Port Aransas has been one of our favorite Texas coastal escapes for years.
We’ve been going long enough to remember when Port A felt much smaller than it does now. There were fewer chain hotels, fewer familiar stores, and a lot more places that felt completely local. It has grown since then, but that small-island feel is still a big part of why we keep going back.
If you’re looking for a Texas beach day with good food, local shopping, coffee, and plenty to do besides sitting in the sand, Port Aransas is an easy place to love.
Getting to Port Aransas
There are two main ways we’ve gotten to Port Aransas over the years.
One is by taking the ferry from Aransas Pass. The ferry is free, and the actual crossing is very short. And this is coming from someone who is not exactly a boat person — I actually enjoy this one.
The other option is to drive through Corpus Christi, cross onto Mustang Island, and continue north to Port Aransas. For years, this was the route we usually took coming from the San Antonio area.
Either way, getting there feels like part of the trip.
Spend Some Time at the Beach
Obviously, you can’t talk about Port Aransas without talking about the beach.
We’ve visited during SandFest when the beach was packed, and we’ve gone right after Labor Day when it felt like we practically had the place to ourselves.
That’s one of the things I like about Port A. Depending on when you visit, you can have two completely different experiences.
The beach seems to stretch forever, and every time we’ve visited, we’ve found it well maintained.
If the beach is your main reason for going, you could easily spend most of the day there. But we almost never do, because there are too many other places we want to stop.
Browse the Local Shops
A Port Aransas day trip requires at least a little shopping. At least mine does.
One of my longtime favorites is Gratitudes. We’ve been stopping there for years, and somehow it still makes me smile every time I walk in.
It isn’t a huge store and it isn’t one of the giant beach souvenir shops. That’s exactly why I like it.
Port A also has plenty of traditional beach shops, candy stores, gifts, and other little places worth wandering through when you need a break from the sun.
This is one of those towns where I’d rather leave a little empty space in the itinerary and just see what we find.
Eat Some Very Good Seafood
Food is always part of our Port Aransas plans.
Seafood & Spaghetti Works
One of our longtime stops is Seafood & Spaghetti Works.
On one visit, instead of ordering separate entrées, we ordered several appetizers and shared everything.
We had truffle fries, Parmesan truffle scallops, and a seafood sampler with crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms.
The scallops were wonderful. The truffle fries disappeared quickly. And those stuffed mushrooms? I would absolutely order them again.
We’ve watched this restaurant change over the years, including moving into a completely different building, but it remains one of the places we associate with Port A.
Trout Street Bar & Grill
Another favorite has been Trout Street Bar & Grill near the marina.
Part of the appeal is the setting. You can sit near the water, watch the boats, and immediately feel like you’ve escaped normal life for a while.
On one trip we ordered Tuna Panchos and seared ahi tuna and shared them for lunch.
And we each had a cup of clam chowder, because apparently we are incapable of going there without ordering it.
I’m not even the biggest fish eater, and I still enjoyed the tuna.
Stop for Coffee at Coffee Waves
You knew coffee was going to make this list.
Coffee Waves caught our attention on one of our trips, and now it’s exactly the sort of stop I want when we’re in Port A.
I ordered a cold brew with oat milk and loved it.
My husband went in a completely different direction and ordered a Grasshopper with an extra shot of espresso — chocolate, mint, coffee, the whole thing.
Naturally, his drink looked more exciting than mine.
They also had pastries, gelato, and a cute seating area. Even during the quieter season, the shop had a steady stream of people coming through.
There’s More to Port Aransas Than the Beach
When our kids traveled with us years ago, we did more of the traditional Port A activities too.
You’ll find opportunities for dolphin-watching trips, fishing excursions, boating, birding, nature and wildlife experiences, and sea turtle education and conservation activities.
I am not going to pretend to be your birding expert. I know there are lots of birds. That concludes my bird expertise.
But that’s part of what makes Port Aransas work for different kinds of travelers. You can spend the day on the beach, spend it on the water, shop, eat your way around town, or combine a little bit of everything.
Why We Keep Going Back
We’ve visited Port Aransas in different seasons, with kids and without kids, for events and just because we felt like going to the coast.
And somehow we always end up doing the same thing before we leave:
Looking at real estate.
Because apparently one good beach day is all it takes for us to start wondering what it would be like to live on an island.
For now, though, we’ll settle for visiting.
If you’re planning your first visit, I also put together a newer Port Aransas day-trip itinerary with what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.
[…] If you want a broader look at the island beyond this itinerary, I also have a Port Aransas guide with more of our longtime favorite beaches, food, shopping, and coffee stops. […]