[REDNAX]

We just moved to CC from Dallas. Yes, the wind here is impressive. Dallas is windier than Chicago . . but CC is a whole nother category of wind. 30 mph constant with gusts some days to 50 mph and better. Sand gets into everything at the beach, take that for granted. The climate is great for spring and fall camping (the past few weeks has been 68-72F at night, and 75-85F during the day.

There are a few nice RV parks in CC, more on Mustang Island, and the Rockport/Fulton Beach area is overrun with them. The winter Texans, we are told, wander down here in dribs and drabs all fall and early winter. Then they all leave within three days of each other at April 1st.

The aforementioned Kings Inn at Loyola Beach is truly great (but an hours drive from CC to just barely south of Kingsville. Fun (and good) places to eat near the Island include Snoopy's (sit on the deck overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway); Del Playa (several locations); the restaurants mentioned above; and the best restaurant in town -- the Yardarm -- on Ocean Drive, easily the prettiest urban drive in Texas (all along the bayfront).

In Rockport, Charlotte Plummers for dinner.

There are a couple of RV dealers and supply houses (note Padre Island Supply for general purposes of hardware, close to CC RV), and a few more in Rockport. Diesel is readily available (we have several refineries here) and fuel prices are sometimes the nations lowest.

The beach is beautiful on the barrier island, it changes constantly. Yes, trash may wash in from all over the Gulf and sometimes sargassum weed is thick, but you won't ever forget the trip . . you'll just want to kick your parents for not having moved you here to enjoy your teenage years in such a place.

Incredible numbers of different shore birds.

Many types of fishing (beach surf, pier, wading (bays, inlets), kayak, big party general charter, guided, etc.

Many places for birding (over 400 species annually on the migration flyway; just saw first hummingbird today), and the road to the tropical Rio Grande Valley and border (we are sub-humid/sub-tropical here) is 140 miles; San Antonio is 150 miles; Houston and Austin about 200.

As you run Texas 358 (South Padre Island Drive) from Interstate 37, exit in Flour Bluff onto Waldron Road just before the JFK Causeway (takes you over the ICW to the island) and turn right for an enormous locally-owned grocery store -- H.E.B -- the size of a Walmart. I have manuevered my 63' rig in and out of here plenty of times. Excellent selection of foods (no groceries on Island beyond convenience stores); GREAT selection of Texas made sausage and favorite Texas cuts of meat.