Port A – A Family-Friendly Destination
If you’re dreaming of sun, sand, and unforgettable adventures, then Port Aransas is calling your name! Port Aransas is a charming destination that’s not just your average beach town – it’s a playground for families seeking fun and relaxation.
From pirate cruises to nature preserves, Port Aransas offers a treasure trove of family-friendly activities that will delight kids and adults alike. So grab your sunscreen, pack your bags, and get ready to discover the best family-friendly things to do in Port Aransas. It’s time to make memories that will last a lifetime!
Things to Do with Younger Kids
Ok, vacationing with younger kids is a different experience than going with older kids. So, for the parents with youngin, youngins.
Let’s start off with something easy
Hit the Beach & Fly A Kite
Pack a kite when hitting the beach. The wide stretches of sandy shores in Port Aransas, Mustang Island, and San José Island provide the perfect backdrop for kite flying fun. Watch as your little ones’ eyes light up with excitement as they see their kite soar into the sky, carried by the Texas Gulf Coast breeze. It’s a simple yet exhilarating activity that will keep the whole family entertained for hours. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy the beauty of the beach while creating precious memories together.
Take the Family To Fire It! Ceramics
Don’t skip out on this one with young kids. If you run into a rainy day, or you’re all beached out, make sure to make a trip to Fire It! Ceramics. Your kids will have a blast designing their own ceramics – plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and more – to take home to cherish. Think of it as s custom souvenir they can keep or give to a loved one, like their grandparents.
Hit the Skate Park, Community Pool, or Go Disc Golfing at the Community Park
Community Park in Port Aransas is a hub of family-friendly activities and outdoor fun. This park offers everything from baseball fields and a skate park to pickleball courts and a disc golf course. Younger kids can enjoy a playground, while the entire family can cool off in the community pool or explore walking trails that wind through picturesque landscapes. Whether you’re looking to relax or engage in some friendly competition, Community Park has something to delight every member of the family.
Check Out The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute Public Programs
The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute has programs open to the public with the aim of exposing the public to the marine environment and its biodiversity. With beautiful aquaria and many of the Estuary Explorium exhibits, a visit will surely bring guests to a curious exploration at the Patton Center for Marine Science., Port Aransas. Private tours can be scheduled for the exclusive group of travelers. In the heart of downtown Rockport is the Bay Education Center, where “inquiring minds” can expand to reveal a more in-depth learning experience with the presentation of “Science on a Sphere®,” a dynamic display of a globe-shaped monitor showing worldwide patterns affecting Earth. Free to the public, the presentations at this location go into greater detail with oceanography and climate science. The Wetlands Education Center in Port Aransas offers a possibility of acquaintance with the local marsh ecosystem. Free guided tours and ADA-compliant paths encourage greater enjoyment of the vegetation and wildlife of such a coastal wetland.
Take the Entire Family to Bron’s Backyard
Bron’s Backyard is a place for fun for the whole family. They’ll be serving up the kiddos with snow cones and slushies while serving up a few adult beverages for the grown-ups. The visitors can actually enjoy the various yard games, such as Cornhole, Hula Hoop, Giant Jenga, and Ping Pong, just to name a few. They even allow visitors to cool off under gigantic umbrellas or on the patio deck as they listen to music. “Bron’s Backyard” is suitable for large group meet ups and parties.
Visit The Port Aransas Community Theatre (PACT) for A Play for the Kids
If your family will be vacationing in Port Aransas and you find that you are in the mood for some very lively, great-spirited acts; then, you absolutely must go to the Port Aransas Community Theatre (PACT). Their vibrant, forceful performances offer a fantastic way to inject some pizzazz into your holiday.
There’s always something exciting on the calendar for the family at PACT. Disney favorites come to life with “Finding Nemo Jr.,” wherein the lil’ ones are sure to be mesmerized by the magic. Meanwhile, there’s something like “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy,” which provides that kind of uproarious and somewhat madcap entertainment worthy of a family night out on the town. In these, visitors got just a small sampling of the wide-ranging palate that the typical PACT has to offer.
For the best PACT experience, get the latest show dates and titles on the PACT website. Whether heartwarming adventure or comedic delight, rest assured that a PACT show will make a memory for your family adventure in Port Aransas. And if there is any performance that you really enjoyed, please consider sponsoring any of them; it is a great opportunity to support the arts in Port A. PACT is community theater, and every contribution adds value, enriching cultural life for visitors and communities of Port Aransas.
USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi
Other family-friendly activities that are worth experiencing in Port Aransas include a visit to the USS Lexington Museum in nearby Corpus Christi. This aircraft carrier, which served during World War II and is more commonly known as “The Blue Ghost,” has been functioning as an in-port attraction for history, education, and adventure since docking here in 1992.
You will enjoy experiences that appeal to all ages and interests, from the “Lockdown On The LEX” Escape Room adventure. The participants will have several missions to choose from: running to defuse a bomb in “Beat the Blast” or reaching the very ominous deeps of the vessel in “Face Your Fears.” And for those who maybe did enjoy the more traditional museum experience, the ship is open for touring at your leisure and with self-guided tours that include 20 aircraft from the National Museum of Naval Aviation, antiaircraft guns, and other artifacts. They also provide guided tours for those who would like a more vivid historical background about the place, conducted by docents who graphically tell about the stories at USS Lexington.
Additionally, the 3D MEGA Theater by Joe Jessel delivers dynamic history with its 3-story tall screens and state-of-the-art digital sound. And enjoy the excitement of naval exercises and the power of storytelling—all included with your admission. Whether you’re a fan of history or passionately attracted to military exploits, or even better, if you have a day out with your kids and want something extraordinary, then the USS Lexington Museum is for you. This is really a good way to spend a family holiday.
Create Lasting Memories with Sandcastle Lessons in Port Aransas
Take the family or team to experience the joy of building sandcastles with the Port ‘A’ Sandcastle Guy, who has been offering lessons as a way to provide families with fun-filled memories that last a lifetime. Utilizing the world’s best sand found in Port Aransas and North Padre Island, participants can learn the art of sand sculpting with just a few minutes of instruction and hands-on guidance from Mark Landrum.
From building towers and stairs to crafting arches and rocky cliffs, you’ll quickly master the techniques needed to create impressive sand structures that will wow beach visitors year after year. Whether you prefer one-on-one lessons, group sessions, or special events like parties and family reunions, the Port ‘A’ Sandcastle Guy offers a variety of options to suit your needs.
In addition to lessons, the Port ‘A’ Sandcastle Guy provides sand sculptures for events and festivals, as well as services such as logo designs in sand, team-building events, and special occasion arrangements like weddings. With the pleasant weather in Port Aransas year-round, you can enjoy the fun of sandcastle building any day, and even catch the breathtaking Texas sunset as you craft your masterpiece. Join in the fun and create unforgettable memories in the sand with the Port ‘A’ Sandcastle Guy!
Things to Do With Older Kids
Ok, so with older kids, you’ve got a lot more options on what you guys can do together: kayaking, fishing, parasailing, and horseback riding. Port Aransas is by all means a fine place for a family to stay, who really loves to explore a myriad of outdoor-style adventures, explore nature, and appreciate the local zeel that surrounds the art and history of Port A.
Take the Fam on the Glow Row Tour
Port Aransas’ Glow Row tour is truly beyond magical, and you will most definitely want to come down for a special look. This thrilling adventure will allow you to glide through the waters of Port Aransas with your family in kayaks clear as glass, lit up by bright LED lights of various colors, creating a glow that simply makes everything around way more beautiful.
With the night sky lighting up with stars, the guided paddle is at the deepest points of the peaceful boating channels and the serene shallows of Lighthouse Lakes. Your kayak lights are going to shine into the underwater light world, making the underwater world a light wonderland for everybody.
Great for the newbie or the long-term resident who’d like to see a different side to Port Aransas nightlife. For those looking to get in the thick of things, Glow Row is most definitely going to make an evening to remember. So, feel free to get this adventure booked and go on an extraordinary journey under the stars—it is a perfect way to make some lifetime memories with family amidst this beautiful coastal environment called Port Aransas.
Bird Watching Excursions
Port Aransas plays a very important role as a stop through the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail for all birding enthusiasts. Over 300 birding sites can be found in the area around town, such as whooping cranes at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to marshes at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. Whether it is splendid cranes or coastal herons, birding here assures an affluent and engrossing experience.
Dolphin Watching at Roberts Point Park
To watch the dolphin, especially from March to October, one may visit Roberts Point Park to watch the dolphins in the wild. It is one of the good places to see Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.
The park provides free entry and parking. This will be fairly convenient for a family. There is an observation tower for panoramic views, or a walk along the jetty, where apart from dolphins, you might also spot sea turtles.
Visit the History of Port Aransas at the Port Aransas Museum
After all, what better way to see local history and culture truly come to life than through a trip to the Port Aransas Museum?.
Set in a traditionally important building that has served the community for the best part of a century, the museum stands today as a cultural lighthouse and guardian, one who would reflect and protect the rich heritage of Port Aransas for all its visitors.
Port Aransas, Texas Is For Families! Make Your Trip Soon!
All of this makes Port Aransas a perfect place for families to visit and be able to explore and learn within the most beautiful setting possible: the coast. Be it bird watching, playing hide and seek with the dolphins, or going back in time at the museum, there really is something for visitors young and old. To get more ideas on how to make the most of your trip, don’t forget to check out our comprehensive guide, “Things to Do in Port Aransas,” where you’ll find a plethora of activities that promise fun for the whole family.
