Poetry at the Tent: Five Things I Learned From Camping at Goose Island State Park, Texas

The Geese
BY JANE MEAD

…Their call, both strange
and familiar, calls
to the strange and familiar..

Goose Island offers camping, fishing and birding along  the St. Charles and Aransas bays, north of Corpus Christi, Texas. A three-hour drive from Austin makes this an easy weekend destination–although to avoid the crowds, mid week is better.

I’ve just returned from a two-night camping trip to Goose Island State Park and here are five things I learned.

1. Goose Island is an oasis on the Gulf coast. You can camp by the bay or under the oak trees. The facilities are excellent—well-maintained campsites and bathrooms with showers. The tent camping, however, is mixed-in with the RV’s unless you go primitive. Questions? Arriving late? Not a problem. All will be taken care of by a friendly group of volunteers and staff at this state park.

2. The mosquitos are a killer. It’s true.  Do not underestimate their power-and capacity to bite. Ouch! Bring plenty of DEET.

3. The birding is super!–even I know that and I am not a birder. Lots of cardinals. Bring cameras worth thousands of dollars to see them. 🙂

4. It is HUMID! Think Houston in the summer, then square it. If you are sleeping in a tent, bring a fan…or an oxygen tank for breathing.

5. If the heat and mosquitos get you down, you can head into Fulton Beach or Rockport (about 9 miles away) for an oyster po-boy and a Corona, iced-down cold. You can also find Mexican food but be forewarned that the Mexican food on the coast is Jalisco style, not San Antonio/Austin-style Tex-Mex. I had the shrimp tacos at Los Comales. They were tasty but diferente. 

ALICE’S CAMP-O-METER FOR CAMPING AT GOOSE ISLAND SP: 

I’d like to give this place a higher rating for effort and beauty but the weather and bugs weigh it down.