Port Aransas, or “Port A” as locals love to call it, is on Mustang Island off the coast of Texas’s Gulf Coast. It’s a great mix of a quiet beach getaway and a busy hub of fun outdoor activities. Port Aransas is a great place to visit for people who want to relax or have fun. It has beautiful white beaches, a lot of different kinds of wildlife, and a lot of different kinds of water sports.
That being said, this cute town isn’t just about the beach. It also has great restaurants, a wide range of shops, and cultural sites that show off the town’s rich history. Port Aransas is also a great place to visit any time of the year because of its warm, sunny weather.
If you’re a seasoned tourist looking for a new adventure or a first-time visitor wanting to find the best-hidden gems in Texas’s coastal towns, this comprehensive guide will help you make plans for your trip. Port Aransas has 24 fun things to do that will make your trip more than just a beach vacation.
21+ Fun and Awesome Things To Do In Port Aransas, TX In 2024
1. Port Aransas Nature Preserve
Are you only visiting Port Aransas? Dive into the area’s rich biodiversity to start your journey. The Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture, which covers 1,200 acres, is a peaceful haven. It was made so that the natural plants, birds, and animals of Mustang Island could be protected.
The preserve has a lot of boardwalks, hiking, and bike trails that are great for seeing birds and other animals.
403 W. Cotter Avenue. Port Aransas, TX 78373
2. Mustang Island State Park
Mustang Island State Park is a protected place that covers more than 5 miles. It is one of the best things to do in Aransas, TX. There are lots of fun things to do outside in this park.
There are many things to do in this untouched beauty, from camping under the stars to kayaking along the Mustang Island Paddling Trail. Let the waves kiss your feet as you walk along the sandy beach and enjoy the beautiful sunrise or evening. For people who love wildlife, the park is also a great place to watch birds.
Port Aransas, Texas 78373; 10194 TX-361
3. Port Aransas Museum
This is the place to go to learn more about Port Aransas: the Port Aransas Museum.
The museum has a lot of interesting things on display, from early stories about Karankawa tribes to exciting stories about Spanish ships and how the town became a popular tourist spot. Docents lead walks that give you more information about Port Aransas’s interesting past.
As one of the things to do in Aransas, you should check out the museum and look at the objects, photos, and papers that are kept there.
403 N Alister St, Port Aransas, TX 78373
4. University Of Texas Marine Science Institute
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is one of the oldest and most prestigious places in the country to do marine study. It was founded in 1941.
This top marine science center gives free tours, which are a great way for both kids and adults to learn about the ocean’s habitats, different kinds of marine life, and the latest advances in marine biology.
The Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve is a popular tourist spot on the marine institute’s grounds. It is one of the most important estuaries in Texas, the third largest in the U.S., and the only one in the western Gulf of Mexico.
You can get very close to different sea animals in their “touch tank,” which you shouldn’t miss.
750 Channel View Dr., Port Aransas, TX 78373
5. Experience Parasailing
Want to do something fun in Port Aransas? Then you should try flying over the Gulf Coast’s clear water. Gliding through the air in a parachute while being pushed by a speedboat is a fun thing to do outside.
Local guides make sure you’re safe while giving you this unforgettable journey.
The flight is about 250 to 300 feet high and lasts for 7 to 10 minutes. The trip out to sea takes about an hour and a half, and people who want to fly must be at least 7 years old.
View the beautiful Port Aransas shore from above. See well-known places like Aransas Bay, the Pass Lighthouse, shipwreck sites, and St. Joseph’s Island.
Port Aransas, Texas, USA
6. Texas SandFest
The biggest beach sand-building competition in the US takes place in Port Aransas every spring. It’s one of the best things to do there.
People come from far and wide to this three-day event every year to watch the artist or team of sculptors make their work of art, which usually takes months to plan.
You can even enter amateur contests and attend workshops, which will turn your beach vacation into a place to be artistic. If you want to stay somewhere nice while you’re at Texas SandFest, you should do that ahead of time.
Port Aransas, Texas 78373
7. Roberts Point Park
To have fun with your family in Port Aransas, TX, check out Roberts Point Park. This 50-acre park on the water with views of the ship channel is a great place for a family vacation.
Many places to watch big cargo ships go by can be found in the park. There are shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, a basketball court, sand volleyball courts, a soccer field, a playground for kids, and more.
Along the seawall, at the harbor jetty, and from a lit fishing pier are also places to fish. From the park’s viewing tower, you can see dolphins and big ships going through the channel.
The park also has live music events like the Songwriters’ Showcase every year.
301 J. C. Barr Blvd, Port Aransas, TX 78373
8. Deep-Sea Fishing
Want to do something fun today in Aransas? They go deep-sea fishing in Port Aransas. Port Aransas is known as the “Fishing Capital of Texas,” and it has something to offer everyone.
Some of the best fish in the world can be found in the areas around Port Aransas, no matter how much experience you have.
You can go deep-sea fishing on one of the many available charters, and you might catch a blue marlin or yellowfin tuna that is big enough to be a prize.
Port Aransas, Texas, USA
9. Kite Surfing
Kite surfing off the coast of Port Aransas is a fun thing to do there. A large power kite is used to pull a rider across a body of water, land, or snow in this fun backyard exercise.
Local guides make sure you’re safe while giving you this unforgettable journey. Harbor Aransas is a great place to do this exciting water sport because it has a steady wind and a lot of beaches.
Port Aransas, Texas, USA
10. Farley Boat Works
Farley Boat Works is a non-profit in Port Aransas, TX that works to keep this kind of craftsmanship alive. You can learn about the town’s marine history here.
You can take a class on how to build boats, or you can just look at the skill that went into making these strong boats that used to power the local economy.
716 W Avenue C, Port Aransas, TX 78373
11. Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Community
This weekend in Port Aransas, shopping and playing golf at Palmilla Beach Resort and Golf Community are both fun things to do.
This resort is on the Gulf Coast and has beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico. It has many shops that sell beachwear, accessories, home decor, and other things. After shopping, you can eat at one of the restaurants on-site.
Port Aransas, TX 78373; 132 Palmilla Beach Dr.
12. Port Aransas Community Theatre
If you want to do something fun in Port Aransas at night, go to the Port Aransas Community Theatre (PACT) and see a show.
Since it opened more than 25 years ago, the neighborhood theater has been going strong in this area.
All year long, the theater puts on musical and theatrical performances, as well as other types of live events. One or two shows happen every month, and you can find information about tickets and show times on their website.
The community theater is a great way to relax at night and connect with other artists in the area.
2327 TX-361, Port Aransas, TX 78373
13. Whooping Crane Festival
There is a festival called the Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas in February that you should not miss. From 1996 to now, this event has been held every year.
The event is held every year to celebrate the endangered whooping cranes’ return to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where they spend the winter. There are educational workshops, guided boat tours, and birding trips at the event.
The only place in the world where you can see the last group of wild Whooping Cranes is in the Texas Coastal Bend.
Port Aransas, Texas
14. Shorty’s Place
Shorty’s Place is the oldest and nicest bar in Port Aransas, Texas. It opened in 1946. The bar is a great spot to check out the evening in the area.
As part of the fun things to do in Port Aransas, go to this bar to enjoy a drink and listen to live music. You can also meet locals and other travelers.
101 Beach St., Port Aransas, TX 78373
15. Beachcombing
Finding things on the beach is a fun thing for kids and people to do in Port Aransas. Someone loves going to the Island, which is a beach town in Texas. There are over 18 miles of beautiful beaches, so there is plenty of room to do things outside.
Pay attention as you stroll along the lovely shores and look for pretty shells and sand dollars. On the beach, you can even find shark teeth and other cool things.
Port Aransas, Texas
16. Joan & Scott Holt Paradise Pond
A peaceful picnic can be had at the Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond, a 2-acre wildlife preserve in the middle of Port Aransas.
Paradise Pond, which is behind Shark Reef Resort, is a stop for smaller warblers and other songbirds on their spring migration route. When you go, take it easy in the shade of the trees, watch the many kinds of birds that come to the pond, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Port Aransas, Texas 78373
17. San José Island
Go to San José Island by short boat ride from Port Aransas. It’s one of the best things to do there. This private, uninhabited island is lovingly called Saint Jo and is mostly controlled for wildlife.
The beaches in Saint Jo are clean and generally full of seashells. The blue waters of the Gulf are all around the beaches. You can also see some of the most beautiful birds and fish in the south of the island. On this remote stretch of coast, you can enjoy the clean beaches, fish, have lunch, or do beachcombing.
18. Wetland Park
In Port Aransas, TX, Wetland Park is a fun place to visit by foot. The Texas Department of Transportation built the park, which has a boardwalk that winds through beautiful marshes and places to watch birds and take pictures of nature.
A raised boardwalk that can be reached by wheelchair goes to a gazebo with a view of the tidal flat and marsh areas, which are home to many wading and shorebirds. The park is a great spot to enjoy the plants and animals in the area.
1112 TX-361, Port Aransas, TX 78373
19. Visit Corpus Christi
Taking a 10-minute boat ride to Corpus Christi is a fun thing to do near Port Aransas, TX. You can bring your car on the boat, which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Corpus Christi has a lot of fun things to do. The Texas State Aquarium is one of the most well-known. Dolphin Bay, Otter Creek, and Stingray Lagoon are some of the aquarium’s best features, and kids of all ages are sure to enjoy them.
20. Amos Rehabilitation Keep
Want to do something fun in Port Aransas? After that, go to the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK). The ARK is part of the Marine Science Institute and takes in and heals hurt or stranded sea creatures like sea turtles and birds.
The ARK is not open to the public, but you can book a guided trip that includes seeing birds and sea turtles that are in danger of going extinct.
The trip lasts about 45 minutes on average and can only have 15 people. Everyone over the age of three pays $7 to go.
750 Channel View Dr., Port Aransas, TX 78373
21. Texan Warbird Adventures
The Texan Warbird Adventures is the place to go in Port Aransas if you want to have fun. One of the best things about this family-run aviation school is its collection of old naval planes from World War II.
When you come to Port Aransas, Texas, you can enjoy flying in these old planes around the Fort Worth area. You can take off from Decatur, Denton, or Fairview Airports. Warbird rides, aerial photography, and flyovers are all things that Texan Warbird Adventures has to offer.
3141 FM3512, Aransas Pass, TX 78336
22. Third Coast Theater
The Third Coast Theater has 150 seats and is inside Seashell Village Resort. It is where the city’s live music scene takes place. People from all over Texas come to the theater to see some of the best singers and artists in the state perform live.
If two people want to spend a beautiful evening together in Port Aransas, they should go to this theater and see live music.
502 E Avenue G, Port Aransas, TX 78373
23. Red Dragon Pirate Cruise
Red Dragon Pirate Cruise lets you sail on a real pirate ship right in Port Aransas. This is one of the coolest things to do in Port Aransas.
In every way, the pirate boat at 440 West Cotter Avenue was made to look like an old ship. However, it has all the latest technology and comforts, so it’s ready “for the high seas.” Join the private crew on the ship for a show before the trip at the start of the tour.
440 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373
24. Port Aransas Art Centre
It’s not possible to visit Port Aransas without seeing the Poar Aransas Art Center. People from this town have made some of the most beautiful art, which you can buy here.
The art center wants to promote and help local artists. It also has special events and art lessons for people of all ages. If you like art, you can use their workshop to meet other art lovers and artists.
104 N Alister St, Port Aransas, TX 78373
Ideas for Things to Do in Port Aransas, Texas
In Port Aransas, Texas, there’s something for everyone. From thrilling water sports to relaxing beach yoga, visiting local art shops to seeing endangered whooping cranes, there’s something for everyone.
This cute beach town will always have something new to offer, no matter how many times you go. Have a great time!