Top cities between San Cristobal de las Casas and Austin
The top cities between San Cristobal de las Casas and Austin are San Antonio, Fredericksburg, Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, Veracruz, Port Aransas, Tuxtla Gutierrez, San Marcos, and Rockport. San Antonio is the most popular city on the route. It's 24 hours from San Cristobal de las Casas and 1 hour from Austin.
Tuxtla Gutiérrez is a metropolis located in the southern part of Mexico, serving as the capital of Chiapas state and an important transportation hub for the region. The city's central square, called Plaza Cívica, boasts a 16th-century cathedral named Catedral de San Marcos that stands out with its whitewashed façade. Adjacent to it is the Museo del Café which showcases exhibits on coffee farming in Chiapas.
Heroica Veracruz, also known as Veracruz, is a historic Mexican port city located on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Founded in the 16th century by Spanish settlers, it boasts San Juan de Ulúa, a colonial fortress turned museum. The region is famous for its May thunder flowers that signal the start of the rainy season and its abundant coffee, vanilla, and honey production.
6% as popular as San Antonio
2 minutes off the main route, 27% of way to Austin
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Port Aransas, located on Mustang Island along the Texas coast, is renowned for its stunning Gulf of Mexico beaches and abundant marine life. Visitors can enjoy panoramic bay views and spot dolphins at Roberts Point Park's observation tower or explore the alligator-inhabited wetlands at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center via a boardwalk. Additionally, Fisherman's Wharf offers boat trips to secluded San José Island.
4% as popular as San Antonio
57 minutes off the main route, 86% of way to Austin
Rockport, a charming coastal city in Texas, boasts the picturesque Rockport Beach, known for its fishing piers and diverse bird species. The Texas Maritime Museum offers insights into Gulf Coast history, featuring exhibits on shipbuilding, oil exploration, and piracy. Visitors can also explore the ever-changing local art displays and sculpture garden at the Rockport Center for the Arts. Additionally, history enthusiasts can tour the beautifully restored Fulton Mansion from the 19th century with its lush gardens and educational center.
2% as popular as San Antonio
52 minutes off the main route, 86% of way to Austin
Corpus Christi, a charming Texas city nestled along the Gulf of Mexico, boasts picturesque beaches sheltered by Padre and Mustang islands. Nature enthusiasts can explore the Padre Island National Seashore, home to diverse bird species and endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Meanwhile, the harborfront Texas State Aquarium offers interactive exhibits and a shark display. History buffs can visit the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier turned naval aviation museum.
11% as popular as San Antonio
19 minutes off the main route, 87% of way to Austin
I'll never travel to Austin without this trip planner again
Fredericksburg, located in central Texas, is renowned for its wineries and rich German heritage. The Pioneer Museum showcases settlers' homesteads and artifacts, while the nearby Marktplatz features a replica of a 19th-century German church. The National Museum of the Pacific War offers extensive WWII exhibits. Additionally, visitors can enjoy live music at The Rockbox Theater, housed in a refurbished furniture warehouse.
16% as popular as San Antonio
46 minutes off the main route, 93% of way to Austin
San Antonio, located in south-central Texas, is a city steeped in colonial history. The Alamo, an 18th-century Spanish mission turned museum, commemorates the famous 1836 battle for Texan independence. The River Walk, a scenic pedestrian promenade along the San Antonio River, is a major attraction with its charming cafes and shops. HemisFair Park's Tower of the Americas offers stunning views of the city.
Most popular city on this route
0 minutes off the main route, 95% of way to Austin
New Braunfels is a Texan city situated near San Antonio. The region is renowned for the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, which flow by scenic parks such as Landa and Cypress Bend. The Gruene Historic District safeguards original German structures from the 19th century, including the iconic Gruene Hall. Additionally, Natural Bridge Caverns lie to its west, offering subterranean limestone caves with walkways for exploring.
6% as popular as San Antonio
1 minute off the main route, 96% of way to Austin
9
San Marcos
San Marcos is a city and the county seat of Hays County, Texas, United States. The city is a part of the Greater Austin Metropolitan Area. San Marcos's limits extend into Caldwell and Guadalupe counties, as well. San Marcos is on the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. Wikipedia.
2% as popular as San Antonio
1 minute off the main route, 97% of way to Austin
Best stops along San Cristobal de las Casas to Austin drive
The top stops along the way from San Cristobal de las Casas to Austin (with short detours) are USS Lexington, Sea Turtle, Inc., and Port Aransas Beach. Other popular stops include Acuario de Veracruz, Padre Island National Seashore, and Texas State Aquarium.
Parque de la Marimba is a spacious and well-liked park that features gardens and a charming gazebo. It's a popular spot for locals to take an evening stroll, located eight blocks west of Plaza Civica. The park is known for its free marimba concerts every night from 6pm to 9pm, which attract crowds of people who come to enjoy the live music and dancing around the central bandstand.
Live music and dance every evening in the park. Very nice ambiance and full of cafes and restaurants.
Mahsa Homayounfar — Google review
Beautiful and clean park. Lots of very pretty trees. Nice kiosk.
Jesus Ginez — Google review
Excellent place to enjoy authentic regional music from Chiapas, México.
All family atmosphere make a must if you ever visit this wonderful city.
Cesar H. Gonzalez — Google review
We spent a beatiful night under musical notes of la marimba. A free event for avery one. You only need lots of energy to dance. People all over tuxtla. Guitierres come to this even which is on Fridays nights.
Josue Vargas — Google review
They get lit in this park. I was surprised. There are lots of bars and restaurants and love entertainers that engage the crowd here.
Leonard — Google review
A great place! You can hear marimba for free an dance too💃🕺, join others that dance at the rhythm of the “woods that sing” (marimba😉)… from 5:30 pm to 8:30pm aprox
Robert Rodriguez — Google review
Central place of Tuxtla. The city name is written with iconic elements such as the canyon de sumidero. A lot of life happens on this ventral place and marimba is played most of the day.Feel free to dance with locals! The coffee shop around are very good with authentic Chiapas coffee
Frederic Delaveau — Google review
This is your standard urban park in Latin America. Not amazing, not horrible. Decent place to stop and sit on a park bench to tie your shoe or watch some pigeons looking for crumbs. Pretty uneventful overall.
Thomas Meade — Google review
This park has a fun, family friendly atmosphere at night time.
JP Teerlink — Google review
It‘s a nice park, in the evening they play live Marimba music and you can sit and listen or even dance.
Fankh — Google review
A must go to while in Tuxtla! They have music from Wednesday to Sunday. 6-8:30pm. Great atmosphere and many vendors around the park for delicious treats, food and drinks. Great time to unwind after a long day of exploring.
Miguel Arredondo — Google review
Awesome place! Such great vibes! Everyone having a good time! Excellent musicians!
Hugo Correa — Google review
We had a great time at the park dancing to music and singing along with the band. It’s great place for families and friends to enjoy a free night out. I totally recommend it
Hue Proutt — Google review
Beautiful park! The vibe there is absolutely amazing! I love watching people dancing freely, enjoying their lives. You definitely have to come, and experience this atmosphere!
Nelia Kalakhan — Google review
They have live music certain days of the week, Thursday's and Saturdays are busy days , there are lots of restaurants around very beautiful
Rebecca Gallardo — Google review
4.6
(31780)
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4.5
(729)
Av Central Pte S/N, Centro, 29000 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chis., Mexico
Small zoo with guided tours of different geographical zones, home to jaguars, elephants & toucans.
On my recent visit, the 2 guides for our tour were very informative and pleasant. They explained about every animal and their habitat. They talked about conservation efforts and where we can participate.
The animals look well kept and healthy.
My only concern would be DUMBO the elephant.
His enclosure consists of only a metal structure in the middle of an empty land. With no big trees for him to cool off when the sun is at it higher point. It was saddening to witness how he tried to slim down and stay still in order to fit inside the very little shadow the structure was projecting.
I hope the next time I visit the park, his conditions are better. They have a store at the entrance for you to buy snacks and plenty of choices for drinks since they don't allow outside food or drinks, yes, not even water.
At the end of the train ride, there's a section with more exhibits and even though it is not a formal restaurant, they have sitting and they offer food options like tamales, empanadas, oreja de mico and different traditional candies and snacks. They also offer drinks and paletas de hielo.
I hope everyone visiting Tabasco can take the opportunity to visit this place. It's not only kids friendly but has something special for all ages!!
Foviss Valle Hso. — Google review
This is a great spot to see some animals and enjoy a nice park.
Karl Gercens — Google review
Very nice experience park is very well kept
Joaquim Sales — Google review
This place is an amazing experience if you are in town, it’s fun for families. The prices are extremely affordable kids below 3 enter free, other kids are $40 (pesos), adults foreigners are ~$137 pesos (~$7 dollars) and local adults are only $80 pesos.
It includes two guided tours:
1) a walking guided tour through the jungle, as you walk by the tell you all about the fauna and ecosystem there.
2) a train tour through the reservation where all animals are not caged, and in their own ecosystems.
The third stop is a recreational area with additional animals and a park with a small shop for food and gifts.
They have bathrooms both at the entry and on the recreational stop.
Bring comfy shoes for walking, and clothes that cover your legs and arms! There are lots of mosquitos and ants around!
Alexandra Gonzalez — Google review
3 hour wait to enter the park but it was actually worth it. That was on Easter Sunday. Bad idea. They say the park is empty monday to friday, go then. 4 stars because their organizational skills suck.
Matt Fuller — Google review
Awesome place! Educational tour in Spanish, family friendly, impressive variety of animals, well kept. Super friendly and helpful staff. Bug spray is a must!!!!
Inca Patlan — Google review
Really nice concept and incredibly friendly staff. Unfortunately underfunded and the enclosures especially for the wild cats are quite small. Also I felt bad for the elephant and the giraffe being alone.
Maybe the zoo could start putting up donation boxes where visitors can make donations that can be used towards the improvement of the enclosure etc.
Singapore zoo had a “friends of the zoo” membership when I was a child which I am sure would be a beneficial concept to Yumka too, it is now called Wildlife membership (maybe management could have a look into this).
Further improving F&B outlets would probably increase visitor spending too.
Will definitely be taking my children back either way, but feel like Yumka could be even more magnificent.
Bettina Mundt — Google review
Nice place to visit, especially with children. You can see crocodiles and many other animals almost in natural conditions here.
Oksana Veselkova — Google review
Very nice set-up, seems the animals have a lot of space. A lady attended us in English which was very helpful, since all the signs and tours are in Spanish. A disadvantage is that the area to walk around by yourself is limited and you're stuck on the tour to see the area, so you're not able to look at the animals at your own pace.
Parque Museo La Venta is an intriguing outdoor museum situated in western Tabasco. It was established in 1958 to protect the ancient Olmec settlement of La Venta from petroleum exploration, and houses several significant artifacts including giant stone heads and carvings salvaged from the oil fields. The park exudes a jungle-like atmosphere within the city, making it a fascinating destination for both history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
A beautiful place if you love nature and history. I recommend you to pay for a guide. It's not expensive and it will be very useful and add a plus for your trip there. Use repellent like off! cause there's a lot of mosquitos. You can find here the olmeca head so prepare for some good photos 💜👌 a must to visit if you are in Villahermosa.
Cristina Razo — Google review
Nice park with small zoo and Olmec archeological monuments. Like a jungle in the city.
Carlos Gershenson — Google review
I loved the arquelogic site, not much the zoo. Without the zoo it would be alright already a nice place worth the visit
Dante Cerron — Google review
Enjoyable and really cultural short walking
Abraham C. — Google review
I was visiting from the US and my friends wanted to take me here. It’s beautiful, for sure. I really like that it has the combination of being a museum AND a zoo! Mostly common zoo animals, but it’s still neat. I really enjoyed the bird area that you can walk into. The big head statues are awesome. The ONLY downfall is the amount of mosquitoes is torturous! Be prepared for that, bring plenty of bug spray/repellent because you will for sure be eaten alive by mosquitoes if not. We had bug spray and were still getting attacked haha.
Chris Perkins — Google review
DO NOT GO IN THAT PARK !
i went there because of the famous statues but I wasn’t aware that there will be animals. It was a HORRIFYING experience… Animal’s spaces are mostly made of concrete or dry dirt, without grass and the LACK OF (CLEAN) WATER is unbelievable. Every animals seem really SAD/depressed and most of them are ALONE in their space. I mean I saw a jaguar eating grass…. I highly regret going there. I don’t know where their money goes, there are many ABANDONED infrastructure. I didn’t see anyone around animals, do they even have qualified people taking care of them ??????
For god sake please do not go in that park, seeing few statues is not worth seeing a bunch of depressed and bad treated animals….
idriss goulam — Google review
Nice place to stroll around and enjoy the nature.
Marco de la Torre — Google review
Nice experience but the animal enclosures were not very well kept. My animal lover kids were very concerned. We were not aware of the zoo and we were just fine without the zoo part. Very hot and humid but fun to see the archeological monuments.
Ericka Cabrera — Google review
It’s great, bring mosquito repellent
Jorge Díaz — Google review
Super excellent little history museum. As others have mentioned, skip the zoo. :( if you go up to the left you can just do the archeology part, the Olmec heads are of course very famous!
Acuario de Veracruz is a vast and impressive aquarium situated in Veracruz, which boasts breathtaking habitats for various marine creatures such as sharks, penguins, and jellyfish. The aquarium features an extraordinary tank that houses 2,000 species of indigenous marine life from Latin America. Unfortunately, the dolphin show is currently unavailable due to the pandemic. Visitors can purchase souvenirs at the gift shop; however, it's quite expensive compared to street vendors selling similar merchandise at more affordable prices.
Excellent experience with my children. We enjoyed it very much
Edgar Adalberto Avenda?o — Google review
Terrible place, the animals look sad and many of them look sick. We were present when a fish jumped out of the tank and died. There are no labels explaining what kind of fish are in the tanks, so not really didactic for children. They are remodeling and making a lot of noise so the fish are stressed. This place should be closed.
Gabriela Teran Malo — Google review
Pretty place. I think it needs maintenance tho. It would definitely be better if they let you go back and observe at your own pace
Lilly Giadans — Google review
What we managed to see was rather cool, but It was too crowded, it's definitely not made to handle the crowd that came for the Easter break. Also, we were unlucky and it was under reparations, so no dolphins, octopuses or medusas for us 😢.
Rafael Falcon — Google review
A nice experience, I'm glad there were no dancing dolphins when we visited. The fish, sharks and jellyfish section is great and very impressive. I felt quite sad for the penguins, otter, turtles and manatees as there areas were quite small. We spent a couple of hours walking round.
Chilli_Smoke — Google review
It's a nice trip overall, not that long but with a lot of species to see. Ranging from birds, turtles, reef fish, open water fish, sharks, rays, corals, penguins, manatees, jellyfish, etc. If you have questions, staff is happy to answer them they are very knowledgeable. When I visited, the dolphin section was under maintenance, just bear that in mind. Also, the facilities are wheelchair friendly!
Frederick Sky — Google review
Nice aquarium for the most part. Loved the penguin stand and display. No dolphin show available now most likely due to pandemic. The souvenir shop is very expensive, so won’t bother buying anything there. You can find same merchandise on the street for half the price. Overall, a good place to visit while visiting Veracruz .
Ariel C — Google review
Its a bit expensive but its worth it if you want to see big sharks! I liked the section with the free birds (tucan and parrots) but in general its a bit small. Recomended for families with children! There are various places where you can take a professional photoshot and if you want you can buy your photos at the exit.
Champis Michael — Google review
It's an interesting experience because you meet some strange, curious and beautiful animals
Some of them are enormous!
I recommend visiting it, It's an opportunity to know a part of Mexico's biodiversity.
Mariana González — Google review
It’s unfortunately really not worth the money nor the time. Extremely disappointed about the experience and concerned about the care given to the fishes.
The whole tour took us in total only 30 minutes — to show you how small it was with poor/inexistant descriptions!
The aquarium was packed with people and there is no regulation of the flow of people at the entrance. As a result, it resonated a lot in the building and throughout the visit, making it stressful and extremely noisy.
All the plaques and explanations look really old and are poor. Very little ventilation and it felt very hot and suffocating.
On top of that, tanks look old, small and not well-maintained as it should to offer fishes a reasonable place to live and swim outside their natural elements.
Not recommended at all!
PS: apparently the place lost funding from before. It definitely lacks investments to make it a great experience for the fishes and the people.
Jonathan Verschaeve — Google review
It was smaller than expected. Very clean. Reasonably priced. Good for something to do for a little while. No shows. if your looking for a large showing of sea stuff don't go. U will be disappointed
Susan Innarelli — Google review
Beautiful Aquarium! We had a great time at the place, it was very budget friendly, costumer service was good, and had a great variety of sea animals! Also had a few land animals as well, at the entrance! Very family friendly environment. The place does not come with it's own parking area, which will require you to park in the streets near it. Depending on how busy it may be, will determine how far you may have to park, and walk. But it's worth it! I definitely reccomend the place! They do take credit/debit cards here as well! I will say, do use the bathroom before entering because it's a bit of a walk to go, once you're inside.
P.º Insurgentes Veracruzanos is a lively and active waterfront street known for its variety of restaurants, accommodations, and a classical lighthouse that has been transformed into a museum. The thoroughfare bustles with life from dawn till dusk as tourists and locals alike explore the different attractions in the area. This prominent street is located along the waterfront of Veracruz, offering stunning views of the ocean and serving as an epicenter for activity in this coastal city.
Beautiful places and beautiful dance 💃
Mexicana de viaje — Google review
Nothing special.
Laszlo Mor Matok — Google review
Regular
Arturo Lpz14 — Google review
(Translated by Google) A great walking place to hang out
(Original)
Un excelente lugar para caminar para pasar el rato
Carlos Cabrera — Google review
(Translated by Google) The sea takes away everything bad that happens to you, it simply purifies you...
(Original)
el mar se lleva todo lo malo que te pasa,simplemente te purifica...
desconocido parati — Google review
(Translated by Google) What a beautiful place, a unique experience walking through this place and at night it is prettier 😍😍
(Original)
Que hermoso lugar una experiencia única pasear por este lugar y de noche está más lindo 😍😍
Vero Garcia — Google review
(Translated by Google) I love that place to go for a walk
(Original)
Me encanta ese lugar para ir a caminar
Laura Méndez — Google review
(Translated by Google) Very familiar nice place
(Original)
Lugar agradable muy familiar
Eduardo Aguilar — Google review
4.6
(85)
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4.5
(1031)
Veracruz, Ver., Mexico
I'll never travel to Austin without this trip planner again
San Juan de Ulúa is an impressive fortress complex located on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. It was named after Spanish captain Juan de Grijalva's landfall in 1518. The large complex includes fortresses, prisons, and a former palace that have been reused over time. Today, it serves as a history museum and top tourist attraction where visitors can explore its colonial-era architecture through guided tours filled with insider information.
This is a great historical place to visit. It's a drive from the city so take a taxi or other transportation vehicle. Restrooms are available. Only water is allowed inside the fort not any flavored waters. Recommended to go early as it gets hot later in the day. There are guides available outside of the fort.
Marisol Barrera — Google review
Interesting historical site. But perhaps next time i will go by my own. I took the tranvia at malecon, there are 11am and 1pm roundtrip tours for 100 pesos. Once arrived a tour guy charged 100 pesos but we were told it was 60 pesos. Tour guy told us it was more because group of 7 person was small group that why he increased the price. Don't expect receipt. He offered only 1 hour tour inside the Ulua fort and after that he will take you directly to the exit. Tour guide was in a hurry and had not patience for photos. Read before you go and skip the tour guide. Entrance it's 65 pesos. 60 years and over; 3 yr or younger and teachers are free of charge. Place is beautiful, although many areas are still closed due to covid. Entrance and travia service is good. Tour guide is bad.
L Garcia — Google review
Beautiful place. They have a guide that can also speak English that goes for $700 pesos. The guide was very knowledgeable of not only historical figures but also the materials and design of the fort throughout the years. Definitely worth paying for a guide if your into knowing some history. If not you can pay a small fee to enter. While the fort is decaying they are doing everything within their power to persevere every aspect without damaging the historical building.
Michael Valeriano — Google review
A very unique defence fort. Must visit
Pranam Garg Acharya — Google review
Fortress under severe re-modeling-disturbing for an historic though not fundamental way.
juan m anchondo-a — Google review
Was a old fort tour. Did have alot of people there and had to park about 200 yards away. Interesting but lots of walking in the fort and museum.
Fernando Fuentes — Google review
Amazing colonial-era fortress that has been reused throughout the centuries. Guided tours are highly recommended as the tour guides have a lot of insider info.
Chris Jaquez — Google review
Historical site in big disrepair but worth visiting while in Veracruz. It is a shame that this place has been literally abandoned and it is slowly decaying and falling apart. The views of the port from here are breathtaking. Transportation is very limited to get to this place. I used a taxi cab that charged 100 pesos each way. There is also a tram that departs from the Mercado de Artesanias that costs 50 pesos round trip. The entrance fee is 85 pesos and free with INAPAM credentials.
Ariel C — Google review
Astounding piece of history. This complex is older than the United States itself, as it is one of the first european forts that was established in the Americas. I'd recommend a guided tour to really dive into its past.
0mar — Google review
Get the guided tour and learn about filming of Romancing the Stone there. Also find out where the cool acoustics are in the chapel.
Rachael Dorothy — Google review
Very interesting place. Tickets are around $85 pesos per adult. I recommend getting a tour guide (our charged $50 additional per person) to tell you the story. It is incredible how much has happened here. We took a trolley from the artisan market and paid $100 round trip per person. Everything is outside so consider sunblock, a hat and water.
Melissa Rodriguez — Google review
San Juan De Ulua
This is a great option for sightseeing and entertainment.👍🏻😇
Dileep Chauhan — Google review
At least 450 years old, the existence of this fort predates the founding of Boston.
The architecture corresponds to the military models of the time. It might not be as well preserved as other castle/forts in the Caribbean, but it certainly is worth your visit. I have 2 small children, and we found plenty to enjoy as a family in our 2 hour-long visit.
You can hire private tour guides at the entrance, but there is also plenty of information online to inform you as you search its many nooks and crannies.
It's well worth the 60 pesos entry fee.
Carlos Andrés Botero — Google review
Great historic fort with a lot to see. A pity that it's been allowed to degrade so much. Still, there seems to be a lot of work going into renovations of at least the core structures. Hopefully when I come back I can view this historic treasure in it's full glory. Definitely worth a visit. I would recommend the guided tour as well, there are a few English speaking guides.
Dark Seraphim — Google review
San Juan de Ulua, Veracruz’s little gem. I recommend visiting this attraction. The tourist bus will take you there for $50 pesos ( $2.25 ) and the cost to enter is $60 pesos ($3 dollars). It’s an amazing attraction and as cheap as it gets.
You’ll get the option to pay a little bit more for a guided tour or you can just freely walk around the premises.
Bring water, for sure. Sun block and a hat wouldn’t hurt. If by any chance you forget, worry not, plenty of vendors outside the Fort selling everything you’ll need, CHEAP.
Definitely visit. Worth it.
Gabriel Broida — Google review
4.6
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4.5
(1110)
Cam. Escénico a San Juan de Ulúa S/N, Manuel Contreras, 91891 Veracruz, Ver., Mexico
7
Museo de Antropología de Xalapa
Mentioned on
Archaeological museum
Museums
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Many Olmec artifacts found locally are on display in this brutalist museum designed by Paul Balev.
One of the most exquisite museums I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.
Make the effort.
The collection is displayed in such a way that you can truly connect to the artifacts (no touching!) and I rarely needed my English audio guide.
The weaving of indoor and out, placing the carvings into the courtyards, the length of the main corridor... even the brutalist architecture (usually not a fan, sorry) play together to keep you engaged.
Jill Sessa — Google review
Es maravilloso. Me tocó recorrido con guía, iba con mi hijo y ambos estábamos encantados. La flora que tiene el museo es maravillosa.
Y también han sido amables y nos han permitido realizar nuestro proyecto de baile mamá y bebé dentro de sus áreas verdes.
El mejor museo de la ciudad.
(Translated by Google)
It is wonderful. I had a guided tour, I went with my son and we were both delighted. The flora that the museum has is wonderful.
And they have also been kind and have allowed us to carry out our mommy and baby dance project within their green areas.
The best museum in the city.
Vianey Gomar — Google review
World class museum, second best in the country. A must if you visit Xalapa.
Chantal Clabrough — Google review
Huge collection of colossal heads and other pieces from the south region heading back 1500 BCE.
I’m giving four stars because the cafe was closed. You definitely to go through the whole museum.
Quick thing if you decide to go to the restroom before you get to a stall grab toilet paper which is located outside the stalls.
Sarai Hoffman — Google review
This place is incredible. We've been to a few Anthropological museums around Mexico as there is such a rich history in the region, but this one is stunning. The quality of the pieces, the scale of them in the huge open hallways really brings the history and their majesty to the forefront. The pieces have good labels and descriptions that give context to their stories.
Mike Smith — Google review
Extraordinario, una joya de nivel mundial. La arquitectura por sí misma es genial, el museo baja a forma de escalinata y se visita por vestíbulos, aledaño a un bosque que dice mucho del clima brumoso y elegante de la zona. Las piezas son realmente una maravilla.
(Translated by Google)
Extraordinary, a world class jewel. The architecture itself is great, the museum goes down a staircase and is visited through halls, bordering a forest that says a lot about the misty and elegant climate of the area. The pieces are really wonderful.
Abelito E. J. — Google review
Very interesting museum. If you don't speak Spanish, then you should rent an audio guide. All info is in Spanish only.
Marcel Sol — Google review
The museum is great. It costs 70 MXN and the permanent expo is amazing. In particular I liked the statue "el señor de las limas" if you have the chance see the whole video explaining the símbolos on it!
Osz Bucio — Google review
It was great filled with many interesting pieces of old meso América figures
Erick cabanas — Google review
Es un increíble lugar de aprendizaje, tienen guías y audio guías, por supuesto recomiendo a los guías. Está muy bien cuidado y catalogado, tienen baños muy limpios, además de un bello jardín y la verdad creo que para recorrerlo completamente bien se necesita de varias visitas. Entre semana tiene un costo la entrada y domingo es gratis. Ampliamente recomendado 👌🏼
(Translated by Google)
It is an incredible place of learning, they have guides and audio guides, of course I recommend the guides. It is very well cared for and cataloged, they have very clean bathrooms, as well as a beautiful garden and I really believe that to go through it completely well you need several visits. During the week there is a cost to enter and Sunday is free. Widely recommended 👌🏼
Liz Harmon — Google review
The museum is beautiful, large and had great services all around. There's so much information and the exhibits are so interesting, it can be overwhelming (in a good way), it definitely warrants several visits to see it all properly. The only issue I have is: the cafeteria has no visible menu or price list and the clerk was not very helpful.
David Padilla — Google review
This anthropology museum is AMAZING! I make it a point to visit it every time I travel to Xalapa. The artifacts are super interesting and the building is beautiful. It’s a 10/10.
Hector Aguero — Google review
One of the most fascinating museums we've seen. Really beautiful pieces in a gorgeous space. A really fantastic way to learn about the people who inhabited present day Veracruz. A must visit when in Xalapa!
Anne Cayer — Google review
Amazing museum!! I loved it. Amazing collection of artifacts.
David Stuart — Google review
I was very warmly received and purchased general admission and the English audio self-tour. I thoroughly enjoyed the special exhibition as well as all of the amazing Olmec artifacts this museum houses. The covered terrace areas feel like little time-capsule oases. The grounds may be my new "happy place" here in Xalapa; I spent almost as much time outside enjoying all the amazing trees and flowers as I spent inside in awe and reverence of the history and culture collected here. That being said, I did notice that the museum, while they do have some areas with wheelchair ramps, is still VERY inaccessible for those with disabilities, particularly mobility issues. E.g. the restrooms are located upstairs and then there are a couple steps up to the entrance of the restroom, and the restrooms themselves were very cramped, smelly, and didn't seem well cared for. Also, as a white American visiting here, I recognize I may have had a different experience in my treatment by the staff than perhaps locals and other Mexicans may receive, which saddens me. I sincerely hope (and will try to do my part so) that more money will be allocated to maintaining this gorgeous museum that is so important to México's cultural heritage, so that it can be even more accessible and comfortable for ALL. Will definitely be coming back!
Lydia Jackson — Google review
Awesome museum, one of the best in the world. Superb collection of artefacts set amongst beautiful modern architecture that really enhances their beauty. An inspirational day out.
Tom Mutton — Google review
Very interesting and well put together museum. Spent a couple of hours enjoying the exhibits the building and outside amongst the plants. It's a shame that they do not have adequate air-conditioning system to preserve all of the antiquities and waste paper just to give you a receipt of payment for entry which is the size of a certificate. They could also put in a coffee and cake area as they have a lot of room at the end of the exhibition and at the entrance also. They have not thought about using the space wisely. They charge 60 pesos extra for the audio guide which has no signal when walking around the museum. Apparently it's supposed to be free on Sundays. This is not the case.
Shirina Ismail — Google review
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Av. Xalapa s/n, Unidad Magisterial, 91017 Xalapa-Enríquez, Ver., Mexico
The most incredible historical place I have been in Mexico. This is a must see. When we came here we met maybe 10 people during our 3 hours sightseeing- impossible anywhere else in the world.
Artur Racicki — Google review
Unlike any other Mesoamerican city I've been to. Although my guide book says it's the largest by area, really they have excavated the buildings off the elites and perhaps upper middle classes, leaving many square kilometres of suburbs and rural housing still covered. The Urban layout was sometimes puzzling to me, with patios in odd corners etc. Were the round indents in some walls for water jars to serve the locals after easy filling from the roads?
Rowan Keegan-Henry — Google review
Place is massive and beautiful! Nice amd clean. We were the only ones there. Wear hiking shoes, bring water and trekking poles. A+ on English translation. And remember: only idiots have their names written in public places 🙄.
Esther Garcia — Google review
This site was amazing! There were practically no tourists there... It was so much fun to climb around over many acres.... and view the many many excavations... You get an excellent sense of the importance and historical nature of this community over 2,000 years ago. It seems to be quite unknown even within the Mexican society. It is so little known that it is somewhat difficult to get to. I also want to highlight what I considered to be an excellent museum highlighting various aspects of the Cantonese (Cantona) civilization that resided here.
KINNO Rinesburg — Google review
The Machu Picchu of Mexico. I was really surprised by how big and extensive this ancient city is. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, and bring water - you will be doing a lot of walking and climbing steep stairs. Very impressive and no crowds.
Rachel Arcelus — Google review
Beautiful, make sure to plan a full day here to see everything. Will return on the next trip to Puebla.
Sherri Ramirez — Google review
Extensive museum and archeological site. Very impressive and interactive as you walk amongst the ruins. You feel the influence of history. Definitely worthy of a visit if you are interested in learning something new.
Julie — Google review
Amazing archeological zone of an ancient city with pyramids, ceremonial altars, ball fields, and beautiful landscapes. We took a chance and came on a Monday despite their website saying they’re closed and having no number listed to call to confirm the hours. The site is in fact open Mondays. It’s a shame the hours are posted incorrectly because more people should enjoy the site. Bring water, a hat, and good shoes. We spent about two hours walking there.
amanda karimi — Google review
Huge archaeological zone with many ruins. It took about two hours or more to walk through and see everything. Very beautiful and well taken care of. bring a bottle of water and some sunscreen and enjoy a fantastic afternoon!
Nate Allen — Google review
Barely visited place the day we was there! And there is plenty to see! It is a massive site and quite impressive
The Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlan is a stunning church in Mexico, known for its beautiful Churrigueresque facade adorned with white stucco decorations and red tiles. It holds religious significance as the site where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared in 1541. The main altar features her image, commemorating the apparition. The interior is decorated by indigenous artist Francisco Miguel, who spent 25 years adorning the altarpieces and chapel.
This church seems hidden but really as grandiose as the others
The town seems far but worth visiting. Small town but the church is pretty awesome.
The architecture is worth going there.
Even the christmas tree has spirit. Made out of love.
Sandra Ferrari — Google review
PILGRIMAGE OF GUADALUPE
Our Visit to the Fountain of Our Lady of Ocotlan which means Pine. Our Lady appeared in a Pine tree. There was an epidemic during that time called Cholera. People who were not sick helped the sick and brought water to them. This was after ten years Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego.
Our Lady of Ocotlan appeared to Juan Diego Bernardino led him to the fountain that heals the sick. The Franciscan friars followed Juan Diego Bernardino and they believed.
Olivia V Suplemento — Google review
This is a really beautiful church, both inside and out. The feeling inside is akin to the Capilla del Rosario in Puebla, but on a humbler, more intimate scale. The facade seems to have been freshly restored as of March 2023.
Try to see the room that's somewhat hidden behind the main altar. It is also lovely but may not be open at the time of your visit.
Tim Tucker — Google review
Beautiful ornate church built on the site where the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego.
Rafael Molina — Google review
Beautiful church. The rooms that can be entered through a "secret" door behind the altar have particularly amazing ceilings.
Jan-Niklas Sievers — Google review
Great historical place.
Full of exuberant baroque carvings.
adrian baez — Google review
Great destination great experience just visit beautiful Architecture
The Gladys Porter Zoo is a wildlife park spanning 4 continents, with over 377 species of animals. Visitors can enjoy an aquarium and reptile house, as well as a children's playground for ages 4 and up. The petting zoo is currently closed but will reopen soon. The zoo offers several sensory items and clean environments for the animals. While visitors may spend at least three hours exploring the grounds, they should also plan to spend some time at the concessions during their visit.
This place has plenty of animals and a few more new additions coming soon!, the petting zoo wasn't open, but I'm sure by the beginning of next year it will be up and running again. This place also has a children's playground, available for kids 4 years and older. You can expect to spend at least 3 hours here, including time for the concessions, and a quick 5-10 minute sit down. It's a very decent sized zoo, my son and wife loved it.
Arthur Garcia — Google review
I have been to this zoo plenty of times since ive been 5 years old, I am now 25. This place never gets old. they have removed the big wood bridge and changed it to concrete. I still do miss the elephants. Harambe the gorilla was born in this zoo btw.
Ramses Salas — Google review
Having revisited Gladys Porter Zoo after 12 years, I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements I observed. My previous visit left me with concerns about the animals' well-being, but this time around, it was evident that they were being well taken care of and appeared happy.
The zoo premises were noticeably cleaner, contributing to a more enjoyable experience. However, I couldn't help but notice a decrease in the number of animals compared to my last visit. While this sparked mixed feelings, it also led to moments of nostalgia as I reminisced about the zoo from over a decade ago. They still have the animal water fountains.
Despite my mixed feelings about zoos in general, I appreciated the opportunity to share the experience with my baby nephew. Overall, my visit to Gladys Porter Zoo was filled with nostalgia and offered a renewed perspective on the importance of animal welfare in captivity.
patricia rangel — Google review
I usually have mixed feeling about zoo's. In this case, I was surprisingly impressed with almost every individual environment. Very clean with several waterfalls, and sensory items.
Other than the black bear. That little guy needs more.
So great job zoo! 👏
Jaelene Boyce — Google review
I was impressed for being a small zoo they did a great job in maintaining the place. The giraffes were unavailable since it was cold and rainy. The gift shop had some really nice gifts at a decent price.
1DivineLine 2Health — Google review
This smaller zoo is in Brownsville Texas. There are so many different animals to see. Don’t miss your chance to feed the giraffes $. You can touch the rays in the aquarium. Birds are in abundance here and there are so very exotic colors.
The normal water, food, beer, gift shop, etc.. Maybe a little pricey but we’ll worth it. They offer discounts.
Parking closer to the entrance $ but across the street is free.
James Savage — Google review
Excellent Zoo, great use of shade trees scattered throughout the Zoo, to allow some relief from the sun at most exhibits. Great selection of animals. Excellent flow and design to the zoo, to allow the natural landscape of Texas to be incorporated into African, Australian, and other continents natural habitats.
Side notes.... $5 parking to get into the zoo, low traffic levels during the week (which is nice, you won't be walking on top of other patrons). Bathrooms are clean, walkways are well kept.
The walk through bird cages are awesome!!
Nicholas Nocek — Google review
With children I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. There are a decent selection of animals. 🦩🐇🦝🦦🦔🦥🐿️🦒🐪🦣🦧🦍🦓🐆🦓🦚🦜
There’s plenty for kids to engage with & they have a very nice playground. 👶🏻👧🏽🧒🏼👦🏿
⚠️ There weren’t a ton of food options when we last went. 🥨🌭🍕🍨🍦🥤🧃Another big PRO in my book is the gift shop has a decent selection of CHEAP gifts. That way when your kid is begging you don’t have to pay a small fortune to get out of there. 🤑It’s worth the drive to give the kids the experience even though it’s not the most spectacular zoo it’s a good experience. 🐒🦍🐘🦛
(For my family to date. Check back things could always change. 😁)
Cori Muse — Google review
'T was a great experience! In this visit, I ventured a bit south and loved it. I loved how much interaction one can have with some of these beautiful exotic creatures. My child feared absolutely nothing. At some point, she wanted to pet the croc, alligator, and snapping turtle. I was able to witness and capture an image of a tiger capturing its prey. He was diligent, mind you. The goats were so happy, of course, they were pampered and fed. Why wouldn't they be? I really do recommend this as a place to visit as you have a bit of a lot. It is such a great experience for adults and children.
Ed Ica — Google review
Such a cute zoo. Wish more of the concession stands were open in the zoo, but I know with covid there are staffing shortages. The zoo is well maintained and the staff were all friendly. Especially the young man running the petting zoo today.
Krystal B. — Google review
I usually love the zoo and I've been to the zoo many times. The only reason why I'm giving it four stars today is because I think on this particular day was a little bit cold, but a lot of the animals that usually are out. We're not out on display and it actually had been a while since I've been to the zoo so I was kind of hoping to see the other stuff that I used to like. Also, I got to feed a giraffe and it was an extra $3 per person but it was well worth it
Laura Awesomeness — Google review
I was very impressed by this zoo. Adults and kids in the family enjoyed it. There were so many different animals. Go during their lunch time the animals are very active and you can watch them be fed. We spent about 3 hours here. It was helpful with kids that there was always a bathroom available and close by. The zoo is clean amd well kept.
Lisa Xiong — Google review
Beautiful zoo with lots of animals. Fun day with family
Maria Gabriela Rivera — Google review
Absolutely a HUGE disappointment! Filthy place(exhibits) Trash laying next to where the animals are . IN the exhibits! No one there bothering to clean up anything. Staff wandering around everywhere looking at their phones instead of keeping the place clean. Where people are is OK but the animals languish in filth. Empty water bottles, paper, food boxes(obviously tossed there by busy)
BUT NO ONE CLEANING ANYTHING.
This could be a nice place but it is unkempt.
I was going to demand a refund but just wanted to leave. I will not go back and recommend spending your tourist dollars on a museum or something else.
I HATE to leave this bad of a review but I can’t find anything positive to say about it except the price is very good ( if it were worth it)
Roy Crater — Google review
There are many rare species and I was able to see them for the first time!!!, kids were happy and impressed at the aquarium. Zoo needs a little cleaning or renovation, the construction looks old or lacks maintenance
gabriela meza ceccopieri — Google review
We loved the zoo! We got there right when they opened, which was a perfect time to go. It was not packed or hot yet. The zoo is not too big or too small, and had a great variety of animals like the bigger zoos do. The Dino Fury was going on for an extra $5 per person, we weren’t very impressed, but wasn’t too bad for an extra $20. Our kids enjoyed feeding the giraffes and we especially appreciated the price of only $3, compared to the bigger zoos who usually charge a lot more for the feedings. They also gave you a lot of feed, so the interaction with the giraffes was meaningful and worth the experience, not rushed. We wanted to feed the tortoises too, but we visited during the feeding time and no one showed.
Corina Hernandez — Google review
Gladys Porter Zoo is a world renown wildlife preserve! Because of its location it takes advantage of the natural subtropical climate that exists in the region. This climate makes it ideal for harboring the worlds exotic animals in open air exhibits!
And for those of you that love exotic flora, the Gladys Porter Zoo is a contained botanical garden that showcases some of the worlds flora specimens as well as its fauna!
Located in the heart of Brownsville, its stands as one of the city's iconic attractions! A Clear winner for the whole family! Certainly not to be missed if your in town!
FunNote: Sit with Americas National Bird at the aviary and enjoy some ice cold beers to cool you off while you enjoy the magnificence of the American Bald Eagle.
We enjoyed the winter Texas discount for out of state people.
Steven Erkman — Google review
Great experience ! Price was more than affordable for a family of 4. It took about 4 hours to do a full tour of the zoo. Lots of animals to see. Very clean park with lots of parking spaces.
Anouk Aussant — Google review
Super excited to have visited my home town's zoo. I was amazed at the many animals there. I loved hearing the monkeys calling on each other. It was awesome.
Yasmin Casas — Google review
What a great zoo/sactuary. We spent 3+ hrs there and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Not overpriced at all, friendly and knowledgeable staff.
clint smid — Google review
Great day nothing really to say bad. It's a zoo and it was a holiday. Only advise is to get there early, it get hot fast.
Krystal Hirschmann — Google review
Haven’t been here in a long time and after coming with family it was a lot of fun. I see lots of upgrades that have been completed and others that seem to be in the works. Love to see that this Zoo is growing. Lots of animals and great facts and information about them.
Sea Life Center offers an engaging experience for visitors, especially kids, with its numerous aquariums and touch tanks showcasing a variety of marine animals. The center also provides educational boat tours where visitors can observe dolphins and other marine life in their natural habitat. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the building location is currently closed, but visitors can arrange boat tours by phone. Previous visitors have enjoyed both the dolphin tours and exploring the touch tanks and aquariums at Sea Life Center.
The actual building location is not open currently as explained to me by one of the employees due to COVID-19 concerns, which was initially disappointing however understandable. Their concerns are that people using hand sanitizer can't touch any of the animals as it could effect them.
A quick phone call though set us up with a specific time to meet the boat at a specific dock within the channel that runs along Port Isabel. We met the Captain of a pontoon boat as another family was disembarking and quickly set out. Not even 5 minutes on the boat we saw dolphins. The captain was super encouraging to teach my kids on how to attract them closer. After a about 15 minutes with that one dolphin and learning more we set out to go further around the coast line.
Pods of dolphins were everywhere and some of them got right up to the side of the boat, even if only for a fleeting moment. We cheered them on and saw one even do a flip out of the water. The best was watching one chase his lunch (small fish) and the fish was actually smart enough to hide behind the motor of our boat as the dolphin stayed back a bit. Highly entertaining.
Lots of knowledge and experience with the crew that does this. Extremely personable and an amazing overall great time. We felt like we were on a close friend's boat doing this as we had such a wonderful day. It was only for an hour and it was a bit more costly than the bigger ships that load like 60 people on board but it was definitely worth every dollar spent. We will be going through this venue every time we want to dolphin watch here.
Zach Patton — Google review
We've been twice. Three years ago, we went out on one of their dolphin tours. Amazing tour guide and guide pup. Incredible and fun experience. (I wish I had access to those pictures as I write this post!) This year we explored the touch tanks, aquariums, the information on the local/native sea life. And we had a blast getting to visit with their tortoise Domino.
Amy Bierstedt — Google review
My son wants to be a Marine Biologist whenever he grows up, and it was really cool getting the opportunity to interact with a big turtle! Not to mention at $3 a person, its more than feasible for a family of 4 whose vacationing. The exhibit was not too big, but educational nonetheless.
Ashley Morrison — Google review
It's only a few dollars to go in, and my daughter loves the touch tanks. They have a good assortment of fish, including a pilot fish, puffer fish, and even a large mantis shrimp She also enjoys having the tortoise follow her around as well.
Angela Rogers — Google review
One of the coolest places we've EVER been too! We spent over 3 hours there with our 3 yr old and she had a blast! Its just a small little building but Sarah took her around to feed all the fish and critters. Sarah was full of knowledge of all the creatures and was happy to tell us all their little quirks and habits. Domino the tortoise was too cool too! Highly recommend ❤️
Kim McClure — Google review
Me and my husband just had a fantastic dolphin tour with George. His wife Scarlett captains the other pontoon. They are truly the dolphin whisperers. The dolphins come right up to both boats following our wake and alongside almost entire time during 1 1/2 hour tour, in calm part of the bay. Highly recommend! Approx. 6 guests per boat so lots of room... you don't feel like a sardine like on those bigger dolphin boats. Very chill vibe, like going out with your buddy on the boat.
Alyna Ausley — Google review
We had a great experience today! Quality time, new learnings, close dolphin sighting and our daughter learnt the importance of picking up trash with Captain Henry. We will be back next summer 👌
Tosin Adeniji — Google review
Awesome!! You've got to see Domino the tortoise... she's amazing!! The sea creatures are pretty cool!! We even found Nemo😂😂
Sea Turtle, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in 1977 with the mission of safeguarding, restoring and conserving marine turtles of all kinds. Situated on South Padre Island, Texas, it functions as a hospital for injured animals and operates educational programs to raise awareness among the public about these remarkable creatures. The center is renowned for rehabilitating Kemp's ridley turtle populations which are critically endangered. Sea Turtle, Inc.
I love this place. Beautiful sea turtles deserve to be saved. They have that right to live like we do. The museum is awesome, and the gift shop is great too. They also have Alligators. If they want to come out , I didn't see them this time . I still wonder why they even have Alligators. I never remember the island having alligators at all. Gators are super dangerous..😱Remember to come by and support anyway you can to keep helping and saving Sea turtles.. Happy Health to All....
brown boi — Google review
We loved seeing all the turtles here! It was nice hearing more about sea turtles and all that the staff does to help rehabilitate them. I really liked being able to read about each “resident’s” story.
Penelope Moreno — Google review
What an amazing place to check out, learn and donate! We had zero expectations going in and were enamored by the knowledge staff, the mission and the resident stories. They offer donation packages and are working to build the worlds largest, indoor sea turtle hospital that is due to be open early 2024. Sea Turtle Inc is a MUST when visiting SPI!
Elizabeth Peatee — Google review
The most incredible place on South Padre Island! And that's saying a lot, because the island is amazing!
This organization is changing the world for sea turtles and marine life conservation. Literally. The information posted in the facility and on the website taught me so much I would not have known otherwise - and we got to get up close with sea turtles!
Every single staff member is courteous and great at what they do. Can't recommend Sea Turtle Inc enough!
Adelle Therrell — Google review
Good to learn about Sea Turtles.
I enjoyed the various presentations. Can't wait until the new facility is finished. I recommend for any age.
Travelsalot1988 — Google review
This place was awesome! There is a ton of information about how to be involved in rescuing and rehabbing sea turtles and protecting and restoring our oceans. Overall, it's a great place to take the whole family to see and learn all about sea turtles and other ocean critters. We will definitely visit again.
Robert Blake — Google review
This center is for the rehabilitation of hurt sea turtles. The whole family enjoyed this place. They were closing early due to the weather so we were not able to participate in the Turtle Talks. The facility explains about each turtle in rehabilitation and how they have progressed during their care at the facility. The staff is very knowledgeable and caring. They have a wonderful gift shop and the part, if not all of the proceeds from your purchase goes back to the facility.
This is a great trip for the family and to let kids see all sizes of turtles.
H. FergMT — Google review
This is a rescue place for sea turtles and their facility is very welcoming and not to mention a benefit for these wonderful sea creatures. They have an indoor museum and outdoor patio where you can view the rescued turtles. The outdoors is shaded and very well ventilated.
Damaris Arias — Google review
This is a wonderful organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured and/or sick sea turtles. I visit here every time I come to SPI. The turtles are very well cared for. They have permanent residents and turtles that are undergoing care that will be released back into the ocean. There are educational displays and information on all the turtles. This is a must see place to visit.
Carina Jahn — Google review
I took my granddaughters and we all 3 had a good time. We went for their informational talk in the amphitheater and that was informative and very interesting. The kids even enjoyed it. Then we saw all the sea turtles. I will return. They do so much great work here!
Kelly McTiernan — Google review
This was absolutely one of my favorite places. I will absolutely go again each time I visit. Lots of information about the local sea turtles and what they do. A must stop if visiting SPI. Great volunteers! And the permanent residents are beautiful!
Michelle Behne — Google review
What a nice place to visit. Staying on South Padre Island you hear so much about "save the turtles" but to actually see them up close was so cool. What Sea Turtle Inc is doing for these beautiful animals is amazing. Definitely stop by to see what they are all about. If you can, make a donation to keep their great work going.
Faith Leon — Google review
We had a fabulous time here! There are lots or adorable turtles to see at different ages, and each turtle has an equally heartwarming and unique story. The employees/volunteers are very knowledgeable and were happy to share turtle information with us. We would definitely come back and check out this place again! I wish we had asked her name, but there was a woman who talked to us and had tons of info about Sea Turtle Inc. We were there on Saturday June 4, around 2pm. She was so great we loved talking to her! Our entire group of 7 highly recommends everyone check our Sea Turtle Inc and donate generously as well!
Emily Paul — Google review
I absolutely love what has been done with this center! I remember when it was just a canopy with tubs of rehabilitated turtles accepting donations in a box off the side of the road.
This center truly serves its purpose of teaching and bringing attention to their cause. I would recommend a visit for any nature lover!
Lisa Valera — Google review
A very fun and nice experience. The staff was friendly kind and helpful. They did great with my children and were even social with my husband and myself. We went on a rainy day and were a little worried about the partially indoors part, but it is designed perfectly and we did not get wet at all. There are a few places that lacked complete cover like by the restrooms but even there you are primarily covered
Amber Wood — Google review
I absolutely loved my experience here. The staff was so knowledgeable and informative. The work they do is amazing and I admire them all! You’ll definitely learn a lot and enjoy your time! Also if you visit during the summer you could possibly get to see baby sea turtles make their way to the sea, as they do public releases here!
Allie Hudson — Google review
Doesn't take long to go through and definitely a fun way to spend some time on the island away from the Beach. The turtles are amazing and the workers are so delightful. It's $10 to go through which is inexpensive compared to other things you could do.
Danielle Reams — Google review
Amazing place that is doing great work to help injured and sick Sea turtles. One of the most informative places we have stopped at on our southern vacation.
Ken P. — Google review
Beautiful place to visit. You learn a lot about sea turtles.
There are some tanks for the turtles that live there and a hospital, where they take care of them and bring them back to the ocean.
We were so glad to know they are expanding!
Definitely recommended!
Maria Gabriela Rivera — Google review
I’ve been here three times and each time I’ve had the pleasure of learning something new. Love the energy of the team working here. You can tell they care about the mission and vision of this facility. I’m definitely excited to see the completion of their new construction project. Great afternoon activity for the family, especially those with younger children.
Y H — Google review
The volunteer guide in the tent hospital was super informative and engaging. You could tell she was passionate about educating the public re turtle rescue, illness and types of treatment. The other staff were friendly and prepared to answer questions.
The entry fee was a bit high, but worth it in the end. Military discount is offered which was kind of them.
Great cold weather activity when visiting.
Parker Kelley — Google review
This was an awesome experience. We were able to learn all about sea turtles and how this facility nurtures them back to health and releases them back into the ocean. They have a dedicated team who enjoys what they do, and their passion is very well noted.
Lorenzo R. C — Google review
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4.5
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6617 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA
The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center is a non-profit organization that offers visitors an opportunity to experience nature at its finest. The center provides a beachfront nature area with a birding boardwalk, observation tower, and interactive exhibit room perfect for observing hundreds of bird species. It is a top point of interest on South Padre Island for nature enthusiasts due to its unique bird life and natural wildlife.
Do you like reptiles?? If you do, you’re gonna love this place! There’s three floors all filled with different wildlife and experiences. Outside, you have the ‘gators and other wildlife like birds and turtles and such. I believe, in total, there’s like a mile or more to explore outside. Very beautiful and very informative. The gator talks are amazing so please make an effort to show up for one of those AND the extra $10 (per person) is totally worth paying to hold an alligator and snake!!!
whoboatcaptain — Google review
Wonderful experience with very friendly staff. The animal enclosures were all well maintained and clean. This is a great opportunity to stop and learn about local wildlife. Feed the gators and tortoise, so fun! The facility also has a phenomenal nature walk (beverages both alcoholic and non alcoholic available for the outdoor walk).
Chris J. — Google review
Amazing place to see dozens of species of birds and other wildlife. $10 entry fee gets you limitless access to the boardwalks and bird-blinds to take pictures or just spectate. See alligators, tortoise and other creatures as well as the birds in this wonderful place.
Micah Burke — Google review
Beautiful birds, huge alligator and a lot of smaller gators to be seen on their walkways. And you can see windsurfers, sailboats out on the bay. They have some big tortoises here also that you feed. If you decide to go take the time to see everything as there is a lot to see and enjoy.
Terry Hansen — Google review
This is a lovely establishment for nature lovers!
Although it can get a bit pricey fairly quickly, if the money goes back to improving the property then I think most would agree it’s worth it.
I would recommend going early in the morning before the scorching sun makes an appearance. The birds and animals are much like us and seek shade when it’s too hot out, so plan accordingly.
Lisa Valera — Google review
It wasn't worth the walk down the long paths in the heat with 2 kids to not really see anything special.Not that they can control the birds. It's not that expensive so that was nice. And we had fun feeding the tortoise and Gators. The staff was nice . And they had a free wheel chair for my aunt to use. One bag of gator food is plenty just FYI. Definitely feed the tortoise.
Lisa Boyett — Google review
Excellent place. Learned so much today about snakes. The staff is very knowledgeable and passionate. The boardwalk is a gem for birders and photography.
Hector Casanova — Google review
Amazing place to visit with kids. $10 for adults and kids under 4 are free so that’s a huge bonus. Plus there’s so much to see from large snakes, gators, and of course birds. We will go back!
Kathleen Parisien — Google review
Lovely place. Freshwater, saltwater, & brackish habits in the boardwalks bring a variety of birds and wildlife you can see up close. Added a few species to my birding life list. And I bought a cool t shirt.
Erick Nielsen — Google review
Beautiful! Long walk to see not much but the scenery is nice. Only saw a few birds, crabs, and lots of fish. Feeding the alligators and turtles was fun. Had to wait for the feeding to even see Big Padre but it was ridiculously hot so I don’t blame him for staying underwater. Lots of stuff to see inside too.
Ashley Huffman — Google review
We had a great experience here today! The man giving the talk about alligators was informative and very sweet. Lots of interesting facts and stories about gators. We fed both the alligators and the tortoises. There also are options for holding snakes and alligators, but we didn't do that.
Kiki kiki — Google review
Awesome views and well cared for animals! Very clean facility. Probably our favorite stop so far on the island. Would recommend checking out for families or even just adults.
Maria Kryuchkova — Google review
Not a whole lot to see. Fun place though. Tortoises, butterfly, birds, and gators. 10$ entry unless you are a certain age. 8$ for 65+. $3.00 to feed either. 10$ adventure package where you can hold a baby gator and non-venomous snake. Good place to bring family. There is also a nice gift shop.
Nadia Nabulsi — Google review
Amazing collection of wild birds and alligators. We took a 10am guided walk and it made all the difference to have someone point out various birds and provide binoculars to see the details of each one.
Mark Garvey — Google review
This was one of those things that surprised us. We figured that it would take us an hour at most to do this, but it turned out that we enjoyed it so much that we ended up walking around the exhibits and outdoor area for over 3 hours. We got the gator and turtle feed but found that the gators really weren't interested that much in it. The turtles would come "running" when you showed them the feed. They also offer guided birding tours but they sell out fairly quickly.
dWiGhT Mulcahy — Google review
Greatly enjoyed walking the boardwalk and seeing all the birds, fish, alligator and critters. Would love to come back in the spring and see the butterflies 🦋.
Shanna Barron — Google review
Had an amazing time here. The whole family loved it. Way bigger than I thought, and it looks like they might be expanding. Saw various different birds, but it was more than that. We also saw alligators, turtles, lizards, and fish. Each of the family members also had a chance to feed some turtles and tortoises. The staff was very friendly and helpful.
Logan Kue — Google review
I was blown away by the view from the 3rd story of the observation area as well as the sheer amount of boardwalk! It kept going & going, and there were places to sit in the shade while viewing a marvelous assortment of birds I'd never seen before. I also enjoyed seeing the resued aligators.
Uprooting Conformity — Google review
It's a fun place to visit. You can probably see more birds during the springtime. They had gators, some tortoises, a couple of snakes. You can feed the gators and the tortoises. They also had feeding time with the two bigger gators, had staff doing a walk through catching fish for the kids to see. They had a part of the building where you can go to the third story and see a lot of the scenery. It was a nice place, I would visit again.
ManE Grand — Google review
4.8
(2170)
•
4.5
(1426)
6801 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA
This "little" museum isn't as little as you think it is. It would take someone at least a full week to see everything that this place holds. I visited 1 time and will return a few more times to see the rest. There is also a little movie theater inside that shows a 30 minute movie of Iwo Jima in WWII. If you're a history buff, then this is the place to get your WWII fix. I appreciate the older gentleman working there because he cares truly about keeping and preserving the memories of this dreadful war. The last of the soldiers are dying out but their memories won't be forgotten. God Bless this place and the people who work here to keep the story alive.
Gerit Menard — Google review
A great stop for a dose of local and national history. The grounds are very well kept and everything is in walking distance. There are a few places to sit and take in the scenery and honor this place holds.
The staff are so very kind and knowledgeable and willing to share lots of history or let you read on your own if you prefer.
TX Dessert Please — Google review
Unique collection packed into this free museum. Lots of personal artifacts from individuals who served in a variety of US war campaigns and the outdoor tank and artillery display was cool too. The Iwo Jima memorial statue was very impressive!
Rebecca Harowitz — Google review
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve lived here my whole life and this is the first time I stop by. It was very touching. Please don’t do what I did. Just swing by. There’s also a little museum and gift shop. Wonderful people running it.
Abby Moody-Marin — Google review
Enjoyed the content just wish they had a better building to show there wonderful displays. And thank you to the wonderful volunteers, enjoyed the content and gift store.
Tami Watson — Google review
This Monument and museum are must sees for anyone with an interest in the history of the war in the Pacific. It was a surprise to know that this monument was the casting for the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington and was donated by the artist.
Rob Farrow — Google review
Great spot to see and learn about some of the history of the Marines!!
Free entry and great museum and video! Did not know this statue was here before the one in D.C. the artist built this here, and it was disassembled and sent to Washington to cast the bronze one that is there now. Worth the visit to teach yourself and your family a lesson in what true sacrifice looks like. Thanks to all our veterans for your service!!!
J W — Google review
The history of WWII up close & within touch. The 32 minute documentary of Iwo Jima keeps you mesmerized and helps you realize the importance of this battle in the south pacific. The actual statue is majestic & beautiful and makes you feel how important our flag is to our freedom. God Bless and Enjoy this little nook of history in Harlingen Tx.
Travis L McIntire — Google review
Amazing!!! A must visit when in the area. Not only do you see the original casting of the flag raising, but the historic museum. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and are willing to talk with you about the history. Gift shop available.
J - Diver Below — Google review
Plaster replica of the original. Nice park with good explanation material situated around. Gift shop is closed on Sunday. Talks about all of the sacrifices of the Marines over time and especially at Iwo Jima. Much historic value in understanding the significance of this island of rock as it was actually the first part of Japan- Tokyo prefecture- that the US attempted to take. The famous photo of the flag raising was actually the second raising, primarily for photo ops. 3 of the 6 men died before the fighting was over.
James — Google review
This place is awesome small but well worth visiting you take a look back in time with lots of photos articles the weapons used and much more it's free and open to the public best of all is the amazing statue just outside take a stroll and enjoy the view USA 😎🤘🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Casualwear chain featuring trendy fashions for men, women & children, plus home-decor items.
Es un excelente lugar para comprar ropa ,calzado, joyería y muchos artículos de diferentes estilos, esto debido a qué hay muchas tiendas de marcas reconocidas & los precios son bastante decentes en mi opinión, las vías de comunicación algunas de ellas están techadas lo cual se agradece en tiempo de calor.
Es la 1era vez que asisto y aunque muchos ya lo saben, es un buen lugar para ir a despejarte con amigos, familia comprando o viendo lo que tienen las tiendas.
Aunque no ingrese a todas las tiendas, en las que entre el personal fue muy buena onda y atento.
(Translated by Google)
It is an excellent place to buy clothes, shoes, jewelry and many items of different styles, this is due to the fact that there are many stores of recognized brands & the prices are quite decent in my opinion, the communication routes, some of them are covered, which is thanks in hot weather.
It's the first time I've attended and although many already know it, it's a good place to go to relax with friends, family, shopping or seeing what the stores have.
Although I do not enter all the stores, in which the staff was very cool and attentive.
FERNANDO AZUA — Google review
I went to the Guess store and it was a great store ... prices are good products as well. C N O Clean Neat and Organized!
Bobby Tamez — Google review
This place have everything so big and alot of stores and good prices I go here like ever 2 to 3 weeks just to shop and walk around and they also have food stands there and chocolate stores the price are high but it's chocolate lol and it's good
Fefe — Google review
Its ok. Many empty stores. Prices can be good..some not. You think word Outlet and hope its cheaper.. NOT. Be ready to sweat. Its outdoor halls.
jose — Google review
I loved the outdoor clean walkways! Look up your stores on the directories. Enjoy!
Hilda Solis — Google review
Overall was a pretty funny experience. The only downside to it I would have to say is that several of the stores Repeat. And as large as it looks it's actually rather small. I Walked the whole thing several times. But I suppose if you're a Professional shopper it's a full day of enjoyment. One thing to Note is the prices Aren't all that discounted. Sometimes some of the Stores have steep discounts or sales but for the most part. It looks like they use the sales to attract to the other stores that are little overpriced. To be honest if you wanted to make a full day out of shopping or just walking around wanted to experience something huge there is a flea market or swapmeet whatever you want to call it not too far from there. I think it's closr to Sanjuan/mcallen if I'm not mistaken pretty big. lots of live bands playing all the time that was a pretty funny experience I would Say over this one.
A C — Google review
Tiendas de diferentes marcas, ropa, zapatos, joyas, perfumes, snacks, área de comida. Al igual cafeteria para disfrutar de un café frío con esta calor o uno caliente en temporada de frío. Aveces no hay tanta variedad pero si puedes encontrar cosas con descuento. Lo malo es que de tanta gente que llega en temporadas altas hay demasiada basura en los contenedores y la gente la tira hasta en el suelo, cosa que parece un basurero.
(Translated by Google)
Stores of different brands, clothing, shoes, jewelry, perfumes, snacks, food court. Like a cafeteria to enjoy a cold coffee in this heat or a hot one in the cold season. Sometimes there isn't that much variety, but you can find things at a discount. The bad thing is that from so many people who arrive in high season there is too much garbage in the containers and people even throw it on the ground, which looks like a garbage can.
Elisa G — Google review
Great place to shop many well known brands outlets stores. Streets partly provide sun shade or shield for rain. We spent five hours and had lunch at the central food court
Poul Dürr Pedersen — Google review
The stores are nice, if you’re a person who doesn’t tolerate hot weather then you should be careful about this place considering that is an open space.
You have a lot of brands and a lot of stores, so please take your time so you can check and compare prices, try the clothes and enjoy the view.
They do have sales and good discounts, just read the conditions.
Be aware that you will feel thirsty, but don’t worry, you can find spots with good snacks, they sell ice cream, corns, Cheetos, etc.
Any BR — Google review
It is a place with a lot of factory stores that you can take advantage of. There are plenty of parking spots and there are also food restaurants. You will definitely need the whole day to visit all the stores, and definitely, there is always something for anybody. Prices are good enough, too.
Romeo Garza — Google review
Stopped at the mall to purchase Samsonite travel bags. Fred provided great service and insight on the different travel bags. Also shopped at Coach for a purse. Staff was very attentive and willing to help.
Alberto Perez — Google review
Lots of shopping options! Everything from Coach purses to Old Navy to Ralph Lauren to Nike to Bath and Body Works back over to Tommy Hilfiger to Michael Kor purses.
Really great prices. Tons of discounts going on this time year!
It was very busy, but the layout of this outlet is fantastic!
The best part? THERE WAS ENOUGH STAFF IN EVERY STORE I WENT IN, IT DIDN'T FEEL BUSY, NOR DID I WAIT IN LONG LINES TO CHECKOUT!
I WILL DEFINITELY BE GOING BACK NEXT WEEK FOR A FEW MORE LAST MINUTE GIFTS 🎁 ☺️
Carrie Kane — Google review
So many different places to shop Bath and body works have such nice &very helpful employees working there,. Wide variety of smell goods
Lana Mcintosh — Google review
It's a nice place to walk around but for some reason it feels smaller than before, the shops are ok and the food is alright.
Quinta Mazatlan is a historic estate located in the Rio Grande Valley, surrounded by lush tropical gardens boasting over 250 bird species. The estate features stunning Spanish-revival architecture and offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching as well as providing a habitat for various insects and reptiles. The gift shop has an array of nice items, and the staff is friendly. Visitors can enjoy displays showcasing water and native plants.
Quinta Mazatlan is a beautiful green oasis in the Rio Grande Valley. It is an excellent place for birdwatching and provides great habitat for insects and reptiles as well.
Michael Lidell — Google review
The home is lovely and has a nice gift shop in it. Be sure to read the history of the front doors to the home. In my opinion the grounds are the best part. Grab a map and try to find all the bronze sculptures along the paths. This park has some areas for children to play and explore. Admission is only $3 per person with free parking.
Britt D. — Google review
Came here for the first time and was pleasantly surprised! It is so peaceful! The trails are nice and you see so many birds. Wonderful place for events too and if you are a local they have yoga classes! I highly recommend.
Andrea K — Google review
Beautiful place. Very interesting. Spent 3 hrs here on a good cloudy fresh day.the gift shop has some nice items. Staff is very nice. Will definitely go back.
J E — Google review
I brought some friends from out of town here and we really enjoyed our visit! I can't wait to return with my family! I was floored when I was able to see a Green Jay for the first time in my life! A for real top 10 moment for me here in the Valley.
Bobbi Anania — Google review
Gorgeous home and grounds! Plan to spend 2-3 hours here. Bring $ for the gift shop - nice things, good prices. Really nice staff!
Katie Riedinger — Google review
We had a business / social dinner. Group of over 150 people. Food was very good. Beautiful setting and ambience. The weather was good too and hence overall great experience.
Was a great place to be in Mc Allen.
Gibu Mathew — Google review
Awesome little walk and very nice displays. Set up for Valentine’s Day, so very cute. Gorgeous buildings. Nice displays about water and native plants.
Georgia L. Harris — Google review
Cool mansion. Great place to have a wedding or a party. Trails could be better. But the place was built in a thicket, so it is what it is. Great bird watching. Everything was clean. Discovery Center would be great for kids.
Nicholas Nocek — Google review
An absolutely beautiful place to visit. Family friendly and educational.
You see an abundant variety of native animals and plants of Texas.
I highly recommend visiting here if you are visiting this area of Texas.
Nikki bunnyprime7 — Google review
Really nice place to spend the afternoon learning about history and nature. This place offers lots of entertainment for everyone. The walking trails are very nice and the inside of the house is beautiful. Entry fee is affordable and items at gift shop are not too expensive
Judith Pavon — Google review
We loved this place. Beautiful home with lots to see inside AND outside. They had a huge event for Halloween with different setups all over the property my son loved it. The scenery is beautiful & there’s lots of wildlife around. It’s an excellent place to take young kids & give them a science lesson outdoors.
Cori Muse — Google review
The place is beautiful, but unfortunately, the house is close to private event on rainy day , but it is welcome to recycle event, entry costs $3 on general
JC RAM — Google review
The place speaks for itself, its history, the first owners, its evolution and even its current conservation remains impressive, so many years and characters that circulated on its paths marking its incomparable feet, all the nature that is a source of life, the Most of us arrived at the place with good expectations and we left with a great desire to return again and again. So many animals, water, trees nearby and within our reach we must appreciate because it continues to represent the value it had from its first day.
Juan Martínez — Google review
Awesome bird watching, beautiful walking paths, great picnic areas, clean air conditioned bathrooms, pretty historical house. Lots of cool wildlife. Thought no fault of theirs, the experience was dampened by the hordes of mosquitos. It we very unpleasant, and we left early because we couldn't handle the biting bugs. I don't know if there is a better time of year to visit (we went first week of May) but it was so hard to enjoy ourselves and we left covered in red welts.
Padre Island National Seashore is a stunning, pristine stretch of barrier island that lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Laguna Madre in Texas. It is home to a large variety of wildlife, including rare raptors, and is a popular spot for camping and fishing.
The North Beach had well packed sand and was very easy to drive on. There are plenty of camping spots available along the beach in January. #vanlife friendly. Free. Watch out for the coyotes that roam the beach at night and make sure you do not leave your pets outside unattended.
R. Fitz — Google review
Nice quiet location. Clean beach. The gift shop is small but there was a nice selection of postcards and magnets. The people working in the shop were extremely friendly and had helpful information for us. The seagulls on the beach appeared to be more cautious around people than at other local locations. The young man in the booth at the entrance was always very personable! Nice group of employees overall.
Frank Ragsdale — Google review
What a good time here! Prior military gets free admission! You don’t have to have four-wheel-drive for the first part of the park. It has a place to park where you can go and pedestrian the Beach. Keep on going and you’ll find an access road to the beach were four-wheel-drive. Vehicles with high clearance are recommended. It really depends on the time of the year. Sometimes you’ll go down there and it’s super loose sand and I would say yeah you better have a four-wheel-drive but other times of the year it’s hard packed and you could take a Toyota Tercel down that beach. The beach goes for about 60 miles very private very remote and relaxing.
Tristan — Google review
Favorite spot on our Texas coast. Far and away our best beach in my opinion. 66 miles of beach so I’ll undoubtedly always find a moderately private spot to set up camp for the day. Wouldn’t say it has white sand but definitely not brown, and the water can be fairly clear. Great spot for fishing and just having a chill day with the family.
Garrett Harper — Google review
Beautiful and isolated just what I like! We loved this trip and plan to camp here at some point. The water was very clear and looked blue in the distance which is something I'm not used to here in Texas lol. There weren't many whole shells that we found but we were only here for a day trip. A lot of debris washed up from storms and trash from bad campers. Be sure to bring good shoes and a lot of water!
Michelle — Google review
We love to come here and walk the beach. This time the sand was firm so we drove a few miles south, parked, and then walked 10 miles on the beach. What a great experience. Very quiet for an early November Saturday.
Nice picnic area by the windsurfing.
Friendly staff in the visitor center.
One surprise was solid-identification twice for a Common Black Hawk which is supposedly extremely rare in this area.
Phil R — Google review
Best place to disconnect and isolate, with 50 plus miles of beach to drive on ; 4x4 with clearance only after a few miles. Dark sky at night with no moon if you camp. Don't underestimate how much water you might need in the summer, especially if drinking adult Bev's. Good vibes stay safe
Beto — Google review
One of the most peaceful beaches I've been too, plenty of space to camp.
They have the beach patrol that come and drive by ever so often to check on the marine life such as turtles.
At night when the moon goes down there's nothing but stars in the sky, it's so clear you can see the ISS pass by and shooting stars.
You might have visitors (coyotes) if you stay over night and cook as long as your in a tent, or camper you'll be fine.
It's nature so if your not used to it, don't go but it's beautiful, peaceful, quiet and perfect for enjoying it with family and friends.
No service, just sand, wind and waves. 🤙🏾
Carla Megan Gonzalez — Google review
We tent camped on the beach about 6 miles down or so. The main welcome center has showers and bathrooms that stay open 24/7 which was clutch when we had to break camp late evening after some high winds cleared us all out. No reception much past entrance so be prepared. Great views, saw few deer near entrance sign so be on lookout. Highly recommend camping here if you can. Great views of the stars at night.
Amy — Google review
I'm a truck driver dropped my trailer at the visiting center and camped on the beach here had the best time its very clean. We drove 3 or 4 miles down the beach backed up to the sand. You can drive down 40 miles but it's to sandy for a semi a car can probably make it.
Dave Smith — Google review
A beautiful spot. Busy on a Saturday morning but we were able to find an empty area to sit. Spent the whole day there, beautiful view. Lovely water.
Did see lots of Blue Buttons and Man-o-wars, but no one got stung.
No one left any trash behind during our visit so that's always nice to see. Everyone around us was friendly and no one was blasting loud music, wonderful experience.
The showers in the visitor center were closed but there are some in the parking lot too so no issues
$10 to get in unless you have the year pass or free for military.
Check their schedule too, sometimes you can come watch a turtle hatchling release
Brittany — Google review
So glad we visited! There is tons of shaded seating areas near the visitors center and a water bottle refill station inside. The beach was great, the sand is soft fine and soft. We saw one Portuguese Man of War that had washed onto shore, so watch out for those! But there is a sting treatment kit in the visitors center if anything happens
Brock Hardcastle — Google review
Don't let the negative comments discourage you from coming to this place. The ones that are complaining about this place, are the ones not prepared to take on nature and not doing their part and helping clean up the beach and/or cleaning after themselves. The ones crying about the conditions of this beach are softer than the sand itself. Boom roasted.
If come prepared you will enjoy your time here. Tread lightly and help preserve the beach.
Sebastian Alvarez — Google review
It's beautiful here. You can drive on the beach and find your own perfect spot, away from other people. We made it all the way up to Big Shell, and when we were driving back, we saw a baby fawn drowning in the water. We brought it back to the park rangers after we looked for mom and didn't see signs of her anywhere. Since the rescue (separate from the park) didn't want the fawn, they supposedly drove it back to where we saved it from. That was a bummer to learn, but everyone will justify what they believe, and it will depend mostly on how much you value the life of an animal. So if you find an animal in distress, unless it's a sea turtle, I'm not sure that the park can or will help you.
We found some pretty cool shells, and there was some flagged dead stuff along the way. Like a small shark.
I love that this is protected land it's not very common to see that anymore. But with that being said, be careful how far you go and what you're driving, because if you get stuck, there is no one around to help you out, and there is no cell phone tower so no reception! Totally worth the drive.
Toula F — Google review
Spectacular, rugged, well worth the visit. Four wheel drive is best for beach driving. Bay side accessible by all vehicles.
Great for kite surfing and water sports. Bathrooms and cold water showers available. Safe dry camping in two campgrounds. Can accommodate large rigs and motorhomes in fairly close quarters. Free camping on the beach. Motorhomes not recommended on the beach.
Pets must be on a leash to stay safe from coyotes and snakes.
Timothy Paynter — Google review
Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi is a pristine coastal haven. With miles of untouched beaches, it's a haven for nature enthusiasts. Experience the tranquility of the dunes, diverse wildlife, and serene waters. For those seeking a true escape into natural beauty, Padre Island National Seashore is a must-visit destination in Corpus Christi.
Mr.S Travel Quest — Google review
Spent a Sunday afternoon driving only 20 of the 60 miles. Went on a beautiful day at low tide so driving was not an issue. At mile 20 we stopped and just enjoyed the peaceful solitude. Our second national seashore and loved it as did our pups and will be back!
N and C Farrell — Google review
Had an amazing time camping with my dog on the beach. There is a little bit of rain and wind but everything was fine until the tide started coming in pretty good 😂 You definitely want to make sure you keep an eye on the water. Also there is a Facebook page dedicated to helping people get unstuck- "361 off-road rescue" if you end up getting stuck in the mud somebody will come and rescue you. No charge these people live for the experience. 😁😁😁 So take a chance and get out on the sand, there's nothing like it.
will maxey — Google review
What a BEAUTIFUL (and free) place to camp for a while. Beach is accessable to larger rigs for a few miles. Oh. Not free. A good wash and wax of your vehicle will be needed.
Bob Harker — Google review
It is absolutely beautiful there!
We did camping on the beach and it is such an unforgettable memory.
It's so nice to fall asleep with the sound of waves and wake up, and the first thing you see is the ocean spreading in front of you.
I. Hiromi — Google review
We've had the opportunity to do this multiple times. If you are inclined to boondock in your RV, you must do this. You'll be overwhelmed by your surroundings, and take away memories that will last a lifetime.
Truly epic.
The Malaquite Beach Pavilion is a great place to camp and spend your vacation near the water. The site features well-maintained bathhouses, restrooms, and clean white sand beaches with crystal clear waters.
Beautiful beach. Water was clear and the beach was free of seaweed etc.
Ended up collecting a full bag of trash left behind from visitors, unfortunately… Keep in mind to “take back more than you bring”…
Anna Gusan — Google review
Beautiful beach. It was a bit chilly for swimming in March, but great for sand castles! And far enough away that most cell service was gone so it was a wonderful chance to totally disconnect for a while.
Justin Clerc — Google review
Beautiful beach!!! This beach has private parking including disability areas and ramps, very clean restrooms, and private showers as well! Perfect for a relaxing day at the beach. Also note that the entrance fee was free for us because we got there a little after 6pm which was even a better trip! The fee is not as hefty as South Padre Island who no longer has private showers!!!
Janet Pescador — Google review
Rip tides kept us from camping on the shore but the Malaquite Beach tent camping is the next best thing! Our family has been visiting this shore line for almost 30 years now and we were a bit disappointed but in some ways it was even better. Self check in was a breeze and the camp coordinator (Blaze) was very kind and accommodating. The restrooms/showers are a welcomed break from the sand and are promptly cleaned every morning. We all had a wonderful time and will definitely be back again. Many thanks to all the Padre Island National Seashore staff and employees. They go above and beyond to keep everyone safe while still providing a quality experience for us all. 🙏🙏🙏
Jacob Cabrera — Google review
Very enjoyable place. Clean, accesible, we had a blast
LeTTy Who — Google review
Amazing beach... a perfect spot for a nice walk, meditate, relax or just enjoy nature around. Please remember to take the trash with you and even take other's if you see it!
Sally Molina — Google review
Disgusting beach. Trash everywhere on the shore. It was like i was walking on a 3rd world countries beach. Broken glass everywhere. I picked up 15 straws in 200 yards of walking. Lets not forget the dog poop everywhere. People here have 0 respect for their own beaches.
Chaa Braa — Google review
Great, clean beach... no crowds.
Mark Hotle — Google review
Natural area. Never know what can wash up on the beach.
Mrs. G — Google review
Nice clean beach (for the Texas Gulf Coast), tar was minimal. Doesn't have the crowds found closer to Corpus Christi. However, we found no facilities at all, not even trash cans.
Christopher Todd — Google review
Quite a quiet place. The water is clean and safe for children. There aren't any insects either. We love going here as a family.
Mrs. Goldenstone — Google review
Beautiful beach, you can walk for miles. Clean and lots of parking. There is a dog wash/ pet washing station and a sky observation station.
Stephanie Barron — Google review
The place is good and clean, travelled when the water was bit cold so felt the beach bit empty and laid back. Won't says it's family friendly as did not see and facilities nearby. Visit this if you want raw nature
Ayush singhaniya — Google review
Pros
Quiet place.
You don't have those obnoxious cars with loud music.
Cons
No beverage near to drink, the sand has lots of natural wood trash that the Gulf push out.
Arias V — Google review
It's a really nice clean beach area. Not overcrowded every time I've been there, and we'll worth the drive to get there!
Lee Laizure — Google review
The picnic tables placed apart from each other were a nice addition. We enjoyed being able to sit and not drag our chairs and blankets down with us. The beach was clean and water just the right temp.
Port Aransas Beach is a beautiful, sandy beach located in Corpus Christi. It is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and other recreational activities with locals and tourists alike. The beach is also convenient as several of the local resorts are on the beach.
Drove all along the beach and also camped here. It was very crowded on the weekend but not too bad during the week. They were getting ready for Sandfest while we were there. This was very cool to see and watch being built.
Michelle — Google review
Beautiful beach. Parking at the pier was free which made it a great beach to visit for watching the sunrise and sunset. Lots of shells. Hesitated to swim as there were lots of jellyfish washed up on the beach, but still fun to walk along.
Diana — Google review
We loved camping on Port Aransas Beach! We saw tons of wildlife from birds, to sea stars, to a full sand dollar. The sand was firm and we felt very safe in our camper overnight. We will definitely be back!
Follow our family’s full time travel journey through state and national parks on Instagram: @arndts.arent.staying.put
Arndts Aren?t Staying Put — Google review
Nice large beach areas.
The city puts a lot of work into maintaining them.
Don't know who has the contract for the port-a-potties,,,, but the city needs to find someone else to manage them, they are nasty and broken down.
Night life on the weekends is busy.
You will need to get a parking pass to park or camp on the beach. $12 for a year pass.
True Texan — Google review
Beautiful and impressive art in the sand!! Nice environment, food, and different and beautiful articles to buy. Definitely I will return next year!!!
Sandra Rodriguez — Google review
A great place to camp for free walk your dog ride your bike You need a $12 annual pass
Neil Harrietha — Google review
Incredible beach. The day we came there was a rainbow 🌈 giving us all this incredible photo opportunity. The beach is clean. The people are friendly. I live 2 hours north (Surfside Beach) I still enjoy visiting Port A beaches ⛱️
Mel S — Google review
Port A is our “staycation” to go from Rockport! We love driving for the day, or staying in one of the condos, get in the golf cart visiting the shops and restaurants and hanging out at the beach for a while!
Neli Spurrell — Google review
It was my first time here, and I must say I was definitely impressed. It was beautiful, clean, and so laid back. Grant it was during the week, but it was perfect. The water was actually clear, so an extra plus. So peaceful. I will be back soon
LeTTy Who — Google review
I Love Port A Beaches! The soft sand and the beautiful water. The sound of the waves and the breeze along with the sound of the seagulls. I love that you can get a beach pass for $12.00 a year and drive on the beach and park or camp. The beach and the town is full of friendly locals and tourists
There are always varies events going on either on the beach or in town. A total Gem.
Jodie Nanni — Google review
Beautiful Beach View! Very clean sands to sit and relax watching the waves 🌊
Enedith Hernandez — Google review
Parked our RV for two nights. View and the sound are wonderful to wake up to. Was pretty windy but not more than we could handle. Would have stayed for a third day but we were running low on water. We'll definitely be back!!
Travis Trussell — Google review
We had the best weekend in there. In the evenings we just walked around which felt romantic with an additional bonus i.e., sunset 🌇. After that, we just grabbed some drinks and snacks at a nearby gas station and enjoyed the night with some music and dancing at the beach.
A trip with a couple is good too but would recommend it with the group or a double date would work as well. It would be great if you guys carry portable chairs to enjoy the sunrise or sunset by sitting there.
I noticed many families coming there with kids digging a hole in the sand, putting on some bonfires and having fun with food, drinks and music.
People who like fishing will like the place more. I don’t know much about fishing but saw a lot of fishermen there.
The down part is the restrooms. They are not clean, they stink. I literally hold my breath till I used it.
Best place to visit with kids or in groups or for couples or for fishing.
Monika Patlolla — Google review
Very clean beach with chair, umbrella, and cabana rentals available. The beach is easy to navigate with markers on the sand bar. The sand is pretty compacted so it's easy to walk on. That sun 🌞 is fierce so don't forget the sun screen, and don't for get to reapply every 2 hours. Renting an umbrella or cabana for shelter is a wise decision. There is a restaurant right on the beach approximately halfway through that you can access from the beach ⛱️
Stay vigilant while driving on the beach as there are lots of golf carts and children. You will need to purchase a permit if this is your first time. Permits are available at all the rental stands for chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas. They are only $12 and they are good for one year.
Zach Smith — Google review
I recently had a wonderful time at Port Aransas Beach, and I'm delighted to share a positive review. One of the standout features of this beach is its very accessible parking system. With the purchase of a $12 season pass, parking becomes a breeze. It's convenient and ensures that visitors can easily find a spot without any hassle, allowing more time to enjoy the beach.
The cleanliness of Port Aransas Beach was impressive. The beach was well-maintained, with clear pathways and clean sand. The efforts taken to keep the beach pristine were evident, making it a pleasure to walk along the shore and relax on the sand.
Safety is a top priority at Port Aransas Beach, thanks to the presence of lifeguards. Their watchful eyes and quick response capabilities provide peace of mind for beachgoers. Families and individuals can enjoy the water activities knowing that there are trained professionals available to ensure their safety.
Additionally, the availability of clean and well-maintained bathrooms is a significant advantage. It's always reassuring to have access to clean facilities when spending time at the beach. The convenience of nearby restrooms adds to the overall comfort and enjoyment of the beach experience.
Overall, Port Aransas Beach offers an exceptional experience with its accessible parking system, clean beaches, presence of lifeguards, and well-maintained bathrooms. Whether you're seeking relaxation or fun in the sun, this beach provides everything you need for a memorable beach outing.
Matthew Kennedy — Google review
This beach is very nice and very nice town on mustang I came
Down here from Louisiana for vacation and it was very nice place. The reason why I put 4 stars is because the water in the front by the beach is brown and the back of the gulf is blue and stuff at the town at the supermarket is expensive Ik is a island and a different state with high prices. Also there Golf carts to drive around the city and no you can’t not drive it on a busy highway.
Ethaniel Richard — Google review
4.7
(803)
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4.5
(2111)
Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
20
King Ranch Visitor Center
Visitor center
The man behind the King Ranch is truly a rags to riches real world success story. Richard King parlayed a keen wit and strong work ethic into an early riverboat navigation career, which lead to his assisting in the supply chain for the Spanish-American War, then a land grant which was the start of ranch which would become an empire, now the largest ranch in the entire US. The Visitor Center is small, but serves as the check-in point for the main ranch bus tour ($20). Reserve your tickets at least 3-5 days in advance or they may be sold out. Also see the museum ($10) and Saddle Shop in town. Make a day of it & eat in one of the charming local restaurants.
Fritz Feltner — Google review
This interesting tour covers the gambit from Texas history, ranching practices, wildlife management and so much more. You'll see all kinds of flora and fauna, you'll see historic structures and implements, you'll see beautiful cattle and horses, and an array of creatures in their natural habitat. This tour packs it into 90 minutes which goes by in a flash.
Jeff Vaughan — Google review
Awesome history here! I definitely suggest the bus tour, it is very well worth it! The story of the King Ranch and it's descendants is very cool!
Chris Da Mech — Google review
Ranch Hand Breakfast is an annual weekend event for the ranch and city in a festival mode. The breakfast is chuck wagon fare as billed and served out doors at the ranch. It is a very well attended event when it is not raining. We had more than a 90 minute que to achieve event free parking. It was worth the wait. Breakfast was served 7 ro 11 am. Plan for an early arrival. They do stop serving at 11 am.
The calf roping occurs earlier in the morning. We missed it. The car show and street fair in downtown Kingsville was good.
The excessive volume of the event stage was likely an OSHA violation. The noise of the car speakers at the adjacent car show exacerbated the need for hearing protection and regulation to safe levels at this event.
There is ranch rodeo on Sunday of the Ranch Saturday Breakfast. We hope to do that next year. We may arrive by RV on Friday of the event weekend next year for the entire festival.
Dan Hogan — Google review
Staff in the visitor center was very friendly.
I did the daily tour which is 1.5 hours long. They take you in a small bus around a little section of the property, and you learn about the history of Richard King who is the founder of King Ranch. You also get to see some of the wildlife. We saw a roadrunner, longhorns, Santa Gertrudis, quarter horses, javelina, deer, peacocks, and several other birds.
A — Google review
If all you ever saw was the inside of a city, I could probably see how this tour would interest you. The only interesting thing I saw was a close-up picture to a long horn (picture below).
Our guide was a wealth of knowledge about the place, but, and this is a big but, was a terrible driver.
Interesting history thought.
Bryan Knox, Child of God — Google review
This is the largest ranch in the US so we wanted to visit it. Ranch tours are offered so we booked online $20/adult, discounts for seniors, military, children. The tour starts at the visitor center where you can watch a video, then get on a small bus. Our tour guide, Janelle was awesome, told us interesting stories about Capt. King and family and the quarter horses, longhorns and San Gertrudis cattle which we drove by. We saw many wild animals, deer, roadrunners, havelina, caracara, turkeys. The only stop was a visit to the weaver’s cottage that had a cattle brand exhibit, loom, spinning wheel, all the other buildings: bunkhouse, barn, mansion we drove by making it a bit difficult to get photos. What makes this tour worth it is the tour guide. Don’t expect a working ranch tour but the history is interesting. Lasted 2hrs.
DRV — Google review
Great tour guide but worst tour ever. Difficult to take pictures from inside a crowded bus. We were not allowed outside the bus because of the possibility of being bitten by a rattlesnake. The view of the main house was anti-climactic. The bus drove by what looked like the back of the house, which meant that people on the opposite side of the bus couldn’t even take a quick picture of it. No stops to see inside a barn or bunkhouse. Primarily just stops to look at cattle of different breeds and a few horses in fields. Definitely not worth the money.
And don’t get me started about the visitor center. No photography allowed. The one person at the front stopped my wife and told her no photos. It’s the only interaction we had with the staff there. Interesting museum but to charge an entrance fee and not allow personal photos is ridiculous.
Steve Hanley — Google review
A bit expensive to ride in an ill-cooled 'short-bus'.
Grounds are wonderful, the guide did a good job to tell the story, but unfortunately, they need to upgrade the PA system to a modern and foolproof model.
Only the first few rows managed to understand the guide.
Not sure what is the purpose of signing all those waivers, since you can step out of the 'short-bus' only once.
We were not expecting a petting zoo, but simply an opportunity to see some livestock and horses more upclose.
Stephane Potvin — Google review
We were on one of the naturalist tours at the ranch on a June morning, the naturalists were great! They pointed out a number of birds, alligators, rabbits, and a coyote. Since it was a hot day, even in the mornings, the animals were already seeking shady spots, so other times of the year may provide a greater number of animal sightings.
As someone mentioned in another review, if you're on a tour bus and not sitting on the left side or front seats, you won't see most of the pointed out birds or the alligators (the ponds and stream is on the left.) You won't see the Roadrunners in front of the bus at all. You probably will see the St. Gertrudis cattle and a few birds, though, and the incredible views across all the acreage of the ranch.
You aren't allowed to visit the King home but will be able to see a few peacocks, perhaps as you drive by. You can go to the gift shop, of course, and pick up a nice tee.
If you can go to the Cowboy BBQ - the food is fantastic, sooo good (tenderist brisket and tasty potato salad). It was catered by AAA Barbeque (I heard they'll be opening up their own restaurant, so check them out!) .
Carolyn R — Google review
I absolutely loved the ranch! I would come back again and do the other tours also. I wish I had been able to see a real cowboy, but I was told it's was Saturday. Guess cowboys get the weekend off. Who knew. Lol. Beautiful cattle and horses, and graasy fields and buildings. The tour guide was full of interesting stories.
cara coggeshall — Google review
This place is amazing. This is the gold standard in ranching history. Hundreds of thousands of acres of cattle and equine stars. I have a mare from their bloodline (Peppy San Rio from Peppy San Badger) and it was nice to see her heritage. The ladies in the visitor center were very nice and friendly. Highly recommend taking the tour!
The ferry most definitely gets a fare amount of travelers. The staff are efficient at getting everyone staged & docked making for a smooth experience. We enjoyed the short ride across. A pod of dolphins made their appearance playing and fishing as we waited and it made the trip.
Brandy Leonard — Google review
Quick as can be, on top of directions, ferry maintained well and all very friendly people. Pointed out the dolphins and where to see the sea turtles too. The little extras make the difference.
J T — Google review
Y'all need to update the wait time feed more often. Every other hour on a holiday weekend is not enough. We could have gone around. Update 15-20 minutes to the actual time to get across. There are bigger ferries now but the line is just as slow.
Al Scates — Google review
First time on this ferry, and it went really smooth, didn't have to wait in line at all. Although, I would think it would have been easier to just build a bridge, it's not likely it's all that far .
Scott Wylie — Google review
Less than 5 minute ride when it gets going.15 minute wait between ferries. Ferries constantly coming and going. I think there are 6 ferries total, but only 3 active at that time. Ferry staff squeeze in as many cars as they can,(I think they can fit one row of 8 or 10 cars, with five rows total, so probably 30 to 50 cars at a time. Your supposed to stay in your car and turn off engine, your so packed in cant open car doors fully) Saw a dolphin swimming away from the ferry where I was looking(not in photo).
tef dendson — Google review
Dont believe the signs , our 15 minutes are not the same as their 15 minutes !
Rocky Ray — Google review
Its a ferry. Im thankful i dont have to drive an hr through corpus to get to work.
Brittany Goff-Shepard — Google review
Paid for by the great state of Texas. A great and essential service for the Aransas area.
Kicking Rocks Exploring Hidden Places — Google review
We got to see some dolphins🐬 while on the ferry ⛴, it was something unexpected.
The Texas State Aquarium is a marine life-rich attraction on the harborside of Corpus Christi. The not-for-profit institution boasts six hectares of exhibition space and daily dive shows.
We got there around noon and the line seemed long but, it was moving pretty quick. It was great. Honestly we went at the end of March the weather was beautiful, the people were nice, restrooms are clean, didn't buy any food. All the aquariums were clean, there were plenty of fish to see. The line at the little Starbucks was kinda long but the drinks were good just like pretty much any Starbucks. We had a blast. My family loved it. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it.
robert gracia — Google review
My sister used her membership and invited my son and I to come out and enjoy the new HEB Splash Pad. The kids had so much fun. Not a whole lot of seating so we got here as soon as they opened at 10am. There was a line to get into the water part, but since we got there early we found a really nice spot. My only complaint is that there isn't much cover so you need to be there before it opens at 11am. Fun for the whole family!!!
Laynee Hernandez — Google review
A really nice aquarium with indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as a really great splash pad. There are good food options inside as well as a nice dining area where you can look out over the Gulf and see dolphins as well as pelicans diving for fish.
There are also 4D films included in the entrance fee which is great. We watched a :15 BBC film about sharks and they were also offering Happy Feet during our visit.
$40/person seemed a little steep but they do rescue so that does help to supplement that worthy activity.
Exhibits are new & well kept, gift shop is really nice, workers are helpful & kind. Worth a visit + students can get a slight discount with id.
Amy Jones — Google review
We did the shark encounter this weekend for my son's birthday. It was SO AWESOME. Absolutely worth the money. There were 6 sharks, 2 eels, and 2 rays. We got to see all of them up close. Our helpers, Abbey and Amberleigh were FANTASTIC - they were so helpful, knowledgeable, and so enthusiastic about the program. They made sure we had the best time and indulged our curiosities. We will absolutely come back and do this again. Every other employee that we encountered was helpful and courteous. The HEB splash pad was fun and Shoreline Grill had some delicious food.
chanele dedrick — Google review
We hadn't been here since the new expansion. Wow it was definitely worth it! As always very clean and well organized and everyone is super helpful and friendly. The animals are always well looked after and cared for. We love the work they do here and how they inspire people one of whom was our oldest who is now a marine biologist! Thank you guys, Keep up your good work!
Brittany D — Google review
This is one of the best aquariums I've ever been to. They have huge displays and many interactive stations for real life participation. I've taken large groups of high schoolers there and they are extremely accommodating and helpful! The staff there are very knowledgeable and friendly.
Amanda Chow — Google review
Fabulous views of the waterfront, great food options—from sit-down cafe upstairs to quick-service in the main lobby, and a well-planned layout. The elevators are plentiful. Generally a loud place, but they have made efforts to accommodate for sensory differences; their website or front desk provide info on sensory kits. They also have a scavenger hunt list for $5 that my middle schooler appreciated. I definitely recommend wearing Loops if you are sensitive to screaming children and loud crowds! The waterfront area is a relaxing reprieve replete with swinging benches, as is the nearby underground portion of the dolphin exhibit.
Matt and Mandy Sargent — Google review
it has definitely been a few years since I have been back there. They have definitely added some more attractions, but have taken one or two out to trade in the new ones but definitely had no complaints. I had a blast and will definitely be going back here very soon!
Lizzy — Google review
This is an awesome aquarium! It's arranged and set up very well. They have so many up close viewing areas and good information as you go. The otter and dolphin exhibits are really cool. Plan on spending most the day here. It's family friendly and the parking was super easy and convenient. Food is kind of pricey as you would expect. They also have a starbucks in the lobby. This was definitely worth the price of admission and we loves every second!
Bethanyk — Google review
We enjoyed the dolphins show at 3 pm (two performances a day, another at 11 am). The salads at Shoreline Grill was great. The facility could accommodate special events and was designed for multiple purposes (including the splash park, which was not used when we visited). The 4D movie was nice (surprised to be the only viewers during the show). The whole experience was well worth the entrance fee. Highly recommend!
Pin Wu — Google review
I will start off by saying this was the coolest aquarium. I've ever been to! Everything was super clean, the service was good, they had plenty of wildlife to look at, the shows were Amazing. The only downfall is that everything is pretty expensive, but overall, it is still 5 stars because of the quality of the visit. we'll definitely go back if I'm in the area.
Ryan Adams — Google review
Absolutely Amazing!! Plenty of things to explore, everything was visible, and All of the animals were very well kept. Be sure to go before 1230p.m. if you want to enjoy the Dolphin show. Miss Claudia is a great attendant! Plenty of air conditioned areas. Everything was handicap friendly. They even had the option to swim with sharks (for an add charge)! There was food and drink stands. WORTH IT!
Castro Julian — Google review
Excellent. Not too too big, and easy to see in a half day. Dolphin show was fantastic but if you sit on the splash side prepare to get WET! The shark tanks (two of them!) Were a big hit with the family.
Jordan Hodges — Google review
INCREDIBLE!! If you haven’t been in a few years, you will be absolutely shocked (in a good way) by all the upgrades to the facility and new exhibits. I have not been since 2016 (I’ve been coming since my first birthday before that and I’m 31, the age of Shadow the Dolphin) andspi came with my mom and toddler today. We were able to enjoy four full hours here with no crowd. The facility is spotless and all the animals look so healthy and well cared for. There’s a new rooftop exhibit that has amazing botanical features. Just go check it out!!!
J BB — Google review
Such a beautiful place! The price is a little high compared to other aquariums I’ve been to, but I appreciate everything they’re doing to help the planet. I highly recommend a visit. Very educational and interesting, with so much to see.
Marissa Kohlrenken — Google review
Fairly large aquarium with plenty of animals to see. There are a lot of touching stations too. You can touch stingrays, crabs, jelly fish. They also offer animal encounters. We had 4 in our group participate in Snorkeling with sharks. They enjoyed it and said it was cool to see sharks up that close.
The otters are fun to watch run around and play, they have a slide.
Lots of parking available but you have to pay. There is a splash pad for kids.
Restaurants and snack bars are on the grounds but beware they are expensive. The gift shop is also very expensive.
We tried to watch the dolphin show but it fills up so early we never got a seat.
I recommend buying your tickets online so you don't have to wait in the ticket line.
Stephanie Barron — Google review
Admission is pricey but it's an awesome aquarium and worth it, especially when the splash pad is open -So make sure to pack a towel and swimsuit. My kids love to end their visit here. They've also got plenty of outdoor tables to sit and eat.
My 6 year old always loves catching the quick 4D movie. It's educational & always changing.
The newer addition has a great shark tank and a big dome where birds can fly around. It can get pretty steamy in there, so worth checking out before the day gets to hot.
Renae Smith Trevino — Google review
What a beautiful place to be. Gorgeous aquarium with emphasis on teaching. This is such a wonderful spot to visit for both young and old. The tanks are impeccable and gorgeous and the dolphin show was an absolute BLAST!
The flamingo feeding was super fun and definitely recommend paying a little extra for the fun experience.
Felicia M — Google review
We visited with 4 kids. 8,5,3,3. There was something for everyone. The dolphin show was really fun. All of the areas had great displays with awesome features for the kids to see. The big aquarium was amazing. The kids loved seeing the sharks swimming around. The new splashpad was amazing. The kids really enjoyed the slides and the giant tree. Everything was super clean and the staff was great. Will be back next year.
Rory Oldham — Google review
My family and I had a blast. I do recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid the long lines to buy tickets. My group was over 10+ people. When I went up to pay, I was advised that for future reference for a large group of 10 or more, you can book in advance to get a group discount. Anyone having family vacations, I recommend calling to book your group to take advantage of the group discounts. After looking at what they have to offer as well as the dolphin show, you can cool down at the small water park they have in the lower level. Make sure to come early to take advantage of everything they have to offer. Bring extra clothes and towels!
Lily Olivas — Google review
We love going to Aquariums when we travel and this one was a treat. It started from out front at the blowhole and continued through all the exhibits. Be sure to view all those outside too!
The Dolphin habitat and show are wonderful. If you have the time, once you have seen the performance from above ground with the humans, I can suggest watching the dolphin show from the lower viewing room. It will give you a better perspective of these incredible creatures!
Easily the best Aquarium in Texas and probably in the top 5 we have been to.
Michael Monroe — Google review
It was absolutely outstanding! I cannot describe how amazing this trip was for my family and our birthday girl. The staff was so friendly, the 4D theater was so fun, and all of the animals were so beautiful.
Adam Storer — Google review
I thought this was the biggest aquarium since it's called Texas State Aquarium but there wasn't much. I do like that you can help feed the stingrays (extra payment) and there were feeding plus informative programmings.
It's best to purchase the tickets online if you go during the weekend because it got pretty busy. If you buy the ticket online, it was a faster entry process.
KR Nguyen — Google review
Aquarium is okay. Coming from Denver, I figured it would be bigger. Only thing that stuck out to me were the dolphins. The facility itself is clean and separated into different areas of the world. Prices are a bit steep for what it is. We had no idea about needing a token to get out of the parking lot and no one when we checked in mentioned it either or asked. Thank God we had our truck so we could just go up and over the grassy curb to get out and we weren't the only ones who had to. More information would've been nice. Didn't get to check out the rehabilitation center next door but that's okay. Sorry to say but I prefer our Denver Aquarium to this. More to see, more to interact with and it is lots cheaper. Glad the TX State Aquarium does so much for the animals though at least.
Lynsey Van Harte — Google review
We purchased six tickets online for $200 and also pre-paid $5 for parking, which made the entry process much faster without any waiting in lines. We highly recommend buying tickets online before visiting. Although we expected it to be a bit bigger for the price, our kids really enjoyed their time there. The food was a bit overpriced but was delicious. Ultimately, seeing our children happy made the experience worthwhile. Thank you for providing a great experience.
Desiree Quinonez — Google review
This place is great! Lots of amazing creatures to see and several great things for kids to do. The workers were all outstanding and they seem to care greatly for the animals. Bonus, there is a splash pad for when it gets hot...bring your swimsuits and towels. Do NOT miss the dolphin show, but make sure you get there really early if you want a place to sit! The 4D theater was very cool as well.
Jen Roufs — Google review
Was a very cool experience. They have really changed alot since the last time I was there. They have a ton of educational exhibits. You can also visit the rescue center which is really something else to be able to see. I would recommend buy tickets online to avoid a wait. Also make sure you get a parking token so you can get out of the parking lot when you leave.
ShovelheadTed ! — Google review
Came here for the first time with my kiddies. The admissions fee is pretty expensive. This aquarium is supposed to be the largest in all of Texas, but it honestly felt a lot smaller than I expected. They have a little water play area for the kids. They have 3 floors of adventure, but not all the floors aren’t as big as you think. It does get pretty crowded. A lot of hands on activities for the kids which is pretty cool. Overall, it is an awesome aquarium, but I feel that the admission fee is too steep to be worth going to a place that takes approximately an hour to walk.
The staff are friendly and helpful. The parking lot is large and you have to pay. I didn’t use their parking since we stayed in a hotel nearby.
K. T. — Google review
Just a very cool place. I wish our grandchildren would have been with us. They would have loved being able to touch various sea creatures. I have a new respect for sharks. TSA is tracking a number of them. It was fun to see a video of placing the tracking device and going to a sidebar and tracking some of the sharks.
Greg Weyandt — Google review
This place is pretty pricey, but I’d say it’s worth it. It’s almost up there with Toronto’s aquarium. My favorite part was being able to interact with some of the sea life. We pet the sharks, stingrays, and chocolate chip star fish. They also have a dolphin show with a splash zone, which was super fun to watch. It gets really busy on the weekends, so I would recommend visiting during the weekday if possible.
Lexi D — Google review
We got to the aquarium early enough to beat the crowds. The dolphin show was awesome, as always! The Shoreline Grill is where we had lunch. The grill had good portion sizes and tasted good. The prices are a little higher than a fast food place. The bathrooms were reasonably clean and were fully stocked with paper towels! The girls spent time touching the stingrays in the outside tank. We then went thru the Gulf of Mexico side of the aquarium, then the Caribbean side where touching the small sharks was a big hit! The gift shop has the usual souvenir items, but the prices ranged from reasonable to outrageous.
Jeff Wilson — Google review
The aquarium is an excellent time. Lots to see and do. On weekends, there a little waterpark. There are several shows to watch. They have areas where you can touch small sharks and other sea animals.
Inarus Lynx — Google review
I got to on my birthday last year!
Pretty place, cute animals, many attractions. Although it was raining that day and got soaked, I still had fun seeing everything! ♡♡
Crystal Urrea — Google review
4.6
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4.0
(2568)
2710 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78402, USA
The USS Lexington Museum is a colossal military museum in Corpus Christi Bay that was converted from a retired training vessel. The museum has five self-guided tours around the ship that explore its eleven decks and 1,000 square feet of space. The tour includes the flight deck, focsle, gallery deck, hangar deck, and lower deck.
Pleasant surprise! I have driven by this place many times but I'm glad i finally got to see it! Be prepared to spend a good amount of time here I thought 1.5 hours would be enough to check it all out and it was nowhere near enough. I'd say have at least 3+ hours in mind. It's an amazing place to experience and the tours of each area are well organized and paths planned out! Some stair climbing should be expected. Worth checking out and experiencing a piece of WWII History!
Mike J — Google review
Beautiful museum and great place to learn for both adults and kids. They do have 2 simulator rides which cost $5 each. They are not the best, but great for kids. The 3D movie was good also and that is included with the price of the entry ticket. Overall great place to visit with the family. Great views from the deck. There is a restaurant which has decent food, but had a wait. The gift shop is a great place to visit too.
Kishen Padiyar — Google review
Our family is a big fan of WWII history, it's veterans, and artifacts. We spent pretty much all day here with our two boys (13 & 10) and they loved crawling around in the belly of this awesome beast. This is my wife and my second time visiting it with the first time being in the early 2000's. That being said, I'm not sure how much longer it's going to be able to withstand the salt water which seems to be doing a number on it's outer structure. If you are a fan of old WWII era machines then you should definitely add the Lexington as a must see before it's too late.
Chad S — Google review
Excellent historical museum! You are taken back in history the moment you enter! Be ready to walk and climb stairs. See how sailors lived and work in a floating city. How Incredible the work that had to be performed daily. For history buffs, I would recommend giving yourself at least three hours to tour the ship, see videos, and read the displays. The care that was taken to bring this ship back to life is quite amazing as well. I highly recommend the visit. Thank you!
Victor Diaz — Google review
We visited the USS Lexington on our trip to Corpus. This is a fantastic piece of American history. The huge ship is a head to toe museum.
There is a LOT of walking and stairs. you will need to be able to climb steep stairs/ladders if you want to go down into the ship.
To see the flight deck and airplanes there is an elevator or stairs.
Down below deck are four floors of displays and a first hand look at life on deck.
There is a small restaurant and a shop; as well as an extra feature of an escape room.
There is plenty of (paid) parking and a tram that will take you from the street all the way up the ramp to the entrance.
For US history fans, airplane/ship enthusiasts, or looking for a neat way to spend a few hours, this is the place to check out.
Emily P (Traveling Texan) — Google review
The fact that it is a U.S. Navy ship that not only was successful in WW2 and served our country for decades is awesome, but the presentation is outstanding. The aircraft are accessible and have informational boards with great statistics on them. Down below there are displays of Navy equipment and personnel with more information panels. The room with the models was overwhelming with the number of them from planes, boats, submarines, to ships representing the U.S., Germany and Japan. Obviously the curators of the ship care about it and are very knowledgeable. They also serve food on board, so don't worry about spending hours there like I did. I found parking in a lot between the entrance and the aquarium that nobody else seemed to use. Behind the sign for parking you just slip your money in the appropriate slot.
Charles Foreman — Google review
Awesome experience. No tour guides to make you move at a certain pace, which I loved. I was able to walk as slow as I could handle to take it all in. I walked for 4 hours and still feel like I went too fast. There are full sized aircraft, wax figurines doing all sorts of tasks from dental work to serving meals. This thing is MASSIVE. I truly think it'd take 2 or 3 trips to see every nook and cranny. They have tons of memorabilia from previous commanders, other ships, and displays of battles and damage. I literally can't say enough about this, it's purely incredible. They have food and drinks available for reasonable costs (far less than a baseball game or concert), and when you have to hit the head, you use the actual ship bathrooms - which I found added to the experience. When we were here they were repainting one of the planes right on the ship! They had deployed a polyurethane tent around it with clear windows so we could see in too. I don't even remember how much it cost because it didn't matter, it was worth it!
Cody LaBorence — Google review
The USS Lexington is a beautiful historical place to visit that has a pivotal place in U.S. history. There is so much history here to read and to tour. Although we didn't tour the ship, we still found time to visit here and snap a few pics outside. I highly recommend this place to visit when you're in the Corpus Christi area.
Santos Garza — Google review
I went to the Lexington as a kid and remember having a blast. I wanted to pass that fun on to my kids and they did have a blast. It really is like stepping into history. Just about everything is interactive and hands on. My only “complaint” is some times the lower deck tour is a little confusing, but it’s still a good time!
James Hooten — Google review
I recently had the opportunity to visit the USS Lexington, WWII marvel in Corpus Christi, and it was an absolutely incredible experience. As a history enthusiast, I was in awe of the rich historical significance of this place. The ship is a fascinating time capsule from World War II, and I couldn't get enough of exploring its details.
I highly recommend spending at least 4 hours here to fully immerse yourself in the history and the stories behind the artifacts. The 3D movie is a must-see, and I was fortunate to catch it during its limited run. It added another layer of depth to the experience.
The dedication and preservation efforts put into this place are commendable. It's not just a museum; it's a journey through time. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for an educational and captivating outing, the WWII marvel in Corpus Christi is a must-visit. I can't recommend it enough!
pradeep malireddy — Google review
Do not underestimate this amazing ship! We went thinking we would only spend about an hour here and stayed for 4!!! We didn’t even get to see the entire ship! Definitely wish I had two days to visit this museum. So much history within its walls! I learned so much from going here! Definitely worth the trip. It’s not even expensive. There is a lot of walking and stairs but again, it’s well worth it! They do have stroller and wheelchair access as well. The gift shop is big with lots of options and the food court sells decent food. There’s a long ramp to the ship but they offer a free rides up and down the ramp. They have a parking lot and it’s only $5 but show up early. The parking lot was full by noon on a Friday! Besides that you have to meter park.
Ashley Haughton — Google review
This is an amazing piece of history. It's absolutely surreal to walk where our soldiers lived and worked to defend our country. There are many exhibits and stations to see and learn all about its history.
The ship is kept in beautiful condition, and all the staff we interacted with were friendly and knowledgeable. There's a long ramp up to the ship, but they have a shuttle to drive people up and down if you prefer that. It's really neat to go up and down the ladders to tour the different areas of the ship, but again, they have an elevator option up to the landing deck for those who may have a difficult time with the ladders. The entry price is very reasonable, we paid $18.95 each, and there's no time limit outside of museum hours. They show movies, and for an additional charge, they also offer escape rooms and simulators.
I highly recommend visiting the museum while here in Corpus Christi.
djgirl 21 — Google review
A wonderful experience to spend a few hours for only $20! Did 2 different self guided tours down below the ship and was amazed how mazelike the place is. I'm just so shocked how anyone can navigate such a large ship without signs or directories. The flight deck was the jewel of the visit. Getting to see an airplane up close in addition to having access to a beautiful sea sight is uncanny. The gift shop had some really good finds that won't break the back. After 2 or so hours going up and down stairs my hips and thighs were killing me. Great place to educate and learn while getting your steps in.
Christopher Sanchez — Google review
This far exceeded our expectations! We spent 5 hours there and still didn't get to see everything. An amazing firsthand experience of what life on a carrier is like and all the battles involving them. This is a must do if your in the area! It's family friendly and there is easy parking across the street. We ate at the mess hall also.. food was good and not outrageously priced. We would love to visit again sometime.
Bethanyk — Google review
Excellent family activity on the water. Tour the boat at your own pace and enjoy the history each area has to offer. The ship was well preserved and clean! It’s a fun and interactive way for children and adults to learn a small bit of military/American history. The AC is a nice way to cool off from the heat of the summer. I highly recommend checking it out when visiting Corpus Christi!
Olivia Guerrero — Google review
It was a very windy day so being outside on the deck was challenging. Once inside we saw everything! It is a must see for anyone that appreciates what the men and women have done for our country. Every tour on the ship could stand alone by itself for a history lesson. Plan on soaking in the vast information and spending 3 or more hours. We took 6 hours and loved every minute. Thank you to all that served on this magnificent vessel.
Dan Blodgett — Google review
This place was very cool. I thought my kids (8,10,16) would be bored but they loved it! There was so much to see and read I could just never take it all in. The staff were all friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend making a stop here if you are visiting Corpus Christi! Fun for the whole family. But beware, it is a LOT of walking and steep stairs.
Sher — Google review
I so wish I had had four days to really explore this amazing aircraft carrier! There are quite a few self-guided tours you can embark on yourself, plus just randomly exploring in lots of areas of the ship. Me and my grandson took one of the long lower deck self-guided tours where you climb down several levels and see the engine room, dining area, bunk area, dentists office and sick bay, and quite a few other things. It was awesome. I'm 69, so climbing up and down the steep stairs was a little dicey, but not super tough. I truly enjoyed it. Then we had a quick lunch at the snack bar onboard in the hangar deck. After that, my grandson and I climbed up to the flight deck to check out all the old planes placed all around the deck. Such great information on signs next to each airplane. Beautiful external preservation. And there was so much more to see, but after more than two hours of walking everywhere in and on the ship, we had to go home and my trip from Kansas was too short to allow another visit to see more of the ship. Hopefully, I'll get to come back some day and explore more of it.
What I'm kicking myself over is that I lived in San Antonio for many years and made quite a few trips to Corpus Christi for fun and to see my son when he was in college in Corpus! I always saw the ship in the distance, but never looked into how to get on board... I should have come here 20 years ago...
Dave M — Google review
Great tour! As expected it’s huge, and it has a great history. Start with the 3D movie and go from there. Going up is a lot of very steep steps but worth it. Doing down steep as well. Landing level has cool planes including (my wife’s favorite) the actual plane from Top Gun. Took a few hours to see everything.
Paul Aughey — Google review
What a cool experience! Did you know they have the fighter jet on there from the movie top gun! You get to walk the halls of the lower decks and sit in the captains chair how cool is that! I have to say it is 100% worth it to go and it isn’t very expensive either. They do have a cafe there and we did eat at it but it isn’t the best I’ve had to say the least but it helped in a pinch. They have a gift shop too so that’s fun to go get a memory from there.
The best part of the whole experience was meeting the volunteers that worked there. If you’re willing to take the time and just ask questions and listen to their stories, this is the last generation that will be able to one on one in person, hear the stories from the people that experienced all of this wonderful history firsthand. Two of the gentlemen were aboard the ship when it was active and what stories they could tell. We met a man named Bill and talk to him for so long, and I believe it was very impactful. Very interesting. I asked him how it felt serving in Vietnam, and if he was scared. His response was it was a job and we were tougher back then and boy was he right.
cindy harrison — Google review
I've been a History WWII buff for years, and it was such a thrill to be able to spend the night on the 'Blue Ghost' (as a chaperone to my daughter's high school band). Noel and Chris were awesome, friendly hosts that added tons of fun to our stay. You have to go and listen to Noel's ghost story! We were allowed to roam the ship on self guided tours. The hosts helped police the kids with a little PT punishment. The ship is huge, so be prepared to be exhausted after all the climbing and roaming. If you get to camp on the Lex, the breakfasts and dinners aren't bad. They don't serve sodas, so if you want one, bring your own from one of the vending machines on ship. Otherwise, they have a decent snack bar if you're a day visitor. The gift shop was full of nifty items and gift ideas from dog tags, key chains, and books to USS Lexington t-shirts. For aviation fans, there are several WW2 to more modern aircraft on board on the flight deck and hanger. There is a flight simulator and a flight type ride for $5 and $20, respectively. Overall, it was a really fun experience!
Jeff Wilson — Google review
Was super cool to visit this while on our trip from Denver to Corpus Christi. The self guided tours are perfect and there is so much to see. Loved the fact you could still see the captains quarters, where the ropes were kept and the different planes that used that carrier in its prime. The gift shop had tons to choose from. Picked up a few coins while we were there. It's absolutely beautiful at night all lit up as well. Got engaged right next to it with its illuminating blue lights in the background!
Lynsey Van Harte — Google review
This place is awesome! There is tons to see and it is great for families. Though bring your own food and just hide it in a bag. It’s not right to force families to pay for your overpriced, overrated food. $4.75 for a hot dog?!?! Are you out of your mind?!?! I dropped a star because you can’t bring outside food or drinks which essentially forces you to buy there food. My recommendation is bring a drink or sandwich and sneak it in your bag. There are a lot of places you could take a swig of a drink or a bite and no one would notice know the difference. Overall, a good experience and a lot of fun!
Ernie Tidball — Google review
This is an awesome museum. We originally planned to be there for just a couple of hours but were there for 4 and could have spent at least a couple more hours. We didn’t realize there was a snack bar there or we probably would have stayed longer. We parked at the beach and had to use an app to pay the parking meter. There is a parking lot close by that you can pay $5 for all day. That would be better. There are a lot of videos through out the ship that tell different historical events. You can watch a 3D movie- it’s cold in the theater so be prepared. Lots of photo opportunities for the kids. Volunteers and workers there all very nice. I think there is a shuttle that will take you up the ramp to the entrance. We were not offered a ride.
Sawimonu J — Google review
Excellent place to visit! Plan for several hours if you want to see everything. It is HUGE! The film that runs every hour on the hour is very good. The Pearl Harbor exhibit has a great short history experience. Lots to explore throughout the ship...a bit of information overload. I bet you could spend days here and still find new things. The lower levels definitely have an odor that seemed to bother some, but it was worth it to see all of the cool things there. Overall an amazing place, with good workers and volunteers to help even more with the experience.
Jen Roufs — Google review
My recent visit to the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay in Corpus Christi, Texas, was an experience I will never forget. Stepping aboard this iconic aircraft carrier felt like stepping back in time, immersing myself in the rich history and heroic legacy of the United States Navy.
In addition to its rich history, the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay offers stunning panoramic views of Corpus Christi Bay and the surrounding coastline.
Overall, my visit to the USS Lexington was nothing short of extraordinary. From its impressive exhibits to its breathtaking views, this historic aircraft carrier offers a captivating glimpse into the past while honoring the brave men and women who served our country with courage and dedication. Whether you're a history buff, a military enthusiast, or simply curious about life aboard a naval vessel, the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay is a must-see destination in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Derrick Frohne — Google review
Visiting the USS Lexington was an awe-inspiring experience, immersing me in its rich history and remarkable legacy. Stepping aboard, I felt the weight of its importance and the bravery of those who served during World War II and beyond. The museum's exhibits vividly portray life on the carrier and its pivotal role in naval warfare.
Exploring the decks, I marveled at the ingenuity of naval aviation and the dedication of the sailors who manned this floating fortress. Standing on the flight deck, I imagined the thunderous roar of aircraft taking off into the fray.
The panoramic views of Corpus Christi Bay from the flight deck were breathtaking, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made to safeguard our freedoms.
The staff's passion for sharing the ship's heritage enhanced the experience, providing valuable insights and anecdotes.
I highly recommend a visit to the USS Lexington for anyone interested in military history. It's a captivating journey through time that leaves a lasting impression. Attached are some photos capturing the essence of this historic vessel.
Maleen Karunathilaka — Google review
Very reasonable for what they are doing there. Everyone should take the time to see this and truly learn what it was like for our sailors surviving and dying aboard these amazing WWII vessels.
They also do their best for disabled There is a tram to take you up to the ship and the have wheelchairs available. They just can’t go on most of the tours. There is tons of ladders / stairs to climb up and down.
Peggy Hartwig — Google review
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2914 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78402, USA
Rockport Beach Park is a family-friendly destination with calm waters, a playground, and a pavilion. The sandy beach is perfect for younger children since there are very few waves or currents. There are plenty of picnic tables throughout the park along with restrooms and showers that are always kept clean. Although seagulls abound, dogs or other pets aren't allowed.
Great park! They have a sandy beach with very few waves and current. It's great for smaller kids. There are many covered picnic tables throughout as well as restrooms, showers, and all the seagulls you'd like to feed. It is $10 for the day or $40 for an annual pass.
Anthony Little — Google review
Great place to bring your kids and family. There is a cost to enter the park for $10 but its well worthy. There are many gazebos where you can bbq, and as well as kids playing areas . There are two set of volleyball nets. The bathroom has a nice shower area at the pavilion. There is an area at the end where is very calm. The place is not deep at all, so it's very safe for kids.
Jaddiel Perez — Google review
This is a lovely place. Plenty of free water-side parking and benches and areas to walk on the sand. There is a wonderful walking and fishing pier (free). You can pay to get into the park proper, not sure how much, but cheap enough. Inside the park are bbq areas, gazebos, picnic areas, and bathrooms. There’s a sectioned off area of bay, that is calm and shallow for little ones to swim.
Robin Quattlebaum — Google review
Had a great time with my family. There is a small part of the beach that allows for dogs too.
The water was warm and clean. A person can wade out for about 150 yards at least. So if you're looking for shallow water it's great.
Paul Maletsky — Google review
Great area to take the family. I loved that the children were able to walk in the ocean. The amenities are convenient to wash the sand off before getting in the vehicle.
william cardozo — Google review
This was my first time here. I've always didn't pay, but never stopped until this past weekend. Best decision ever. Exceptionally clean beach, not over crowded, and perfectly safe swim area for toddlers and younger kids. First time I've been to the beach and I didn't have to worry about my kids, and was able to thoroughly enjoy myself. There is also a playground, a small bar with a stage for love bands, good clean restrooms and showers, picnic tables and tiki covers.
Tara Knowles — Google review
I was lucky to be there just before spring break. Almost deserted but what a great place to hang out. Lots of sand and water. Birds everywhere and the Laughing Gulls were so noisy. It was great. Only $10 for a day pass and cheap considering the experience.
Dave Shultz — Google review
NO DOGS/ PETS. Clean, clean , clean. Looks similar to the Galveston beaches, just much cleaners. No dogs allowed, sorry Fido. Great free 'Palapa-umbrellas'. Lots of parking. Nice folks working the gate. Lots of folks celebrating the New Year!!
Mary Jane Hancock — Google review
I really liked the Rockport Beach. I have been to Florida beaches a lot and they are beautiful, but you can't compare Texas beaches to Florida beaches, geologically they were made differently. People were talking so much about the jellyfish at Rockport. They were not a problem unless you went clear out close to the drop-off. The water was clean and warm. It is very shallow for quite a ways which is great for the kiddos and parents to feel safer. 😀 We parked by the shower and toilet buildings which were great. They even have an outdoor shaded patio upstairs on the second building you can reserve and an inside room you can reserve as well for parties, receptions etc. The only issue we had was stepping on a fire ant nest at the edge of the parking lot and getting stung. We really had a good time otherwise. I think people just like to find something negative. It's a great Texas beach.
Roberta Melone — Google review
Perfect spot for families with small kids, very shallow Waters and the Beach is real clean, is only $10/car for the whole day. And the best of all it has restrooms 🚽 and shower 🚿 No Pets allowed 🚫
Oscar Jimenez — Google review
Great location for a relaxing day at the beach. Clean beach sandbars go really far out so you can go pretty far before the water gets too deep. The cabanas provide shade so all you need is a chair and a towel to stake out your spot. Usually not too busy. Day pass is $10/car or $40 for the year pass.
Lacey T — Google review
Beautiful beach. Warm water. The sun in October feels amazing. Very clean. Nice people all around. Go wade in the water and enjoy. BBQ pits available.
Amber Such — Google review
Beautiful beach area with restrooms, showers (necessary for the amount of sand I carried into the changing room), well-kept shade huts, and good parking areas.
The only complaint was the amount of plastic bottle caps and cigarette butts on the beach. Not really fault of the beach care takers, but humans are pigs!
Sally Dulinsky — Google review
Nice clean beach with picnic tables with shade, jungle gyms for the kids, swim beach, and a dock that you can walk out on and fish.
Jimmy Kurz — Google review
Great beach! Shallow entry great for kids and grandkids. You can walk out 100byeards and still be at your knees or hips. This beach can get crowded, but ways enjoyable. $10 per day or $40 yearly pass.
Carl Weaver — Google review
Nice clean beach not sure what was with all the dead jellyfish but still worth a visit
Cody Long — Google review
The Best ! Clean, no pets on the beach or in the water ! 😀 Love the tiki huts on the beach to sit under, perfect. Lots of play areas for children, perfect for families. Pavillion for bathroom as well as some Port A potties. Also a Salt Water pool at the end. So great!
Goose Island State Park spans across 320 acres of marsh and prairie. The park is well-designed, and visitors can enjoy a range of recreational activities in the stunning natural surroundings. One of the highlights is a tree that dates back over 1,000 years. Guided bird walks are available led by experts, Jane and Les, who offer valuable insights into local species.
Beautiful. We stayed at the RV spots on the bay and I honestly did not want to leave. The park is well kept and breathtaking, with birds everywhere and lots of places to fish and walk. The town of Rockport was full of sites along the bay and delicious seafood. I'd go back and recommend to friends. Great park.
Kate Scott — Google review
The people employed here are simply wonderful. They are as accommodating as they are professional and very much seem to enjoy their work and coworkers.
This park has two basic areas, water/woods, which basically means; slightly more expensive/ less for the woods..more wind/less wind..less mosquitoes/more mosquitoes..less wildlife/more critters..less privacy/more so in the woods.
Nice fishing pier. Good bike ridding. The Big Tree is nearby.
We stayed waterside in a 25' class C.
CW Fink — Google review
Quiet and peaceful, great fishing in the morning and evening at the pier. The best baits to use are shrimp and crab. The park is clean and maintained well. We just left there and are already planning to go back next month. This park is dog friendly, and restrooms and shower rooms are clean as well
Joshua Torres — Google review
This park is one of the places I loved the most. The fishing pier area is just awesome for a day trip or fishing. You'll be seeing crystal clear water that flows over the shallow bay area covered with oyster shells. The natural area (Photos) are great place for birdwatching and you may see pelicans, seagulls and some rare species of birds limited to a very few number. In my opinion, this is a fantastic spot for nature lovers.
RAHUL BASU — Google review
Such a beautiful park! Well laid out. But the best thing about the park are the bird walks guided by Jane & Les, 2 - 3 times per week. Their knowledge of birds is unmatched, and along with birding tales and tips to remember birds by, makes such an enjoyable outing. We attended at least 2 per week for the month we were in Rockport. Highly recommend for whatever level birder you are.
Bob — Google review
The people employed here are simply wonderful. They are as accommodating as they are professional and very much seem to enjoy their work and coworkers.
This park has two basic areas, water/woods, which basically means; slightly more expensive/ less for the woods..more wind/less wind..less mosquitoes/more mosquitoes..less wildlife/more critters..less privacy/more so in the woods.
Nice fishing pier. Good bike ridding. The Big Tree is nearby.
Fredy Escobar — Google review
Goose Island State Park is one of my favorite parks to go to. I love to fish in my kayak. Every time I've gone I've caught a few redfish not too big but still fun to catch catch and release. I have yet to catch some slot reds but i wont give up!! The kids like going to the pier and fishing off the pier. My daughter cought her first flounder there!!she is 4 y/o . Now shes HOOKED ON FISHING!!!! Cant tell you what a blessing that is. My son is 6 y/o LOVES TO FISH. He is autistic but there is something special about fishing that calms him down. Hes is a true blessing to us . Very wonderful Park a lot of scenery nice trails to walk. A special thanks to the game wardens that take care of the fishery of the place. One of them was kind enough to take the time to talk to my children and give them high fives!! Thank you very much for what you guys do. It's because of you're hard work, dedication, and protection of our Fishery and other game and non-game animals/fish that we get to enjoy the outdoors with our families. Thank you all!! God bless you all!!!
mpj — Google review
January 2024 - 4 nights in Bayfront #38.3 nights in #150, wooded area.
Ill break it down the park, the Bayfront & the Wooded area.
The Park.we camped here in a Renegade super C, 38, 13-1/2 tall.
Watch your overhead but no real issues getting here.
The Park is well maintained with courteous & friendly staff. We were here just after a freeze so water had just been turned back onthere was a boil notice.
The Wooded site, #150 -
Easy to back into with just enough room for our Rubicon. Electric and water were convenient although we had to book a 30 amp site. No real issues. Comes with a picnic table on a slab and a fire ring. Youre surrounded by a thicket so its very private. Site was clean and fairly level (asphalt, new by the way). Shadyif there is ever any sun.
Noteof the 7 nights hereit rained all but two1.5" in one day. Come prepared.
The Bayfront site, #38
Ill sum it upif it had been asphalt,,,Id rate it a 7it was not it rained 3of the 4 days. It was sandy mud.
We setup in a pouring rain. The site was so unlevel that at one point our stairs got stuck in the sand/mud.
We tried to park with our windshield aimed at the ocean but our electric cord was 5 ft too short. After a deluge of 2 days of rain, we were surrounded in sandy mud. Put a bucket of water at the front door to wash our shoes before entering..it helped. The dog.hmm..it was a mess. Beautiful views. Was it worth it.Im not sure.
Ron Gaddis — Google review
This place is amazing! The Bayfront campsites are right on the water. They have water and electricity. They also have a small shelter with a picnic table. We did catch a few small drum from our campsite but the weather was quite cool, may have been better if the water was warmer.
James Baures — Google review
Enjoyed our time at Goose Island State Park!! The park rangers provided excellent customer service and very friendly & helpful. We initially had a camp site in the wooded area although nice but some may be a little too secluded. Oh not to mention the SKEETERS were bad so glad we were able to get a campsite on the water where it was really nice & breezy. We opted out for one right on the bay and although not as pretty (no trees) being right on the water was really nice! We loved being able to fish a few feet from our campsite oh and the sunrises & sunsets were beautiful! The restrooms & showers were in excellent shape & very clean! Everyone at the park was very friendly. We loved bike riding and taking our walks every morning after our coffee ☕️Will definitely come back:)
BETTY Rodriguez — Google review
This park was so well maintained and we really enjoyed the views! I would highly recommend a stay here. The bathrooms were very nice, the best I've used at a state park.
Abbygail Waterhouse — Google review
Beautiful, park has beach front lots that comes with 50 amp service plus water. There is also a cement gazebo on each spot. Love the view from the front window ❤️
Anne McLeod — Google review
This is me and my Nana's favorite park. We keep revisiting this place. The nature trail really immerses you in the forest. With natural unpaved paths, you are walking between the trees and shrubbery and are able to really feel the magic of the earth. This is a great place for meditation and a very relaxing stroll through the wonders of the world. They also have a fishing pier, the bathrooms are kept very clean. There are camping sites along the bay and in the forest, and there is a big tree that is around 300 years old you can walk around and see. Goose Island is the ultimate immersive experience for nature lovers. If you are looking for a getaway, Goose Island is where you should go.
Spencer Lacour — Google review
Beautiful place to visit. Quiet campground with great spots. It gets a bit windy but still really wonderful stay.
Megan Bruzan — Google review
It us $5 fee entrance, do I decided to skip going inside but I went to the shore and walk by the water. I saw lot of birds. Sea shells and beautiful white sand. Big tree is a outside of main park and I drove there to see it.
Natha B — Google review
This state park is a treasure. My family camped one night on the beach and one night at the inland campground. They were both clean and well taken care of with all amenities working properly. I went out on the fishing pier with my son twice and although we didn't have much luck there were plenty of families hauling in ladyfish and drum.
James Lunsford — Google review
Great camping. Overall, it was great. If camping in an RV, there is low water pressure some days. Birders will like the many locations to view bird life.
Michael Garza — Google review
This park is amazing! We attended the first day birding tour and it was EXCELLENT! The two volunteer guides were incredibly kind and knowledgeable and provided a wonderful experience. We saw 50 species of birds and had a great time! Even without the tour I would have enjoyed the park, but this sealed the deal! A great way to spend the morning.
Spanish Army stronghold from the 18th century, famed as a battle site of the 1836 Texas Revolution.
I am new to Texas and after hearing about this place I thought I'd see it for myself. Well, I can tell you that this place is sacred. It is truly humbling to see what others were willing to sacrifice to win their freedom and leave a great state for others.
You often here about the Alamo but seldom about this Presidio. After all it accounts for one of the five points on the Lone Start of Texas.........worth a visit IMO.
_Presbeuo_ M — Google review
Came here for the first time with my kids. Pretty informative history right here. This place was recommended to us to check out since we were driving through. I honestly didn’t even know anything about this place and its history. The admissions fee was dirt cheap to enter. We watched a short movie about the history of this place before walking around to see old artifacts and info. They have a beautiful courtyard and Chapel. The Fannin monument is down the street from here.
Parking is small, but there’s street parking. The staff are really friendly.
K. T. — Google review
It's a great walk through history. It's much bigger than I expected. The museum is full of information and they have lots of period pieces to take you in time. I didn't expect to see that in Goliad, Texas. I do recommend a visit if you're in the area.
Daniel Garcia — Google review
It's a great Texas historical site. As a native Texan, it was great to learn more about those who fought and died for the independence of Texas. Neat to learn how it was rebuilt. I am grateful to all who have donated and volunteered to make this such a wonderful historical site that we can visit.
Aaron Ripa — Google review
What a wonderful visit we had here. It’s amazing to walk through a piece of history and to learn about it the people who settled in the area. It’s better than any history book!
Jewell Folsom — Google review
What a wonderful day trip. The place was small and affordable with a small gift shop and the tour guide was really awesome ! We had a blast and are really glad that we spent some time walking around the presidio grounds.
Rebecca Spears — Google review
Very informative and well laid out. Don't miss if you're into Texas history. But get there early as the build closes at 430. Much to see and lots to take in.
Tony Chavez — Google review
I really enjoyed my visit. Is a great history lesson of the early years of Texas.
Dave Bowmaster — Google review
I went with my nephew for his 4th grade field trip. We have passed by several times but never been, so I wasn't sure what to expect. They had a few presentations explaining to the kids about artifacts that were found on the grounds and about the flags. The kids had a good time and learned several things about the mission's history.
Laynee Hernandez — Google review
We had an amazing time! The staff was very helpful. My visit was wonderful, I love history and learning about Texas Histor.
Lynda Knutson — Google review
So much history here. Awesome to see. And try to visit when they have the reenactment.
Sjoerd Chastain — Google review
There is much to learn about and appreciate here. After having read about the history, seeing the Presidio in person was a special experience. You must come here for the re-enactment that is done to commemorate the massacre and the battle at Coleto Creek. They also do an emotionally compelling dramatic re-enactment of the final hours of these men who died for Texas freedom. Every Texan should be required to experience this special tribute on the hallowed ground of the presidio.
Jeff Vaughan — Google review
My husband & I loved walking through the museum areas & the Chapel was one of the prettiest we have ever seen. 2 bus loads of teenagers showed up while we were on the grounds and it was impressive how the historical tour guides handled them. The sweet lady behind the counter that greeted us made us feel very welcome. We are so happy that we visited. Great video to start out the tour too.
Victoria McCracken — Google review
Really cool place. Definitely worth visiting. The history is really interesting.
Attraction with native & exotic wildlife, plus a petting zoo, aviary & camps for kids.
This zoo may be small, but I love it. I like it much better than the Houston zoo, even though the Houston zoo is much bigger. The Texas zoo has better programs, is more educational, and everyone who works there is always friendly and happy to talk about the animals. My family has visited from out of town repeatedly over the years, and we always have a great time.
Bethany Robertson — Google review
Small zoo focused on conservation and protection of animals. I enjoyed the educational content scattered throughout the habitats. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Bonus is the park that the Zoo is housed in it has tennis courts, playgrounds, a golf course and walking trails with much more.
Hannah Sellers — Google review
What animals we did see were pretty cool. I'd say we got to see Mayne 50% of the inhabitants but still paid full price.
Place is tiny and relatively maintained well.
Kelly Pierce — Google review
Really cool zoo, but a little bit on the small side. We took our one year old daughter and she had a blast at the peacock walking around, she really liked the otters, and birds. The bear viewing area is really neat to watch the bears play and hang out.
Tinkers Custom — Google review
March 11, 2024
It was a beautiful day to visit the zoo. We visited around 1pm. The zoo was not super busy being it was spring break. All of the animals were in action today. The bears were playing together, the tamarin monkeys were out and about, and the otters were playing too. The red wolves were howling, the javelins were active, the turtles were roaming, and the donkey, zebra, goats, deer, emus, and pigs were out enjoying the sun. It was very fun today. Loved it.
Frodo Baggins — Google review
They have so many amazing animals and reptiles. It is a small zoo, you would think it would be better kept. There was trash in some of the enclosures. We felt sorry for most of them.
Nancy Brise?o — Google review
Small but very nice zoo. The animals you can tell are very happy and the workers are so polite and great with kids. Definitely worth visiting.
Beth Brong — Google review
Although small in comparison to some other zoos, The Victoria Zoological Park was a wonderful way to pass some time in Victoria TX.
Tony Chavez — Google review
We always have so much fun here! It's a small zoo but the experience is so great! There is animal food pellet dispensers thru the zoo to be able to feed the ducks and peacocks. Do wish they were part of AZA so we could use our membership discounts. They used to be but lost accreditation because the zoo is in a flood plane. They should be grandfathered in the membership program but we're dropped. The zoo is working towards regaining accreditation with AZA and possibly ZAA, which caters to smaller zoos.
Pride & Joy Boutique — Google review
What a cute little zoo. It is small but not full of people and is only $10.50 per adult to get in. I really recommend it for a relaxing zoo visit. The animals are pretty much reachable also.
Java Junkies — Google review
This zoo is actually so fun. We were pleasently surprised to see that they had so many animals. We happened to be there while the wolf and the Coyotes started howling, very cool! I only wish that the deer pen wasn't so muddy, kind of looks gross and uncomfortable for the animals.
Hunter Hallinan — Google review
It is a smaller zoo but everything is maintained well. Went on a family outing and enjoyed every second, would recommend.
Anna Perez — Google review
This zoo is quite small, but it’s still a wonderful place to visit! It’s nothing grand like the Houston zoo, where you’ll have to plan the entire day to see all the animals. You can probably be done in an hour and have seen everything.
But the people are so nice and accommodating. The staff is willing to answer any questions you have about the animals and they seem like they’re very passionate. The animals itself always seem to have a clean exhibit and the wandering peacocks sure are fun!
The price is fair and I’d definitely recommend getting a membership for you plan on going more than once as it’ll basically pay for itself after 3 visits.
Felicia M — Google review
Small compared to other zoos but it is absolutely obvious that this is one of the best maintained facilities in the state. Plenty of shade, no waits and just an all around good time. If you are ever driving from Houston to Corpus I 100% recommend stopping in Victoria and visiting the zoo.
Mason Diaz — Google review
Fun stop if you're in the area. Lots of native animals for viewing. Not crowded either...needs a bit of touching up.
Historic brewery for Shiner beer offering weekday tours with tastings, plus a gift shop.
For Truck Drivers, Delivery Drivers, they have a entrance for delivery trucks and few parking spots to wait your turn for a dock. A phone number to call with your pick up delivery appointment Number ( see pictures ) or go next to door 7. They will call you when a dock door is available for you. I don’t think you can park overnight here. On the street is no space to park on what I saw. Unloading was not to fast not to slow, from the time of check in to check out 2h 30 min. Good Luck professional drivers!
Lucky Lion — Google review
The tour lasts about 45 minutes and features multiple audio-visual presentations as well as some interactive demonstrations. The highlight for me was the long hallway overlooking the canning/bottling line. You get 3 beer tokens with the basic tour bag, which you can cash in before or after the tour (and you’re allowed to bring a beer along with you). There are several nice photo opportunities along the tour. Same day reservations are by telephone only, but you can plan multiple days out on their website. They also offered a great discount on the tour for veterans and active military. Make sure to stop in the gift shop for some great Shiner merch too!
Ben Burgess — Google review
Love, love this little Bavarian brewery in Shiner! We toured the brewery back in the 90’s when we lived in Houston. It has grown up and expanded quite a bit since then. All Shiner beer is brewed here and shipped to all U.S. states and several countries around the world. Instead of the wooden nickels, we got three black chips to trade for beers in the taproom. Some varieties are only found here. I sampled the last keg of the eclipse pale ale. ♥️ After the tour we had an awesome sliced brisket bbq sandwich. We won 12-packs of the seasonal Peach Wheat at the end of the tour. We also bought a growler which was filled for free with our choice of beer from the Taproom. Love this little brewery!
Michelle Musser — Google review
The tour is very well designed and informative. Their beer production line are extremely clean and modernized with robots handling heavy lifting and moving jobs. The beer taste room serves dozens of delicious Shiner beers. There are many seating areas in front of the entrance with beautiful old oak trees. Definitely a 5 stars tour place!
Simon X — Google review
There's a heads up you should know before visiting and this is not a review of the beer itself. I like Shiner beer. They're excellent for relaxing which is what I wanted to do at this brewery. When I stepped into their gift shop I was asked if I wanted to tour. I didn't have time to wait for a brewery tour to start and spend time touring so I said I only planned to grab a beer. Turns out you can't buy beer here directly. You buy a pint glass or brewery tour to get beer tokens. The glass gives two tokens and the tour gives three, with each token able to get you a pint. Since I didn't have time for a tour and don't want another $10+ pint glass I wasn't able to buy beer. When I asked about a tiny sample I was told you need a token for that. Not allowing samples helps me not buy beer. So reader, please know that to get beer here you're buying a pint glass or taking a 45 min tour after waiting for it to start. They literally won't take your money for beer otherwise.
That aside, their venue is fantastic, the patio is lovely, and the restrooms are extremely clean. It'd be a great place to enjoy a pint of you could get one. A brewery can't make it inconvenient to buy beer.
Michael Barton — Google review
Beautiful grounds and amazing BBQ. We came out on a Thursday, when they had southern green beans and giblet rice, which was to die for. Highly recommend! You can also tour the Brewery and they have a gift shop.
Brenda Shelton — Google review
I'm not a beer drinker, but my spouse and my boys are. Shiner her we come!
The place is really spectacular. I love the outdoor venue with all the tables and games. Plus, they have a canopy area where they let people sing.
We decided against the tour. I didn't think $25 was a good deal. We instead opted for buying a glass for $8.12 and got three tokens for any beer we wanted. We also got to taste everything they had available. My favorite part was the mixed drinks they have on tap made with their vodka, gun, and moonshine. You could taste any of the mixed drinks. If you like the drink, you could choose to purchase a full glass for $8.
The gift shop was very nice as well. They variety of items to choose from. They also have older shirts at a discount.
We really enjoyed our trip. If you are close by, make sure you stop in for a beer, sit on one of the picnic tables, and enjoy some music.
Shelly Hubbard — Google review
I regret there was no food available on site nor nearby in a radius of 30 miles, maybe because of the pandemic or because it was Sunday, and they give you three coins to exchange for beers with the tour fee! We did not want to waste it so we managed it jejeje.
The tour was A+ very informative and the band playing outside was nice.
LUIGI USA — Google review
What a great brewery tour! You can’t buy beer here, you have to buy a glass or do a tour to get tokens for beer but the tour is totally worth it. Good selection of beer and very helpful staff. We’ll be back for sure!
Kris Nelson — Google review
My son's girlfriend planned a birthday trip for my son and invited me to tag along. This was so much fun. Sunshine gave an amazing tour. We want to come back during the week so we can see the production line working.
TA Hudack — Google review
Okay your probably looking at a population of Shiner TX at about 2k + and wondering where to get some food before a brewery or distillery tour (do it :-) ) this bbq joint is inset to the brewery and is making some knock your socks off bbq. Pictures below is the sausage sandwich combo. They jave salads which you can eat by themselves or add any of the daily meats. Local made and sourced sausage was absolutely killer. Small snack trays to enjoy with an adult beverage and more. Open air dining, but we even had live music on a Friday. Swing in, you wont be disappointed. Brewery tour is great, nice swag bag and great tap beers.
Aaron Waller — Google review
If ya don’t know about Shiner Beers or haven’t ever been to Shiner TX before, let me tell ya something…..Get Here Quick.
The brewery is a totally awesome place that now serves up BBQ EVERYDAY! That’s right, each and every day.
We always love the brisket and sausage, but don’t you miss out on the giblet rice as a side or even as a meal…..damn it’s good.
And the beers flow so cold and often here.
Get yourself some!!!!
James Blaschke — Google review
I came with my husband for our anniversary. We had the pleasure of having Michael as our tour guide! He was great was very fun and informative. He made the tour interesting. We loved the tour and brewery. We’re excited to come again for October fest
Ashley Villanueva — Google review
Great brewery experience located in the small country town of Shiner, Texas. Usa today has it as part of the 10 best brewery tours in Texas. #5! When you get here the main parking lot is kind of small, but there's additional parking in the lot behind that one, connected by a small trellis bridge to walk walk to the main area. The brewery is made up of the tap room, the takeout restaurant filled with barbecue goods, the shop, and the beer garden which is partially covered, and complete with band, and full bar. It's important to note that they actually don't sell beer to drink. What you can do is buy various things that come with tokens that are good for a cup of beer. We purchased the $25 gift bag that had sunglasses cups and other things in it along with three tokens for three beers. If you're here during spring break, go to the gift shop and let them see that you've liked one of their posts on Facebook and they'll give you a free 12-pack of shiner Hill country peach wheat seasonal beer there's people everywhere walking with their arms full of this beer LOL. The food is pretty good the beer is great the experience is just what you'd like it to be: country music playing with the smell of barbecue and beer everywhere! Alright alright alright.
Steven H — Google review
Great place to get some knowledge of this Texas brewery that is enjoyed nationally.
Once you purchase the tour you also get a souvenir bag and 3 tokens to enjoy 3 beers of your choice … there is a Bbq place where you can enjoy while listening to the live music …
Arturo Ceballos — Google review
So much stuff to do here!
If you didn’t know, they have brisket, gift shop, tours, games, live music and don’t forget drinks !
Super cool, great vibe.
Max Kincheloe — Google review
We have visited this brewery multiple times. It has obviously grown over the years. It has been newly remodeled. They have very friendly staff who will not make you feel intimidated when inquiring about their beer. We happened to visit during their distillery grand opening. I had no idea they now have a restaurant. We will definitely be going back for a bite to eat! We had a lot of fun! I love their spacious outdoor lawn. BTW: We also love doing their tour. They have very friendly and knowledgeable tour guides.
Amy De Leon — Google review
Amazing tour and great beer. If you are hungry, they have their own BBQ also.
Joe Bucher — Google review
We have always enjoyed a cold bottle of Shiner and was excited to learn about the history of the brewery and the people who made this place and beer possible. The tour was educational about the beer making progress but a great history and entrepreneurial lesson for our kids as well. First Female Brewery Proprietress.
Hiking, birding & camping in a forest plus river swimming & canoe rentals.
It’s perfect!!! Nice trails, swimming access, kayak rentals, unique terrain. An AMAZING state park. Endless features that make this place so special.
Chris Tea — Google review
This was an excellent park. It was different from our most recent camping excursions in that the hiking was minimal and not very challenging at all. The lake was clean and fun with good cold water feeding it. There was excellent fishing and great campsites with good shade.
I wish there were easier access to the river, but most everything was what I would consider "wild access".
TXSuburbanHomestead — Google review
A must see if you are driving in the area or just passing through. It's free, take the time, and enjoy a little nature hike. Rangers are amicable and informative. You can rent cabins, camp, al facilities available, or just spend the afternoon canoeing, rental available too. Check the attached pictures for more info
M R — Google review
Probably one of the best parks that we've been to! I mean WOW!! We did go after a rain storm so the mosquitos were out in force and they are huge!! We had no idea but we ran into a young woman who kindly let us use a little of her spray and then two park Rangers who let us some of theirs too. Everyone there, staff and other hikers were super nice and helpful. The bathrooms were super clean and we'll kept too! We will definitely be back and hopefully do some camping there too.
Tom Perez — Google review
Palmetto state park is a stunning (and frankly underrated) park that I will definitely return to in the future. There is a small lake where you can swim and rent kayaks/paddle boards. Some trails go near the San Marcos river which is very calming. There are many trails throughout the park all with a diverse array of birds. If you are quiet and early enough, you can spot some deer as well. This is a great park for folks who are new to hiking since all the trails are pretty easy to traverse. This park was not crowded at all despite being rather close to Austin and San Antonio. The staff in the main office are really friendly and helpful.
Isabella Spangher — Google review
A beautiful place. Many good hiking trails (easy to moderate) where you can take in some of the most photogenic scenery in Texas. Friendly staff and nice modern park facilities. Easy access fishing dock on Oxbow lake. It's a very popular park so it's difficult to find available RV camping spots in the short term. I recommend booking a campsite at least a couple months in advance.
Mark Rossi — Google review
Unique state park with interesting trails and plants. Saw wild turkeys, deer, water snakes, and various birds. The facilities were well maintained, although one shower did not work. Very friendly park hosts.
P Kassir — Google review
We stayed in site 15 in a 38 Renegade. Tight but no problems getting in. We were able to park our Jeep in front of the RV. Beautiful shade trees. Lots of really nice, well groomed walking trails including a walking bridge over San Marcos River. This is a very small park so make your reservations as early as possible. Lots of room between sites. Had 50 amp w/water. Lots of trees so didn't even try Starlink. AT&T hotspot gave us 15 mbs so no issues streaming. A Plus 11 miles from Bucees (Luling, Tx). We camped at Palmetto State Park in a Motorhome.
Ron Gaddis — Google review
Fun state park with great trails, boardwalks throughout the trails, beautiful foliage, lots of trees and plants. I meandered amongst the trails and walk/ran 2.5 miles. After a picnic lunch, I took the paddleboard out for three loops of the lake (.5 miles down and back). Scenic and peaceful, I’ll definitely be back.
Jana Mantovani — Google review
Overall another lovely Texas State Park.
Compared to some of the other parks with difficult and advanced trails, this is much more laid back. The trails are well maintained and easy to follow, perfect for bikes or even a stroller. You can rent Kayaks or stand up paddle boards to take out on the lake. We saw plenty of fish in the lake and some turtles too. The restrooms were clean along with the grounds. Every Park Ranger we came across was friendly and helpful. A perfect place if you're looking for some outdoor time and have little ones or are enjoying your retirement and need a quiet place to relax.
B Wee — Google review
Palmetto is one of our favorite places to visit! We got engaged here and then had the wild idea of getting married here as well! Definitely worth it. The scenery and pavilion are absolutely amazing. We used a little of what they provided and incorporated our own touches. The park rangers were super helpful (they even came to blow the leafs away before we set up) here are just a handful of photos showing how we used the space inside and out. The backside of the pavilion made for the perfect dance floor!
Cheyenne Griggs — Google review
Such a beautiful park, clean & peaceful. Showers are the absolute BEST! Hot water & great pressure. Whether you are wanting a quiet getaway, hiking trails, water views, fishing, kayaking, playground for kiddos, this park has it all plus awesome amenities. My first time but will definitely be back! Thank you Palmetto State Park & thanks to the wonderful workers! To my fellow Nomads, this park is wonderful for overnights or even day visits. 👌🏽
la vente shoppe — Google review
Great experience, lovely facility, extremely clean campgrounds! Neighbors came and went while we stayed and were a friendly bunch. All ages and stages of life, neat conversations. Many different options of camping experiences tio choose from.
Norma Ortega — Google review
We loved the trails and rode our bikes on each one. The trials are about 75% shade, if not more. We went last weekend, and the RV sites are mostly shaded as well. The San Marcos River was flowing, and we enjoyed cooling off in it. We are hoping to reserve more weekends there. On our way to the State Park, we stopped in Lockhart for some BBQ!
jay c — Google review
Awesome little park. No sewer, but they have electric and water. Bathrooms have clean showers with high water pressure. Trails are great, easy for anyone to hike or bike on. Definitely a must visit park.
Charles Bastian — Google review
When we went it was pretty nice and quiet. There are workers living quarters by the water campground so thats nice for some safety. The skies were pretty dark and the stars shown brightly if you don’t have lights on or your neighbors you can stargaze. By the restrooms on the back of the large notification boards they have the community books you can borrow. The restrooms by water camp ground have two stalls one regular size and one handicapped the restroom with shower has if I remember two regular size and one handicapped and two showers are kept clean. There is a tornado sign by the shower/restroom so I believe that is where you would take shelter if needed. On the trails I could hear different birds and we also saw deer. Of the three trails I walked on they were well maintained and easy to follow. We didn’t have any issues with bugs. We also needed air for one tire and was able to do that at the park headquarters. There is a Bucee’s nine minutes away if you need more snacks food or drinks. If i came back again I would like to bring my pupper she would enjoy the trails.
CL G — Google review
Great park. Lots of shade, well maintained hiking trails. We enjoyed both the San Marcos River and Oxbow Lake. Interesting swamp ecosystem unique to the park. Nice play ground and a small.
Tom Caldwell Online — Google review
Best camping experience so far. The tent grounds and the "Artisan Well" are just spaced out enough to have the privacy to talk amongst your group. The weather was perfect 👍
KingWeeaboo — Google review
Pretty site, went to look at potential camping and pavilion use. Camping sites look cozy, flat, well kept, standard amenities. Pavilion info: Six "door" openings are 7ft by 8 ft. Eight picnic tables that seat about 8 each are inside, and 2 larger picnic tables on back deck seat about 10 each. There's an enclosed kitchen and enclosed "dining room" with fireplace attached on the right side of the pavilion.
There's 1 electrical outlet in the main part and bathrooms on the left side. It has 4 ceiling fans and 2 chandeliers, lightswitch not visible, probably in locked dining room/kitchen. Two electrical outlets are visible in (locked) bathroom section. RV camping is close by, and day-use areas are adjacent to the parking lot (about 25 spots) and around pavilion. There are ramps for wheelchairs. There's also a water spigot outside and San Marcos river access.
Christine Ashenfelter (Hadewig Würmelin) — Google review
Great Park, well kept RV spaces 50 amp with water. Does have a dump station for after of during your stay. Trails are excellent about 5 miles worth. There is tent camping which is in separate area of park, far away from. RV spots.