Malaquite Beach - and other questions... (San Antonio, Corpus Christi: hotel, wedding, camp)

[Rasero]

Morning!

We've lived in San Antonio for several years and have only made it to Corpus a few times (been so busy!), just to the beach where the state aquarium is. I've heard there are nicer beaches down there, though. So yesterday I was researching and came across Malaquite Beach. I would like to drive down one weekend and take my wife and 3 little girls there. Just have a few questions!

Are there any restrooms at this beach? Or is it all just so undeveloped that you have to get in the car and drive down somewhere else to use the restroom? From the pictures I saw it looks pretty nice. We'd like to maybe camp there one night, but then again, not sure what type of facilities are available as far as showers / restrooms are concerned. Maybe we'll just stay at a hotel a little farther up and then go to the beach in the day.

Also, what other nice, family-friendly (with little kids) beaches are there? I would like to really take advantage of living this close to the Gulf and visit it more with the family.

Thanks in advance for any input --

[Marlow]

Malaquite Beach is on the Padre Island National Seashore and has very nice facilities. There are showers, restrooms and a gift shop. You can camp with a permit. Unless you have a 4-wheel drive, you park in a lot and take your stuff down to the beach. You can drive on other beaches, but not there, which is nice if you have small kids. You can camp with a permit. The fee to use the NP is $10 per car, or $20 for a year long pass.

Just so you know, the beach by the aquarium is on Corpus Christi bay, where the waves are small and there is no undertow. Malaquite and the other Padre Island beaches are on the Gulf and you'll need to be very careful with your small children. And with yourselves, for that matter, if you're not familiar with it.

Other Gulf beaches are Mustang Island State Park and the beach at Port Aransas. They're all part of the same long barrier island, but owned by different entities.

Hope you're able to make it down. Wear sunscreen!

[Rasero]

Originally Posted by Marlow

Malaquite Beach is on the Padre Island National Seashore and has very nice facilities. There are showers, restrooms and a gift shop. You can camp with a permit. Unless you have a 4-wheel drive, you park in a lot and take your stuff down to the beach. You can drive on other beaches, but not there, which is nice if you have small kids. You can camp with a permit. The fee to use the NP is $10 per car, or $20 for a year long pass.

Just so you know, the beach by the aquarium is on Corpus Christi bay, where the waves are small and there is no undertow. Malaquite and the other Padre Island beaches are on the Gulf and you'll need to be very careful with your small children. And with yourselves, for that matter, if you're not familiar with it.

Other Gulf beaches are Mustang Island State Park and the beach at Port Aransas. They're all part of the same long barrier island, but owned by different entities.

Hope you're able to make it down. Wear sunscreen!

Thanks a lot for the info! I later used the satellite images feature with Google Maps to zoom in on the beach and noticed the large building there, looks like a good place to take the family.

Yeah, I remember the first time we went to Corpus, we went to Corpus Christi bay, and I thought THAT was the Gulf of Mexico and thought, wow, this is it?? Lol.

We went to the beach near Freeport TX a few weeks ago for a family wedding, and though it was a beach, it wasn't too pretty. My girls had a blast though. So I've been thinking about taking them to the beach, just closer, and have liked what I've seen so far in pics and videos of the Corpus Christi beaches you mentioned. They look cleaner. We'll make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen! Learned our lesson two weeks ago...

[jbtx]

I think you will be quite pleased with Malaquite Beach, it is very peaceful, scenic, and not so trampled as the other beaches on Padre Island. The locals visit it, but the snowbirds rarely get that far off the beaten path. This time of year the sunsets are spectacular.

I'm pretty sure your little ones will have a great time playing in the gentle summer surf, (unless there is a storm, the gulf is usually quiet), it's windy right now but tolerable. You will probably see some quantities of seaweed on the beach, but that's normal. Careful searching along the water's edge will probably yield some interesting shells and maybe a few sand dollars, I'll bet your kids will be excited.

[Baseman1954]

I have driven down the beach several times, the full 65 miles to Mansfield channel on several occasions. The first time was in 78, when the likely hood of seeing another vehicle past the 4wheel drive only sign was slim to none. Now, it seems 7 out of 10 vehicles on the road are all wheel drive, it is not as lonely down there as it once was.

I have pulled 28foot fithwheel with either 16ft hobie or jeep trailer a couple times. I always include a good jack, portable air compressor, lumber and strips of siding cut 10 foot long for runners in case of getting stuck. The secret is once you start spinning and stop moving, stop spinning the wheels and make a change, either decrease air pressure in your tires or put something like sea weed, wet sand or boards under the tires and look for better traveling surface.

I always enjoy the trip and am planning to go back Oct this year.

[CptnRn]

Malaquite Beach area - Padre Island National Seashore
http://www.nps.gov/pais/faqs.htm

[eastontracks]

I went around October of last year and was amazed at how nice the beach was considering the location since south padre is still maybe another 2 or 3 hours south.

For some reason I believe water gets a little clearer around the fall season but I'm sure year round it's nice. I recommend this place to all of my friends who want a nice beach without having to drive to either destin or s padre.

[walt151]

Do no get stuck, tow trucks will chg up[ to 5,000 per caller-times.