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Sharon and her husband
John come for the quality of life, "it's a
captivating small town, much like Hawley,
but it's close to big city amenities.
Houston and Corpus Christi are just a short
drive. We also find the quality of health
care is better and more affordable, so we
have all of our medical check-ups while down
there. I teach aerobics and my husband plays
golf daily. The Lagoons RV Park is one of
the best we have ever experienced. The
people in Texas just go out of their way to
help visitors; I've never known anything
like it."
In early November, when
the winter chill begins to frost over the
Midwest and Northeastern region of the
United States, the migration to the Texas
Coastal Bend begins. More than 10,000 people
known as Winter Texans find refuge in
Rockport-Fulton, Texas.
For the past six years,
Herb and Lorraine Weier migrate from their
home in Fort Wayne, Indiana to the
Rockport-Fulton area and stay from January
through March. "We discovered the area by
accident," says Herb Weier, a retired
electrical engineer for Magnavox. "We were
attending a wedding in Houston and heard so
much talk about the bay area, we decided to
fly into Corpus Christi, rent a car and
drive along the coast line. We were so
impressed by our welcome at the
Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce; we
decided to make it our winter home."
The Weiers spend their
time riding bikes, volunteering time at the
Odyssey after-school care program, attending
lectures at the Texas Maritime Museum and
the Art Center. "Back home, we're docents at
the art museum, so we love to attend the
lectures in Rockport and learn about the
history of the area at the Maritime Museum.
The Art Center not only offers lectures but
musical performances too! We have fun every
year at the Whooping Crane Festival and we
love to learn about water issues of the
world at the UT Marine Science Institute in
Port Aransas nearby," adds Lorraine, retired
early and adult education teacher. Last
year, the Weiers toured the surrounding
communities documenting courthouses. "We
love Victorian architecture, and always find
Texans friendly and ready to tell a story.
Pat and Bruce Houghton of
Thornbury, Ontario, Canada call Rockport
home for eight months of the year. "We love
the social life," says Pat. "I play the
piano and we attend weekly jam sessions at a
local gathering spot. The shopping is
incredible, great bargains and lots of
unique art. Rockport is a friendly welcoming
community with lots to see and do."
Rockport-Fulton boasts a
wide array of activities including
championship golf, bird watching, and
waterfowl hunts, unique dining, and
shopping. Art is a growing passion of the
area with the highest concentration of
artists in the state.
Birding is another major
draw for the community, the nearby
70,000-acre Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
is the winter home to a colony of endangered
whooping cranes, beautiful birds (gawky to
some) that share the limelight with nearly
500 other species of birds and other
critters like coyotes, javelina, and even a
few alligators.
Some Winter Texans opt
for a more placid life, riding bikes,
reading books, or just sitting in rocking
chairs on the porch as they enjoy the view.
For more information on
events or places to stay contact the
Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce at
(361) 729.6445 or (800) 242.0071, or via
email at
tourism@1rockport.org.
Florida way overpriced? The
Rockport area chamber claims "Coastal Charm, Unrivaled
Hospitality" What do you think? - add your
input below.
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