A visit to Austin, Texas, will get your toes to tappin’. A stop in Houston will provide more culture than a petri dish. And a day or two in San Antonio will certainly give you more to remember than the Alamo. But it’s the Gulf Coast cities — from Corpus Christi to South Padre Island — and the towns that flank the Rio Grande — from Brownsville to Loredo — that beckon to snowbirds like a triangular dinner bell.
Corpus Christi and the posse of campgrounds that surrounds it provide easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, where anglers can test the waters. On land, Corpus Christi visitors can take in the U.S.S. Lexington Museum, the Texas State Aquarium and the Bayfront Arts and Science Park, within a few strides of each other.
If it’s company you seek, mosey south to the annual RV roundup that takes place in Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen and practically all points in between. So abundant are the RV parks in the Rio Grande Valley that 36 of them are listed under the letter “T” alone. Of course, the area serves up a stampede of attractions to make these Winter Texans at home on the range.
Shoppers can pop across the river at any number of border crossings to fill their arms with Mexican wares. Those only fluent in the language of golf can find plenty of locations to practice their mother tongue. Anglers can take a left at the river and ply the waters east of South Padre Island. Those with a fondness for four-legged speed merchants can experience live greyhound racing from December through April at Harlingen’s Valley Race Park or on simulcast dog and horse races 364 days a year. In February alone, Harlingen hosts six big-as-all-outdoors events, with the Winter Texan Expo providing the most giddyup. So though it may be the Lone Star State, Texas is an RVer’s constellation. Call (800) 8888-TEX.
ALAMO
Winter Ranch MH & RV Resort Facilities: Good paved interior roads, no tents. Restrooms and showers; security; public phone; laundry. Sites:: 688 total; 400 available, full hookups (30/50 amps), 400 paved, patios; back-in (30×60). Modem hookup in office. Recreation:: Heated pool; spa; shuffleboard; horseshoes; recreation hall; planned activities. Contact: 600 FM 495, Alamo, Texas 78516; (956) 781-1358; www.rvresorts.com.
AUSTIN
Austin Lone Star RV Resort
Facilities: Good paved/gravel interior roads. Restrooms and showers; dump station; security; public phone; laundry; groceries; RV supplies; LP-gas; food service. Sites:: 153 total, hookups (30/50 amps), gravel, patios, mostly shaded; 68 pull-through (30×70); back-in (30×70); big-rig sites; 6 tent sites; 8 rental units. Modem hookup in office, cable TV. Recreation:: Heated pool; spa; horseshoes; recreation hall; recreation field; planned activities; playground. Contact: 7009 South I-35, Austin, Texas 78744; (512) 444-6322; www.austinlonestar.com. A Good Sam Park.
DONNA
Victoria Palms Resort
Facilities: Good paved interior roads, no tents. Restrooms and showers; security; public phone; laundry; food service. Sites:: 1,052 total; 760 available, full hookups (30/50 amps), paved, patios; 42 pull-through (40×60); back-in (40×60); 120 rental units. Modem hookup at site; satellite TV. Recreation:: Heated pool; spa; adults room; shuffleboard; horseshoes; recreation hall; game room; planned activities. Contact: 602 N. Victoria Road, Donna, Texas 78537; (800) 551-5303; www.victoriapalms.com.
GRAND PRAIRIE
Traders Village RV Park
Facilities: Good paved interior roads. Restrooms and showers; dump station; security; public phone; laundry; groceries; RV supplies; LP-gas. Sites:: 210 total, hookups (30/50 amps), paved, patios, some shaded; 60 pull-through (25×75); back-in (25×40); big-rig sites; 16 tent sites. Handicap access; modem hookup in office. Recreation:: Pool; shuffleboard; horseshoes; recreation hall; recreation field; playground. Contact: 2602 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052; (972) 647-8205; [email protected]. A Good Sam Park.
HIGHLANDS
Houston Leisure RV Resort
Facilities: Paved interior roads. Restrooms and showers; dump station; public phone; laundry; groceries; RV supplies; LP-gas. Sites:: 205 total, full hookups (30/50 amps), 136 paved, 69 gravel, some shaded; 136 pull-through (35×60); back-in (34×50); big-rig sites; 6 tent sites. Handicap access; modem hookup in office. Recreation:: Pool; shuffleboard; horseshoes; recreation hall; recreation field; planned activities; playground. Contact: 1601 S. Main, Highlands, Texas 77562; (800) 982-8285; A Good Sam Park.
Port Aransas Pioneer RV Resort
Facilities: Good paved interior roads, pet restrictions. Restrooms and showers; dump station; security; public phone; laundry; groceries; RV supplies; LP-gas. Sites:: 330 total, full hookups (30/50 amps), paved, patios; 86 pull-through (25×65); back-in (25×60); 4 rental units. Modem hookup in office; cable TV. Recreation:: Gulf of Mexico: saltwater fishing, swimming; pool; spa; shuffleboard; horseshoes; recreation hall; game room; planned activities. Contact: 120 Gulfwind Drive, Port Aransas, Texas 78373; (888) 480-3246; www.pioneerresorts.com. A Good Sam Park.
SAN ANTONIO
Blazing Star Luxury RV Resort
Facilities: Good paved interior roads, pet restrictions. Restrooms and showers; public phone; laundry; groceries; RV supplies. Sites:: 260 total, full hookups (30/50 amps), paved; 185 pull-through (30×65); back-in (30×55); big-rig sites; 10 tent sites; 3 rental units. Modem hookup in office; satellite TV. Recreation:: Heated pool; spa; horseshoes; recreation hall; game room; playground; planned activities. Contact: 1120 W. Loop 1604 North, San Antonio, Texas 78251; (877) 387-5777; www.blazingstarrv.com. A Good Sam Park.
For more campgrounds in Texas, visit the Good Sam RV Park & Campground Directory.
