[halves]
[/halves]
On left: ASOS coverup (sold out – similar under $20 here), MISA earrings, Steve Madden sandals // On right: ASOS dress, Mercedes Salazar earrings, Budha Girl bangles, Steve Madden sandals (side note – I had the bottom portion of the yellow dress lined – I was worried about sweat showing on such a thin material!)
[halves]
[/halves]
On left: Watermelon print umbrella (under $20!) and beach chairs (only $10 each!) // On right: a starfish that had washed ashore on one of our long beach walks! We put it back in the water.
[halves]
[/halves]
On left: a close-up of my MISA earrings while at lunch at Fin’s // On right: a close-up of my Mercedes Salazar earrings, Budha Girl bangles and ASOS dress with my mom
[halves]
[/halves]
On left: a no-filter sunrise from the boat while we were bay fishing Sunday morning // On right: the 26 1/4 lb redfish I caught!
The view from our AirBnB!
[halves]
[/halves]
On left: wearing my favorite Trina Turk one-piece and Levi’s shorts to the beach… I normally wear a 4 in Trina Turk clothes, but got a size 10 in this one-piece. The swimwear runs small, and I also have a long torso + big boobs. The fit is great though and doesn’t cut in or feel super tight! // On right: a view of the beach in Port Aransas
STAY
Cajun Beach and Sunset Beach (the AirBnB’s we stayed in!) – because we had such a big group, my stepdad rented out both beach-front homes to fit everyone! The best part is, they are right next door to each other, making it easy to gather and meet up when we needed to. The houses are huge and well-appointed (they even have elevators!), and just a five minute drive into the center of town. We absolutely loved staying here and highly recommend it to anyone looking to bring a big group down to Port A! Two things to note – they don’t rent to anyone under 25 (sorry college students!) and you do have to drive through a little *luxury* RV park to get to the homes. While not the most convenient in that sense, it didn’t bother us. You’ve just got to drive in slowly!
Tarpon Inn – situated directly across from Fisherman’s Wharf, this spot is right in the center of town and walking distance from tons of restaurants! It was actually converted from civil war barracks into the Inn in 1886… so cool! It is a darling little hotel with architecture that’ll make you think you’re in New Orleans, Charleston or Key West. Sprawling porches and candy colors are just a few of the cute details of this spot. Just note it is not a close jaunt to the beach, so you’d have to drive for beach access.
Port Royal – if you’ve been here before, you may laugh a bit. I grew up going to Port Aransas with my family since I was a toddler, and one of the places we stayed frequently was the Port Royal. This resort features large beach front condos that are great for families, especially those with kids. The pool area is huge, and one pool in particular features a very fun slide (if I remember correctly).
EAT
Avery’s – we did this spot on our last day for lunch… as they say, go big or go home, am I right? Here you’ll find the best fried shrimp and fish on the island! Perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Also, our group loves onion rings and these are some of the best we’ve ever had. EVER. PS: if you go fishing on your trip, bring your filets to the restaurant and the chef will fry them for you! Such a delicious spot, but definitely a hole in the wall. They also serve breakfast… I hear they do a mean biscuits + gravy!
Fin’s – this is a great spot for a casual lunch. The food is amazing, just beware of the giant portions! Haha. Get a table on the deck if the weather is nice! Our group tried everything from the shrimp tacos to the grilled chicken sandwich, and everyone raved about their choices.
La Playa – for seafood with a little Mexican flair, grab dinner at La Playa. This was recommended by several readers, but unfortunately we didn’t have time to hit it! We tried to go Sunday night but it was closed, unfortunately.
Venetian Hot Plate – if you need to take a break from seafood, head to this popular Italian spot! Our family friends who come to Port Aransas often say this is one of the best restaurants on the island!
Liberty Hall – for a more upscale dining experience, have dinner at this spot located right next to the Tarpon Inn. The menu changes daily, but mostly features creative seafood dishes!
Trout Street – another good spot for a casual lunch! Try the coconut shrimp, fried pickles and the shrimp Larisha. They’ve got also got a pretty great wine selection (Fin’s does not).
Lisabella’s – this eatery is situated in a new beach house development called Cinnamon Shore. It is definitely the fanciest restaurant on the island, and they feature live music on Friday and Saturday night! Go early and peruse the little neighborhood of candy-colored houses. So adorable!
DO
We spent most of our afternoons on the beach playing volleyball, horseshoes, listening to music and drinking beer. Bring along a few umbrellas or a tent, beach chairs and a few coolers and you’re good to go!
Another great activity in Port A if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, is to book a charter and do some bay fishing! It usually requires an early wake-up call (5:00am!), but it’s so much fun! Also, you get a perfect view of sunrise from the boat. So peaceful!
If you’ve got a lot of boys in your family like I do, play golf at the Palmilla Beach Resort – the boys in the family spent two mornings at Palmilla and loved playing this course! They said it was on the more difficult side, but that it’s beautiful and a morning well spent.
