Port Aransas is famous for its beach, but there is another whole version of the town waiting for any day you decide to leave the sand behind. Between the local history, the arts scene, and the food, you could fill three days here without setting foot on the beach. Here is how to do it.
Take a History Tour of Port Aransas
Port Aransas has been shaped by fishing, the coastal boom of the early 1900s, and a stubborn small-town character that has survived several devastating hurricanes. A few landmarks tell that story better than any brochure.
Port Aransas Museum
The Port Aransas Museum walks visitors through the town’s history from the Karankawa era through Spanish explorers, wild mustangs, and the sportfishing boom, with more than 25,000 archived photographs and rotating exhibits inside a restored early-1900s kit house. Free admission, open Thursday through Saturday afternoons.
- Location: 101 E Brundrett Street, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 749-3800
- Plan Your Visit
Farley Boat Works
Farley Boat Works is a living exhibit where volunteers still build custom wooden tarpon fishing boats using the same techniques the Farley family used when they opened the original shop in 1915. Visitors can walk through the working shop and watch boats being built.
- Location: 716 W Avenue C, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 816-9789
- Visit the Shop
Chapel on the Dunes
The Chapel on the Dunes was built in 1937 by Aline Carter, a former Texas poet laureate. It sits on one of the island’s highest points and is decorated inside with hand-painted murals of biblical scenes by local artists over several decades. Tours are booked through the Port Aransas Museum on the first and third Saturdays of the month, starting at 9:15 am. Reservations are required at least one day in advance.
- Location: 203 S 11th St, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 240-2291
- Book a Tour
Experience Port Aransas Like a Local
Some of the best things to do in Port Aransas, Texas, have nothing to do with tourist attractions. They are just the daily stops locals have learned to love.
Spend the Morning at a Local Coffee Shop
Coffee Waves has been the island’s go-to coffee spot since 2010, voted Texas’ best coffee shop several years running and serving artisan espresso, house-made gelato, fresh Boar’s Head sandwiches, pastries, and live music on Friday nights.
- Location: 1007 State Highway 361, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 749-0825
Visit a Local Park
Roberts Point Park is a 50-acre waterfront park with harbor views, a playground, basketball and sand volleyball courts, a 1-mile paved walking trail, and an observation tower with panoramic views of the ship channel. It also hosts the Patsy Jones Amphitheater, which offers free concerts on the second Friday of every month from March through October.
Check Out Local Art
Port A has a small but active gallery scene, including Port A Glass Studio and Art Gallery for handblown coastal glass pieces, as well as several artist-owned shops downtown selling paintings, jewelry, and pottery from Gulf Coast artists. Wander Alister Street on a Saturday afternoon for the best selection.
Explore Port Aransas by Bike
The town is flat, compact, and easy to cover on two wheels. Bikes are a smart way to skip parking and cover the ferry landing, downtown, the harbor, and the marina in a single loop.
Best Places to Bike in Port Aransas
Roberts Point Park’s 1-mile paved trail is a great warm-up. From there, ride the harbor loop down to Fisherman’s Wharf, cut through downtown for a coffee or lunch stop, and head toward the ferry landing to watch the boats come and go. Charlie’s Pasture Nature Preserve at the south end of town also has paved paths for a longer, scenic ride with bird-watching along the way.
Where to Rent Bikes
Island Surf Rentals has been Port A’s one-stop rental shop since 2009, offering bikes, Yamaha golf carts, kayaks, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, boogie boards, and beach gear.
- Location: 130 E Avenue G, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 749-0822
- Browse Rentals
Follow Port Aransas’ Local Food and Drink Scene
Try Fresh Gulf Seafood
Port A is a working fishing town, and the seafood at local restaurants comes off boats you can watch dock. Blackened redfish, fried shrimp baskets, Gulf oysters, snapper tacos, and boiled crawfish (in season) are the classics. Trout Street Bar and Grill, Fins Grill and Icehouse, and Roosevelt’s at The Tarpon Inn are three long-standing spots worth a try.
Enjoy Local Drinks
For Port Aransas, Texas, things to do after dinner, downtown has a handful of local bars with live music several nights a week. The Gaff is a longtime dive with pizza and a shuffleboard table. Shorty’s Place is one of the oldest bars in town.
Spend a Day Surrounded by Nature
Even without going to the beach, Port A is surrounded by water. Girls’ trip friendly rentals at La Mirage put you close to Mustang Island State Park, Padre Island National Seashore, Charlie’s Pasture, and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, all within a 30- to 60-minute drive. Bring a kayak, a fishing rod, or just good walking shoes.
Go Birdwatching Around Port Aransas
Port A is a major stop on the Great Texas Birding Trail. The star spot is the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, a free preserve open from sunrise to sunset with a 750-foot elevated boardwalk over the marsh. More than 90 species have been recorded here. Spring migration (April and May) and winter (mid-November through mid-March) are the peak seasons.
Catch Live Music and Local Entertainment
The Patsy Jones Amphitheater at Roberts Point Park runs free concerts on the second Friday of every month from March through October. Port Aransas Theatre stages regular live productions from musicals to plays throughout the year. Several downtown bars and restaurants book local musicians on weekend nights year-round, so there is almost always something on.
Return to La Mirage After Exploring Port Aransas
After a full day of exploring, our Gulf-front condos at La Mirage give you a quiet place to land. There are plenty of activities in Port Aransas, TX, waiting, and staying with us makes it easy to fit them all in. Find your perfect Port Aransas condo at La Mirage and start planning your trip today!
