You should find plenty of fun things to do in Port Aransas Texas! I know we did…

Let me tell you about our time in Port Aransas (or “Port A”, as the locals call it) and how much fun you can have there!

Our favorite things to do in Port Aransas start with the beach.

We also like dolphin cruises, to check out sandcastle building, ride jet skis, do parasailing, go fishing, and go kayaking. 

Things To Do In Port Aransas Texas

Port Aransas Beach

My kids LOVE the beach! It is their favorite of all the things to do in Port Aransas Texas!

This is why we plan our Texas family vacations in the summer to revolve around the beach. Fortunately, Port Aransas has miles of good beaches to hang out on… and get a good tan too!

Port Aransas beaches can get hot in summer! We make sure that we take a good sunscreen and some hats along. Portable sun shelters are a good idea too. We also take along a frisbee and other beach toys to add to the fun!

Port Aransas Dolphin Cruises

Dolphins are such incredible animals, and they seem to like interacting with people. For most of us, we usually only get to see them in aquariums.

In Port Aransas you can see them in their natural surroundings by going on a dolphin cruise! We, and especially the kids, love to see them frolic in the surf.

See more about why a Port Aransas dolphin tour will be something that you will remember, and where to go for a dolphin tour.

Sand Castle Building

The annual sand castle building is one of the cool things to do in Port Aransas Texas!

I am always amazed at the sand castle artists and what they achieve with ordinary beach sand, water, and a few simple tools.

They take it way beyond anything that the kids and I have ever done. To me it almost seems impossible to create what they do!

Take a look at Texas Sandfest to find out when the next sandcastle building is in Port Aransas and treat your family to something special.

Jet Ski Rental

I like jet skis. My kids do too. They are on of my favorite fun things to do in Port Aransas Texas… if you don’t get completely reckless on them.

The first time I rode on a jet ski, I was somewhat cautious, but I got the hang of it very quickly. Then it was all fun. Soon I was comfortable enough to take one kid at a time with me. They loved it!

If you’ve never ridden on a jet ski before, give it a shot. I think you’ll enjoy it!

Neptunes Charters Jet Ski Rentals is one place that offers jet ski rental in Port Aransas that I know of.

Parasailing

My kids are into thrills… so parasailing in Port Aransas is a must for them!

I go with them… not because I’m burning to go, but because I just can’t let them go alone. At least not at this age. While I’m usually happy when it’s over, I must admit that it is quite a thrill! The view is incredible!

The only place that I am aware of that offers parasailing in Port Aransas is Chute’em Up.

Port Aransas Fishing Trips

Not everybody is into fishing, let alone deep sea fishing, but if you like fishing, a deep sea fishing trip is another of the fun things to do in Port Aransas Texas.

The Fishermans Wharf in Port Aransas offers deep sea fishing trips where you can fish for shark, king mackerel, red snapper, grouper, and several other species of fish.

I don’t typically get sea-sick, but if you do, or you’re unsure if you will get sea-sick, be sure to take the proper medication with you.

Kayak Trips

Do you think you and your family may be up for a kayak trip? WetHeads Kayak Adventures offer just that!

You don’t have to be an experienced kayaker either. WetHeads tries to make it a fun experience for everyone. They supply most of what you’ll need (including water), but you could take sunscreen, sunglasses, water shoes, and a camera along.

This is great way to explore the waters around Port Aransas. Don’t be surprised if you come across some dolphins along the way!

These are our favorite things to do in Port Aransas Texas. Overall I think it makes for a great family vacation. I’m confident you will enjoy Port Aransas too!

PS. Also see our pages on Port Aransas hotels and restaurants.

I’m guessing you’re planning to head to Corpus Christi for a few days, or are already there, and you’re looking for fun things to do in Corpus Christi.

Is Corpus Christi a boring place with nothing to do, or could you have a good time there?

The good news is that there are plenty of fun things to do in Corpus Christi and the surrounding area. We have been there a few times, and had a great time every time!

An added bonus with Corpus Christi is that it is fairly close to Port Aransas… you could pick a day to go there as well.

Our favorite Corpus Christi activities are a visit to the beach, fishing, a visit to the Aquarium and the USS Lexington, and a dolphin cruise. Here’s the scoop about them… 

Things To Do In Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Beaches

As far as my kids are concerned, one of the first things to do in Corpus Christi on a family vacation is to hit the beach!

McGee beach is located downtown and within walking distance from several hotels. Corpus Christi beach is a little further north along the bay, right by the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington.

Being on a bay protected by a barrier island, these beaches don’t have huge waves. This makes it really nice for smaller kids to play at the water’s edge. The only not-so-nice thing to me was the jellyfish in the water. I think the City makes an effort to clean it all up, but it is still something to watch out for.

I prefer the beach on North Padre Island, which is only about 20 minutes from downtown Corpus Christi. There are better waves, so the kids can have fun with the boogie boards and the skim board.

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Fishing In Corpus Christi

Fishing is one of the fun things to do in Corpus Christi. A good option is to go on one of the bay fishing charter boats. Using “fish finders”, these fishing boats will take you out to wherever the fish is currently biting. One such outfit is C & T Bay Charters.

The Bob Hall Pier on North Padre is a good option too. You can fish there for King Mackerel, Shark, Red Drum, and several other species. The beach around the pier is great. If the kids don’t want to fish, they can hit the waves and have a good time too.

To me, a good option for deep sea fishing is to go to Port Aransas and use one of the deep sea fishing companies there. That avoids spending extra time crossing the Corpus Christi Bay on your way to the deep waters.

Corpus Christi Aquarium

My kids like the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

It’s not a very big aquarium, but it has some very good educational exhibits. The Islands of Steel, an under-water habitat built around a replica of an offshore oil platform, is great. Of course, the dolphins are always a hit.

The Aquarium does seem to be a little pricey, but overall it is a great place to take the kids to.

USS Lexington

Visiting the USS Lexington is one of the really cool things to do in Corpus Christi!

It is a WWII-era aircraft carrier with several airplanes on deck. You take a self-guided tour through the ship. I found it incredibly educational, and it left me in awe of what our armed forces do for us!

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because there are lots of stairs to climb. We went in the summer, and I was glad we wore hats. It gets quite hot on the landing deck. There is so much to see that we spent 2 to 3 hours there.

Visit the USS Lexington if you can. It truly was one of the highlights of our vacation in Corpus Christi!

Dolphins

One of the special things to do in Corpus Christi is a dolphin cruise!

Can you imagine how much kids (and grown-ups) like it to see dolphins swimming up close to the boat, and even sometimes coming close enough to touch them? This is a great experience that my kids love!

Dolphin Connection Texas provides a service that lets you do exactly that! Make reservations though. They are quite popular.

We hope this article has been helpful. All the fun things to do in Corpus Christi can provide a great Texas family vacation to anyone!

PS. Also see our page on Corpus Christi hotels.

Without a doubt, South Padre Island Texas is one of our FAVORITE vacation destinations!

My family and I discovered this little tropical paradise a couple of summers ago. We have been hooked ever since!

Some of our favorite things to do in South Padre Island are the beaches, a visit to Schlitterbahn, and fishing.

Where Is South Padre Island?

If you’re wondering where South Padre Island is, follow the Texas coastline towards Mexico. It is a couple of miles off the coast just about on the border with Mexico. A bridge connects South Padre Island to Port Isabel on the mainland. 

Things To Do In South Padre Island

Beaches On South Padre Island

The beaches on South Padre Island are probably the main reason why we go.

A seemingly endless stretch of soft, white, powdery sand along the Gulf-side of the island…

We usually take some goodies for the beach, like a beach shovel, frisbee, and boogie boards along. This provides for hours of fun in the sun. I like building sand castles with the boys. Last summer their quest was to ride the boogie boards in shallow water standing upright!

The boys also nagged me last summer to go parasailing. As a Dad, I was a little nervous, but in the end it was a fantastic experience! They just loved it…

Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen! 

Schlitterbahn South Padre Island Texas

Although somewhat smaller than the Schlitterbahn waterpark in New Braunfels, Schlitterbahn South Padre Island makes for at least a whole day of water fun!

My kids usually race from one ride to the next. I prefer to simply lie on a tube and go round and round on the “river” that connects all the rides.

Schlitterbahn could seem a little pricey, but at least they let you take a cooler. So once you’re in, you don’t have to spend anymore money.

There is a restaurant (Shrimp Haus), and a sports bar (El Jefe’s Sports Bar) in Schlitterbahn. After every three or four laps around the river, I also enjoy stopping off at Jefe’s Backyard for a drink. It’s important to keep the hydration up…

Next time we go to South Padre Island, we’re definitely spending a day at Schlitterbahn!

Fishing South Padre Island Texas

If you’re into deep sea fishing, South Padre Island Texas has it!

The story goes that South Padre Island is closer to the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico than any other place along the Gulf coast. So you spend less time getting there, and more time fishing! Afterall, that’s why you’re there, right?

You can fish for Red Snapper, Grouper, Kingfish, Shark, and more.

Keep in mind that these fishing trips last anywhere from 3 to 12 hours, depending on what you choose. Fishing captains are typically not in the habit of turning back if one person gets sea-sick. Be sure to take motion sickness medication if you’re unsure how you’re going to handle the sea!

There are a couple of outfits that offer fishing trips in South Padre. We have used Osprey’s before and had a great time! I took my 12-yr old son on a trip recently and he caught his biggest fish ever! He was all smiles and that made me a happy dad!

Horseback Riding On The Beach

Do you think horseback riding on the beach could be fun? I certainly do. If you agree and want to do it, the Island Equestrian Center is the place to go.

You don’t have to be an experienced rider to do this. Beginners can do it too. The guides are experienced and they take good care of everybody.

The rides take you out along the beach, and you’re allowed to let your horse go a little bit into the surf, which is a lot of fun.

Horseback riding on the beach in South Padre Island Texas is fun activity that the whole family can enjoy!

Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center

A really great, value-for-money place to take the kids while on vacation in South Padre Island is the Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center.

The kids can get a hands-on experience at the touch tanks, where they can touch sea creatures. Their dolphin experience is also among the best you will experience anywhere. Captain George is an excellent, informative guide who tries to give you the best experience ever!

The Center is located in Port Isabel right by the Light House Square and Pirate’s Landing restaurant. Worth a visit!

Sandcastle Lessons

Taking a few sandcastle lessons can add an interesting twist to your vacation.

Andy Hancock has been teaching people how to build sandcastles for a number of years. He’s a nice guy who is very skilled at building sandcastles, and he enjoys teaching people his craft.

Here is more about sandcastle lessons in South Padre.

If you’ve never been to South Padre Island Texas, you have to go! It’s a blast!

South Padre used to be overrun with college students over Spring Break and the usual advice was to avoid it then. However, Andy Hancock tells me that it is not the case anymore.”The days of out-of-control kids everywhere have long gone… Spring break is now being aimed at families on the island,” he says. 

C’mon summer… c’mon South Padre!

PS. Also see our page on South Padre Island hotels.