LOWER TEXAS
GULF COAST CORPUS CHRISTI • PALACIOUS • PORT ARANSAS • PORT LAVACA • PORT O’CONNOR • ROCKPORT-FULTON
Lower Gulf Coast Calendar Where to Stay, What to See and Do A Showhouse on Mustang Island
Rockport Beach.
Austin St. is downtown Rockport’s main shopping strip.
A COASTAL FEVER CALENDAR Where to Stay, What to See and Do Fulton Pier at night.
T
he Texas Gulf Coast can sure cure what ails you. Palacios, Port Lavaca and Port O’Connor offer small town charm and a return to nature. Rockport/Fulton and Port Aransas consistently rank as favorite destinations for seabreeze seekers. Corpus Christi welcomes visitors with a long to-do list. Following are some of favorite picks.
To See
The birds of the Texas Gulf Coast: White pelicans, mergansers, loons, buffleheads, shovelers, teals, grebes. Cormorants, avocets, oystercatchers, godwits, turnstones, ibis, curlews, willetts, yellowlegs, black-necked stilts, roseate spoonbills. Cranes egrets and herons—the list goes on and on. One recommended viewing spot: Lighthouse Beach, Port Lavaca. The boardwalk curves off the parking area into the coastal marsh and wetlands. It ends at a covered gazebo suitable for sitting and viewing the wildlife. Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi. A 2006 expansion doubled the museum’s size and is noted for 13-foot rooftop pyramids using a stunning mix of color and light. The entire complex symbolizes a “meeting of the minds” between Mexican and American architecture. Through September 7— Conversations with Wood: The Collection of
Compiled by Debi Bryant • Photos by Dianne Lloud, courtesy of Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Ruth and David Waterbury. From the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, this collection features about 80 one-of-a-kind objects that demonstrate superb craftsmanship and artistry. www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org The murals of Palacios. Stop by the Palacios Chamber of Commerce to pick up your guide to the seven murals depicting various times and events in Palacios history. And show you are in the know by using the town’s Texan-ized pronunciation “Puh-LASH-uhs.” 26th Annual Hummer/Bird Celebration, Rockport. September 18-21, 2014. Lectures, home tours and fun. Visit www.rockporthummingbird.com for details. The Selena Museum, 5410 Leopard Steet, Corpus Christi. 361-289-9013. Enjoy Selena’s outfits and dresses, cars and memorabilia. Viva Selena! Port O’Connor, gateway to Matagorda Island. This island welcomes campers, fishermen, hikers, and birders. Now a national preserve and home to a wide variety of endangered migratory birds, it is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. With no permanent resi-
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dents, it is accessible only by private boat. Guides are available for hire to taxi you across and back. Texas Jazz Festival, Corpus Christi. October 17-19, 2014. At Heritage Park, this celebration of jazz music brings thousands of fans together each year to see jazz performers from across the country. And it’s free! www.texasjazz-fest.org
To Shop
Shop the World, 2955 Hwy 35 N., Rockport-Fulton, 361-729-5165, where you can find island-inspired accessories, furniture, dishware, clothing and much more. Also look for them on Facebook. Deb’s Vintage Treasures ,776 Bayview Drive, Palacios. 361-404-1214. Unique items at affordable prices—vintage glassware, vintage Christmas, toys. Déjà vu Antiques, 1303 W. Main Street, Port Lavaca, 361-552-1545. Bring your pocketbook. You never know what you’ll find. The Treasure Chest, 2818 W. Adams Street, Port O'Connor, 361-983-2696. Featuring artwork, apparel and jewelry by local artisans, the Treasure Chest brings the best of the gulf coast to your home.
A Mano, 1726 St Hwy 361, Tower Center, Port Aransas. 361-749-1828. The owner makes buying trips deep into Mexico and brings back clothes, dishes, furniture, pottery . . . anything Mexican. Jo D's Etc., 345 N. Alister, Port Aransas. 361-749-2290. Great clothes for the island and anytime. Linens in classic and easy to wear styles. The Outlets at Corpus Christi Bay (the intersection of Interstate 69, aka NAFTA Hwy, & State Highway 44. www.corpuschristioutlets.com). Benjamin's Surf & Skate, 1233 Airline Road, Corpus Christi. 361-993-2520. Benjamin's began as a surf shop and has grown into a full-on lifestyle boutique, carrying brands like Free People and Betsey Johnson, plus all your favorite skate and surf brands like Quicksilver, RVCA, Volcom and Stussy. Mustang Island Art Gallery, 2222 Hwy 361, Port Aransas. 361-749-2200.
www.MustangIslandArtGallery.com A Mano – gifts, jewlery, cothing and more! 1812 Hwy 361 #A, Port Aransas, 361.749.1828. See them on Facebook.
To Eat
Seafood and Spaghetti Works (Port Aransas, www.seafoodandspaghettiworks.com). Says one long-time fan, “They definitely have the funk factor that has always drawn me to Port Aransas.” Cafe Phoenix, 229 Beach Avenue, Port Aransas. 361-749-9277. “A perfect little gem of a restaurant.” “The best crab cakes I have ever eaten in my life.” “The food never disappoints and the pies are fabulous too.”
finest foods with exciting dishes and unique ambiance. Every dish is created using only the freshest, finest ingredients with the menu changing daily, dependent on available fresh catches of the day. The Boiling Pot, 201 S. Fulton Beach Road, Fulton, 361-729-6972. “Fun experience and good food. If you have never been to a Cajun boil, you are in for an experience.” Charlotte Plummer’s Seafare Restaurant, 202 N. Fulton Beach Rd., Fulton, 361-729-1185. Fresh gulf seafood caught daily. Waterside dining, views of Aransas Bay. www.charlotteplummers.com
The Venetian Hot Plate, Port Aransas, www.venetianhotplate.com. The Venetian Hot Plate offers quality cuisine and a quaint, yet energetic atmosphere, bringing a touch of Italy to this casual island in South Texas.
Crab-N Aransas Pass, www.crab-n.com. Repeat travelers to Rockport know to head to this popular eatery, known for its fresh, Cajun-style seafood, for their first supper in town. Grab a table and enjoy blackened redfish, grilled flounder, and peppery gumbo.
The Pelican Club, (Port Aransas, www.thepelicanclubporta.com. Located on the harbor, The Pelican Club serves up Port A's
Whataburger by the Bay, 121 N. Shoreline, Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is the proud home of the original Whataburger which
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Rockport Beach is a certified Blue Wave beach.
Catch of the day in Fulton.
The lower Texas Gulf Coast is a bird watcher’s paradise.
began in 1950. This location has a spectacular view of the Corpus Christi Bay.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 2629 N. Highway 35, Port Lavaca., 361-552-5700
Tran’s Restaurant, 1009 Henderson, Palacios, 361-972-1008.
La Quinta Inn & Suites, 910 N. Highway 35, Port Lavaca, 361-551-8800
Texas Traditions, 234 E. Main Street, Port Lavaca, 361-553-1555.
The Inn at Clark's/ Clark's Docking, Port O'Connor, 361-983-2300. A best kept fishing secret on the Texas coast. The inn is located 1/2 block off the Inter-Costal Waterway. Owned and operated by the Clark family, who has been in Port O'Connor for 70+ years.
Josie’s Mexican Food, 610 W. Adams Avenue, Port O'Connor. 361-983-4720. Lunch and dinner, you can bring in your catch and they will clean and cook the fish for you. However you like it fixed. Hoegemeyer’s Barbeque Barn (Corpus Christi, www.hoegemeyers.com). Fans claim it’s the best BBQ in Texas. Let the fighting begin!
To Stay The Peaceful Pelican, 317 East Bay Boulevard, Palacios. 361-972-0317.
Redfish Lodge on Copano Bay, Rockport. www.redfishlodge.com Plantation Suites & Conference Center, 1909 State Highway 361 Port Aransas. 877.836.3866?. www.plantationsuites.com Sandpiper Condominiums, 6745 Seacomber Drive, Port Aransas. www.sandpiperportaransas.com Omni Corpus Christi Hotel Bayfront, 900
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N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi. 361-887-1600. V Boutique Hotel, Corpus Christi. www.vhotelcc.com. Offering intimate, luxurious service in the heart of downtown.
To Arrive (from Houston) 1. Palacios, 100 miles 2. Port Lavaca, 125 miles 3. Port O’ Connor, 140 miles 4. Rockport/Fulton, 185 miles 5. Port Aransas, 200 miles 6. Corpus Christi, 200 miles. Southwest Airlines, American and United offer flights into Corpus Christi International.
Less than
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from
Home to more bird species than anywhere else in the USA Fishing, birding, relaxing...that’s us! • 1-361-972-0317
2 hours Houston
Visit Kelly’s Landing AGRICULTURE MUSEUM & AGRI-TOUR • October 4 & 5, 2014 20TH GERMANFEST www.robertscovegermanfest.com Roberts Cove, LA • October 17, 18, & 19, 2014 78TH INTERNATIONAL RICE FESTIVAL www.ricefestival.com Crowley, LA • November 15, 2014 42ND FROG FESTIVAL www.raynefrogfestival.com Rayne, LA
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Houston Couple Heads to the Lower Gulf Coast To Find a Pretty Retreat on a Barrier Reef By Marsha Canright
B
uilt at the water’s edge on Mustang Island, the three-story Cinnamon Shore beach house has sweeping water views of the Gulf from every room. Some vistas span the Bay of Corpus Christi.
It’s a large, light-filled space designed to comfortably sleep 16 people and to serve as a low-maintenance, multi-generational retreat. The cream-colored structure ringed in windows is a collaboration between designer Susan Castor, Houston architect Melton Henry, and builder Jerry Buckley, who pooled their professional resources to create a special beachside retreat. It was a team approach from day one – to build an environmentally friendly home in a community called Cinnamon Shores, located on a barrier island stretching from Corpus to Port Aransas. “The three of us were committed to proving that if we did a thoughtful and thorough job upfront, it could result in a beautiful home that is easy to maintain, efficient and comfortable,” Castor says. A Bellaire couple purchased the house in 2012 for $2 million.
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The 4,000 square foot house features two living areas, two master suites, a kitchen or kitchenette on every floor, a wraparound porch, and an elevator for easy access to each level. “It’s the kind of place that when you walk in the door, you haven’t got a care in the world,” Buckley says. A neutral color pallet uses muted colors and textures in soft whites, grays, and beige. The white oak stairs with stainless steel railings wind up the home’s central core as if it were a ship, adds Henry. A cupola with 12 windows caps the top of the stairs. The natural light enters at the top and filters downward throughout the house. The lofty third floor opens to a master suite with panoramic views of the gulf, the beach and the sky. A wide walk through between the stairs and the elevator includes two custom-built trundle beds tucked in the wall. There’s a separate bath adjacent to the stairs for those bed-
The thought was to build a multigenerational home that would be easy to maintain, efficient and comfortable. The beach house is 4,000 square-feet with views spanning the Gulf and bay.
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The design team chose Kravet leather pieces for the downstairs media room; a p[ace for the children to hang out. Corpus Christi artist Linda Kronke made the colorful glass plate hangings. The nesting table is custom made. The personal-size sofa pulls out into a double bed.
ding in the trundles, and balconies for relaxing. The second floor has the main living and dining areas, the full kitchen, a coffee bar, and an entry to the second master suite above the two-car garage. “The kitchen is my favorite room; it's simple but functional, and sleek and contained,” says Buckley. It has two dishwashers, a huge pantry, an alcove for a computer, a microwave drawer, and hidden appliances. Kitchen counters are made of recycled glass or granite, and the cabinets are painted with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. A protected outside living area opens from the north side of the dining room and wraps around the structure. For Castor, it’s the master suite that holds her attention. “It has the most beautiful view of the sunset,” she says. The ground floor has a living area with a kitchenette.
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Next to it is a bunkroom with two sets of built-in bunk beds and a full bath. A second bedroom has a queen bed and shares a bathroom with a third bedroom with twin beds. A mudroom sits behind the foyer and can be accessed by a side door next to the outside shower, making an easy access to return from the beach and shower before going inside. The laundry room is hidden behind a barn door finished the same as the walls. Easy-to-clean porcelain beige tile covers the ground floor. The upper floors are engineered white oak with an oil stain infused into the wood for very low maintenance. In addition to the views, Castor says she likes the interior natural lighting and the use of cypress on the walls. The home site is near the boardwalk, which crosses the dunes, following the zig-zag of the coast line.
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ABOVE: Four built-in bunk beds allow sleeping for eight on the third level. A trundle bed is found under each behind cabinet doors. UPPER RIGHT: Several attached pieces of driftwood garland hang from the ceiling and are secured at the base to create a textural divider. BELOW LEFT: The dining room and breakfast area are located close together to provide overflow seating when large numbers of people arrive to eat. The breakfast table is also expandable. BELOW RIGHT: The floors and walls are cypress, a wood that is pretty, hardy and suitable for humid weather.
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ABOVE: The master suite, one of three, features a sitting area. BELOW LEFT: Furnishings by Tommy Bahama create a coastal look in the guest room.
Resources Susan Castor Designs 3636 S. Alameda Suite #H, Corpus Christi 361.851.8052 www.castorcollection.com Melton Henry, Architect 713-572-0577 5100 Westheimer Rd Ste 425, Houston, TX 77056. Mhcoastalarchitect@gmail.com
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Jerry Buckley, Buckwild Builders in Port Aransas, 361-749-2224 Hector Villarreal, Southern Landscapes in Corpus Christi, 361-241-1068
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Going Coastal A Family Lives Life to the Fullest in Rockport
Colonial Mexico folk art, Talavera Ceramics, pottery, textiles, jewelry, & home decor 1812 State Hwy 361, SuiteA Port Aransas,TX 78373
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My family’s flight from the hill country to the coast began 12 years ago when we purchased a second home in Rockport. After focusing on a grueling work schedule in Austin that spanned 20 years, we decided it was time to enjoy some downtime. We chose a wonderful waterfront home just minutes away from downtown Rockport. The little town’s charm immediately captured our hearts. We enjoy the daily fresh seafood restaurants, coastal activities and the historical downtown area sprinkled with quaint storefronts and artist galleries. It quickly became our “get away” place for long weekends. My husband and daughter fished and explored the coastal waters, and on some days we would just relax on the Rockport Beach and float in the saltwater pool. It became a regular part of our lives. We anticipated Fridays with gusto – just so we could hit the open road and escape to what we began calling “Our Happy Place.” The little town of Rockport has given us so much in terms of being able to live life to the fullest. Each
month Rockport hosts such fun activities as Market Days at the Maritime Museum grounds and an abundance of festivals. Over the years, we have attended every festival that Rockport offers. From the Wine Festival, Oysterfest, Art Festivals, Hummingbird Festival and more… there is never a dull moment here in this coastal town. In 2014, we were given the opportunity to move to Rockport permanently and work at the coastal community; The Reserve at St Charles Bay. We jumped at the chance and took up permanent residence at “Our Happy Place.” Each day I arrive at work and watch the beautiful coastal birds feeding in the wetlands and boats jetting by in search of fresh trouts and reds. It does not get much better than that. Never a day goes by that I regret living in paradise. We spend our nights waterside with a glass of wine and watch the dolphins swimming into the canals. Life is sweet here on the lower Gulf Coast. By Amy Garcia At The Reserve at St. Charles Bay www.stcharlesbay.com
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