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Places to go & Things to do

Jay Kruemcke
For those of you looking for a quick getaway, Mustang Beach (2R8) is a 3500' paved runway on Mustang Island just south of Port Aransas. It is about 146 NM from AUS and offers walking access to the beach. See a trolley map and some other information here. The beach is about a 1/2 mile walk and there are free showers available on the beach to rinse off the saltwater when you are "done". It is close enough for a day trip (fly-in, get sunburned, fly out). The airport is unattended and charges $4 for overnight parking (grass), or $5 (paved). The nearest fuel is at Rockport (RKP) about 15NM to the north. Port Aransas also runs a free, hourly (air conditioned) trolley that goes into "town". The shuttle stops at the airport (outbound) at about 5 minutes to the hour, and again across the street (inbound to town) at about 5 minutes after the hour. It only runs from 10 am to 5:30 pm. I took my two boys there last Monday and had a great time. I took a luggage cart to carry an ice-chest and beach stuff. The Rockport FBO can supply a taxi to take you to a seafood restaurant. The restaurant will pay the taxi pick you up at the Rockport FBO and take you to the restaurant and back. Just ask at the FBO. (I haven't done this since last year, so I don't remember the restaurant name).

For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of real Texas BBQ, fly to Llano Muni (6R9). Get some of their cheap fuel ($2.15 the last time I went there), and borrow the crew car to go to Coopers. You might have to wait for the crew car on Saturdays. It's best to call in to the unicom about 10 miles out in case there is another group about to head out to Coopers. Coopers has big outdoor pits with all sorts of different meats; steak, briquet, cabrito (goat), chicken, sausage ribs, etc.. You pick out what you want at the pit, and the "server" whacks off a chunk and puts it on butchers paper. You take it inside and hand it to a guy that weighs and prices it. The cashier gives you several pieces of butcher paper to eat off of. Beans and fixins are free. After you've eaten at Coopers, take a leisurely flight around Lake Buchanan, making sure that you check out the waterfall at the north end of the lake and the castle on the hill to the southeast. Enchanted Rock is south of Llano too.

Rudy Albachten
I just wanted to add something to the Mustang Beach information: They have a small building with air conditioning, some couches, and 2 bathrooms.  It is for the use of the pilots and their passengers and has a combination lock on the door.  If you stay overnight, they attach an envelope to your tiedown chain so you can pay the minimal overnight parking fee.  Inside the envelope is the information about the pilot's lounge.  The combination is 4213.  Turn the knob counterclockwise to clear it then push each number one at a time then turn the knob clockwise.

David Robertson
Anyone looking for a short little breakfast/lunch hop should head on down to Stinson (SSF) on the south side of San Antonio. They have a restaurant on the field called the Patio Cafe. They are open Monday thru Saturday, 7am to 3pm. The food is good and inexpensive. The airport is Class D and easy to get in to and out of. After the handoff from Austin, San Antonio Approach does a great job of keeping you out of the way of their departures, while also keeping you out of the way of Randolphs' busy training area. The Randolph VOR is almost exactly on a line from AUS to SSF, and the overflight of the base is sure to have some sights.