Port Aransas, TX My Favorite Place

(Image Information: The Cook Family at Port Aransas, TX; photo from September 2016.)

     My family's favorite place to visit is Port Aransas, TX.  It is located on the Gulf of Mexico between Corpus Christi and North Padre Island (the non-party Padre).  We have visited Port A every Labor Day weekend for the past nine years, except for one.  In 2017, Port Aransas was part of the Gulf Coast that endured extensive damage and flooding from Hurricane Harvey.  The hurricane hit land one week before the Labor Day weekend, so we had to change our annual plans.  When we returned in 2018, we were surprised and impressed by how quickly Port A recovered.  Not only were they able to rebuild or remodel the damaged businesses, the city council was able to attract new businesses to replace the few shops and restaurants whose owners chose not to reopen.  

     We typically rent from Beachcomber Vacation Rentals.  They treat us very well and their properties are clean and comfortable.  When we get to town, we shop at the local IGA supermarket for breakfast and lunch items that we eat at the rental.  We eat at a different restaurant each evening.  We have eaten at most of the restaurants in Port A and we haven't been disappointed with a single meal.  

     We like to spend most of our time at the beach, but over the years we have tried the local dolphin tour and the pirate cruise.  We recommend both, but the pirate cruise is more engaging for children between 4 and 12 years of age.  We also drive to Corpus Christi to tour the Texas State Aquarium every few years.  The aquarium is just large enough for a day trip, but not so large that we're exhausted at the end of the day.  If it's ridiculously hot, there is a huge splash pad at the entrance of the aquarium to cool off and to burn off any cranky energy our kids might have before they get packed into the car for the thirty-minute drive back to Port A.