Looking for ideas to give my son (7) for his "big" Xmas present. My wife is taking my daughter out of town for a girls weekend with other family members. We're moving to more experience type presents instead of junk they don't appreciate. Two main ideas are Port A/Rockport fishing or a dude ranch type place with fishing, ATVs, pool, etc. He's super into fishing and hunting with me but would love ATVs, horses, being on a big ranch.

Does anyone have any good recs for places like this? See lots online but hoping someone has experience. We live in Austin but happy to travel anywhere in Texas. Assuming prob 2-3 nights, maybe $1200-1500 budget with lodging and all the add-on excursions. Same for bay fishing with guide costs (would have free lodging at either town).

Thanks

Check out Empire Lodge in Port O'Conner.
I've done a 4-man cast & blast with them 5 years in a row. You hunt & fish out of airboats in the mangrove swamp. Well, you hunt out of blinds, but get there in airboats. I bet your boy would love riding in an airboat. It's Aggie owned too.

We are doing a ski trip and all presents for Christmas are associated with needs for that trip. We've asked family to accommodate the same with things that would be needed during the experience.

Trying not to accumulate so much useless stuff.

I love these ideas. My kids get so much junk that I don't want to add to the pile.

Thanks fellas. Definitely looking into these. Airboats would be a blast. Some the guest ranch/dude ranch stuff I'm finding just looks cheesy. Search continues.

Typical outdoors board response: Although its slightly above your price range one of my favorite memories growing up and was around your kids age was when my dad won a weekend at Rough Creek Lodge at an auction and took me

In the weather that is typical of Xmas time, I would probably be leaning hunting more than fishing unless you are headed somewhere warmer. Sitting in 45-50F on a boat while fishing feels way colder than 45-50F sitting in a blind with a shotgun or rifle.

Or would the gift be given at Xmas but exercised some other time?

outside the box

https://www.salmonriverdrifters.com/the-salmon-river-domes

FunkyTownAg said:

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Typical outdoors board response: Although its slightly above your price range one of my favorite memories growing up and was around your kids age was when my dad won a weekend at Rough Creek Lodge at an auction and took me

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OX Ranch. Rent and fire a tank. Do it....

Correct. Would more than likely be a spring time trip.