Planning a coastal escape and searching for the best things to do in Rockport, TX? At The Lighthouse Inn at Aransas Bay, guests experience the Texas Coast at its most inviting. Our waterfront hotel in Rockport, TX, offers upscale guest rooms with high-end amenities, including a heated outdoor pool, a lighted fishing pier, and on-site dining at The Palm Room Bar & Grill.
When you stay here, many of the most popular attractions are just minutes away, making it one of the most convenient and scenic hotels in Rockport, TX!
Explore the 3 Best Things To Do in Rockport, TX
1. Step Back in Time at Fulton Mansion
For travelers interested in history, visiting the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site is one of the most fascinating things to do in Rockport, TX. Built between 1874 and 1877 by entrepreneur and inventor George W. Fulton, it served as the family’s grand residence. The home featured rare innovations for the time, including central heating and indoor plumbing with hot and cold running water.
Today, visitors embark on a self-guided tour through the mansion’s elegant rooms. Exhibits share the story of the Fulton family, their ranching and shipping empire, and the role Rockport played in coastal trade during the late 1800s.
Outside, the mansion grounds provide another highlight. The demonstration garden recreates many of the plants that would have grown here during the Fulton family’s residence between 1877 and 1896.
2. Explore Goose Island State Park
Another one of the most memorable things to do in Rockport, TX, is visiting Goose Island State Park. The 1,620-foot fishing pier stretches far into the bay and is one of the longest in the region. The park also offers a boat ramp, kayak, and canoe launch areas.
Birdwatchers travel from across the country to explore Goose Island State Park. The area is part of the Great Texas Wildlife Trails and provides excellent opportunities to spot more than 300 bird species. Visitors may even glimpse the endangered whooping crane feeding in nearby coastal wetlands.
One of the most fascinating sights in the park is The Big Tree, a massive coastal live oak that has stood on the Texas coast for centuries and is among the largest live oaks in the nation.
3. Relax at Rockport Beach
One of the most popular things to do in Rockport, TX, is to spend time at Rockport Beach Park. It holds the distinction of being Texas’s first Blue Wave Beach.
Guests will find plenty to do throughout the park:
- Anglers can head to the 800-foot fishing pier.
- Birdwatchers often visit the protected sanctuary on the western side of the park, where roseate spoonbills and blue herons gather on small islands just offshore.
- It hosts monthly Rockport-Fulton Market Days, the Rockport Art Festival, and the Seafair Festival.
- The shallow, clear water makes it ideal for swimmers of all ages.