ROCKPORT BEACH—The beach is nationally certified as a Blue Wave Beach by the Clean Beaches Coalition. It offers picnic cabanas, playgrounds, volleyball courts, boat launches, walking trail, bird sanctuary, and a fishing pier. Off Seabreeze Drive. 361/729-6661.
ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS—Housed in a re- stored 19th-century home, the center is a hub for visual, performing and literary arts. Gallery exhibits, classes, concerts, an annual art festival and a gift shop are offered. Free. 902 Navigation Circle. At Rockport Harbor. 361/729-5519.
www.rockportartcenter.com.
TEXAS MARITIME MUSEUM—Experience the rich mari- time heritage of Texas from Spanish exploration to the search for offshore oil and gas. Includes changing exhibits, interactive displays and educational programming. Admis- sion charge. 1202 Navigation Circle. At Rockport Harbor. 361/729-1271.
www.texasmaritimemuseum.org.
ZACHARY TAYLOR PARK—In 1845, Gen. Zachary Taylor was sent to claim Texas as the 28th state. The flag, claim- ing such, was placed at St. Joe Island. Gen. Taylor then led his troops inland and camped under some live oak trees. Today, the site is a park with a gazebo, pond and butterfly garden. At Pearl and Bay streets in Rockport. 361/729-6445.
ROSENBERG POP. 33,402
ALT. 106 MAP R-20 George Observatory in Rosenberg includes three domed telescopes for exploring the skies.
the yacht basin. Many hotels and motels on the bayfront maintain private fishing piers for guests. A wide array of professional fishing guides also are available for charters. Rockport-Fulton is popular for outdoor activities. A
number of parks are available including Memorial Park and the Community Aquatic & Skate Park. New attractions and nature trails are being developed. A mobile app is available, call 361/729-6445;
www.aransaspathways.com. Rockport-Fulton also lies along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wildlifetrails. Annual events include the Gospel Music Festival in
January, Oysterfest in March, Rockport Arts Festival in July, Seafair in October and Christmas by the Bay in December.
THE AQUARIUM AT ROCKPORT HARBOR—Features bay and gulf marine life, activities for youth, marine artifacts, shell collections and literature. Free. 702 Navigation Circle. 361/727-0006.
ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE—Comprised of more than 115,000 acres, the refuge provides vital rest- ing, feeding, wintering and nesting grounds for migratory birds and native Texas wildlife. It is renowned for hosting the largest wild flock of endangered whooping cranes each winter. Other species include the American alligator, javeli- na, roseate spoonbill, white-tailed deer and armadillo. Off F.M. 2040. 361/286-3559.
www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas.
BAY EDUCATION CENTER—The Mission-Aransas Estu- ary is a National Estuarine Research Reserve site. It in- cludes a visitor center, auditorium and teaching courtyard. The center houses exhibits on the importance of local es- tuaries. Free. 121 Seabreeze. 361/749-3161.
BIRDING—Hundreds of species pass through the area from hummingbirds to whooping cranes. Rockport-Fulton celebrates with the HummerBird Celebration each Sep- tember. 361/729-6445. Bird Garden and Wetlands Pond promotes the value
of plants as a natural resource and low cost, low mainte- nance landscapes that provide food for birds—in particular, hummingbirds. It includes a nature trail and a picnic area.
126 PHOTOS: TXDOT PHOTO TOP; MICHAEL AMADOR/TXDOT ABOVE
In Texas Department of Transpor tation’s rest area on the east side of Texas 35 N. in Rockport. 361/729-6445. Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary has trails designed
to protect the habitat and lead to select spots where visi- tors might see resident and Neo tropical migrating birds. Self-guided tours are available. Texas birder Connie Hagar lived and learned from her feathered friends here. First and Church streets. 361/729-6445.
FISHING PIERS—Public fishing piers are the Fulton Har- bor Pier, those at the north and south ends of Rockport Beach Park, the Copano Causeway Pier and Water Street Breakwater. Copano Bay Fishing Pier is a former highway cause-
way across the bay north of Rockport. Piers extend from the north and south sides (not connected). Con cessions are on both sides. The public boat ramp is on the south side. User charge. Near the present Texas 35 causeway. 361/729-6445.
FULTON MANSION STATE HISTORIC SITE—This Texas Historical Commission property offers a glimpse into the life of an affluent late 1800s family. Learn about George Fulton’s engineering skills, walk through Harriet Fulton’s gardens and hear stories about living in this grand Victori- an villa, called Oakhurst. Admission charge. 317 S. Fulton Beach Road. 361/729-0386.
www.visitfultonmansion.com.
FULTON SCHOOLHOUSE MUSEUM—The original one- room Fulton schoolhouse was rebuilt in the 1940s after being damaged by a hurricane. See the schoolhouse as it was originally set up along with numerous original arti- facts. Includes a replica of the Fulton Mansion. 205 N. Seventh St. 361/729-5533.
www.fultontexas.org.
GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK—Brown pelicans, rare whooping cranes and fishing in the bountiful waters of Aransas, Copano and St. Charles Bays draw visitors to Texas’ first coastal state park. It also is home to the “Big Tree,” a massive coastal live oak estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. Camping fees. Admission charge. About 10 miles northeast of Rockport. 361/729-2858.
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/goose-island.
CITY OF ROSENBERG: 832/595-3520.
www.VisitRosenberg.com. CENTRAL FORT BEND CHAMBER: 4120 Avenue H. 281/342-5464.
www.cfbca.org.
Southwest of Houston, Rosenberg was founded on a site in the original Mexican land grant of early settler Henry Scott. The GC&SF Railroad platted a town site named after the railroad’s president, Henry von Rosenberg. R.T. Mulcahy—called the “Father of Rosenberg”—promoted schools, business and government. Rosenberg is home to the Fort Bend County Fair and
the Houston Glass Club’s Festival of Glass and Antique Show and Sale in August, and other annual events.
BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK—Thirty-five miles of multi- use trails, spanning a diverse ecology, offer visitors prime viewing of alligators, white-tailed deer and more than 300 species of birds. Three small lakes and a tree-lined creek offer places to fish. Admission charge. Off F.M. 762 about 50 miles southwest of Houston. 979/553-5102.
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/brazos-bend.
The largest wild flock of endangered whooping cranes winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport-Fulton.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260