We know these places exist--and we know how to find them. Each year we scour the country to find the family-friendly communities that meet our needs. Our criteria are simple: the beach must have sand so soft and fine we almost don't mind that it's filled our bathing suits. Tide pools are a plus, preferably full of slimy things. And there should be plenty of restaurants nearby. Topping this list of great little beach towns is Port Aransas, Texas--a coastal town colored with life, pleasure and long sunny days.
Port Aransas may be nearly surrounded by water, but it hasn't lost its link to Texas. This laid-back fishing village on Mustang Island, a short ferry ride off the Gulf Coast, is a shore town with frontier spirit. State laws allow you to drive your car along the hard-packed strand right to your favorite spot. 
The catches of fish--marlin, sailfish, amberjack--are Texas big; the Gulf shrimp are plentiful. You can even go horseback riding along the oceanfront. But what pulls families back every summer is the relaxed pace of life, what the town's 2,300 year-round residents call "living on island time."
In the heart of town, marinas and wharf-side restaurants line the harbor. A stroll takes you past charter fishing boats, gaudy souvenir shops and distinctive nautical decor, like the two fifteen-foot-tall wooden sea captains. Kids always stop at the giant pastel sea horses that mark Fun Factory. Inside wait millions of seashells, ready-to-decorate T-shirts and a mouthwatering fudge counter.
But the real playground is the beach. The Gulf water is warm, the strand is wide and tall dunes separate the shoreline from the two dozen or so beachfront condominiums (the two-mile no-vehicle zone near town is favored by parents of young children). Kids spend hours making their own fun: chasing crabs, spotting dolphins and collecting sand dollars. The southern end of the island is home to Mustang Island State Park; a few miles beyond lies the Padre Island Causeway, which links the island to Corpus Christi. Legend has it that Jean Laffitte and his band of pirates holed up on Mustang Island, burying their treasure so well that it has never been found. Today it's still a hideaway for ocean-loving families--for whom the treasure is a chance to get away from it all.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.
