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. Read More »
Endangered Turtle Hatchlings Draw Crowds Along the Texas coast
PINS has a list of nest locations and projected hatch-dates— the next predicted hatch date for 2019 is June 12-16, with dates continuing through mid-July. However, hatchlings are unpredictable and emerge when they’re ready, according to the park. Read More »
This July, Space Center Houston is Gonna Party Like it’s 1969
Space Center Houston will celebrate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission this July with events to give visitors a taste of the thrill Americans experienced 50 years ago when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon. From July 16 to July 24—the dates of Apollo’s take-off and splashdown in 1969—the official visitor center of the Johnson Space Center will offer a galaxy of stellar events and activities inspired by NASA’s triumph. Read More »
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. Read More »
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. Read More »
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. Read More »
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 Read More »
Gift Ideas for Dad
Father's Day Ideas from the Texas Highways Mercantile. Enter code SHIP70 for free shipping on orders over $70. Read More »
Rockport among ‘Best Coastal Small Towns’ in USA Today Poll
With its relaxed charm, Rockport tends to wow first-time visitors with the feeling they’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem on Texas’ coast. But it’s hard to make the argument that Rockport is any kind of secret considering its recent No. 2 ranking on the USA Today Readers’ Choice list of “Best Coastal Small Towns.” Read More »
Find Relaxation With a Retro Twist at these 6 Texas Airstream Lodgings
The Airstream legend began when a California camping enthusiast named Wally Byam mounted a tent on a Ford Model T in 1929. In recent years, the silver bullets have popped up in parks and on short-term rental sites, offering an Airstream experience without the hassle of hauling one around. Read More »
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. Read More »
Roky Erickson, the Texas Psychedelic Rock Pioneer who Made a Remarkable Comeback, has Died
Psychedelic rock legend Roky Erickson, former lead singer of the 13th Floor Elevators, has passed away at age 71. He didn’t play a single concert from 1986 until 2005, but in the last 14 years, Erickson toured the world, rocking as hard and singing as introspectively as ever before. Read More »
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