The city of Rockport has a rich and colorful history whose mystery can be seen in its windswept oaks that gently whispers her secrets. Known for its natural beauty and prolific blue waters, Rockport has quietly become the preferred location for families to get away and soak in all life has to offer. Known for its world class fishing, Rockport also boasts championship golf, fine dining, shopping, and an artist community second to none. It is no wonder that this treasure on the Texas coast has been and is a favorite hideaway for generations past and future.
The leisurely lifestyle found in Rockport encourages you to slow down and relax. Take in the breathtaking sunsets and fresh ocean air. The clear blue waters of the coast, as well as the bays and lagoons, make bay and deep sea fishing a premier destination for anglers. Located at the heart of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, Rockport provides sanctuary to hundreds of bird species. Just about everywhere, nature welcomes you to enjoy.
Every imaginable water activity can be enjoyed year round in Rockport. If golf is your game, Rockport lays claim to one of the finest golf courses found in the State of Texas.
People from all over the country make Rockport their home. Talented artists and sculptors gain their inspiration from the awe inspiring landscape and natural beauty that has been nourished and nurtured by the seas. Such abundance in beauty has perhaps contributed to the artistic spirit of the people in Rockport, which has the distinction of being the town with the highest number of artists per capita in Texas. Galleries are truly everywhere, proudly exhibiting everything from clay sculptures to oil paintings to ceramics to glass. The works of the more than fifty local renowned artists will astound you.
Culture is definitely rich in Rockport. Its many festivals attest to a spirit of jubilance and a joie de vivre that is heartening and invigorating. Almost everything is celebrated, from humming birds to wine connoisseurs. The cuisine is fabulous, thanks to the abundance of the freshest catch from the seas and talented chefs. Shopping takes on a distinct character here, where boutique and curio stores offering gracious, personalized service make you appreciate the absence of the huge and crowded city malls.
Rockport is the jewel of the Texas gulf coast, providing lasting experiences for a lifetime.
Bring a good reel, some sunscreen and a sense of adventure when you come to Rockport for fishing. Whether your passion is bay wade fishing, saltwater fly fishing, night fishing, or deep sea fishing, there is always something biting along the Rockport shores. Redfish are the main catch of the day with sizes up to 30 inches. Trout are also a mainstay of bay area fishing where anglers enjoy reeling them in—both day and night!
You can take in the stunning aquatic life around the bay including waterfowl, shrimp and crabs or jump right in to enjoy either motor boat or kayak fishing at its best. Further out in the bay you can also catch bass and sometimes snapper, or hook an elusive flounder in the deep waters of the area. Rockport’s beach has won honors as one of the cleanest beaches in the country, and north of the bay still offers some secluded areas perfect for kayak fishing in peaceful surroundings.
Friendly captains and tour boats are always available to take your group or family on a fishing trip that will bring good memories and tall tales for a long time to come. Tours offer rentals on all necessary gear, bait, and instructions and some will bring drinks or snacks if you ask them. Rockport offers many licensed guides to show you the ropes of salt water fishing and tell you the best place to lure the trout you’ve been waiting to catch.
Whether you’re looking for a deep water adventure, or to hook some redfish for dinner, Rockport’s fishing community will make sure you’ll have the best of sand and surf available.
As the rest of Texas swelters in the hot summer air, a cool breeze from the coastal plain wafts through Rockport bringing with it a stunning collection of birds for viewing. The city literally hums in the summer as a migration of ruby-throated humming birds can be seen at feeders all around town. Excitement is also in the air preparing for the fall migration of over 200 species of birds that will pass through this seaside town. Rockport welcomes their migratory guests with celebration and fanfare from dawn through dusk each day.
The stars of the fall season, besides the stunning varieties of hummingbirds, are the whooping cranes and terns that nest in the scenic coastal city for the winter months. These endangered birds, the largest in North America, spend their mating season on the embracing shores of Rockport sharing the sea and air with their cousins the Great Egret and the Wood Stork.
Located at the heart of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, birders from all over the world come to Rockport as many varieties of rare birds can be seen in their natural migratory pattern. With a stunning wing span of over 6 feet, the Great Blue Heron can be observed over the waters of the bay, as smaller birds like the Blue Winged Teal add color and character to the avian population of this south Texas paradise.
As fall turns to winter the mild temperatures equate to a delightful bird watching holiday when the hatchings become visible reflecting more colors than there are in the rainbow. In every season, Rockport’s sandy beaches and stark blue sky are alive with graceful wings and resound in joyous bird song.
Stunning blue-green saltwater laps the shore with sensual motion, as the sun gleams off of the smooth surface of Aransas Bay in Rockport, Texas. This friendly coastal town has the serenity of peaceful small town life but once you get to the water, all systems are set for action. Boating in Rockport takes many forms and all of them offer hours of fun and great family memories.
For wildlife lovers there are a number of tours and excursions available to see the amazing waterfowl and go birding along less populated areas. Dolphin watching is another main attraction for boaters who enjoy seeing these playful, smart creatures swim and jump in the warm waters. Along with encountering dolphins, you can also see many of the lighthouses in the area and learn of their history. Nature tours can also show other water-life and teach kids about the beauty of the sea.
There’s no reason to be sedentary on the waters of Rockport. Kayaking and Kayak fishing are both available to sports enthusiasts, as well as outboard boating, parasailing and jet-skiing. The town has both rental establishments and training facilities for people who want to learn how to parasail and see this amazing seaport from the sky. The jovial boatmen of Rockport are also available to hire for an afternoon of exploration and sight-seeing. Excursions can last anywhere from 2 hours to all day.
From deep sea fishing trips to action packed adventures, the water of Aransas Bay has something to offer everyone who wants to spend some time with their feet in the water and their soul flying high.
Hunting is an age-old tradition passed down from parents to children offering fellowship and challenge along with teaching responsibility and discipline. The memories, stories and experiences of this pastime can last a lifetime. Enhance those experiences in the natural beauty of Rockport, Texas.
Taking a boat from Aransas Bay into the mesquite filled marshes transports hunters into another world where Pintail, Teal and Widgeons await to challenge experts and novices alike. Guided tours are available that offer lessons and gear for new hunters as well as advice and “lay of the land” expertise for the experienced woodsman. Non-guided tours are also possible with boat rentals, maps and gear and licensing help from many of the supply stores along the marina.
Ample game resides in this scenic area where thousands of ducks make their winter home. The weather is mild and enjoyable. There are lodges around the coast of Rockport that offer accommodations for rent complete with blinds and a view of the many types of waterfowl in the area. Texas state licensing regulations offer a youth hunting weekend on the last weekend of October with a main duck hunting season from November through the end of January. What better way is there to spend some of the holidays than a family hunting excursion?
To add to the thrill of the hunt, tours can also be purchased that combine hunting and fishing for a full package of outdoor fun. Fishing is a year-round way of life to the good folks in Rockport and they would love to share the joys of living off the land with you as their new neighbors. No matter how you spend your time together, duck hunting in Rockport will bring you enjoyment, and enrich your getaway.
Gospel Music Celebration
The New Year is ushered in by Rockport’s Annual Gospel Music Festival held every 1st Friday weekend. It is a celebration of great Gospel music, great camaraderie and the blessings of a great year ahead. It is sponsored by Rockport’s Gospel Force.
Fulton Oysterfest
Every first weekend of March is Oysterfest: a salute to those tasty bi-valve delicacies growing abundantly in the waters of Rockport. The Fulton Volunteer Fire Department sponsors this annual event, which kicks off with the Oysterfest Parade; food, games, oyster eating contests, live entertainments, and showcases of arts and craft are a-plenty.
The Rockport Festival of Wines
The Texas Maritime Museum sponsors the Annual Rockport Festival of Wines. Its a 2 day weekend affair that is crammed with cooking demonstrations, entertainment, museum tours and of course, marvelous wine tasting!
4th of July Fireworks
Definitely, the place to be on the 4th of July is on the beaches of Rockport, Texas. Great fireworks displays will make the celebration more festive while you relax with great food and excellent beer on the sandy shores of Fulton Beach Road and Rockport Beach Park.
Air Show
The annual 4th of July Air Show in Fulton, Rockport boasts of high energy aerial displays from different flyers and aircrafts. Intricate maneuvers are performed in the air, and audiences can spend the day comfortably watching the sites, or getting up close and personal to a couple of state-of-the-art flying machines displayed on the grounds.
Rockport Art Festival
The annual Rockport Art Festival is a 2 day affair usually held on the weekend closest the 4th of July. This festival hosts a series of events that will entice you to buy fine art from local artists and artists from all over Texas; there are art auctions, live music, food sampling and 2 whole days of continuous children’s activities.
Fiesta en La Playa Labor Day Weekend
What better way to celebrate Labor Day Weekend than to be in the Fiesta en La Playa of Rockport’s beautiful la playa (beach.) The fiesta is crammed with Tejano concerts, Mariachi band music, tamale and jalapeno eating contests, unique souvenirs stalls and plenty of good food.
Hummer / Bird Celebration
September 13-16 is Hummer / Bird Celebration, observing all things Hummingbirds. This education program encourages Nature enthusiasts to learn everything about the hummers; the program includes seminars on bird migration, field trips into hummer locales and bird watching.
Rockport Seafair Columbus Day Weekend
Celebrating the bounty of the sea was never heartier. Rockport Seafair on Columbus Day weekend is a blast with a mounds of bay seafood, coupled with live entertainment, stalls with arts and crafts – and of course, crab races for the sea worthy!
Holly Days Fest
Celebrate an early tropical Christmas by the bay and celebrate it on the 1st weekend of December with Rockport’s land parades, night parades, fireworks and a lot more activities to help bring on the holiday cheer. It also coincides with Rockport-Fulton’s Annual Farmer’s Market where the freshest produce is brought in from all over Texas for display and sale.
Christmas Celebration of Lights
Santa Claus sure comes early to Fulton, Rockport Texas. The Christmas Celebration of Lights commences on the 1st day of December; the culmination of which is at the lighting the Children’s Christmas Tree in Rockport Beach Park while food and entertainment is served.
Lighted Boat Parade
Tropical Christmas by the Bay is never complete without the Lighted Boat Parade: an annual contest that entails the decoration of powerboats, sailboats and the like with all forms of lighting fixtures. The Tropical Christmas by the Bay will of course be served with great food and live entertainment.
