Austiners: Best, Closest Gulf Beach? (Corpus Christi, Galveston: camping, land, island)

[Spookmeister]

I'm the exact opposite of The Harvester, only appreciate the fresh water attractions as a last resort. I can go years without ever stepping into a river or lake but a year without exposure to the ocean makes me sick! Sometimes, twice a year is needed for me to feel whole. Something about the ocean, I've got saltwater coursing through my veins, I believe.
North Padre/ Mustang Island is a great place to hang out all day, every day if sun, sand and water are your thing. Drive down SPID, onto 361 and if you're looking for company JP Luby Park is for you. There will be lots of of the usual beach activities going on all day and well into the night. If peace and quiet is what you need, go further north to Beach access road #3 or 5, can't remember which, and you'll have more than enough of the peace and quiet you seek. You don't even have to say hello to the sea-gulls that will come looking for food.
As for the drive to Corpus Christi, I prefer and recommend I-35 to 410 East, to I-37, over the 183 to 181 route. There are just too many 40MPH towns on that route. As far as hills, twists and turns go, it's a 550foot drop in 200 miles, hardly signifciant, but most of that is in sections so you will notice. It's the same way on the 183 route, only more noticeable because long stretches are single lane country roads. Once you get past Mathis on 181 and George West on I-37, it's mostly flat coastal plains all the way.
I do the drive to Victoria and Corpus Christi twice a year to each, and can probably sleep drive myself there.

[atxcio]

The 123/181 route does have a lot of places where the speed limit drops, and a few sections with lights. No real hills or twisty areas. Pretty flat with tame curves. Many people prefer the interstates... However, I've always hated the bad traffic on 35 (especially) and 410. It's also about 25 miles shorter, I think, via the 123/181 route. Mapquest estimates the smaller roads take over 4 hours.. however, my experience has been about 3:15 min. Here are both routes:

Interstates

Small highways

[Trainwreck20]

Personally, if you are heading to Port Aransas, take the 183 route. If you are going to CC, I usually take 37.

[fil]

Silks,

I just left ATL and live in ATX and we knew in the move that a Destin-like weekend getaway required a flight for a good beach.

Oh, and no Delta or Airtran here, so the flights are much steeper and less frequent and, typically, require a stop in Dallas to get anywhere.

Good news, you don't have to prepare 3 hours ahead to do the airport run. We're down to 1.5 hours prep before the flight.

Also, speeding is not the norm here like ATL.

This is a nice town, but small-time comparatively and things are much more accessible since there are less venues. For example, you go to Piedmont Park and not much is going on, while in ATX you go to Zilker and there's always something going on. The dog park is 1/3 of the size, but there are a lot more people/dogs there.

Good luck on your choice to move.

[malarkey]

Originally Posted by Spookmeister

I'm the exact opposite of The Harvester, only appreciate the fresh water attractions as a last resort. I can go years without ever stepping into a river or lake but a year without exposure to the ocean makes me sick! Sometimes, twice a year is needed for me to feel whole. Something about the ocean, I've got saltwater coursing through my veins, I believe.
North Padre/ Mustang Island is a great place to hang out all day, every day if sun, sand and water are your thing.

OK Spookmeister, I believe if it comes from you. I'm the same way. Fresh water is fine, but I crave the salt water contact. And if you are happy with NP and MI, then it will probably work for me too

[MitchNFroy]

The further south you go, the better beaches you find, if you keep going East, the First nice beautiful beach you will find, it would be Pensacola beach in Pensacola Fla. its worth the drive and even for a long weekend, if you dont mind sharing with you friend a 8 to 9 hr drive. I was happy with it and it was like being in Cancun Mex. If you want better places, than dont stop untill you get to San Destin, Florida, what a blast, by the way the have the biggest Outletstores, not like san marcos nor Katy Mills, I mean alotttttt BIGGER.:co ol::ro lleyes:

Originally Posted by Austinitegirl

I lived in Galveston for a year - what a dump. Don't go to those beaches - they suck. Unless you don't mind the feet smell emanating from the water (thanks to the sulfur plants along the coast in that part of the state).

The farther south of Galveston you go - the better. Port Aransas is decent - Mustang Island is OK - Padre is good.

Honestly - if you want a nice beach, just wait for a great deal on airline tickets and take a long weekend to Cozumel or Cancun. The way gas prices are going these days - it would probably be cheaper to fly to Mexico than to drive to the Texas coast.

What was that famous quote by Janis Joplin (who grew up in Galveston)?? "Galveston is the ***hole of the world and Port Arthur is five miles up it."

[TexasHorseLady]

I don't live in the area. I don't think the beaches "suck" (well, except in that if you're standing on them and the waves go out, they sort of do ).

There are beaches and beaches, and, thankfully, they're not all the same. I can remember a breathtaking beach in California years ago, at night, with the phosphorence rolling in on the waves.

I can remember finding sand dollars and shells and a myriad of interesting things on the beaches down on the Texas coach.

I can remember rock beaches on the Oregon coast.

I can remember ONCE being at the Texas coast and having jellyfish washing up on the shore. We stayed pretty much out of the water that trip, but my young daughter and I had a fascinating time going along looking at the jellyfish that had washed ashore. And that was once in almost 60 years that I had the jellyfish experience.

All beautiful beaches, all with their own special vices and virtues.

[gigi927]

THL, interesting that you mention the one jellyfish experience. We were in Rockport at the beach 2 weeks ago and none of us could get in the water because of the prolific - and I do mean prolific - jellyfish. One of our beach "neighbors" had a kid who got 3 bites within 10 minutes of getting in the water. From what I understand it can be a rare occurrence or a seasonal thing? I have to read up more on it, but my kids were highly disappointed to say the least!

[S6Sputnik]

Takes me 3.5 hours to get to Mustang Island East of Courpus Christi...and the beaches are usually quite nice

[newrrmom]

S6Sputnik-was that not stopping?? we are headed out that way soon, and recommendations of good rest. on the way, almost there, NONchain>>