In the heart of the Texas Coastal Bend is 18-mile-long Mustang Island. On the northern tip of Mustang Island is the absolutely perfect cruising destination of Port Aransas. It is a picturesque, charming community where you will encounter a laid-back island attitude with an abundance of southern charm and hospitality. Here you can experience the best the Texas coast has to offer.

Explore the waterways, beautiful beaches, the "Fishing Capital of Texas," birding and nature, professional golf resorts, art, dining and shopping, museums and boat building. Dolphins will almost surely greet you as you make your way to the harbor entrance and zig-zag into the haven of Port Aransas. The channels are wide and the water is deep. You have arrived at a cruising jewel that may be unequaled in its uniqueness, appeal, accessibility and atmosphere, with a wealth of things to do day and night. Take time to enjoy this beautiful island with its sandy front yard and enchanting town.

For many people this is a vacation destination. It is a great place to visit any time of year. It has a humid subtropical climate similar to Gulf Coast regions in South Texas and Southern Florida. In the summer, the prevailing winds come off the Gulf of Mexico to cool the heat of the day and make outside dining a delight. During the winter months, cool mornings are made for a hot cup of coffee and the warm sun of the day makes a walk on the beach a pleasant experience. The list of things to do and places to see is limitless and impressive as is the ease of accessibility and access to virtually everything.

History Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda sailed through Aransas Pass in 1519 to what he later named Corpus Christi Bay. At that time the only residents of the island were the Karankawa Indians. Future expeditions and shipwrecks gave rise to herds of wild horses grazing on the island, prompting the original name Wild Horse, later changed to Mustang Island. Until the 1840s mostly buccaneers, smugglers, merchants and immigrants seeking their fortune used the Island and Pass. The first settlement was built in 1855 but was abandoned during the civil war when the USS Arthur blockaded the Pass. Settlers returned after the Civil War and the island flourished in the cattle, turtle and fish industry and soon became a popular destination for sportsman and tourism.

The town of Port Aransas began as a small fishing village and was called Sand Point. The name changed to Ropesville around 1890, Tarpon by 1899 and Port Aransas about 1910. In the early 1800s it was a hideout for pirates and buccaneers. The most famous of these is Jean Lafitte. Legend has it that Lafitte buried treasure somewhere in the area and marked the spot by a Spanish dagger with a silver spike driven through the hilt. Today, approximately 3,500 full-time residents inhabit the city (none of which has found the treasure).

Location The small city of Port Aransas lies immediately south of the intersection of four navigable channels. The idyllic location is the allure of this prismatic water wonderland settled between the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay. From the Gulf of Mexico, Aransas Pass Channel is clearly marked by jetties and navigation aids to guide boats in from offshore passages. The jetties extend about one half mile from shore. It is 1.5 miles from the entrance of the jetties to the intersection.

Upon entrance, Lydia Ann is the first channel to starboard. It is a very wide channel heading in a northeast direction to Aransas Bay and the city of Rockport. Moving forward (counterclockwise) is the narrow Aransas Pass Channel heading in a northwest direction to the city of Aransas Pass. To the west the Corpus Christi Channel goes into Corpus Christi Bay and to the city of Corpus Christi on the west side of the bay. Most cruising boats will approach Port Aransas from the Lydia Ann Channel, or offshore through Aransas Pass Channel. All channels are well marked. The intersection is wide and deep. On approach, it seems as if the city has put out a welcome mat.

Entering the city harbor the Port Aransas City Marina is to starboard. The marina, park and ferry landing make up the entire north side of the harbor. A huge catamaran, the Poly Anna, is a red and white shrimper that is usually in port that easily distinguishes the city marina.  Nearby Woody's Sports Center also sells fuel but doesn't have slips.

The city marina is as close as you can get to everything in Port Aransas. The park is a great place to walk, sit, and enjoy the people and scenery. Watch the ferries shuttle traffic to and from the island, and other boat traffic in Aransas Channel and the Lydia Ann Channel. Several ships a day transit the canal and can be seen from the park and the marina. Dolphins are usually on constant display in the deep wide blue waters. It is not unusual to have dolphins stop to look at you while sitting in the cockpit of your boat. There is non-stop boat traffic in the harbor.

The next marina is the high-quality, full-service Island Moorings Marina & Yacht Club, which is just past the city through a canal off the Corpus Christi Channel. The channel is on the south side of the Corpus Christi Channel, 2.6 miles from the waterway intersection at Port Aransas. Depths in the channel are reported to be 8 feet at mean tide. The channel is narrow, so stay in the middle. From the entrance in the Corpus Christi Channel, Island Moorings Marina is 1.8 miles. Entering a residential area take the channel to port to reach the marina.

Getting Around The cruising boater has many choices for transportation to and from their boat. The City Trolley will pick you up and drop you off any place in the city, including the beach. The trolley is the best, easiest, most informative way to get familiar with so much of what there is to see and do. The most convenient form of transportation is a golf cart. It is legal to drive a golf cart in the city and on the beach. Many vendors rent golf carts, but they can be limited during the busy summer months. From the city marina a bicycle is a viable and convenient way to get around. Taxi service is also available.

Things to Do A trip to Farley Boat Works is a must for boaters. Their doors are open, and they welcome visitors. You can hear the sounds of the boat shop before you enter the building. There are no exhibits; this is functional shop where you can see and experience boats being built. Farley Boat Works was established in 1914 and over the next six decades became an important part of the maritime history of Port Aransas. The Boat Works is expanding to offer educational programs and seminars covering various aspects of boat building. Those programs will include opportunities for young students through a curriculum teaching science, technology, engineering and math as essential values in boat building. There is an annual "plyWooden" Boat Festival the third weekend of October that is held in conjunction with the Port Aransas Old Town Festival.

The area is often referred to as the fishing capital of Texas with over 50 annual fishing tournaments. There are a vast variety of fishing options for the casual and the serious angler. The deep waters offshore provide the ultimate blue water challenge for Sailfish, Marlin, Kingfish, Red Snapper and many more types of fish. Power through the bays, wade the flats, paddle to inlets and fill your stringer with Redfish, Speckled Trout, Drum and Flounder. Surf fish from the miles of shoreline or find your way to the Gulf jetties and the many piers where excellent fishing can be found.

For the nature and birding enthusiast Port Aransas is located in the central flyway for thousands of birds that are permanent residents and migrants looking for a respite. Points of interest for bird watching include a weekly tour, boardwalks, observation towers, and the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. The Port Aransas Nature Preserve encompasses over three miles of hike and bike trails, birding sites, boardwalks and wildlife observation areas that include two towers. There are numerous birding events throughout the year, including the annual Whooping Crane Festival held the last weekend in February.

Make sure you take time for the scenic beauty offered by the miles and miles of incredible beaches. They are well known for prized sand dollars and shells. Every form of recreation can be found from swimming, surfing, kite boarding, jet skis and more. Take lessons on building a sandcastle or a guided kayak trip. Best of all, find a place to sit, relax and listen to the waves. There are places on the beaches of Mustang Island where you can find complete privacy and solitude.

Shopping and eating are always favorite pastimes. Take home lasting memories from unique boutiques stocked with gifts, apparel and tropical home décor, or pursue the talents of area artists at coastal galleries. The art community, fondly referred to as Port Artsy, is on display in casual home studios and sophisticated galleries. For the diet conscious cruiser, the temptations will test your resolve. Quality restaurants offer diners everything from fresh seafood to authentic Italian, German and Mexican cuisine, soups, salads, and some of the best island burgers ever created. Inside on white tablecloths, outside on the deck, or on the water, find what is to your liking and enjoy. Many of the local watering holes have grills that produce more modest meals that will fill the stomach and nourish the sailor's soul. Visit with the locals and have a great evening.

Welcome to a Texas paradise. Imagine the beauty of Mustang Island, with its blue skies and cool breezes, settled between the spectacular waters of Corpus Christi Bay and the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Imagine warm blue water, a folksy style of southern hospitality and relaxing activities all coming together in a city on the northern tip of that island. Port Aransas is a city with its own laid-back style that welcomes everyone to miles of unspoiled beaches and a vibrant business community, all mixed together in a recipe to make an ideal spot for the cruising boater.

Tom and Diane Tasma have been sailing together for over 40 years. They call Galveston, TX, home, even though for much of their time, home is where ever the boat is located. "We were anchored all by ourselves in Honey Harbor, Bahamas, sitting in our chairs in the water with the rays swimming around our feet (bring bait for them) when Diane took my hand and said, we are the oldest people out here," writes Tom in an update this week. "Boating, especially traveling on a boat, can be life's greatest adventure. We are back in Texas. Galveston is home, and we wouldn't want to end our trip anyplace else."