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South Texas to Mexico
Today is the day. Today is “Homeschool Vacation” - the day we’ve been
anticipating for months. School is on hold, work is on hold and I get to go
somewhere—anywhere sounds good to me. Our family has never been down
the coast of Texas, or to South Texas, so that's our direction, with Mexico as
the grand finale.
We've chosen a theme, "Explorers of Texas", to loosely focus our activities
around. After all, we are homeschoolers. We made the decision to tent camp
along the way - one of those financially based decisions - it's the cheapest
way to go. As good explorers should, we will be making several stops along
our way, with the first stop at Goose Island State Park. This is just north of
Rockport-Fulton, Texas on Copano Bay. Great camping sites are right on the
bay, with several piers for saltwater fishing. Birding is very popular in this
area of Texas, so bring binoculars and a field guide. The endangered
whooping crane can be seen wintering in this area, and there are guided
tours to get you even closer. A must see in the park is the “Big Tree”, a
huge coastal live oak estimated to be over 1000 years old. In town are the
windswept oaks, naturally sculpted by the strong Gulf winds.
In Rockport is the Maritime Museum (361/729-1271). It is a small museum
with an excellent exhibit focusing on Robert LaSalle, the French explorer who
missed the Mississippi River and ended up on the Texas coast in 1685; and
the Spanish shipwrecks off the coast of Texas in 1556. For a short
geography lesson, there is an exhibit on the Intracoastal Waterway. The
Rockport Center for the Arts (361/729-5519) is nearby and the Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge. One last stop is the Fulton Mansion, a stately
Victorian mansion, restored to its 1870’s appearance.
We’ve enjoyed our camping, fishing and exploring; now we’re off to
continue our journey. Our children chant, “When’s Mexico? When’s
Mexico?” But there’s so much to see, so we drive towards Corpus Christi. It’
s only about 45 minutes away, but we choose to take a more scenic route,
sticking as close to the coast as possible, and exploring the coastal barrier
islands of the Gulf.
We head to Aransas Pass to ride the ferry to Mustang Island and Port
Aransas. Port Aransas has that vacation-town feel to it. It’s a popular spot
for the winter Texans with their big RVs and there are several nice shops and
restaurants. From there we continue south on the island. Mustang Island
State Park is along the way with primitive beach camping.
As with all explorers, as inclement weather approaches, unforeseen obstacles
occur. We reach Corpus Christi with much excitement and come across a
visitor’s center. Always stop and check it out - great information and
coupons. We are looking for good places to camp. Hence our first obstacle;
RV parks are for RVs (who’d a thought) and aren’t really open to tents.
Finally we find an RV park that will accept our tent, I think mostly out of
charity. We are now set to enjoy Corpus Christi - swimming in the heated
pool and nice views of Corpus Christi Bay. We’ve conquered our first
obstacle, though short-lived. The next day the inclement weather hits, high
winds (bad for tents) and rain; so be flexible when exploring ... off to a hotel
we go.
Corpus has so much to do and see that it is hard to narrow it down. We try
to let each family member choose something that fits their particular
interest. My husband is a war buff, so we head to the U.S.S. Lexington, a
WWII wonder. This is good for an entire afternoon. It is a floating museum
with an IMAX theater on board. There’s also the Texas State Aquarium,
another half-day attraction. Besides all the different aquariums, there’s
Dolphin Bay, with a fantastic dolphin show. Check the times, and don’t miss
the otter show. This can be very educational , or just an enjoyable time to
view these marvelous creatures.
The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is just across the bridge
from the U.S.S. Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. Treasures from the
1554 Spanish shipwrecks are on display. There's an exhibit on LaSalle and
replicas of 2 of the 3 Spanish ships Columbus sailed across the Atlantic. The
Nina is moored at the Corpus Christi marina and not open to the public, but
can be viewed from the dock. This is a great place to enjoy if you’re
studying different explorers that have come to America.
While in Corpus, be sure and drive down Ocean drive. This is a beautiful,
scenic drive with several “T” heads and piers to explore. There are
restaurants, activities and relaxing places to sit and look out over the bay.
We found a huge park and let the children just run and play.
Padre Island is just a short drive from Corpus Christi, with Padre Island
National Seashore in the middle of the island. Primitive camping in one of the
last natural seashores is available, with nature trails and of course,
swimming. Both ends of the island are developed and have so much to do
that that’s a separate article in itself.
It’s now our fifth full day of “Homeschool Vacation”; time for some R&R.
We head south and decide to stop over in Kingsville, home to the King
Ranch, considered to be the birthplace of the American ranch. There is a
wonderful RV park 20 minutes south on Baffin Bay. This park, Kaufer-Hubert
Memorial Park and Seawind RV resort, are friendly to tents with a tent area
right on the bay. The kids enjoy the games - shuffleboard, ping pong and
billiards. The facilities are clean and neat and the people are friendly. In
Kingsville, visit the King Ranch Museum and The King Ranch Saddle Shop.
King Ranch, a National Historic Landmark, has tours throughout the year.
We are ready to head to Mexico via the Rio Grand Valley. The Valley is a
great destination. South Padre and historic Port Isabel are close; Laguna
Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Brownsville and McAllen are just a few
places to check out. Find the information center in Harlingen and do a little
research to find out what’s important to your family. It’s easy to do a study
on explorers in Texas with La Salle and his ill-fated voyage, and then there
are the 3 Spanish shipwrecks which are highlighted at the Treasures of the
Gulf Museum in Port Isabel. Padre Island is a great focus on the
cannibalistic Karankawa Indians. Then there’s the Laguna Madre, the
mother of lagoons, the bay that stretches between Padre and the shore.
This bay is famous for its saltwater fishing; I just think the name is pretty.
And if there’s a budding orthinoligist in the family, the Great Texas Coastal
Birding Trail spans the entire coast.
Our family chose to focus on family history, as the Rio Grand is where my
father grew up. I recommend in your homeschool endeavors to take time
and study some of your own family’s history. A sense of connection to the
past makes history seem a little more personal and real. We aren’t just
studying other’s history, we have a history, too. It was exciting for our
children to hear stories of their grandfathers, while seeing the places it
actually happened.
Finally the day has arrived. We are heading to the border and crossing over
to Mexico for a day trip. There are several border towns, and the
information center will help with choosing. You can go with a group, drive
up to the border and park, then walk over or drive over and park in Mexico.
We have chosen Progresso, and travel with family who know what they are
doing. It's a great experience to enjoy another’s culture. The town’s people
are very much looking for the tourist to come and spend. There is no need
to exchange monies as they are very familiar with the American dollar.
Vendors line the main street, ready to bargain. Inside the stores, the prices
are more set. The selection of merchandise is wide and different. The
children have a blast buying souvenirs for their friends, as we could easily
purchase small gifts for just a dollar or two. We also brought all our spare
change to give out to the children on the streets. I know my children will
always remember giving away what we could to those precious little ones.
All in all, the “Homeschool Vacation” was a success. We all got to do
something we wanted. We explored places we’d never been before, and
enriched our minds while learning about famous explorers. Best of all, we
made memories that will last a lifetime.
Susan Richie
Added note: Check travel advisories on all travel to Mexico.
Today is the day. Today is “Homeschool Vacation” - the day we’ve been
anticipating for months. School is on hold, work is on hold and I get to go
somewhere—anywhere sounds good to me. Our family has never been down
the coast of Texas, or to South Texas, so that's our direction, with Mexico as
the grand finale.
We've chosen a theme, "Explorers of Texas", to loosely focus our activities
around. After all, we are homeschoolers. We made the decision to tent camp
along the way - one of those financially based decisions - it's the cheapest
way to go. As good explorers should, we will be making several stops along
our way, with the first stop at Goose Island State Park. This is just north of
Rockport-Fulton, Texas on Copano Bay. Great camping sites are right on the
bay, with several piers for saltwater fishing. Birding is very popular in this
area of Texas, so bring binoculars and a field guide. The endangered
whooping crane can be seen wintering in this area, and there are guided
tours to get you even closer. A must see in the park is the “Big Tree”, a
huge coastal live oak estimated to be over 1000 years old. In town are the
windswept oaks, naturally sculpted by the strong Gulf winds.
In Rockport is the Maritime Museum (361/729-1271). It is a small museum
with an excellent exhibit focusing on Robert LaSalle, the French explorer who
missed the Mississippi River and ended up on the Texas coast in 1685; and
the Spanish shipwrecks off the coast of Texas in 1556. For a short
geography lesson, there is an exhibit on the Intracoastal Waterway. The
Rockport Center for the Arts (361/729-5519) is nearby and the Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge. One last stop is the Fulton Mansion, a stately
Victorian mansion, restored to its 1870’s appearance.
We’ve enjoyed our camping, fishing and exploring; now we’re off to
continue our journey. Our children chant, “When’s Mexico? When’s
Mexico?” But there’s so much to see, so we drive towards Corpus Christi. It’
s only about 45 minutes away, but we choose to take a more scenic route,
sticking as close to the coast as possible, and exploring the coastal barrier
islands of the Gulf.
We head to Aransas Pass to ride the ferry to Mustang Island and Port
Aransas. Port Aransas has that vacation-town feel to it. It’s a popular spot
for the winter Texans with their big RVs and there are several nice shops and
restaurants. From there we continue south on the island. Mustang Island
State Park is along the way with primitive beach camping.
As with all explorers, as inclement weather approaches, unforeseen obstacles
occur. We reach Corpus Christi with much excitement and come across a
visitor’s center. Always stop and check it out - great information and
coupons. We are looking for good places to camp. Hence our first obstacle;
RV parks are for RVs (who’d a thought) and aren’t really open to tents.
Finally we find an RV park that will accept our tent, I think mostly out of
charity. We are now set to enjoy Corpus Christi - swimming in the heated
pool and nice views of Corpus Christi Bay. We’ve conquered our first
obstacle, though short-lived. The next day the inclement weather hits, high
winds (bad for tents) and rain; so be flexible when exploring ... off to a hotel
we go.
Corpus has so much to do and see that it is hard to narrow it down. We try
to let each family member choose something that fits their particular
interest. My husband is a war buff, so we head to the U.S.S. Lexington, a
WWII wonder. This is good for an entire afternoon. It is a floating museum
with an IMAX theater on board. There’s also the Texas State Aquarium,
another half-day attraction. Besides all the different aquariums, there’s
Dolphin Bay, with a fantastic dolphin show. Check the times, and don’t miss
the otter show. This can be very educational , or just an enjoyable time to
view these marvelous creatures.
The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is just across the bridge
from the U.S.S. Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. Treasures from the
1554 Spanish shipwrecks are on display. There's an exhibit on LaSalle and
replicas of 2 of the 3 Spanish ships Columbus sailed across the Atlantic. The
Nina is moored at the Corpus Christi marina and not open to the public, but
can be viewed from the dock. This is a great place to enjoy if you’re
studying different explorers that have come to America.
While in Corpus, be sure and drive down Ocean drive. This is a beautiful,
scenic drive with several “T” heads and piers to explore. There are
restaurants, activities and relaxing places to sit and look out over the bay.
We found a huge park and let the children just run and play.
Padre Island is just a short drive from Corpus Christi, with Padre Island
National Seashore in the middle of the island. Primitive camping in one of the
last natural seashores is available, with nature trails and of course,
swimming. Both ends of the island are developed and have so much to do
that that’s a separate article in itself.
It’s now our fifth full day of “Homeschool Vacation”; time for some R&R.
We head south and decide to stop over in Kingsville, home to the King
Ranch, considered to be the birthplace of the American ranch. There is a
wonderful RV park 20 minutes south on Baffin Bay. This park, Kaufer-Hubert
Memorial Park and Seawind RV resort, are friendly to tents with a tent area
right on the bay. The kids enjoy the games - shuffleboard, ping pong and
billiards. The facilities are clean and neat and the people are friendly. In
Kingsville, visit the King Ranch Museum and The King Ranch Saddle Shop.
King Ranch, a National Historic Landmark, has tours throughout the year.
We are ready to head to Mexico via the Rio Grand Valley. The Valley is a
great destination. South Padre and historic Port Isabel are close; Laguna
Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Brownsville and McAllen are just a few
places to check out. Find the information center in Harlingen and do a little
research to find out what’s important to your family. It’s easy to do a study
on explorers in Texas with La Salle and his ill-fated voyage, and then there
are the 3 Spanish shipwrecks which are highlighted at the Treasures of the
Gulf Museum in Port Isabel. Padre Island is a great focus on the
cannibalistic Karankawa Indians. Then there’s the Laguna Madre, the
mother of lagoons, the bay that stretches between Padre and the shore.
This bay is famous for its saltwater fishing; I just think the name is pretty.
And if there’s a budding orthinoligist in the family, the Great Texas Coastal
Birding Trail spans the entire coast.
Our family chose to focus on family history, as the Rio Grand is where my
father grew up. I recommend in your homeschool endeavors to take time
and study some of your own family’s history. A sense of connection to the
past makes history seem a little more personal and real. We aren’t just
studying other’s history, we have a history, too. It was exciting for our
children to hear stories of their grandfathers, while seeing the places it
actually happened.
Finally the day has arrived. We are heading to the border and crossing over
to Mexico for a day trip. There are several border towns, and the
information center will help with choosing. You can go with a group, drive
up to the border and park, then walk over or drive over and park in Mexico.
We have chosen Progresso, and travel with family who know what they are
doing. It's a great experience to enjoy another’s culture. The town’s people
are very much looking for the tourist to come and spend. There is no need
to exchange monies as they are very familiar with the American dollar.
Vendors line the main street, ready to bargain. Inside the stores, the prices
are more set. The selection of merchandise is wide and different. The
children have a blast buying souvenirs for their friends, as we could easily
purchase small gifts for just a dollar or two. We also brought all our spare
change to give out to the children on the streets. I know my children will
always remember giving away what we could to those precious little ones.
All in all, the “Homeschool Vacation” was a success. We all got to do
something we wanted. We explored places we’d never been before, and
enriched our minds while learning about famous explorers. Best of all, we
made memories that will last a lifetime.
Susan Richie
Added note: Check travel advisories on all travel to Mexico.
Homeschool Travel
Resource
Resource