Travel & Outdoors
September 6, 2023
Where to Watch the October 14 Solar Eclipse in Texas
Paddle on a sea kayak in Rockport, party with Kinky Friedman in Kerrville, or find a quiet spot close to home.
Port Aransas
Critters
August 29, 2023
Whale Sharks Near Texas? A Rare Sighting Thrills Anglers and Scientists
The world’s biggest fish swims in the Gulf, but much about it remains a mystery.
Libations
August 16, 2023
A Historic Bar in Port Aransas Finds a New Home
Shorty’s Place, a coastal dive that has been around since the 1940s, cleans up and moves on while maintaining its signature charm as a community hangout.
Critters
February 13, 2023
Beware the Mighty Mantis Shrimp
It’ll punch you with a tiny spear that has the force of a .22 rifle.
Travel & Outdoors
August 9, 2022
These Port Aransas Classics Keep Us Coming Back
Five years after Hurricane Harvey, the beloved beach town continues to recover and evolve. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Critters
December 15, 2021
In Search of the Jaguarundi
Every year, dozens of Texans report sightings of this elusive cat. But scientists are increasingly skeptical that it’s here at all.
News & Politics
May 24, 2021
A Brief History of Texans Finding a Message in a Bottle
A 2018 note from a Canadian teen washed up on a Port Aransas beach this month, reminding us of other writings found on Texas shores.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Best Thing in Texas
April 23, 2021
Whooping Cranes Are Nesting in Texas for the First Time in Over a Century
One of the rarest birds in North America is making a comeback.
Critters
March 12, 2021
The Ballad of Boots and Stumpy, the Bad Boys of the Birding Center
A turf war disturbs the peace in Port Aransas.
Hunting & Fishing
April 15, 2020
The Great Texas Fishing Safari
Texas offers some of the most-diverse fishing in the country—from stalking monster sharks on Padre Island to fly-fishing from a kayak on the remote Pecos River. And for three months, I got to try it all.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
Travel & Outdoors
June 6, 2018
Summer Itinerary: A Weekend in Port Aransas
Where to stay, shop, eat, drink—and maybe take in a pirate cruise with the kids.
The Stand Up Desk
May 30, 2018
Behind the Lines: It’s Time to Go Back to the Texas Coast
The first summer after Harvey is when Texas coastal communities most need visitors.
Travel & Outdoors
May 23, 2018
Why We Should Go Back to the Coast
Port Aransas has always been a place for Texans to relax, play, and make lasting memories. Now, after Harvey, it needs us just as much as we need it.
Travel & Outdoors
May 23, 2018
“We Need People to Come and Support Us Right Now.”
Dispatches from the restaurant, retail, and lodging owners in Port Aransas.
Politics & Policy
August 31, 1992
Unresolved Trust
Condo Manager Sharon Butler questions what officials consider affordable.
Critters
January 1, 1992
Big Bird
Getting up close and personal with the endangered whooping crane.
Critters
September 1, 1987
Shark!
Three shark attacks on the Texas coast this summer are making swimmers edgy and chambers of commerce ask one question: what’s going on out there?
Travel & Outdoors
June 1, 1983
Funky Riviera
Discover another side of the Texas coast—its peerless beachcombing, legendary beer joints, odd birds (feathered and otherwise), and lovable year-round scruffiness.
Travel & Outdoors
August 1, 1979
Down to the Sea in Buses
Grab your beach towel and bathing suit, but leave your car in the garage.