What is there to do in Port A once you put the beach towel down? More than most visitors expect. Between the dunes, the wildlife, and a sky dark enough to actually see stars, this list covers the best Port Aransas stuff to do
Explore the Dunes and Coastline
Port Aransas keeps its dunes protected, so real off-roading is not part of the picture here, but that has not stopped a whole industry of beach cruising from taking over.
ATV & Dune Buggy Rentals
What locals call a beach buggy is really a souped-up, street-legal golf cart, built for cruising town and driving on the beach rather than tearing through dunes. It is still one of the most popular ways to get around the island without a car.
Port A Beach Buggies rents colorful street-legal carts by the hour, day, or week, with delivery available right to your rental. Rates run from $75 for three hours to $165 for an overnight rental, and the shop sits just steps from the beach.
- Location: 307 W Ave G, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 749-2066
- Price: $25 to $55 per day
- Book a Buggy
Scenic Trails Across Mustang Island
Mustang Island State Park has a handful of trails worth knowing by name, each suited to a different pace.
Mustang Island Beach Trail
- Distance: 6.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 16 feet
- Difficulty: Easy and flat, good for hiking, biking, or running
South Jetty Trail
- Distance: Varies, not a fixed path
- Terrain: Rock scramble across granite jetty boulders
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging, sturdy shoes recommended
Mustang Island Paddling Trail
- Distance: Roughly 20 miles across three segments
- Terrain: Bay side water trail, not a hiking path
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly, popular for scenery and shallow water fishing
The park charges a $5 day entry fee for adults, with kids 12 and under free, and stays open 8 AM to 5 PM daily.
Spot Wildlife in Its Natural Habitat
Port Aransas sits on a major migratory flyway and a channel full of resident marine life, so wildlife watching barely requires any effort here.
Dolphin Sightings
Dolphins are a near-daily sighting in the Lydia Ann Channel, and one boat has built its whole reputation around getting visitors close to them.
The catamaran-style tour boat at Scarlet Lady Dolphin Adventures cruises the Lydia Ann Channel in search of wild dolphins, passing the historic Lydia Ann Lighthouse along the way. Both daytime and sunset cruises are available, and the boat departs right next to the ferry landing.
- Location: 440 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 749-5597
- Book a Cruise
Birdwatching
The island sits on the Central Flyway, one of the busiest bird migration routes in the country, and the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center makes spotting them easy, with a quarter-mile boardwalk over a freshwater wetland. On a typical visit, keep an eye out for:
- Roseate spoonbills, the official bird of Port Aransas, are easy to spot by their bright pink feathers
- Black-bellied whistling ducks and cinnamon teal among the waterfowl
- Reddish egrets and tricolored herons
- Black-necked stilts and American avocets along the shorebird flats
- Least grebes, a smaller and less common species that draws serious birders
A Round of Golf, Island-Style
Newport Dunes Golf Club brings an Arnold Palmer-designed, Scottish links-style course to the island, with rolling fairways and native dune grasses that make the most of the coastal setting. The par-71 course measures nearly 6,900 yards from the back tees and is open 364 days a year, closed only for Christmas.
- Location: 265 Palm Island Dr, Port Aransas, TX 78373
- Phone: (361) 749-4653
- Book Tee Time
The Island After Dark
Port Aransas does not slow down once the sun sets; it just shifts into a different pace.
Stargazing Away from City Light
With less light pollution than nearby Corpus Christi, clear nights on the island often reveal a sky full of stars that most visitors rarely see back home. Beach access points away from the main strip tend to offer the darkest, most open views.
Bonfires on the Beach
Beach bonfires are a regular part of island nights, and many stretches of sand allow fires below the high tide line with a little planning. Checking current beach rules before building one is worth the extra few minutes, since permitted areas can shift with the season.
Book Your La Mirage Condo Today
An outdoor, heavy trip like this one goes more smoothly with a rental that puts everything within easy reach. Our direct beach rentals put you minutes from Port A things to do, and our family-friendly rentals give groups the space to store beach buggies, golf clubs, and binoculars without living out of a suitcase. Between all of the fun, there are more Port Aransas things to do here than a single trip usually covers. Book your stay with La Mirage today and start exploring!
