Stops along the way: Port Aransas and Mustang Island, Texas

The route we decided to take from S. Padre Island to Rockport, on our recent road trip, took us down Mustang Island to Port Aransas. This provided the opportunity to stop and check out Port Aransas Nature Preserve. Although our GPS took us to City Hall 🤣 they kindly directed us to one of the entrances to the preserve. We ended up checking out another location that advertised a birding center. The second area had a multitude of birds and was definitely worth the visit. If we had more time, we could have explored a variety of walking paths in the preserve.

A fun ending to our visit on Mustang Island was the little ferry that ran 24 hours a day over to Harbor Island. From there the highway took us over Corpus Christi Channel to Aransas Pass. Quite frankly, although our drive through Mustang Island was planned, our escape route was not. I thought there was a connecting road and didn’t realize we would need the ferry. It was an enjoyable little adventure!

Taking the scenic route along the waters on Mustang Island was absolutely beautiful.

I loved the white pelicans. I don’t believe I have ever seen them before:

The egrets look a bit clumsy, but that’s probably the photographer’s fault😁

Another white pelican:

Looking across the grasses to other viewing areas:

Below is a photo slideshow of the ferry experience and our friendly pelican.
The route runs up to six ferries a day:

“Try to live with the same intensity as a child. He doesn’t ask for explanations; he dives into each day as if it were a new adventure and, at night, sleeps tired and happy.”
~ Paulo Coelho

25 Comments Add yours

  1. Sheree says:

    Lovely part of your trip

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Sheree! It pays to check out what might be worth a stop along the way!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sheree says:

        Absolutely Lisa

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Pelicans are so funny, especially in flight. Unfortunately they do not live in my corner of the world…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s amazing how many different birds there are in different places around the world, isn’t it?

      Liked by 1 person

  3. aussiebirder says:

    Thanks for sharing your trip Lisa, those wetlands look extensive and the white pelican is beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Ashley! I would have loved more time there. But it was still worth the stop!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Jeff Flesch says:

    Inspiring photography, Lisa! Lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jeff! I love to make stops along the way, I’m not one for long drives… I like to explore!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jeff Flesch says:

        I’m not one for long drives either, and a big yes to exploring! You’re very welcome, Lisa!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Those pelican photos are great!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Nora! They are such pretty birds!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Toonsarah says:

    Looks like you chose a really lovely route here – birds and a ferry ride, just perfect 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It really was lovely! And always a little adventurous when you don’t know exactly where you are going! 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Nancy says:

    Love seeing pelicans… they are not in our part of the world.
    Loved hearing about and seeing your trip.
    Happy Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Nancy!! Happy Sunday to you as well!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. That looks like a fun excursion. Glad you found an escape route. The white pelicans are beautiful in their own unique way. For such awkward-looking birds, they sure move about quite gracefully.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, I was very taken by the white pelicans!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Love those White Pelicans, Lisa!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Donna! I had never seen them before, they were beautiful!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Maryland is lucky to have a flock of White Pelicans migrate every winter to Blackwater NWR, about 2 hours from me every winter. They are a big attraction for sure here!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. SoyBend says:

    Cool pelican photos, Lisa!

    Liked by 1 person

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