Vacation from Dallas? Beach?? (Houston, San Antonio: spring break, real estate, hotel)

[kline5]

My husband and I are looking into relocating to Dallas and wondering what folks from Dallas do on vacation. We're in NoVA just outside of Washington, DC and it seems like everyone goes to the beach in the summer. We always do a driving vacation to the outer banks, nc in the summer which is about a 5-6 hour drive and then try to do something else throughout the year. In reality, if we move to Dallas, vacations will probably consist of going back east, but just wondering if there is a destination where people tend to head towards.

Thanks,
Christy

[Babyneedsahome]

I don't have a ton of advice for you because we don't live there yet either. Just wanted to say hi and that we are relocating from NOVA too at the end of June. We currently live in the Reston area and are now focusing our search on the Garland/Wylie area of Dallas. It's near a couple nice lakes which would be easy to get away to. There is a lot to do in Texas, you just have to drive to get there. I grew up in TX and was accustomed to making 4 hour + drives to "get away".

[lpepping]

There is south padre island near the Texas/Mexico border. Not sure how it compares to the beaches you are used to. I haven't ever driven to it though.

[kline5]

Maybe I just need to get used to spending more time in the car! I complain about how long it takes us to get to OBX (and we are currently in Duck) from McLean. We are really just beginning our search, but I'll have to check out Garland/Wylie. Given that housing is more affordable, I'm hoping to end up someplace more like Clarendon, but my husband has visions of a big backyard and pool.

[Babyneedsahome]

If we had more money to spend, we'd look more at the Lakewood area near White Rock Lake. From what I hear, it's one of the few places in the city that has good schools, and it has tons of character. It seems pretty similar to the Clarendon area. However, we would get very little house for our money there, and at that it wouldn't have the updates we would like. That's why we've expanded our search to the burbs.

[CTR36]

We go down to Port Aransas/Corpus Christi about a 6-7 hour drive. It is beautiful and laid back. We like Mustang Island's beaches. They are pretty and not as busy as the others.

You can get some good Mexican food downthere too
There's also Galveston which is about 4-5 hours from here but I've never been, and the people who have, say the beaches aren't that pretty.

[mckinneydeb]

I live north of the metroplex where it takes me about an hour just to get to the far side of Dallas and agree that Corpus Christi is about a 7hr drive. South Padre about 12? It's been a while since we've been to either. 5-6hr to Galveston depending upon Houston traffic. But for a beach vacation we head to Mexico. Cozumel is our favorite. We can get on the plane early that morning and be on the beach before lunch.

[momof2dfw]

People here in the Dallas area go EVERYWHERE for our vacations. For those of us that don't have to travel over an alloted vacation time to see family you will hear these as the most popular:

Italy (no kidding this IS a VERY popular vacation spot for Dallasite's)
Mexico (and this is even for quick weekend getaways but flying of course)
Colorado (skiing in the winter or spring break and then in the summer)
Florida (Disney World usually wins out for this destination in the summer)
Florida (Destin is probably THE most beach vacation spot for Texan's)
California (ehhh, many go here for business so not so much)
Hawaii (another VERY popular vacation spot)
Cruises (out of Galveston or Florida usually)
Las Vegas (not a "true vacation" but a spot many go to anyway along w/ a "real vacation" sometime)

Camping and lake vacations are weekend things for most from around here. When we say "vacation" around here WE MEAN a REAL Vacation

Lake houses or a "farm" are things you will find many here have that they go to on weekends and such.
Those lakes around Garland & Wylie are NOT second homes but rather where people actually live full time or visit on the weekends for the day.

FYI: typically a drive to Corpus is going to be more like 7-10 hours as the traffic down I-35 is a PITA!!!!!!!!!!! Then the traffic thru Austin and San Antonio. You can fly down to Corpus pretty easily. Leave here at 9am and be sitting at your hotel or getting on a fishing boat a little after lunch time. Not a HUGE destination for most Dallasite's though. Galveston is more of a weekend destination for many closer to Houston. Galveston has EXPLODED in growth and real estate prices in the last 5 years. Whereas Corpus has not done much of anything in 25 years .

[FarNorthDallas]

Destin beach in Florida, Galveston, Hill country outside Austin and San Antonio, Colorado is fairly easy to drive to, South Padre Island, Turner Falls on Oklahoma, gambling in Louisana or Oklahoma, Arkansas is pretty. These are just some of the closer places to go to. Many folks fly out somewhere to the usual places - Walt Disney World/Land, California, the northeast, Mexico, etc.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

Destin beach in Florida, Galveston, Hill country outside Austin and San Antonio, Colorado is fairly easy to drive to, South Padre Island, Turner Falls on Oklahoma, gambling in Louisana or Oklahoma, Arkansas is pretty. These are just some of the closer places to go to. Many folks fly out somewhere to the usual places - Walt Disney World/Land, California, the northeast, Mexico, etc.

Oh yes, The Hill Country. This is a popular destination for many Dallasites be it for a long weekend or a quick getaway. The resorts down in this area are a top draw and you MUST plan in advance IF you want to visit and stay at one of them. Hyatt Hill Country, Lost Pines, etc.