If you like the beach then Rockport Beach Park is the place for you. What you'll find is a very clean and well maintained park with all the amenities you'll need for a relaxing and enjoyable day in the sun. Picnic tables, covered cabanas, restrooms & showers, playground facilities, a short exercise trail with work out stations, fishing piers, even a roped off saltwater pool. You can also launch your boat at the public boat ramp.

Unlike some beaches where it can get a little unruly, at Rockport Beach it's very peaceful with most of the visitors families with kids. This is the perfect beach for just kicking back and relaxing.

No pets and no overnight camping though!

If you're in the mood for a different kind of adventure a trip to the nearby Fulton Mansion State Historic Site is definitely worth your time. A tour of the mansion will reveal what it was like living as an affluent family in the late 1800's. Built with many modern day convinces such central heat, gas lighting and running water it was truly a technological marvel at the time. The house was built by George Ware and Harriett Smith Fulton in 1877, originally it was called Oakhurst because of the oak trees that surround it.

The 2.6 acre site was acquired by Texas Parks & Wildlife in 1976, it was restored then opened to the public in 1983. The site was transferred to the Texas State Historical Commission and  declared a Texas Historic Landmark in 2008.

For more Texas history a leisurely stroll around the Rockport Heritage District is a great way to spend a few hours. There you'll find the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor, Rockport Center for the Arts and the Texas Maritime Museum.

The Aquarium's exhibits cover the Bays, Jetties, Sea Grass and the Gulf. In the 1200 gallon Bay tank you can watch as marine life such as red and black drum, sheepshead and Atlantic croaker interact. The Gulf tank is set up to resemble the near shore environment of the gulf, this tank is populated with grouper, snapper, squirrel fish and sea robins. Just across the street from the aquarium is Rockport Center for the Arts featuring an outdoor sculpture garden and one of the best selections of coastal art in Texas.

The sculpture garden includes many outstanding pieces from popular artist such as renowned environmentalist Kent Ullberg, his "Rites of Spring" is my favorite. James Surls "Walking White Flower" is one of the center's newest pieces ( see video below ). Inside you'll find three galleries showcasing sculptures, photographers, painters and potters. They also have a gift shop stocked with books and posters.

Next door to the Arts Center is the Texas Maritime Museum, if you're interested in Texas maritime history then this is the place to be. The museum is loaded with all kinds of exhibits filled with model ships, artifacts from shipwrecks, historic photos and posters, old fishing and boating relics, even a small library.

The centerpiece of the museum is the 1:12 scale model of the Robert La Salla's flagship La Bell, it's a part of La Salle Odyssey, a collection of eight institutions, seven member museums and a half scale model of the La Belle.

The museum has several types of permanent, temporary and outdoor exhibits. The permanent exhibits feature Exploration and Settlement, Oil and Gas Exploration, Commercial and Sports Fishing and Boat and Ship Building. The rotating and outdoor exhibitions cover different aspects of Texas' rich coastal past. While you're there don't forget to climb up to the deck of the lighthouse for the 360 degree view of Rockport harbor and Aransas Bay. To help raise funds the museum hosts the annual Rockport Festival of Wine and Food.

Don't forget to pick up some souvenirs at the art galleries and gift shops on Austin Street downtown. These unique souvenir shops carry everything from paintings, prints and photographs to sculptures, sea shells and model ships. Salt Flats Photography has some beautiful prints of Whooping Cranes and other birds and wildlife by photographer Diane Lyod. Latitude 28 02 is both a gallery and restaurant, they provide a venue for local and regional artists to exhibit their artwork. They represent over 70 of Texas' most accomplished artists.

After a long day of touring museums and shopping you may want to treat yourself to some amazing seafood at one of the many outstanding restaurants in the area. Hemingway's Bar & Grill has great service and reasonable prices, their oyster's Rockefeller is really good. It's a surprisingly nice restaurant in such a small town.