I Survived the Texas Water Safari
Today, three days after my finish, I feel feral. I also feel like Wonder Woman filled my lungs with magic air that makes me capable of doing almost anything I set my mind to.
July Texas Events Guide
Independence Day Celebrations Across the State | Rockin’s the River in Fort Worth | Rockport Art Festival | Viva Big Bend
Hitch a Ride on the Texas State Railroad from Rusk To Palestine
Join Amberly, Rich, and Luke as they head to the Piney Woods of East Texas in the June edition of “A Piece of Texas”.
Visitors from a Distant Sea Bring Tiny Treasures to Texas Beaches
Small quantities of a seaweed called sargassum wash ashore all year long. But every few years, beginning in April, the sargassum arrives en masse—a deluge of amber-colored stems, leaves, and tiny gas bladders that help the plants stay afloat (and pop when squeezed). This relatively unpredictable event seems to occur after huge blooms of sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean, some 2,000 or more miles away. While piles of sargassum might hinder swimming and sunbathing, they also provide opportunities for families and other beachcombers to find seahorses, strange shrimp, and other tiny creatures that hopped a ride to Texas.
How Sweden-born Artist Kent Ullberg Found His Muse Along the Texas Gulf Coast
Kent Ullberg’s bronze sculptures dot the landscape across Texas—a giant bison in Corpus Christi, a cougar on the hunt in San Antonio, and eagles with outspread wings in Houston and College Station.
My Hometown: Luther Hotel Innkeeper Jack Findley Talks History and Having Fun on Tres Palacios Bay
At the historic Luther Hotel in Palacios, proprietor Jack Findley often mingles with guests on the front porch overlooking Matagorda Bay. Findley’s path to Palacios was circuitous.
Texas Highways Editors Share Their Favorite Coastal Destinations
Share your favorite coastal memories and photos using the hashtag #myTXcoast for a chance to be featured on our social media accounts.
10 Can’t-Miss Beach Eats of the Gulf Coast
Whether you’re a beach bum or you’ve never felt the sand between your toes, you’ll be craving a trip to the Gulf Coast after learning the stories behind these 10 iconic beach eats
Gift Ideas for Dad
Father’s Day Ideas from the Texas Highways Mercantile. Enter code SHIP70 for free shipping on orders over $70.
Aransas Pass Makes a Perfect Summer Weekend Getaway
Could there be a better way to experience a town comprised of at least 70 percent saltwater than to get to the water as fast as you can? With 41 square miles of Redfish Bay inside its city limits, Aransas Pass offers just that—
a self-described “Saltwater Heaven” building on its revival after Hurricane Harvey’s destruction in 2017.
An Epic 367-Mile Road Trip Reveals the Best of the Texas Coast
From Port Arthur to Port Isabel, navigating the best of Texas’ bays, beaches, and bards
The Best of the Coast
Agave Festival Marfa Dives into the Plant’s Historical and Cultural Significances
Now in its third year, the mostly free event features panel discussions, tequila tastings, art exhibits, live music, and reservation-only pairing dinners—all celebrating the plant that has contributed so much to the region’s culture.
Photo: Clouds Loom Over Follett’s Island
Even when clouds loom, any day is a good day on Follett’s Island, which features about 11 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Free access to the beach is available at multiple points between Surfside Beach and San Luis Pass along Bluewater Highway. During the summer, the water temperatures are usually a balmy low- to mid-80 degrees—perfect for fishing, swimming, horseback riding, birding, and camping on the beach.
