Portland, TX Outdoor Activities

Since opening in 1987, the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center has grown like a weed, from 1 to 182 acres, providing a home for thousands of birds, butterflies, and blossoming plants. Their gardens, greenhouses, trails, and boardwalks are set into the landscape of the Oso Creek, allowing guests to observe species in their natural habitat without provoking the ire of territorial snapdragons. Following a mission to advance knowledge and appreciation of the environment, the organization also hosts classes and workshops on topics such as orchidology and holistic herbal health. Members’ annual contributions help to sustain the nonprofit organization and garner them unlimited admission, discounts at Nature's Boutique, and invitations to members-only events, such as the annual member-plant dance.

Funtrackers summons fun-seekers with a mother lode of scintillating attractions for guests of all ages. Drivers in tiny cars vanquish fellow racers with expert passing maneuvers and cloying drive-time radio jams across four different go-kart tracks, which range from a kiddie track built for drivers 3 aged and older to a pro track reserved for motorists with a valid driver’s license or permit. Floating in a 3-foot-deep pool, guests can douse each other with water from a squirt-gun turret built in to bumper boats, engaging comrades in a friendly rivalry to be continued at the 18-hole, tropical-themed miniature-golf course. Inside, buzzing sounds and whirring lights emanate from more than 50 arcade games, including skee-ball and air hockey, many of which reward success with tickets that can be redeemed for stuffed animals, bean bags, and lumps of coal.

After joining the Texas League in 2005, the Corpus Christi Hooks wasted little time capturing a title, but they still had a little patience before reeling in their prize. On September 14, 2006, the team took 14 innings to defeat the Wichita Wranglers 8-7 in a five-hour barnburner and bring home the championship. But while it was only the Hooks’ first title as members of the Texas League, it was the 10th overall championship in franchise history—a legacy that stretches back to 1968, when the franchise began in Tennessee as the Memphis Blues. Since moving to Corpus Christi, the Hooks have helped launch the careers of more than 40 big leaguers. Much of that success has unfolded before packed crowds at Whataburger Field, whose exterior of corrugated steel and bricks pays homage to the cotton warehouses that previously occupied the site. Inside, fans enjoy numerous amenities, including a rock wall, an interactive playground, and views of the USS Lexington, anchored out on the bay to defend Houston from any baseballs hit out of the park.