{"id":322140,"date":"2026-06-04T06:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T06:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/322140\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T06:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T06:30:18","slug":"between-san-antonio-and-corpus-christi-is-texas-gateway-to-choke-canyon-with-local-shops-and-state-park-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/322140\/","title":{"rendered":"Between San Antonio And Corpus Christi Is Texas&#8217; &#8216;Gateway To Choke Canyon&#8217; With Local Shops And State Park Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you drive about an hour south from San Antonio\u00a0or northwest from Corpus Christi, you&#8217;ll find the city of Three Rivers, Texas. The city \u2014 named as such given its proximity to the Atascosa, Frio, and Nueces Rivers \u2014 was initially named Hamiltonburg in 1913 before adopting its current name one year later. As of 2026, Three Rivers has a small population of 1,800 residents. It&#8217;s home to a number of local boutique stores, and it serves as the gateway to <a data-ylk=\"slk:Choke Canyon State Park;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/state-parks\/choke-canyon\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Choke Canyon State Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s common to drive through Three Rivers to get to Choke Canyon. Although the town of Tilden is also located close to the state park, it is significantly smaller in size, while nearby\u00a0Calliham serves as the final stop before you access the park and reservoir.\u00a0It&#8217;s likely for these reasons that Three Rivers serves as the true &#8220;gateway&#8221; to Choke Canyon, providing\u00a0more\u00a0options for travelers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While it&#8217;s certainly hoped that the drive to Choke Canyon comes without any surprises, you can also find\u00a0tire shops and car mechanics\u00a0in Three Rivers \u2014 just in case you need any last-minute car repairs \u2014 as you make your way towards the state park. In addition, several restaurants can fill you up before you traverse the park, including <a data-ylk=\"slk:Sowell&#039;s;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/threeriverstx.org\/business-of-the-month-september-2024\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Sowell&#8217;s<\/a> for barbecue enthusiasts or <a data-ylk=\"slk:La Herradura;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.laherradurarestaurant.net\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">La Herradura<\/a> for those craving Mexican fare. The city also makes for a good stopping point to\u00a0explore and see what is on offer in terms of boutique shopping opportunities, including local florists, clothing stores, and antique shops.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Read more: <a data-ylk=\"slk:Unwritten Rules You Should Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aol.com\/lifestyle\/unwritten-rules-know-visiting-yellowstone-143000583.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Unwritten Rules You Should Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Local shopping at Three Rivers, Texas<img alt=\"Honey and snacks for sale at The Goodie Box Gifts and Antiques Co-op\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_islands_628\/af6701c4549c1795895799cb983c3e9a.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Honey and snacks for sale at The Goodie Box Gifts and Antiques Co-op &#8211; Joanna Stubbs\/Google Maps<\/p>\n<p>Many Texan cities \u2014 like <a data-ylk=\"slk:Boerne, found just outside of San Antonio;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.islands.com\/1911682\/texas-boerne-outside-san-antonio-old-school-german-charm-shops-foodie-appeal\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Boerne, found just outside of San Antonio<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 have always offered visitors fun shopping options. The same is true for Three Rivers. There are a number of different local businesses where you can spend time browsing and hopefully, find something you like. If you&#8217;re in the market for floral tops, jewelry, tote bags, or shoes, <a data-ylk=\"slk:River Ruby Boutique;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riverrubyboutique.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">River Ruby Boutique<\/a> on Gallaher Street has you covered. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, River Ruby prides itself on celebrating apparel that looks and feels different.<\/p>\n<p>Then there&#8217;s Three Rivers&#8217; very own florist \u2013\u00a0<a data-ylk=\"slk:Curry&#039;s Nursery and Floral;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.threeriversflorist.com\/about_us.php\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Curry&#8217;s Nursery and Floral<\/a>. Curry&#8217;s offers customers the chance to buy potted plants and handmade candles, among other items. Having been around since 1986, Curry&#8217;s also provides &#8220;Designer&#8217;s Choice&#8221; options selected by its florists for summer special bouquets or anniversary arrangements. Online reviews have praised the shop&#8217;s selection and timeliness. One customer on <a data-ylk=\"slk:Google;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ufNFwb7CnJY1Z6ZA9\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Google<\/a>\u00a0shared, &#8220;Ordered a dozen roses with the slightest hopes they could be delivered within a few hours time. They absolutely delivered 12 of the most beautiful vibrant deep red roses, to a gorgeous young lady turning a stressful day into a joyful one.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>If you like a good treasure hunt for antique items, <a data-ylk=\"slk:The Goodie Box Gifts and Antiques Co-op;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/goodieboxcoop.antiquetrail.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">The Goodie Box Gifts and Antiques Co-op<\/a> on Harborth Avenue is the place to go. The store&#8217;s open daily until 5 p.m. and Sundays until 4 p.m., and customers can find not just antiques inside but clothing, furniture, snacks, and some tasty baked treats. Goodie Box also hosts special events\u00a0in celebration of special occasions like Mother&#8217;s Day, during which customers can take advantage of discounted items that make for great gifts.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Enjoying nearby Choke Canyon State Park<img alt=\"Choke Canyon State Park\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img w-full w-full h-auto\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_islands_628\/cf1e53ae9c9af82f738294f3019cf79c.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Choke Canyon State Park &#8211; David Radzieta\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<p>The South Texas Plains generally don&#8217;t receive many state park visitors. This means that you can enjoy Choke Canyon State Park in relative peace and quiet \u2013\u00a0much like <a data-ylk=\"slk:Seminole Canyon State Park, which boasts impressive views without the crowds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.islands.com\/1714407\/secret-seminole-canyon-state-park-historic-site-impressive-big-bend-national-crowds\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Seminole Canyon State Park, which boasts impressive views without the crowds<\/a>, also located in the south of Texas.\u00a0Choke Canyon State Park has two sections: Calliham, which is a full-service area with electricity-equipped campsites and cabins, and South Shore, which is a day-use area for birding, fishing, and boating.<\/p>\n<p>For those interested in spotting wildlife, Choke Canyon provides excellent opportunities to see white-tailed deer, skunks, the Rio Grande turkey, and alligators. If you&#8217;re into birding, the area is home to a number of different bird species, including long-billed thrashers, crested caracara, and vermillion flycatchers, to name just a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In addition to wildlife, the state park is also home to a network of trails. One is the 2.4-mile <a data-ylk=\"slk:Choke Canyon Campground Loop;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/us\/texas\/choke-canyon-loop\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Choke Canyon Campground Loop<\/a> trail. It&#8217;s not a challenging hike, and it takes hikers through a good chunk of the area.\u00a0Another popular activity in the park is fishing. No permit is required to fish, provided you&#8217;re on the shore. Try your hand at reeling in sunfish, white bass, or crappie, among other species.\u00a0If you have some extra time to spare during your time in Three Rivers, you should also check out the nearby city of <a data-ylk=\"slk:Beeville, which is an artsy city with a charming downtown and museums;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aol.com\/lifestyle\/between-san-antonio-corpus-christi-021500665.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Beeville, which is an artsy city with a charming downtown and museums<\/a>. It&#8217;s a 40-minute drive away.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? <a data-ylk=\"slk:Subscribe to our free newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.islands.com\/newsletter-syndicated?utm_source=aol&amp;utm_medium=islands-NL-feed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Subscribe to our free newsletter<\/a> and <a data-ylk=\"slk:add us as a preferred search source;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=islands.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">add us as a preferred search source<\/a> for access to the world&#8217;s best-kept travel secrets.<\/p>\n<p>Read the <a data-ylk=\"slk:original article on Islands;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.islands.com\/2185743\/three-rivers-texas-between-san-antonio-corpus-christi-gateway-choke-canyon-shops-state-park-fun\/?zsource=aol\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">original article on Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you drive about an hour south from San Antonio\u00a0or northwest from Corpus Christi, you&#8217;ll find the city&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322141,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[52753,9787,155,157,156,115303,24835,27,85926],"class_list":["post-322140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-corpus-christi","tag-choke-canyon","tag-choke-canyon-state-park","tag-corpus-christi","tag-corpus-christi-headlines","tag-corpus-christi-news","tag-goodie-box","tag-state-park","tag-texas","tag-three-rivers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322140\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}