Texas RV Travel blog

Port Aransas

Port Aransas is an island paradise tucked away on the Gulf Coast, reached by car ferry from Aransas Pass or by driving up Mustang Island from Corpus Christi. Port Aransas is the only town on Mustang Island and inhabits 8 miles of the 18-mile long barrier island. Everything moves on Island Time in Port Aransas, so relax and enjoy all that this Texas treasure has to offer.

The bays, jetties and deep Gulf waters offer the finest fishing around. Take an excursion for sport fishing, spearfishing or scuba diving. Grab the Jetty Boat to St. Jo Island for a few hours or the day. Sign up for a sunset cruise, a gambling or a dolphin encounter.

Visit the Fennessey Ranch, 4,000 acres of wetlands, meadows and natural lakes for discovery and photography. More than 500 species of birds visit annually, making Port A one of the most popular birding destinations in Texas.

Rent a bike or electric buggie to zip around the town. Kayak, kite board or surf. Build a sandcastle or just lay back and relax the temperate climate. Remember, you are on island time.

RVers will love Port Aransas. Some of the RV parks in Port A are right on the beach. Others are located inland within walking distance to restaurants or on the trolley route. Some offer amenities like pools, wi-fi and cable.

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Texas Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo
July 3-6
Texas Cowboy Reunion Grounds; Business Loop 277
Stamford, TX 79553 (close to Abilene, Texas)
(325) 773-3138

The Texas Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo corrals about 500 cowboys from all over the Southwest and Texas for the world’s largest amateur rodeo. Rodeo prizes include cash, trophies and handmade saddles. Dance beneath the stars to live country, western swing and honky tonk music. Enjoy the fiddler contests, Western art show and cowboy poetry. Sample food served from chuck wagons.If this does not sound exciting enough, take a look at the Wild Mare Racing event.

Camping and RVing Notes:

Stamford Park (325/773-2411) has picnic sites, camping areas with hook-ups, cabins and a fishing house. Silo Scott Memorial Park (940/864-3779) has picnic and camping areas with hook-ups.

Lake Stamford is a 4,690-acre lake that is popular for fishing, boating, water skiing and some of the best fishing around. It is a power plant lake, so the fishing is good in the winter as well.

• Lake Stamford Marina, 120 Marina Drive, Stamford, TX 79553, (325) 773-2095
• Anchor Marina Lodge, 788 Anchor Lane, Haskell, TX 79521, (940) 864-3779

What to See and Do:

Evidently there is a lot of ghostly activity in Stamford and the surrounding area. Visit Ghosts of America for more information.

Make sure you visit the Texas Cowboy Museum  located at 113 S. Wetherbee Street, across from the Chamber of Commerce. View original paintings and prints by noted cowboy artists; farm and ranch artifacts from early 20th century, including living room/kitchen and blacksmith shop. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 8 am until 5 pm.

The Stamford Centennial Monument ?was sculpted by Throckmorton artist Joe Barrington, This 15-foot tall sculpture of a cowboy on a bucking horse crossing a railroad track was unveiled June 2000.

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Photography by Earl Nottingham © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Did you know there is a place in Texas where you may view the history of the Great Plains, which includes 260+ million years and six major geologic periods? The story is told in the sandstone cliffs and multicolored clays that form gypsum-laced pedestals, hoodoos and slides of the canyonlands. Standing on the bedrock of the Southern Plains, you will agree that Caprock Canyons State Park amd Trailway is unlike any other area of Texas.

Caprock Canyons State Park was Park of the Month November 2007. Below is an excerpt from this article:

Imagine a place where marbled redrock canyons slice through a vast landscape dominated by table top-flat plains, where miniature mountains pierce an azure sky, where historic railroad bridges seem to float in space and the descendants of ancient bison herds graze native grasses . . .

After the Visitors Center and the Discovery Center, the park road winds from the escarpment to the canyonlands below. Lake Theo, accessed by the first turn-in to the left along the park road, offers fishing, swimming and non-motorized boating. The next right is Honea Flat Camping Area, where you park your RV. Down the road and to the right is Wild Horse Camping Area, the equestrian camping area.

After a couple of miles, as the road descends into the canyons of the North Prong and South Prong of the Little Red River, you will find Red Tent Camping Area on the left, the trailhead of the Upper and Lower Canyon Trails to the right. The road ends at South Prong Tent Camping Area. There are two primitive camping areas on the canyon trails.

Caprock Canyons State Park includes the Trailway, a 64-mile Rail-to-Trail conversion. Used for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, this multi-use trail begins at South Plains on top of the caprock escarpment and ends at Estelline in the Red River Valley. On the way from escarpment to river valley, the Trailway crosses 46 bridges and includes a trip through Clarity tunnel, home to a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats (April through October).

Notes:

• All visitors must obtain an entrance permit to use parking area and trailway.
• Overnight campers must obtain permits at the park headquarters.
• Day-use fees may be paid at pay stations located at each trailhead.
• Do not tie animals to man-made structures.
• The Mexican free-tailed bats living in Clarity tunnel are very sensitive to traffic, noise, light and human presence. Walk your bike through the tunnel.

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Picture courtesy of http://free-stock-photos.com/

Annual Rattlesnake Roundup

March 6-March 9, 2008
Nolan County Coliseum
Sweetwater, Texas

Rattlesnake Facts

The Western Diamondback rattler can exceed seven feet in length and is the biggest of 20+ species and sub-species of Southwestern desert rattlers. Rattlers belong to a class of 100+ species of poisonous snakes generally called pit vipers.

Rattlesnakes can be a problem to ranchers, hunters, campers, hikers and anyone else who wants to enjoy the outdoors. For this reason, rattlesnake round ups began as a way to cull the rattlesnake population.

Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up

The official kick off to the Rattlesnake Round-Up is the Rattlesnake Review Parade, held Thursday, March 06, 2008. This is followed by the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant held in the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium.

The actual roundup begins Friday, March 7, and is held at the Nolan County Coliseum and the park adjacent to the coliseum.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, experienced snake hunters guide groups of registered hunters out to assist in the hunting and handing of the live rattlesnakes. Registration, license and fee required.

• If you do not want to hunt rattlesnakes, guided bus tours leave periodically throughout the day to view, film or photograph live rattlesnakes in their natural habitat.
• You can watch rattlesnakes being weighed, measured, milked and handled. If you wish, you may touch a live rattlesnake or eat a piece of deep fried rattlesnake. Other snacks are available as well.
• There are snake products and other crafts available for sale in the coliseum and at booths in Newman Park during the weekend.
• The Rattlesnake Round-Up Cook-off is held Saturday only in Newman Park, a 25 acre city park with creeks, trees, camping tables and pavilions.
• The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club sponsors a Gun & Coin show in the Coliseum annex.
• A large carnival is held outside the Coliseum all weekend long.
• Dances are held on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm. Friday night features rock-n-roll music, Saturday night is country music. $15 per person/$25 per couple.

Controversy about Rattlesnake Roundups

The rattlesnake roundup is controversial. Snake advocates claim that the snakes are mistreated at the round up. On the other hand, the proceeds from the roundup benefit many charities and community agencies (see list HERE). This event is also important to the Sweetwater area because of the economic impact of tourism. You will need to decide for yourself if this is a worthy family activity.

I do know that the snakes are captured, milked, displayed, killed, skinned and their meat is cooked or sold. Last year the gall bladders were also sold. The skins are cleaned and sold. The heads are mounted and sold. No part of the snake is wasted, as best as I can determine. If we do it to cows, sheep and goats, I do not see a problem with doing it to snakes.

RV Parks in Sweetwater Area

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Buescher State Park Fishing Lake (photograph by Eileen Trainor, all rights reserved).

We spent a restful weekend at Buescher State Park outside of Smithville, Texas. This park has a recreation hall, amphitheater, residences and walkways built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1920s. There are screened shelters and cabins situated on the 25-acre fishing lake.

I noticed the walk-in camping sites were ideally situated in a clearing in the middle of the forest. The walk-in was not a long hike either.  The facilities included two playgrounds for children.  Dogs are not allowed in any of the park facilities and must be on a 6-foot leash in the camp ground.

I am going to share RV sites because some of these sites were really short, maybe 20-22 feet. In the Oak Haven multipurpose camping area, sites 16-19, 22 and 28 are the only sites that have space for travel trailers and RVs. The Cozy Circle camping area is designated for RV and travel trailers, but sites 1-4 are not shady nor private, and do not have enough parking space for your car. Site 5 is a beautiful handicapped-accessible site right across from the bathroom that has handicapped-accessible facilities. Sites 6 and 7 are okay, but awkward to back into. Sites 8 and 9 are too short (<15 feet). Sites 10-14 are the most roomy, shaded and private spots.

Antioch Historic Roadway on Lost Pines Hiking Trail
(photograph by Eileen Trainor, all rights reserved).

We hiked about 5 miles total on the Lost Pines hiking trail, which was not as scenic as I was expecting. The walk through the woods was shady and full of wildlife and birds, but there was a long walk on the right-of-way in the sun. We turned back at the Antioch Historic Roadway and retraced our steps. We were so hot and tired, we just crawled in bed and passed out, including our dog, Rags.

Colorado River Valley from Park Road 1C
(photograph by Eileen Trainor, all rights reserved).

We drove just a few miles out Park Road 1C from Buescher SP towards Bastrop SP. There is a turn out where you may overlook the Colorado River Valley.

Another RV park in area:

I picked up a brochure for Toad Hollow RV Park & Campground (art & antiques, too).  They are located on 12 acres on Alum Creek and have nine RV spots, one vacation cabin, a tipi and camping sites.  There is a Toad Hollow Pond on the property. The phone number is 512 237 5969.  The address is 115 Fishers of Men, Smithville, TX 78957.

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