Kayaking was one of the activites featured in the PBS show ‘ Travelscope’ that features Port Aransas. Kayaking are Joseph Rosendo host of Travelscope, Hector Rios of Coastal Bend Kayaks ( tour guide), and photographer Jon Speyers, with camera, in background kayak. COURTESY PHOTO Want to get a sneak peak at a recently shot TV travel story about Port Aransas? One that will be broadcast in hundreds of markets, internationally? One that our mayor called a “30-minute love-fest” about Port Aransas?

If your answer is yes, head on down to the Community Center, 430 N. Alister St., for free public showings at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. today, Thursday, Aug. 18.

The piece is scheduled to get its first Coastal Bend area television broadcast on Sunday, Nov. 20, on Travelscope, a show on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The Corpus Christi PBS affiliate is KEDT. The feature about Port Aransas is scheduled to run at 4 p.m. that day, though there’s always a possibility that the show could be pre-empted if something unpredictable comes up, said Jeff Felts, program and production manager at KEDT.

A few city leaders already have gotten a sneak peak at the episode about Port Aransas, and they’re raving about it.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Mayor Keith McMullin. “They’ve done such a wonderful job of capturing so many elements of what makes Port Aransas special. I couldn’t be happier with it.”

McMullin predicted that the piece will be good for Port Aransas tourism.

“It’s a 30- minutes lovefest infomercial about Port Aransas that will be in over 500 markets,” McMullin said. “It will introduce hundreds of thousands of people to our town for the first time, and I think it’s going to make a great impression.”

Port Aransas is one of only 13 destinations, worldwide, profiled in 2011, Travelscope’s fifth season, according to PBS.

Ann Bracher Vaughan has gotten an advance viewing of the show, and she loved it.

“The chamber is delighted to have had the chance to showcase Port Aransas for this international show, which in a half hour captured our piece of paradise in a beautiful way,” said Vaughan, president and CEO of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau. “My wish is that many viewers will tune into their PBS station to view this spectacular episode on Port A and then plan for a visit.”

McMullin said Vaughan and the rest of the chamber deserve a lot of credit for luring a Travelscope film crew and the show’s host to Port Aransas.

“Kudos to the chamber and Ann for making it happen,” the mayor said.

Travelscope captured images of Port Aransas by boat, kayak, air, car and foot. Part of the episode involved a walk along the shore with Tony Amos, a research fellow with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and director of the ARK – Animal Rehabilitation Keep. Amos, who has been conducting naturalistic beach surveys in Port Aransas for 34 years, talked about the Gulf of Mexico, the beach and its wildlife.

Travelscope’s host is Joseph Rosendo. On the program, he relaxed on the beach, built a sandcastle with a professional Port Aransas sand sculptor, tried his hand at surfing and even danced to local music while flipping tortillas onto his head, according to a news release provided by the chamber.

Rosendo went for a ride aboard the marine science institute’s research vessel, the Katy, which is used as a floating teaching tool for marine science lessons.

“After a successful day of bay fishing with a local guide, the fresh catch was taken to one of Port Aransas’ many restaurants that will cook your catch just the way you like it,” the release said.

Vaughan cautioned that folks shouldn’t stream the episode on their Web sites, even if they do want to simply give Port Aransas a well-deserved plug. Travelscope shows are protected by copyright. Also, due to contracts that the show has with various digital providers, the show can’t license the rights to stream the entire episode to other sources, Vaughan said.

The chamber has received permission to stream a preview of the episode on the chamber’s Web site, and it’s there now, Vaughan said.

Questions? Comments? Contact Dan Parker at (361) 749-5131 or dan@portasouthjetty.com.