Sparkling waters, sandy beaches and warm slices of life.When the heavy-billed white pelicans and long-legged whooping cranes head south from Canada’s northern reaches each autumn, they set their sights on a sandy coastline that cups the Gulf of Mexico in a long, curving embrace.
GULF COAST GETAWAYS
From Houston and Galveston Island in the north to Corpus Christi and South Padre Island in the south, Texas’ 965-kilometre coastline offers some of North America’s finest arts, culture, sports and history, not to mention natural attractions. To help you make the most of your time in the sun, here are some of the region’s top recommended highlights.
Houston: Gateway to Texas and the Gulf Coast As America’s fourth largest city and its energy capital, affluent Houston offers historical attractions, world-class museums and excellent golf — not to mention fine dining, from cutting-edge contemporary cuisine to traditional Gulf and Tex-Mex favourites. Start in the newly rejuvenated downtown, with its lively Main Street Entertainment area and 17-block theatre district (one of the nation’s largest).
In uptown, peruse the Galleria’s highend shops.
Just 10 minutes south on the city’s METRORail system, the Museum District — bordering Hermann Park’s oasis of trees and wildlife — offers 18 art, culture and science venues. This fall, the Houston Museum of Natural Science is showcasing the prehistoric remains of one of humankind’s most ancient ancestors in “Lucy’s Legacy.”
Art lovers can choose from the Museum of Fine Arts, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Menil Collection and more.
For daytrips, George Ranch Historical Park recreates a time when cattle and cotton ruled Texas, while Space Center Houston offers awe-inspiring tours of NASA’s George Ranch Historical ParkJohnson Space Center including the Apollo Mission Control plus space shuttle and space station mock-up work areas, exhibits, movies and rides.
Five minutes from the Johnson Space Center is the Kemah Boardwalk, which features family fun. Savour seafood while overlooking Galveston Bay, and enjoy oldfashioned boardwalk, entertainment and rides.
Galveston Island: Historic Seaport and Cruise Centre The pirate Jean Lafitte used Galveston as a refuge, and so can you. Along its gingerbread- lined Victorian streets, you’ll find a laid-back, romantic place ideal for long-stay and family vacations. Stroll the historic Strand area of shops, restaurants and bed & breakfasts, and visit Pier 21 for the Texas Seaport Museum and the tall ship Elissa near the cruise port — America’s fifth largest. In late January and early February, don a party mood for the blowout Mardis Gras festival, a tradition first celebrated in 1867.
With 50 kilometres of beaches, the island offers myriad natural attractions. Children will love watching penguins slide and glide at Moody Gardens, where three glass pyramids offer rainforest, aquarium and science discovery areas. You can slide and glide for real at the nearby Schlitterbahn Waterpark.
Corpus Christi: Sparkling City by the Bay With both Gulf Coast and bay beaches, the Corpus Christi area offers prime umbrellaand-sun fun. For scenic views, drive to Mustang Island — where sand dunes rise up to 35 feet — and Port Aransas, where the whooping cranes winter at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
Back in Corpus Christi, tour the USS Lexington. Commissioned in 1943, the 33,000-ton “Blue Ghost” served longer than any other U.S. naval air carrier. For more sea-life views, try the Texas State Aquarium, featuring critters from sharks and sea turtles to dolphins and otters. Inland, the King Ranch is one of the world’s oldest and largest working cattle and horse ranches, offering history, wildlife and agricultural tours.
South Padre Island: Semi-Tropical Wildlife Paradise At the tip of Texas near the Mexican border, immerse yourself in the white sands and blue waters of the resort town of South Padre Island (conveniently connected by bridge to the mainland). To understand the area’s dune and wetland ecosystem, visit the 1,500-foot boardwalk at the Laguna Madre Nature Trail. And, of course, there’s also the 130,000-acre Padre Island National Seashore, the world’s longest remaining undeveloped stretch of barrier island, and a vital nesting beach for the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.
With the Gulf Coast located on a major migratory route, look for Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail sites for spotting the coast’s 300-odd resident or visiting species. Birdwatching is just a start, however. There’s also dolphin watching, deep-sea fishing, hiking, biking, camping, windsurfing and interpretive programs for all ages.
Whether you’re looking for an extended long-weekend getaway or an ideal locale for a winter long-stay, Texas’ Gulf Coast is sure to please.
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