Things to Do in Victoria

An angler of redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and tripletail on the Matagorda Bay and Colorado River for more than a quarter century, Knee Deep Fishing's Captain Ciruti shares fishing wisdom during guided trips. The captain provides all gear on drifting trips, welcoming anglers aboard his 22-foot Gulf Coast boat powered by an E-Tec 200 engine and hundreds of bubbles blown by harnessed trout. For fishermen with their own rods and wading boots, Ciruti leads walk-and-wade excursions into shallow flats and along coastlines.

To accommodate nature admirers and history buffs, Ciruti also charters eco tours to illuminate the history, layout, and wildlife of the bay and its surrounding waterways. Skyward glances may yield views of pelicans, herons, and eagles, and below, land-bound creatures such as deer, hogs, and coyotes may make appearances along the banks.

Frustrated by a lack of venues for her children's birthday parties, Raquel Richardson founded Brinca!—a safe, clean, and climate-controlled environment for sock-footed little ones to romp alongside their parents. Multi-colored inflatables, including a mock train-station and three-person slide, encircle couches where parents browse free wireless internet or electronically befriend nearby parents. All equipment is sanitized daily, keeping surfaces in like-new condition while preventing the spread of illness and cooties.

Once you enter the Tropical Storm, everything goes dark. You blindly whip around inside the watery tunnel before being unexpectedly plunged into a pool of water—and you probably want to do it again. The Tropical Storm is one of eight water slides at Splashway Waterpark, a seasonal outdoor playground that boasts water-fueled attractions for toddlers, older kids, and adults. Sometimes the rides relax, as when visitors drift down the lazy river on waterproof water beds, but sometimes they raise pulses instead, as on the nearly straight drop of Pirate's Plunge.

From May to September visitors can enjoy the park's attractions, which were designed to entertain families with kids of any age. When energy wanes, an onsite café piles plates with all-American fare such as burgers and hot dogs. The truly exhausted can turn in for the night at the park's RV and tent camp.

The owners of Pottery Painting Pleasures opened their doors to make art accessible to everyone, providing all necessary supplies and cleanup services. In the azure craft haven, myriad ceramics, such as vases and plates, wait to be rendered unique by kids, adults, and seniors. Themed sessions include senior mornings, Tots and Pots, and Friday-night College Night, which includes a brief overview of Organic Chemistry 101.:m]]