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Thursday, July 31, 2025

The Finest Texas Seashores Close to Houston to Go to This Summer time


Surfers benefit from the 8 Mile Highway seashore in Galveston.

Certain, we Houstonians stay inside an hour of the seashore, however how a lot do you actually find out about that 367-mile strip of sand and hurricane bait that’s the Texas shoreline

Houstonia scoped the scene and located surprises round each dune, from relics restored to glittering new sights. These are the knowledgeable tips about every part from the perfect seashore umbrellas, the neatest solution to construct a sandcastle, the best way to deal with a jellyfish sting, the prime locations to fish, the highest spots to eat another person’s fish, and far, rather more.


Galveston’s seawall is lined with numerous vacationer sights, motels, and eating places.

The seawall is the 10-mile concrete barrier that islanders constructed to guard their properties after the notorious 1900 hurricane practically wiped the town off the map. Since then, the mural-covered fortification has aged fairly effectively, fulfilling its defensive goal whereas concentrating an excessive amount of island enjoyable throughout a single well-trafficked frontier. A day spent drifting between the seashore and the boulevard alongside the seawall is time effectively spent.

Arrange the day with an umbrella firmly planted on Babe’s Seaside, a pristine 15-block stretch of sand west of 61st Avenue, newly dredged as of 2015 and named for A. R. “Babe” Schwartz, the longtime Texas state legislator who ensured public entry to Gulf seashores. This part sits far sufficient from the vacationer traps to keep away from the largest crowds, whereas remaining shut sufficient to space sights

There’s one thing timeless about strolling alongside Galveston’s seawall and easily heading down damaged concrete steps to a plot of sand lined with umbrellas and teeming with bathers. However what do the locals do after they need to flee the crowds? They head west, to a pristine strip of shoreline simply outdoors the town limits recognized informally as 8 Mile Highway.

To get there, take Seawall Boulevard west till the seawall ends and turns into Termini San Luis Cross Highway. Flip left on 8 Mile Highway and drive till you hit the water. Beachgoers are welcome to drive on the sand, and so they accomplish that with garden chairs, volleyball nets, and coolers in tow. Surfers and fishers may also be seen in substantial numbers.

East Seaside is understood for being the most important public seashore in Texas.

The largest public seashore in Texas is often known as Houston’s Playground, because of its party-friendly repute—although it’s additionally in style with households. In 2013, East Seaside unveiled a brand new pavilion, boardwalk, and leisure stage, courtesy of a $1.6-million makeover. With loads of chairs and umbrellas out there for lease on this sprawling sandlot, plus summer time concert events held on most Sunday afternoons, it’s the right place to spend a summer time weekend.

Surfside is a a lot quieter vacation spot than close by Galveston.

Surfside Seaside lies an hour down the coast from Galveston and has a completely totally different really feel—it is wackier, homier, and cheaper. However this little fishing village in Brazoria County has character in spades, and an genuine really feel: assume bait retailers, not fudge retailers. Many guests do an enormous journey to the grocery retailer, arrange in a rental for the week, and by no means depart. However for these with a busy life, Surfside is definitely an important day-trip vacation spot. Head down Freeway 288 on a weekday, and benefit from the sunny saltwater vibes.

Padre Island Nationwide Seashore is dwelling to over 400 hen species and is a haven to, amongst others, the extraordinarily endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. At 70 miles lengthy, Padre can be the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island shoreline on this planet.

Be suggested: Coming from the city of South Padre Island, vacationers can solely drive about 35 of these miles to about so far as Port Mansfield Cross, however solely with a four-wheel-drive or for those who’re an especially expert individual behind the wheel of a two-wheel-drive. The remainder of the seashore will be accessed from the north or by boat. 

Situated on Mustang Island, considered one of pirate Jean Lafitte’s haunts, Port Aransas gained worldwide fame within the early twentieth century for its tarpon fishing; between 1899 and 1910, the city was merely known as “Tarpon.” The majestic silver fish started disappearing within the Fifties, forcing Port A to rely extra closely on tourism, which immediately is its principal trade. It’s rumored there are extra resort rooms within the metropolis than residents. All these rooms imply there’s one thing for everybody and each funds, from lavish resorts by the ocean to modest cottages nearer to city.

When Houstonians go to the seashore, they often head for Galveston. However some road-less-traveled sorts choose as an alternative for the eccentric attraction of the Bolivar Peninsula, a brief ferry journey from East Seaside. Bolivar’s attracts embody good beachcombing on desolate stretches of sand, barbecued crabs, and uncommon birds, nevertheless it shocks many first-time guests with its weird mixture of rural and industrial vibe (assume: roseate spoonbills perched on pumpjacks).

Galveston has a historical past of civilized refinement, however Bolivar’s fascinating previous is primarily that of pirates. The 27-mile sand spit is called after the Latin American insurgent chief Simón Bolívar, who gave French pirate Jean Lafitte a “letter of marque,” commissioning him as an official privateer with permission to assault Spanish ships.

Everybody drives on the seashore, so keep in mind to purchase an annual seashore parking sticker.

An aspiring artists colony and in style retirement vacation spot for rich Texans uninterested in metropolis life, Rockport is a little more status-conscious than the laid-back Port A. It’s a spot the place individuals sometimes costume up for dinner, and the place “going purchasing” means artwork galleries and vintage shops slightly than a beer run to the closest gasoline station. Nonetheless, Rockport is a seashore group at coronary heart, surrounded on three sides by the Aransas, Copano, and Port bays.

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