Port Aransas Beach
I.B Magee Beach Park
I.B. Magee Beach Park is located on Mustang Island’s northern tip, just half a mile from Main Street in Port A’s stores and eateries. The park is a popular coastal camping spot with coin showers, electrical hookups, and picnic tables. This no-frills destination is ideal for family holidays in Port Aransas and traditional beach enjoyment. A full bathhouse is available to RVers. A dog park and two hiking routes are also available at the park.
I.B. Magee has a couple of festivals and events that both locals and tourists look forward to. An annual sea turtle release is held as part of a conservation initiative. A yearly yarn bombing is also held. You can see bollards decorated in yarn pals that have been knitted to look like everything from creatures to cartoon characters as you go around the neighborhood.
Mustang Island Beach
Another great opportunity for fun in the sun can be found a short drive south along Mustang Island (13 miles). Mustang Island is the place to visit if you enjoy taking natural home mementos.
Mustang Island State Park is one of the most popular beaches near Port Aransas for shell and sand dollar collecting.
There are plenty of places to pitch up tents along the beach, and while the beach can get crowded in the summer, there are plenty of areas to sprawl out in the spring and fall.
One of Mustang Island’s most well-known features is that it is particularly pet-friendly.
There’s also a dog park and a pet-friendly dock so everyone in the family can enjoy a day at the beach.
Mustang Island also has some of the best fishing in the Port Aransas area, so bring your fishing pole and gearbox if you’re going!
Rockport Beach Park
Rockport Beach Park, 20 miles west of Port Aransas, is a family-friendly attraction with calm, blue waters, a playground, a gazebo, and more. While you must take the ferry to get to Rockport from Mustang Island (which is on the mainland), the travel is part of the adventure. This lovely beach near Port A offers a wide range of activities to keep you and your family occupied. This location has something for everyone, whether you’re seeking a peaceful place or a packed beach.
The beach is clean and big, with a welcoming atmosphere for families. It is popular with families despite its small size in comparison to other beaches in Texas. Volleyball courts, picnic tables, and a pier are just a few of the activities available. The sand is made up of stones and shells, and the region is well maintained.’ It is, in fact, Texas’ first Blue Wave Beach!
Tony Amos City Beach
Tony Amos City Beach is located 3 miles down Mustang Island from Port Aransas.
This large, flat beach, which was renamed in 2015 in honor of famed conservationist Tony Amos, is ideal for a day of sunbathing and dips in the Gulf. Tony Amos City Beach can get congested on holiday weekends due to its popularity with both locals and tourists, but it is otherwise a wide-open space. Because Tony Amos is located further out of town, it is good to bring food and drink for the day because there aren’t many restaurants or shops close.
San Jose Private Island Beach
You can visit the private island of San Jose if you want a more adventurous experience. Despite the fact that it is privately owned, a portion of the island is open to visitors. This stunning, quiet beach on one of Texas’ greatest islands is just a boat ride away from Port Aransas. A little fishing shop, as well as seashell gathering, can be found here. This is a peaceful retreat away from the masses, where you can relax and take in the natural splendor. The wildlife on San Jose Island is unrivaled, and it is mostly used for conservation purposes.
The Wetland Park
The Texas Department of Transportation donated the Wetland Park on the island’s channel side to the City of Port Aransas. It is one of the greatest places on the island to watch some of the spectacular birds that call Port Aransas home, as it is built on the tidal flats. Visitors to Wetland Park can see a diverse range of birds and animals throughout the year, including pelicans, egrets, and frogs.
The Horace Caldwell Pier
The Horace Caldwell Pier is a 1,240-foot fishing and surfing pier on Mustang Island.
Although The Horace Caldwell Pier is technically adjacent to I.B. Magee Beach Park, the ambiance changes once you step off the shore and onto the boardwalk. It’s open all year and lighted at night, and visitors may enjoy everything from fishing to sunbathing.
The pier is one of the few places on this list that is not open to the general public. However, it costs two dollars to enjoy the panoramic views from the pier’s end, and you must pay in cash, so get to the ATM before you go.
From the Horace Caldwell Pier, you can enjoy some of the best fishing on the island. There is a bait and tackle shop on site where you can buy bait and refreshments and fishing poles to rent. So throw a line in the water, take in the breathtaking scenery, then fry up your Texas Redfish catch at the end of the day.
This pier is located on Mustang Island’s northernmost point. It’s open 24 hours a day and is well-lit for fishing at night.
Holiday Beach
Holiday Beach is another fantastic beach worth seeing if you’re in Port A.
It’s only a mile south of Port Aransas Beach and is often less busy than the island’s main beach. Locals enjoy the vast sandy beach and the Gulf’s lapping waves lapping against the shore.
Some of the greatest hotels and condos on the island are only across the sand dunes, making it highly accessible to visitors from out of town.
