When thinking about going camping or RVing, there are lots of groups on Facebook that provide insight and are helpful. There are groups devoted to RV Renovations, Full-Time RVing, Texas Camping, etc… When we first started planning our journey to full-time RV living, I joined several groups, along with reading several books – I was and always will be a teacher. As we were talking about our first trip, Frank mentioned spending a few days on the beach below Corpus. As I was researching some campgrounds on RVParky.com, someone in one of the groups asked for recommendations in the area. Several people popped in to recommend Gulf Waters RV Resort west of Port Aransas. After some investigation, I made the reservations, and we were both pleased with the resort.
All the spots at Gulf Waters RV Resort are privately owned but the owners can choose to rent them out when they aren’t personally using them. In my opinion, we were given the best spot. The front end of the motorhome faced a pond, and we were just steps away from the boardwalk to the beach. It was a little startling the first morning to look out the large front windshield and see water. We quickly found ourselves going for walks on the beach about twice a day.
Our first night, we decided to eat seafood in Port Aransas. I looked up recommendations and Fins was at the top of the list. We drove around Port Aransas a little and saw a line out of Fins, even though it was just 5:00. The line convinced me it was the place to be, so we parked at an off-site parking lot, walked over, and added our names to the list. It was hot; it was humid. I was sweating and their frozen “Miami Vice” looked good. It was good! It was half Pina Colada and half Strawberry Daiquiri. I think our total wait was about an hour. The bar tender recommended the Mahi Mahi stuffed with crab cakes. Frank ordered it and I ordered some shrimp for us to share. I wish I could say it was great and lived up to its reviews, but sadly it did not. Everything, even the coleslaw, had too much pepper. Now it is one thing for me to say it was too much pepper, but when Frank agrees, it is seriously too much pepper. He adds pepper to everything. (Good thing he didn’t this time.)
A few years ago, we did a southern drive from Houston to Corpus Christi spending time in Rockport and on Mustang Island. We booked a deep-sea fishing trip to catch red snappers. It wasn’t like I had imagined. We sat on a bench and rode for well over an hour. The captain announced we were about to fish as he slowed the boat down and positioned it directly over a pipeline. (We couldn’t see it; he just told us it was there, yea for GPS.) The helpers handed us the rods and reels and the bait. As soon as the line went over and went deep enough, bam, we had a red snapper. The limit was two per person so that quota was quickly filled and then we started the ride back. My image of throwing a line out and reeling in and throwing it out and getting a bite and fighting it, nah, that didn’t happen. When we returned, they offered to fillet the fish for us so we could take it home. I don’t see how they could know which fish I caught versus someone else. (They were all thrown in together, so no, there was no way to say it was the fish I caught.) By the way, the place we booked the deep sea fishing is right next door to Fins restaurant.
Since we had the experience of deep-sea fishing out of Port Aransas, we thought we’d try just local fishing from a pier or jetty this time. Afterall, Port Aransas is the fishing capital of Texas. We scoped out a long jetty late one afternoon. It was a little treacherous walking in places due to the odd levels of granite, some crumbling concrete and not being a mountain goat. After our long hike on the jetty, we decided we could just fish off the banks in a nearby park the next day. We had no allusions of catching a lot (if any) fish. Frank investigated the tide situation, and we were to leave the next morning at 9ish due to high tide at 10:30. However, the next morning was gray, drizzly, and very gusty. Gusting wind is not ideal for fishing. Knowing my lack of expertise in casting a line with a rod and reel, it is a good thing we junked the fishing plans. I grew up fishing with a cane pole and a bobber in Louisiana lakes, so there was a good chance I’d just hook myself or Frank. Oh, well, I’m sure we’ll fish somewhere as we travel.
We knew that people could park on the beach, but we didn’t expect to see people camping on the beach in tents and travel trailers. It was quite crowded on the Saturday before Father’s Day, but rather vacant on Father’s Day, remember – very gusty wind. Travel trailer, ok, I could have done that, but a tent with a separate small tent for a portable toilet, eh, NO! Not my cup of tea. I think I would also be afraid the tide would wash us away in the night. I like solid ground for camping and water for swimming. Call me picky. 😊
Port Aransas is a nice place for fishing and hanging out on the beach. A lot of visitors rent golf carts or bring their own. It is also a great place to buy fresh seafood, which we did before our departure. I heard some good reviews of some other seafood places to eat, so we’ll probably try them whenever we head there in the future. We will definitely keep Gulf Waters RV Resort on our list for a return visit.