration. A group of birders who won the Great Texas Birding Classic designated the prize money for the purchase of land located behind a local motel. Several donations of land, additional grants and other funding sources helped to complete the project that birders from across the country now enjoy. Paradise Pond is a stop on the spring migratory route for smaller warblers and other songbirds, while many feathered friends call the pond home all year long. The wheelchair accessible boardwalk and 3 observation decks provide easy access to get "up close and personal" with the birds under a mantle of trees. There is a sitting area at the entrance for watching butterflies, dragonflies and birds, along with information about the flowers and the butterflies that the flowers attract. Private donations of land, foundation funds and teamwork helped make Paradise Pond part of the Birding Trail of Texas. Visitors flock from across the country for a sitting here...and you should too!

Get orientated! This park is right along Business 35 in…read moreRockport. It's a great example of the public works of art that makes Rockport such an artistic, cool destination! This park has a private little lot right off the highway. Once you arrive at the park, you can't help but notice the giant palm tree that's survived storm after storm. It's long since fallen, but continues to grow, sideways and upwards. To me, it's a symbol of Rockport's resiliency. It's been knocked down, but continues to survive and flourish, making it even more interesting. You don't get old by being weak! The park is full of native flora and fauna. There are colorful examples of local flowers and plants to check out. The park is situated along a labyrinth on the ground- you walk along it in a meandering spiral within the circle of the compass rose with some sort of meditative mindset and it's supposed to be relaxing. The labyrinth is an ancient symbol of wholeness, and the journey from the outside in and back out again helps clear the mind. The compass is right on, according to my measurements! You can come here and set your own compass to the giant directions made from marbles on the ground. The compass is true! The park offers a great view of the entrance to Rockport, and the bay, with the beach in the background. It's an exquisite spot for taking in the scenes of Rockport! My only gripe is there aren't enough places to sit in the shade here, and there are no facilities like a drinking fountain. North, South, East or West, this place is a the best park around!

*** plan around their seemingly unpredictable hours ***…read more The Port Aransas Nature Preserve is way down in South Texas. Nearby where we were staying for vacation was the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, so naturally we saw countless types of birds and other wildlife including coyotes. This particular preserve is brought to you by the City of Port Aransas. Entrance is free, however, the following is not allowed: "hunting, fishing (allowed only in ship channel), shell or seed collecting, camping, pets, and alcohol." I definitely suggest that you check their website or call before trying to visit the boardwalks, hiking/walking trails and the tower because they are often closed! Works Cited https://cityofportaransas.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/nature-preserve/

We originally went to enter through the Pavilion where most of the trails originating from there…read morehave not yet been repaired from Hurricane Harvey. We went in off of 361 by the Port A RV Park. From that entry we were able to go on a beautiful walk that led to a tower for viewing. Worth the excursion.

This mile-long running/walking and biking path winds around from the parking lot near the Super…read moreWal-Mart along some marshes and swamps through some live oak trees and ends up at Enterprise Boulevard near Memorial Park. There's plenty of dedicated parking, and the marsh nearby the entrance has some cool stuff on how Rockport is a migratory bird and butterfly refuge, where all sorts of winged creatures come to roost due to the tranquil nature of this seaside town. There's always a variety of lizards and bugs around here too. Be sure to bring some bug spray! The pathway is about ten feet wide, and paved- so it's perfect for walking your dog or riding your bike or even roller skates! The pathway is usually picked up well, so it's beautiful. There were a lot of trees down after Harvey, but the city has been working on picking those up and restoring the trail to its former glory. There's not much at the end of this pathway, so I turn around and head back along the mile to the start. It's a very nice walk, and I recommend checking it out if you have some spare time.

Nothing says Guy H quite like the charming little town of Port Aransas. It's a generational thang…read morewith me. My grandfather brought my father here in 1940s,my dad brought me in the 1960s and I've brought my daughters and grandkids. Things are changing exponentially here as I notice significant new developments every year. However,I have a little piece staked out for myself. Peaceful serene and comfortable. Like an old glove. If theres been one constant in my life other than Texas,it's Port Aransas, priceless. So I'll keep on working to transcend everything new and hope all the new commers from far and wide find their own memories here. Leave it better than you found it.... Go!

May not be like you California beaches, but damnit...this place is peaceful and has a vibe of its…read moreown. Just birds, sand, water and sky...as it should be. No fighting for attention, wanna be actors, bikini posers here. Just peace. Sincerely, Texas Girl

Great stop to check out black-bellied whistling ducks or ducks for that matter!…read more Do you like nature? Check this place out. Parking can be found across from Walmart or K-Bob's Steakhouse. On the nature trail I appreciated the stops explaining the plants, birds and hummingbirds. We also spotted a deer hiding in the shrubs. One of the visitors showed us that he snapped a photo of an alligator hiding in the water. Be sure to bring insect repellent since this is a marsh.

This garden is a cool marshy area with a walkway, a bridge, and some informative signs! The park is…read morelocated right along Business 35, the main street in Rockport. It has a small parking area at a trail head, and a nice wooden bridge that takes you over a marsh. The Thule Marsh is a tranquil, placid body of water that looks like it might contain alligators. There are lots of birds here with long legs and sharp beaks. Fortunately, there are signs that tell you what you're looking at- very informative! There's also hummingbird feeders, and places for squirrels to hang out. The wetlands were rather untouched by the hurricane- the nature trails were closed, but the bridge and all the info signs were unscathed! There was a piece of the Wal-Mart gas station in the marsh, but that'll get fished out eventually. The place was picked up, and a safe place to relax in the shade or ride a bike!

Family and I are on vacation. We had just finished visiting The Museum of Science and History and…read morewere waiting on The Art Museum of South Texas to open. In order to kill some time, we walked along the beach and took in the sculptures and other historical sights. We were caught by surprise on how windy the weather was. Been awhile since I was able to walk along the coastline. I was enjoying every minute of the experience. Please check out the incredible coastline along Bayfront Park.

Bayfront park is beautiful and the Watergarden is the most scenic and refreshing spot. The water…read morefountains and falls make cool sound that is very relaxing and amuzing. I just love the sound of water falling down the stairs of that circular fountains. It is just beautiful!