Looking for a beach on the gulf! (Houston, Galveston: rent, places to stay)

[Westerntraveler]

I love Port A and I would recommend it.

[gpurcell]

One place to check out is Matagorda Bay Nature Park at the mouth of the Colorado River. There's an LCRA facility there, a long pier, and a broad beach. It's an even quicker drive than Port A.

[CptnRn]

When can you swim in the Gulf - Gulf Water Temperatures: US NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide

[Antny12]

Well I talked to my mom and she thinks if we are going to drive 4 hours that we should just go all out and do south padre. We are accustomed to driving 17-18 hours without stopping so what the hell. All for a day at the beach 8D

[CptnRn]

Rockport and Port Aransas //www.city-data.com/blogs/blog35786-trip-rockport-port-aransas.html

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Antny12

Well I talked to my mom and she thinks if we are going to drive 4 hours that we should just go all out and do south padre. We are accustomed to driving 17-18 hours without stopping so what the hell. All for a day at the beach 8D

Good choice.

[CptnRn]

Photos of Rockport / Port Aransas, TX Photo Gallery by cptinrn at pbase.com

[atx1626]

Just know that your return trip from SPI will result in a trip through a U.S. Border Patrol interior checkpoint on 77 about 10 miles south of Sarita. My last trip through, they just asked if I was a US citizen and sent me on my way.

[ThugLyfe]

Due to converging gulf currents and prevailing SE winds the stretch of beach and water from the southernmost tip of Padre Island National Seashore (Mansfield Jetties) all the way up to Galveston island is inundated with seaweed from April until late summer or so. It gets even worse when a tropical system forms in the gulf and breaks the sargassum into smaller more mobile conglomerations. The water itself can exhibit remarkable clarity at times when the offshore weather sensors show swell heights in the gulf of 2 feet or less for at least 2 days in a row. It's not uncommon at all for me to see my feet while standing in 3 feet of water. The seaweed will still be there, though. Port Aransas is not exempt, although they seem to do a great job of keeping the seaweed from accumulating on the beach itself.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by ThugLyfe

Due to converging gulf currents and prevailing SE winds the stretch of beach and water from the southernmost tip of Padre Island National Seashore (Mansfield Jetties) all the way up to Galveston island is inundated with seaweed from April until late summer or so. It gets even worse when a tropical system forms in the gulf and breaks the sargassum into smaller more mobile conglomerations. The water itself can exhibit remarkable clarity at times when the offshore weather sensors show swell heights in the gulf of 2 feet or less for at least 2 days in a row. It's not uncommon at all for me to see my feet while standing in 3 feet of water. The seaweed will still be there, though. Port Aransas is not exempt, although they seem to do a great job of keeping the seaweed from accumulating on the beach itself.

I've visited that entire stretch and only visit during the timeframes you're talking about, and have not seen the seaweed you are mentioning, except along the Galveston coastal area.