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Just a short ferry trip from Port Aransas is San Jose Island, your chance to soak in unspoiled Texas nature. This privately owned island was originally a ranch, but is today mostly a wildlife sanctuary and a paradise for beach goers and bird lovers.

The heart of the island is off limits, and visitors can only enjoy the public portion of the island – the beach below the line where the vegetation starts. Not to worry, that is where you can enjoy the best bird watching, fishing, shelling, and strolling along the beach. The beach is 21 miles long with fine white sand and covered with thousands of colorful shells, some of them rare. No cars are allowed on the beach, unusual for Texas beaches. Fishing on the island is so great that it is called the "Fishing Capital of Texas." San Jose Island Map

See the wildlife sanctuary on San Jose Island
© Courtesy of Evgenia Tiplyashina - Fotolia.com

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Discover the beauty of Boca Chica, South Padre Island Attend a festival on Galveston Island East Beach Stroll through the bird sanctuary at Rockport Beach Fish on the Horace Caldwell Pier at IB Magee Beach Take the kids to Magnolia Beach Enjoy great bird watching at Matagorda Bay Nature Park Take a day trip to Mustang Island Tour Padre Island National Seashore Attend the sand castle building competition on Port Aransas Beach Find colorful shells on High Island See the wildlife sanctuary on San Jose Island Relax on South Packery Channel Beach Go for a stroll on Surfside Beach See the large dunes on Whitecap Beach See the attractions near North Beach

Explore more: Texas > Beaches in Texas: Which Ones Are the Best?

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