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Port Aransas isn’t that big of a town and yet there are still some hidden wonders just waiting to be explored by our PortAransas-Texas.com guests who travel in from all parts of the globe. Offering serene surprises that will enhance your Texas vacation experience, these spots are going to be where some of your favorite vacation memories are created, and this guide to the top hidden spots and Port Aransas attractions around Port A will help ensure you don’t miss a thing—especially the part at the end of every day when you come home to all the comfort and luxury you will find in our seaside sanctuaries!
Port Aransas Attractions on San Jose Island
Port Aransas is a town on Mustang Island, an island you will definitely spend a lot of time exploring, but it isn’t the only isle in the area, with San Jose Island being one definitely worth exploring. At one point, the island was home to a local ranch, offering respite to animals and man, but today it is more of a sanctuary for the wildlife that still inhabit it, and because it is still privately owned, your tour will be limited to the beaches of San Jose Island. Does this mean it isn’t worth the ferry ride to its golden sand shores? Absolutely not, because the beaches of this island provide a beautiful spot to relax, work on your tan, and hunt for unusual shells to bring home as souvenirs. The bird watchers in our group will discover that this place is a birding paradise, offering so many different species of birds, your head will be spinning as you cross another new species off your bucket list of birds!
A Tour of Farley Boat Works
Port Aransas is, and always has been, a village that revolves around the sea and of course Farley Boat Works, located at 716 W Avenue C, was once one of the biggest employers of the town, building wooden boats that would withstand the worst storms. The original Farley Boat Works closed in 1973 after 6 decades of acclaimed work in the boat building business, and today, the renovated Farley Boat Works stands as a living history museum. A museum that is still building boats today, the old fashioned way with wood, attention to detail, and a lot of elbow grease, tours are offered, giving visitors the chance to step into history in the most refreshing of ways. Also offering a limited number of boat building classes, it can be exciting getting your hands on in the beginning stages of the graceful vessels that will one day be skimming across the very same waters you frolic in during your stay.
Lydia Ann Lighthouse
How can something so prominently place be considered a hidden gem, you may wonder? Well, the truth of the matter is that lighthouses rarely seem to be noticed anymore, making them, in our opinion, truly lovely hidden spots that will open your eyes to another world. The Lydia Ann Lighthouse, constructed in 1856 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and continuing to stand strong, proud, and graceful today. Constructed of bricks, a material not often used for lighthouses, it truly is a beautiful sight, standing next to its keepers house, and although it is privately owned with no tours being offered, it is definitely worth seeing with many kayak and boat tours making a point to include it on their tours.
Chapel on the Dunes, 203 S 11th Street
Although we do tend to talk about it a lot, the Chapel on the Dunes is not something that most people know exists. Privately built in 1937/38 and perched high atop a sand dune covered in native flora, the drawings inside the chapel were created by an artist from San Antonio and its whimsical beauty makes it an idyllic spot in which to get married (rental of the chapel for two hours is just $400, with the funds being used to help maintain its stunning beauty) or to simply sit and savor the peaceful vibes. Tours are offered on the first and third Saturday of the month, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the interior of the historic chapel, perhaps falling even deeper in love with its charm and grace.
Nothing Is Hidden with PortAransas-Texas.com
Hidden gems are wonderful, but you don’t have to look hard to find the comfort and luxury that is a natural attribute of our Port Aransas vacation escapes! Offering the spaces you need to relax and recuperate after a long day of Texas-sized adventures, your moments at home will be the ones in which your favorite memories are made. Reserve your favorite escape today and discover all the ways our sanctuaries will end up becoming your favorite part of your vacation experience.
