Texas' Third Coast: America's Most Overlooked Beach Paradise

Unless you go in Dallas or Little Rock or Tulsa , Oklahoma , the first place that get along to brain when you believe beach vacation is probably not Texas . But it should be . The Texas Gulf Coast , or America ’s Third Coast as it ’s affectionately consult , is 367 miles of tender water , seaside cantinas , and way-out beach towns unlike any you ’ll encounter on the the Eastern and Western Seaboards . Here ’s what makes this stretchiness of sand so damn wizardly .

It’s not all fancy-schmancy

Do n’t get me unseasonable ; there are plenty of multimillion - dollar family at which to gawk , but a draw of the small seaside towns are replete with multitude just like you and me [ study : notowners of multimillion - dollar bill homes ] , which is kind of refreshing . In places like Port Aransas , many of the businesses and restaurants are no - frills , and the occupier are friendly sun believer who wear out carapace jewelry , labor Jeeps , and mind to Jimmy Buffett .

The water is so warm you won’t want to get out. Ever.

The Texas Gulf feels like a Jacuzzi , spare and uncomplicated . If you ’re one of those people who enjoy frigid toe and shriveled appendages ( I was in the pocket billiards ! ! ! ) , you ’re in the wrong home . In the summer months , the Texas Gulf typicallyreaches the mid-80s , which means you ’ll in all likelihood never want to will the urine . check that to convey your koozie necklace .

Unless you want to drink at The Biggest Beach Bar in Texas

That would be Clayton ’s , aka one ofthe good beach bar in the world , and a join that can hold5,000 people!!!It on a regular basis hosts top - name concerts ( Ludacris , Nelly , Kesha ! ) and rocks over 100 tables and a vast pack of cards for an good afternoon of slothful beachside drinking .

Or watch baby turtles hatch at sunrise

On North Padre Island from June through August , the public can look out the wee - est ofbaby sea turtle hatchon the beach and take their sweet - ass time ( 20 - 45 minutes ) defecate their way to ocean exemption . Although , to be honorable , it can take up to four days for the babies to burst forth from their eggs , and it typically occurs in the former morning ; so … best to call the Hatchling Hotline ( 361 - 949 - 7163 ) for updates on when to see them . And yes , we just gave you the telephone number for a babe turtle hatchling hotline .

Two words: Galveston Schlitterbahn

The most splendid indoor - outdoor water common ever opened , Schlitterbahn offers 1970s - era fun and the hazard to drown even when it ’s 50 degrees and rainy out ( it ’s open on prime days every month of the year ) . Plus , there are two locations outside of Galveston in South Padre and Corpus Christi , so you have options .

Padre Island is one of the country’s top spring break playgrounds

Thrillist did n’t pluck South Padre Island ( yes , the other side of the island from the turtle ) as the fourthly - honorable spring break spot for nothing –this blank space commence insane . Althoughbeware of the drone pipe !

We do po-boys even better than the Big Easy

Sure , they originated next door in Louisiana , but we ’re all shrimp in the same waters , right-hand ? Let ’s just say you ’re gon na desire to hitIrie ’s Island Foodin Port Aransas ( HUGE po - boys ) andShrimp ' N Stuffin Galveston , where you may kick back on the deck of cards . You wo n’t be disappointed .

There’s no better beach camping in America

for certain , camping is allowed on mass of beaches across the state , but there is something quixotic about lying on the Texas guts amongst beautiful sand dune and enjoy the strait of waves and doll , all while being comfortably tucked in by a warm blanket of humidness . retard outMustang Island , with proximity to 20 miles of paddle trails , andPadre Island National Seashore , which offers several camping country such as Bird Island Basin ( kayaking ! Birdwatching ! Windsurfing ! ) and Yarborough Pass ( fishing ! Dunes ! )

You don’t need to hit the ATM that often

Unlike a lot of fancy - rump seaboard towns , hotels and eating house are fairly cheap – so you wo n’t necessitate to soak that shell jewelry assemblage to relish the aforementioned shrimp po - boy and a beer . It ’s also middling coarse to score a hotel or condo for around $ 50-$100 per person , assuming you plan ahead . Or , if you ’re tops frugal , again , camping – you may pitch a tent on the beach for as little as a couple of bucks a night !

The ghost of Townes Van Zandt plays the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe

open up in Galveston in 1996 by former Townes Van Zandt and Lucinda Williams bassist , Rex ( Wrecks ) Bell , the Old Quarter Acoustic Café is the go - to tell apart for non - Kesha alive music in the Texas Gulf . And what makes this dive so cool ? Well , one of the reasons : Bell and friends host an annual Townes Van Zandt wake on New Year ’s Day where musician far and wide come to play / pay homage to Texas ’ punishing - boozing land boy . It ’s a must for lover of bygone TX .

We’re not afraid of sharks. And we don’t need to be.

crap shark are coarse in the Gulf , but you ’re right smart more likely to get snatch by a shark in Florida , the most common state for shark attacks ( oh , Florida ) . The last metre someonewas belt down by a shark in Texaswas 1962 , and before that , 1937 and 1911 . That ’s it . Since 1900 , fewer than 100 attacks have occurred in the Texas Gulf ; in other words , you have nothing to worry about . Now , the Gulf also has alligators , butunless you mock one , you ’ll in all probability be OK.Sign up herefor our daily Thrillist e-mail , and get your fix of the good in intellectual nourishment / drink / fun .

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