Rockport-Fulton advice needed please! (San Antonio, Alice: fit in, home, school)

[momzillajen]

Hi all -

We're heading to Rockport/Fulton next weekend and since I've only been there once before, several years ago, I need some advice and I figured that you CD people would have the answers!!

1. Recommendations on a good place to eat dinner (picky kids who don't like seafood). Has anyone tried Paradise Key Island Grill - is it any good? Or somewhere else on the water or with a neat view? We've only ever been to Charlotte Plummers (sp?).

2. Goose Island state park - my son wants to go fishing, and I saw that it is free to fish inside state parks once you've paid the entrance fee (no fishing license or stamps needed). Here's where I need help - we've only ever done freshwater fishing from a lakeshore while living in Colorado... how different is saltwater fishing from a pier? Do I need different stuff - he just has a regular rod/reel and those neon round egg-like and marshmallow-like bait things - I don't do worms! Would he catch anything with that?

3. Besides Rockport beach park, Goose Island state park, Fulton mansion, and the Texas State Aquarium (a short drive I know) is there any other must-dos in the area?

THANKS everyone. This forum is such a great resource. All hints/tips appreciated.

[Tres]

1. Rockport now has a Chili's, McDonald's and all the other fast food chains. Maybe all you need with picky eaters.

There is a great little restaurant in Aransas Pass called Grandma's, I believe. The breakfast is awesome definitely try it.

2. Fish at night under the lights with a regular seven foot rod with a speck-rig. Pictured below and they will come in a tandem set.

http://image.bayimg.com/hajlgaabp.jpg

These can be purchased at Tackle Town in Rockport on Business 35 for under two bucks and will last all night.

The trick with these is just get them wet . Night time schoolie trout under the lights will devour them. Have fun but watch out you've got two hooks to deal with.

3. No must dos, just chill. Enjoy the scenery it will be over before you know it.

[ocean2026]

Alice Fayes has good seafood, Charlotte Plumbers is ok with a nice salad bar.

The boiling pot and Hu Dats are famous but not for seafood.

The Big Fisherman has quite reasonably priced seafood dishes, I haven't tried all of them but most seem good. Unfortunately all the "All you can eat" specials are fried.

[TexaCo Mom]

Just wanted to say how ENVIOUS I am! Rockport was our family vacation spot for many years (in-law's had a second home there). My hubby even proposed to me there. I have missed it terribly since moving to CO. You've gotten some good advice/suggestions. Our fun thing to do with the kids was to stop at the HEB and pick up some chicken necks and twine and take them out crabbing off one of the piers. It was always a challenge trying to get those guys into the net Enjoy your weekend!

[SA Greed]

If you are going to go to the Aquarium, go ahead and plan a lunch at Black Beard's. It's very good. There is also the USS Lexington you can tour, do both the TSA and USS and you'd worked up an appetite.

[momzillajen]

Thanks all! We did go around mid-August but will be going back several times per year so keep those ideas coming!

We stayed at the Pelican Bay cottages - pretty nice place, kids loved their pool, and they did have their own fishing dock which was convenient and fun. We ate at the Paradise Key Island grill on key allegro - it was good, and the kids liked eating on the dock and running over to watch the jellyfish float by in the water.

The aquarium was fun - love that place - and next time we'll try BlackBeards. We want to do the Lex but I think that seems like an all-day kind of thing, or at least not something we want to fit in with the aquarium the same day.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the good suggestions!

[momzillajen]

Oh and TexaCo mom - we just moved here to SA from Colorado - Broomfield, specifically. Where in CO are you? If you are new to CO and want any advice PM me - I am a CO native and spent my entire life (except for this last year) in CO.

While I love SA, I do miss Colorado...

[TexaCo Mom]

Originally Posted by momzillajen

Oh and TexaCo mom - we just moved here to SA from Colorado - Broomfield, specifically. Where in CO are you? If you are new to CO and want any advice PM me - I am a CO native and spent my entire life (except for this last year) in CO.

While I love SA, I do miss Colorado...

Wow, small world! I'm a Texas native from San Antonio. Born, raised & lived there for 39 years. Moved to Colorado in 2000, Westminster initially until we got our bearings then ended up in Brighton for the past 7 years.

I still have family there in the area, so I look forward to one day moving back.

[SA Detailer]

I didn't read anyone mentioning the Bar B Q Shack. Great barbq!!!!