Written by Marv Novak
 | | Corpus Christi: Sailing replicas of Columbus' ships |
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Alligator laden bayous, cactus covered bird sanctuaries, playful Dolphins and giant Whooping Cranes are among the attractions offered to the Texas Coast cruiser. Although the terrain offers a slowly changing view for over 600 miles from Louisiana to Mexico, it provides boaters of all types and sizes a transition from the Creole-flavored Cajun coast to the tropical waters and beaches of the southern coast.
Taking either the inside Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, or the offshore Gulf of Mexico route, weather and scenery can be chosen as well as any type of excellent fishing desired. Passes between the inside and outside routes occur about a day's run apart but are sometimes shifty and tricky to transit. The low marshlands of the barrier islands run along most of this coast, creating lengthy bays steeped in history. These protected waters contributed to the early commerce of the area and developed the coastal communities such as Galveston, Freeport and Corpus Christi. The upper Texas Coast, from the Sabine River bordering Louisiana to Corpus Christi, has numerous improved inexpensive harbors and anchorages. Heading further south from Port Aransas to Port Isabel on the Mexican border, the lower Texas Coast is much less developed and more tropical.
 | | What luck: big redfish caught in Galveston Bay! |
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Fishing and bird watching are big tourist attractions along this coast. Records for Shark, Marlin, and King Mackerel are often set at the Galveston and Freeport fishing tournaments. The world's largest flock of endangered Whooping Cranes winters at the sanctuary just north of Port Aransas after their long journey from Canada. These gracious giants can be observed in the wild from October through March and numerous other varieties are pursued by bird lovers year round. Dolphins and Pelicans are always entertaining as they play in the wake and dive for fish near the boats.
One of the largest live offshore coral reefs is located about 100 miles southeast of Galveston in warm, clear water. This protected area called the Flower Gardens is now marked with mooring buoys for divers to stop and enjoy these growing formations heavily populated with colorful sealife.
Large ocean traffic mixes with pleasure boating near the ports of Galveston and Houston. These two ports combined make up the largest port in the United States. This also contributes to the heavy industrial flavor near these areas. Oil and shipping provide the economic engine growing Houston into the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in America. Here the boater is provided with all the benefits of a modern metropolitan area, with the largest medical center in the world and the peripheral attractions of fine opera, ballet, and symphony as well as associated multicultural restaurants and shops.
Moving south past Freeport the stops take on more of a resort atmosphere. Rockport is home to many boating retirees and Port Aransas has a large sportfishing fleet ready for charter. This quaint island village across from Corpus Christi surrounds its small harbor with tourist amenities and a ferry to the mainland. Every October the harbor overflows with the Harvest Moon Regatta, one of the largest U.S. coastal offshore races with more than 250 sailboats competing.
From there, Mustang and South Padre Islands extend south to Mexico and have the long white beaches and high rise hotels providing fun for Spring Breakers and others looking for warmth as cold weather sends them south. However, the length of these barrier islands still gives them long stretches of deserted beach to enjoy, some only accessible by boat.
 | | Visitors can sail on a replica of a ship of Columbus |
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This area was first mapped by Spanish explorer Pineda in 1519, was the tragic end of French Explorer LaSalle's expedition in 1685, hosted silver laden Spanish Galleons, and felt the wrath of the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte. LaSalle's sunken ship "La Belle" was recently discovered in Matagorda Bay and is now under extensive archeological study. The aircraft carrier Lexington and replicas of Christopher Columbus ships Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria are on display in Corpus Christi.
A trip down the coast of Texas truly gives a variety of sites, pleasures and adventure that would be an unexpected delight to most cruisers.
Marv Novak is the US representative of marinamap. He lives in Seabrook/Texas, near Houston. His website: http://home.earthlink.net/~marvsails/
If you want to supplement this article with hints or own experiences, please click here.
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