Planning Your Time

Coast-bound travelers tend to stay for a weekend in one area—Galveston [1], Brazosport [2], Corpus [3], or South Padre [4]—to lay claim to a beach condo or hole up in a fishing village as opposed to roaming the entire region. In fact, parking yourself on one beach is the best way to do it, unless you have time and money to spare and can enjoy your experience cruising along the coast in a boat (rentals are available).

In general, there are two types of Gulf Coast [5] travelers: busy families looking for a getaway from the ‘burbs, and grizzled fishermen looking for a getaway from the family. The South Padre Island beaches [6] are considered the nicest, so if quality sand and surf are your top priorities, that’s the best place to start. Plan to spend at least two to three days soaking up the sun, soft white sand, and gently rolling surf. Many South Padre visitors choose to take a day trip to Matamoros, Mexico, via nearby Brownsville.

As you make your way up the coast, the beaches tend to be less scenic—the sand is a bit darker and the infiltration of civilization is more apparent (oil rigs, trash, tankers, commercial buildings, etc.). Regardless, the scent of salt water and intrinsic lure of the sea are just as strong; you just have to deal with more traffic and city folk. It’s worth spending a long weekend in Corpus Christi [3] to soak up the pleasant scene on Mustang Island [7] or nearby Padre Island National Seashore [8]. The city’s USS Lexington, [9] Texas State Aquarium [10], and Museum of Science and History [11] are well worth visiting for a family-friendly, air-conditioned change of pace.

The Brazosport Area [2] offers fewer cultural amenities than its coastal cousins, which is precisely the reason anglers prefer spending quiet weekends here sans water parks and booming car stereos. Things are more low-key and less commercial in this unassuming corner of the coast, where retirees, fishermen, and professional beachcombers peacefully coexist.

Galveston [1] is where the big-city Houston [12] folk go to spend their money and get their beach and seafood fix. It’s the least-stunning of all the Gulf Coast beaches, but the waves are still welcoming, and the shopping and restaurant scene in the historic Strand [13] district are certainly deserving of two travel days.