Visiting Port Aransas in the spring? Make sure and schedule a day trip to Corpus Christi to visit the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center.
Located at 8545 S. Staples St., the 182-acre gardens and nature preserve offers nature and birding trails along with floral exhibits, gardens and educational events.
The facility is a stop on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and a Texas Watchable Wildlife Program site all in one.
All exhibits are open except for the kids play area. The gardens have implemented some additional safety protocols due to the coronavirus pandemic. Masks are required indoors and visitors are asked to honor the six-feet social distancing guidelines. In addition, visitors are asked to wash their hands frequently, remain six feet from other guests and wear face coverings at all times while in the garden grounds.
A special Spring Break event has been planned March 6 through 21, for students off during one of the weeks. Youth over 12 may get $2 off admission by showing their school IDs.
In April, the annual Birdiest Festival in America is scheduled. The event, Wednesday through Sunday, April 21 through 25, includes photography field trips and workshops as well as birding field trips.
The botanical gardens operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Admission is $8 for ages 13 to 59; $6 for seniors over 60, active military and college students and $4 for children ages 3-12. On April 1, all admission categories will increase by $1. Children under 3 are admitted free. The entry fee is payable by cash, check, MasterCard or Visa.
Visit the website, http:// stxbot.org/, to find out the latest information on upcoming events and to sign up for free monthly e-calendar reminders or call (361) 852-2100.
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