Fulton, TX 1033, originally uploaded by kathyv.

The great pier in Fulton, Texas, juts far out into the Gulf of Mexico. The temptation to walk out to the end is difficult to resist, and fisherman find it almost impossible not to stop and cast a line or two. Fortunately the pier is open year round for our enjoyment. It is free to walkers, and fisherman need only pay a $2.00 per pole fee. It is a lovely place to pass a few hours on a nice day, so long as you have snacks and a good friend for company.

Another popular activity on the pier is birding. Bring your binoculars at sunrise and sunset, and you are likely to see funny white pelicans and elegant whooping cranes. White-tailed hawks circle overhead, looking for a meal. Birders will be in heaven.

Spend a few days at a Fulton Texas bed and breakfast, enjoying all Fulton has to offer. Oysterfest is over, but there are still plenty of oysters in the local restaurants. Birding Tours will take you out into the Gulf and over to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Or spend an afternoon at the Texas Maritime Museum in nearby Rockport, where you can learn about the long and rich maritime history of the region.