A lot of people overlook the great state of Texas when they are looking for a vacation spot that has beautiful beaches. When people are looking for fantastic beaches to visit they automatically think about Florida, California, and Mexico, but Texans know that the Lone Star state has 600 miles of sandy beaches on the edges of the Gulf of Mexico that are prime for enjoyment of all beach going activities.
I am a Texan, and in order for me to decide which of the Texas beaches are best, I must know what beach activities you wish to engage in. You see, I believe ALL Texas beaches are amazing, but I do know that certain beaches are better for family vacations, while other beaches for romantic getaways.
Let’s take a look at some of the great Texas beaches, and then ya’ll can make your own minds up about which ones would be best for your next sandy/sunny vacation. I am going to concentrate on the 5 best beach categories here, but I urge you to explore all of the Texas coastline.
Best Texas Beach for Family Fun
When it comes to taking the family on a beach vacation you want clean beaches with sparkling sand, good accommodations to stay in that are close to the beaches. Family friendly restaurants and other family oriented attractions like water slides and play areas.
Crystal Beach
Crystal beach is located on the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County. Hurricane Ike destroyed a lot of the homes in this area, but new, modern homes are going up quickly so there are plenty of wonderful rental opportunities for families who want to stay on the beach. There are always plenty of dolphin sightings if you are anywhere near the bolivar ferries.
Stewart Beach
Stewart beach is located in Galveston and it has all of the family fun amenities that you could want. There are water slides, sand, surf, ferry rides, and even places to go see the sea turtles of the area.
Padre Island
Padre Island is located just off of the coast of Corpus Christi. You will find beautiful sandy beaches, a Schlitterbahn waterpark and Sea Turtle Inc. where you get the chance to see the turtle up close.
Kemah
Kemah is located midway between Houston and Galveston. There is a boardwalk, rides, sailing tours, boat rides, and carriage rides around the town.
Best Texas Beach for Swimming
Some beaches are better for swimming because they have fewer areas where strong undertows are.
Rockport Beach
Rockport beach is protected from the larger waves because it faces Aransas Bay instead of straight out into the Gulf of Mexico. The water is very shallow and gradually gets deeper so children can easily swim without being knocked over by big waves and swimmers can wade out to the depth they prefer.
Mustang Island
Mustang Island is in Port Aransas. The swimming at this beach and the surfboard lessons are huge attractions. You will also find that there are plentiful camping locations, and people love to go down by the jetty after high tide and collect seashells.
Best Texas Beach for Fishermen
Anglers love the following beaches. The fishing is good and there are local bait shops and supply stores where they can get all of the gear they need to fish with.
Corpus Christi
Corpus is home to Bob Hall Pier which is a very popular shark fishing location.
Seawolf Park
Located in Galveston, Seawolf is the trout fishing destination for anglers during July and August.
Best Texas Beach for Romantic Holidays
Couples will enjoy the following beaches for their beauty and their privacy. If you want to take long walks in the moonlight, or to be able to bask in the sun without having a large number of people around these beaches are perfect for you.
Galveston Island
Galveston Island offers a wide selection of sandy beaches to explore, plus the island is only forty miles south of Houston so couples can have the bed and breakfast experience of a small beach town and still be close enough to a major city to go take in the nightlife action.
San Jose Island
San Jose is across from Port Aransas. It is privately owned and there are not as many attractions that families wish to see. You have to take a ferry to get there, and then you have beach privileges without the crowds.
Matagorda Beach
Matagorda is a primitive beach area and it does not attract a large number of tourists but it is perfect if you are looking for some privacy on the beach. You will have to do some walking to get to the best sandy places so bring water, sun screen and everything else you might need.
Best Texas Beach for Retirees
Older people also love to spend time on the beach. They usually prefer to comb the beach for beautiful shells, or fish from a pier, and they like to have places where they can park their RV’s. local restaurants that have great food, and attractions like aquariums, wildlife exhibits, as well as museums, and historical sites.
Boca Chica
Boca Chica is located just across the Rio Grande from Mexico. It is a small beach with small crowds, and plenty of rustic charm.
Padre Island National Seashore
This beach haven is a safe sanctuary for more than 350 species of migratory birds. You can camp here or simply spend the day. You can also catch a glimpse of the rare Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle on special occasions.
Final Note
It really is hard to select just one fabulous beach location in Texas. The sands here are white and gleaming. The towns close to the beaches are filed with friendly people who are more than willing to tell you the best places to go swim, fish, eat, or do any of the things you desire to do.
The next time you want to go to a beach just head to Texas and stop at any of our delightful coastal regions. You’ll be glad you came.
