Aransas Pass, Texas, sits on Redfish Bay, 20 miles north of Corpus Christi. It is linked through a 6-mile causeway to Mustang Island, home of Port Aransas. In the early 20th century, Aransas Pass served as a fishing port, home to a large fleet of shrimp trawlers. Today, it is primarily a retirement community, offering recreational activities such as fishing, boating, kayaking and birding. Enjoying temperate weather year-round, the city lies in close proximity to a number of Texas beaches.
The calm waters and shoreline of Quarantine Shore offers beach lovers a rarely crowded getaway. In the summer months, the temperature is in the 90s; winter daytime temperatures hover around 60 degrees, according to the Going Outside website. Although there are no hotels on the beach, several lodging options lie within a mile of the location. Outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful, and include camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, golfing and whitewater paddling. You can hike the Mustang Island State Park Trail from Quarantine Island to Mustang Island State Park.
Port Aransas Beach, open 24 hours, is in Port Aransas on the northern tip of Mustang Island, a popular vacation location on the Texas Coast. Miles of natural beach provides a venue for sunning, swimming and beach combing, and the deep waters of the gulf provide prime opportunities for fishing. Lodging options abound, including campgrounds, beachfront accommodations and RV parks. Port Aransas offers a wide array of dining options, from casual to formal, and plenty of local shops and boutiques are available. Boating, biking, kayaking, surfing and kiteboarding are popular local activities. The city's beaches and dunes, wetlands and rock jetties are ideal for bird enthusiasts, as the island hosts hundreds of species of local and migrating birds.
Padre Island National Seashore, 20 miles south of Aransas Pass, sports the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world, according to the National Park Service. The park, open 24 hours, features 70 miles of coastline, including three beaches. Although no lifeguards are on duty, swimming, windsurfing and boating is allowed in Bird Island Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. Beachcombing in the park is best after a storm, and the park service allows you to take home a 5-gallon bucket full of treasures. The park has one wheelchair designed for sandy terrain that it loans out at no charge. Ramps lead to the visitor center, Malaquite Beach, restrooms and picnic areas. The National Seashore is a refuge habitat for a number of rare plants, birds and animals, including Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the most endangered sea turtle species in the world.
