With school buses soon comingbrout of retirement for the season,brtaking a family vacation maybrnot be top of mind. However, a beach family getaway is not out of the question,bryet! The Gulf of Mexico may create beaches for vebrU.S. states, but we all know the best ones are foundbralong the Texas coast. With islands and bays galorebrdown south, here are some of our favorites.
Stewart Beach, Galveston
Galveston boasts more than 32 miles of Gulf-sidebrbeaches, but not all sand was created equal. Therebrare seven beach parks along the Gulf coast ofbrGalveston, but only one is recommended as thebrfamily-friendly one of the bunch. Located on thebrnortheastern side of Galveston Island, StewartbrBeach has much to offer in terms of amenities. Thebrrestrooms and showers are well taken care of, and Stewart is one of the few beaches with lifeguards on duty. There isbralso a souvenir shop and snack bar. Beach wheelchairs make beachbrfun accessible for sun worshippers and swimmers of all ages. Youbrcan also rent chairs and umbrellas if you'd rather not feel the burn.brRest assured the day will remain family-friendly, as no alcohol isbrallowed on this beach. Admission ranges from $10 to $12.
If you don't plan on camping on another beach nearby orbropted not to rent a beach house, there are many hotels alongbrGalveston's Gulf coast. But only one can boast status as being thebrmost historic—at more than 100 years old! The Hotel Galvez andbrSpa is located approximately one and a half miles south of StewartbrBeach. It offers not only a premium night's sleep, but also an onsitebrhealth spa and a fully equipped tness center. The swimming poolbrand hot tub make for a well-rounded resort-style experience. Whilebrthere may be no need to venture out while staying at the Galvezbr(aside from visiting Stewart Beach), the hotel provides bicycles tobrguests allowing you to explore the seawall of Galveston Island andbrits many restaurants, shops and, of course, beaches. Galveston.com, HotelGalvez.com
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Mustang Island, Port Aransas
Families looking for a beach vacation sans myriad ofbrtourists, perhaps found at other Gulf Coast shores,brshould plan to visit Mustang Island. To nd this almost-brhidden gem, make your way south of Corpus Christibracross the John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway to thebrisland. With an 18-mile stretch of public shoreline,brMustang Island is for surfers, sand castle architects,brsunbathers and nature lovers. It's not unusual for beachbrgoers to kayak along the coast in the morning, relaxbrunder an umbrella in the afternoon sun and wade inbrthe warm evening waters of the Gulf admiring somebrof the 600 species of native sh—all in one day. Andbrat the end of your very full day, the question is: Wherebrwill you stay?br
You could choose between campsites and RV parks,brbut if you are looking to crash in a beach town, look tobrPort Aransas or “Port A,” as locals call it. Choose frombrhotels, cottages or beach houses—Port A offers all three.brAs the only city on Mustang Island, it's packed withbrtons of character in a small-town setting where you canbrsleep, shop and dine on island time. When in the Gulf,brdo as Gulf diners do—look for the best seafood in town.brRanked as the No. 1 Port Aransas restaurant by Trip Advi-brsor, Irie's Island Food promises to serve dishes that put abrtwist on local island favorites and those from around thebrworld. MustangIslandTexas.org, PortAransas.org, IriesIslandFood.com
Matagorda Bay and Beach, Matagorda
If you are looking for the perfect balance of high-activitybrand laid-back vacationing, a visit to Matagorda Bay andbrBeach is in order. Located at the mouth of the ColoradobrRiver on the upper Texas coast, the town of Matagordabrsees its share of tourists. However, with 22 miles of beachbrreachable by vehicle and an additional 33 miles onlybraccessible by boat, there's plenty of sand to go around. Youbrcan build sandcastles, search for sand dollars and dip yourbrfeet in the sparkling waters of the bay.br
If you'd rather dip a shing line in the bay waters,brthere are 55 miles of coastline to explore. The bay itself isbr6.6 feet deep and covers approximately 422 square miles.brKnown for being one of the best shing locations in thebrregion, Matagorda Bay has garnered this status based onbrits nutrient-rich estuary that is home to more than 21brdifferent types of sh. Whether you prefer wade shing,brdrift shing, surf shing or offshore shing from smallbrboats, the bay—and an additional plethora of rivers,brcreeks and bayous—is a sherman's paradise.br
If you can pull yourself away from the shore, webrsuggest heading to Poco Playa Bar and Village Restaurant.brThis 17,000-square-foot restaurant, bar and artisanbrvillage features a casual indoor and outdoor dining andbrdrinking eatery, tackle shop, boutique and museum. MatagordaBayTexas.com, PocoPlaya.com