Port Aransas

AT THE NORTHERN TIP of Mustang Island, and only thirty minutes across the Bay from Corpus Christi, lies the small Texas city of Port Aransas. This lovely beach community provided the ideal leisure destination some years ago for our family's celebration of Christmas - Texas island style!
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My wife and I were on Christmas break from our busy lives on a university campus in southwest Missouri. My parents, who were already retired and wintering in the Rio Grande Valley, were changing their scenery a bit by traveling north several miles to the Gulf Coast city. Our son was taking a few days off from his harried schedule as an attorney in New York. He flew-in to the Corpus Christi airport. Soon after the family came together, all of us knew that Port Aransas was going to be the perfect peaceful spot: close to the water, but away from the crowds.
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Arrangements for lodging were made by our son. The wonderful accommodations - plus several delicious meals - were part of his Christmas gifts to the rest of us. We enjoyed a beautiful beach house, complete with beds and bathrooms enough for all of us. In addition, we had a living room, kitchen, laundry room, wrap-around deck, and even a car port. The house was located in the dunes, but a board walkway - perhaps 30-40 yards long - led directly to the beach. We could see the waters of the Gulf of Mexico from our deck.
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During our week-long stay, we visited and got caught-up on the happenings in each others' lives. We played games. We strolled - and flew kites - on the beach. We toured the city and the surrounding area. We made a couple of trips into Corpus Christi - one using the southern route across the JFK Causeway; the other using the northern route on the ferry. From the ferry we enjoyed watching playful dolphins. We shopped in several boutiques, galleries, and other mom and pop Island stores. We ate some of our meals at the beach house, and we ate other meals out. We enjoyed a variety of restaurants, cafes, and eating establishments. Perhaps our most unique dining experience was at the "Crazy Cajun." The food was great - and the unusual serving techniques will not soon be forgotten!
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Port Aransas is not only a great choice as a destination for the holidays. It also offers a very attractive option as a getaway location on a year-round basis. The city - and Mustang Island - provide miles of beautiful and natural beaches, gentle Gulf breezes, plus a nearly tropical atmosphere much of the year. The average annual temperature is 72 degrees. Great fishing, shelling, birding, and nature activities abound. Kayaking, kite boarding, surfing, boating, jet skiing, para sailing, golfing, horseback riding on the beach, community theatre, and an annual sand fest all give ample opportunity for leisure involvement. Types of housing options include RV park, motel, cottage, bed and breakfast, apartment, beach house, and condo.
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It's always a pleasure to tell others about great leisure experiences and where they may be found. When sharing this kind of information, I'm sometimes asked, "Would you do it again?" The answer to this question, as it pertains to Port Aransas, is a resounding "Yes!" In fact, our family did "do it again." The following year all of us returned: same area; same city; same beach house. And, it was just as marvelous the second year as the first - if not better.
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Viva Port Aransas!

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-- The beach at Port Aransas, Texas is shown in the photo above.