16 Jun Island Time is My Kind of Time…
The laid back chill vibe of Port Aransas, Texas was just the kind of family beach trip we were looking for. Located on Mustang Island, Port Aransas can be easily accessed by ferry or driven through Corpus Christi.
Why drive all the way to a Florida beach when you can trade the almost 12 hour drive for a 6.5 hour drive (from the DFW metro area). Almost half the time! Port Aransas also offers many more budget friendly beach house options that are just steps away from the boardwalk. We would, and have, paid double the price to be that close in Florida. Sure you trade the softer whiter sand for a more compact and wet sand, and the water isn’t as deep blue in Port A, but this trade off ended up being WELL worth it! And most likely the start of a new summer tradition. Plus, we love Texas!!
We were looking for a house to accommodate multiple families, with a private pool, that was VERY close to the beach and not outrageously expensive. The beach house we found, named Island O’Aces, checked all the boxes and met ALL of our needs. We loved the large open concept kitchen and living area on the main floor, as well as the six bedrooms scattered throughout the three levels. It made for lots of elbow room. We spent so much time hanging out in the pool and relaxing on the spacious patio. Evening strolls at the beach were routine, and just steps aways from the house. Pool, beach, repeat!
Another thing I loved was how vibrant and active the beach scene was. There were so many interesting things happening. I was entertained the whole time! I watched airplanes and helicopters fly overhead. I watched large barges and tugboats sailing by in the distance. I watched people surfing, building sand castles (and other elaborate sand creations), playing volleyball, flying kites, riding bikes, pitching tents and camping, and playing music. This was a place I wanted to hangout for a while. The shoreline was just as active as the people watching. We saw starfish, jellyfish, crab, sand dollars, and seashells galore. The BEST time to walk to the beach in my opinion was right before sunset. We went every evening to watch the sun go down. The coolish salty breeze mixed with the gorgeous sunset forced me to slow down and embrace island time, and all I have to be thankful for in this season. One deep breath in, and slowly exhale. Ahhhh. I could get used to this…
I suppressed my strong inner urge to plan and book a bunch of excursions and outings for us, and tried to keep the exploring simple and minimal for this trip. First, we drove about five minutes down the road to the UT Marine Science Institute. While the indoor marine life exhibits were closed at the time due to renovations, the outdoor Wetland exhibit is always open and serves as a living laboratory for the UT students. You can do a self paced walking tour or catch up with a free guided morning tour. We caught up to the tour and listened to the guide give facts about the wetlands and marine life in the area. We learned there are five species of sea turtles, and also heard a story about an alligator getting washed up on shore that had been tagged back in Louisiana. Ha! Just a little lost!
We of course worked up an appetite, and decided to try Virginia’s. What a fun open air restaurant overlooking the marina! It made for great boat watching while waiting for our food. The service was excellent, and my cajun popcorn shrimp salad was refreshingly light and yummy. My normally picky eater son even gobbled up most of my shrimp. Time to hit the pool!
The next day we checked out a few boutiques and surf shops with fun photo ops. Destination Beach & Surf is a must see with the monstrous flesh eating (exaggerating a little) shark guarding the parking lot. The hermit crabs inside provided some fun entertainment while the others shopped. Also, if you come back within certain hours, there are exotic parrots for you to take pictures with. Unfortunately we missed out on that part this time around! Make sure to stop by Fly It, and pick out a kite or two to fly on the beach. The kids and adults had fun with this!
Ya’ll! If you are in desperate need of R&R like we were, jump in the car and head to Port Aransas! It is a perfectly salty and sandy little slice of Texas to get your beach fix. God bless Texas, and God bless the owners of Island O’Aces for sharing their amazing home with us. We created wonderful lasting memories!
| If you are interested in seeing the listing for this beach property or interested in booking Island O’Acres for your family and friends, check out the VRBO listing here: https://www.vrbo.com/138737 |
| This was an extended 4 night weekend trip for us. Definitely needed to be longer! |
| What I made SURE to pack: |
| sunscreen |
| kids floaties and pool toys |
| kids seashell collecting bags |
| beach towels |
| bottled water and snacks |
| coffee grounds and K cups-this property has both types of machines |
Check out these other fun things to do in Port Aransas:
Leonabelle Birding Turnbull Birding Center
Chapel on the Dune
Skydive South Texas
Red Dragon Pirate Cruise
Lydia Ann Lighthouse
Texas Surf Camp
Island Motor Bikes
Fire It Ceramics-perfect to have as a rainy day backup plan or to rest from the sun.
What is your favorite thing to do in Port Aransas?? Favorite places to go? What questions do you have about my trip? Comment below!!!
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