Texas has no shortage of charming small towns to explore, and Rockport definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list. This quaint little fishing community was devastated by Hurricane Harvey, but it came back even better than before.

With fewer than 10,000 residents, Rockport is a quiet coastal community in Aransas County. Last year, it was given the honor of a #2 ranking for Best Coastal Small Town in the “USA Today” Readers’ Choice Travel Awards – and we couldn’t agree more.

Flickr/Lindsey Parker

Bring lots of sunscreen, as you’ll be spending lots of time with your toes in the sand. Rockport Beach was the first Texas beach certified as a Blue Wave Beach by the Clean Beaches Coalition, a national organization that promotes clean beaches around the world. The white sands, pristine waters, and beautiful views are simply unparalleled.

TripAdvisor/Joellen W.

Once you’re thoroughly sun-kissed, escape the heat for a while at the Texas Maritime Museum. Here, you’ll peruse an array of exhibits featuring navigational tools and artifacts from the shipbuilding, oil, and gas industries. There’s also an observation area where visitors can enjoy iconic Texas sunsets.

Flickr/Lindsey Parker

Another popular indoor attraction is the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, a restored home built with 19th-century French Second Empire architecture in mind. Tours are available Tuesday-Sunday.

Wikimedia Commons/Larry D. Moore

You’re bound to be hungry by now, so head on over to the Boiling Pot for a scrumptious seafood meal. It may not look like much on the outside, but rest-assured the food is second-to-none.

Facebook/The Boiling Pot

As its name suggests, the restaurant specializes in fresh, locally-sourced seafood boils. Blue crab, shrimp, sausage, baby red potatoes, corn, and several other scrumptious additions make for a truly incredible meal.

Google/Glenda Manzano

After a full day of eating and exploring, head back to the beach to watch the sunset. Views like this are hard to come by, so you’ll definitely want to soak up every second.

Flickr/Vincent Lock

Have you ever been to Rockport? If so, what’s your favorite thing to do there? Let us know, and check out our previous article for more coastline fun: This 83-Mile Drive Is The Best Way To See Texas’ Stunning Coast.

Flickr/Lindsey Parker

TripAdvisor/Joellen W.

Wikimedia Commons/Larry D. Moore

Facebook/The Boiling Pot

Google/Glenda Manzano

Flickr/Vincent Lock

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Address: Rockport, TX 78382, USA