Latest news with #PortAransas
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Nine of the US's most epic beaches revealed, from flour-soft sand in Florida to castaway havens in California
Sand that stretches as far as the eye can see, prehistoric rocks lording it over the landscape, and mile after mile of boardwalk fun. Welcome to the U.S.'s most epic beaches - photogenic strips of sand you can only capture on the widest of lens settings. This coast-to-coast compendium is for those summer vacationers who like their beaches long and lust-worthy, with a splash of drama. Perhaps you'd like to throw your towel down on a beach in Hawaii with breaching whales in the background, or tick off a record-breaker with a visit to the longest pleasure beach in the world. Our list also includes Tripadvisor's No.1 beach in America for those who like extra assurances of quality. In our opinion, though, each one is a shore bet for a good time. Located 17 miles from the city's downtown, Jacksonville Beach has attracted visitors since 1886, when it emerged as a resort destination. Then called Pablo Beach, it boasted that it had the 'finest beach in the world'. In the early 1910s there were dance pavilions and even a roller coaster on the sand. But while these are long gone, the stunning strip of sand remains and visitors can gaze upon the Atlantic Ocean from the 1,300-foot pier. For more, Port Aransas offers a rare stretch of sand, an 18-mile strip of cinematic, soft Texas grains that slope into warm Gulf waters. And it's one of the few beach shorelines in Texas that you are allowed to drive on. says: "This makes it easy to bring all your items for a beach day, fishing, or surfing. "Hit the beach in your golf cart or your car and explore all that the beautiful Port A coastline has to offer." For more visit Iconic Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its famous residents (Clint Eastwood was mayor in 1986), fairy-tale cottages, and Michelin-starred restaurants. But the sugary white-sand beach will be the main attraction for many visitors, and rightly so. It's an absolute gem, with emerald-green waters and plenty of exotic wildlife in the neighborhood. Pelicans soar overhead, and if you're lucky, you may even spot dolphins or whales breaching offshore. Tripadvisor user, Brenda P, describes the "pristine" beach as her "happy place", where the views are "stunning". At 17 miles long and wonderfully wide too, Pismo Beach is the very definition of epic. And with so much shoreline, sand art is often on show, with the beach's first Sand Art Festival taking place this November. There's surfing too (three competitions a year), amazing clams (the Pismo clam has made a dramatic comeback in the past five years after a 30-year disappearance) and if you want to explore, just drive to another spot. It's the only section of California State Park where vehicles are allowed on the beach. For more visit You won't have problems identifying where this jaw-dropping beach draws its name from. Morro Rock is a breathtaking volcanic plug that stands 576 feet tall. Sometimes called the "Gibraltar of the Pacific", it has been used for hundreds of years as a navigational tool and for time immemorial as a sanctuary for birds. Needless to say, it helps make the beach extra photogenic. Visit Morro Bay says: "At the end of the day, the sunsets are dramatic, with Morro Rock turning golden and casting long reflections on the sand." Here, you'll be throwing your towel down on an award-winner. Siesta Beach was named the No.1 beach in the U.S in the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. It has a 4.7 out of five rating from over 8,500 reviews, with user Rob P from Pittsburgh describing it as "beautiful", with "incredibly soft sand that you can barely feel when it gets into your shoes". Tripadvisor, meanwhile, notes that it's family friendly, too, with lifeguards on duty and lots of shells for children to collect. For more visit tour operator Ocean Florida. This stunning three-mile stretch of sand occupied the top podium spot in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards. And as the picture shows, it's always going to be a contender for a gong. Beachgoers at Kaʻanapali Beach bask on postcard-perfect sands with swaying palm trees and the occasional breaching whale adding to the paradise vibe. Virginia Beach is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest pleasure beach on the planet. The picture above shows a three-mile stretch called Oceanfront Beach, which runs alongside the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. says: "This 28-foot-wide marvel is a wonderful place to go for a stroll, run or bike ride. Along the way, watch surfers catching waves, anglers reeling in the day's catch, and little ones playing in the sand or having fun at Grommet Island Park, a fully accessible playground at 40th Street." Being 28 miles in length, Long Beach certainly lives up to its name. Epic vistas are front and center of a trip here. Want to linger longer? notes that there is "an abundance of fun accommodation options, from cosy cottages, to beachfront hotels". It adds: "Long Beach is an easy drive from both Portland and Seattle as well as a classic Highway 101 road trip destination."
The Independent
10-07-2025
- The Independent
Nine of the US's most epic beaches revealed, from flour-soft sand in Florida to castaway havens in California
Sand that stretches as far as the eye can see, prehistoric rocks lording it over the landscape, and mile after mile of boardwalk fun. Welcome to the U.S.'s most epic beaches - photogenic strips of sand you can only capture on the widest of lens settings. This coast-to-coast compendium is for those summer vacationers who like their beaches long and lust-worthy, with a splash of drama. Perhaps you'd like to throw your towel down on a beach in Hawaii with breaching whales in the background, or tick off a record-breaker with a visit to the longest pleasure beach in the world. Our list also includes Tripadvisor's No.1 beach in America for those who like extra assurances of quality. In our opinion, though, each one is a shore bet for a good time. Jacksonville Beach, Florida Located 17 miles from the city's downtown, Jacksonville Beach has attracted visitors since 1886, when it emerged as a resort destination. Then called Pablo Beach, it boasted that it had the 'finest beach in the world'. In the early 1910s there were dance pavilions and even a roller coaster on the sand. But while these are long gone, the stunning strip of sand remains and visitors can gaze upon the Atlantic Ocean from the 1,300-foot pier. For more, The Port Aransas beachfront, Mustang Island, Texas Port Aransas offers a rare stretch of sand, an 18-mile strip of cinematic, soft Texas grains that slope into warm Gulf waters. And it's one of the few beach shorelines in Texas that you are allowed to drive on. says: "This makes it easy to bring all your items for a beach day, fishing, or surfing. "Hit the beach in your golf cart or your car and explore all that the beautiful Port A coastline has to offer." Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey County, California Iconic Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its famous residents (Clint Eastwood was mayor in 1986), fairy-tale cottages, and Michelin-starred restaurants. But the sugary white-sand beach will be the main attraction for many visitors, and rightly so. It's an absolute gem, with emerald-green waters and plenty of exotic wildlife in the neighborhood. Pelicans soar overhead, and if you're lucky, you may even spot dolphins or whales breaching offshore. Tripadvisor user, Brenda P, describes the "pristine" beach as her "happy place", where the views are "stunning". Pismo Beach, California At 17 miles long and wonderfully wide too, Pismo Beach is the very definition of epic. And with so much shoreline, sand art is often on show, with the beach's first Sand Art Festival taking place this November. There's surfing too (three competitions a year), amazing clams (the Pismo clam has made a dramatic comeback in the past five years after a 30-year disappearance) and if you want to explore, just drive to another spot. It's the only section of California State Park where vehicles are allowed on the beach. For more visit You won't have problems identifying where this jaw-dropping beach draws its name from. Morro Rock is a breathtaking volcanic plug that stands 576 feet tall. Sometimes called the "Gibraltar of the Pacific", it has been used for hundreds of years as a navigational tool and for time immemorial as a sanctuary for birds. Needless to say, it helps make the beach extra photogenic. Visit Morro Bay says: "At the end of the day, the sunsets are dramatic, with Morro Rock turning golden and casting long reflections on the sand." Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida Here, you'll be throwing your towel down on an award-winner. Siesta Beach was named the No.1 beach in the U.S in the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. It has a 4.7 out of five rating from over 8,500 reviews, with user Rob P from Pittsburgh describing it as "beautiful", with "incredibly soft sand that you can barely feel when it gets into your shoes". Tripadvisor, meanwhile, notes that it's family friendly, too, with lifeguards on duty and lots of shells for children to collect. For more visit tour operator Ocean Florida. Kaʻanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii This stunning three-mile stretch of sand occupied the top podium spot in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards. And as the picture shows, it's always going to be a contender for a gong. Beachgoers at Kaʻanapali Beach bask on postcard-perfect sands with swaying palm trees and the occasional breaching whale adding to the paradise vibe. Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest pleasure beach on the planet. The picture above shows a three-mile stretch called Oceanfront Beach, which runs alongside the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. says: "This 28-foot-wide marvel is a wonderful place to go for a stroll, run or bike ride. Along the way, watch surfers catching waves, anglers reeling in the day's catch, and little ones playing in the sand or having fun at Grommet Island Park, a fully accessible playground at 40th Street." Long Beach, State of Washington Being 28 miles in length, Long Beach certainly lives up to its name. Epic vistas are front and center of a trip here. Want to linger longer? notes that there is "an abundance of fun accommodation options, from cosy cottages, to beachfront hotels". It adds: "Long Beach is an easy drive from both Portland and Seattle as well as a classic Highway 101 road trip destination."
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Inside the sleepy fishing village that's turned into the new Hamptons as thousands of wealthy Texans invade
A once-sleepy fishing village on the Texas Gulf Coast has quietly transformed into a luxury retreat for wealthy weekenders — and has so far avoided the second-home crash causing panic across the US. Port Aransas, tucked away on Mustang Island, was long known for its beat-up fishing boats, ramshackle cottages, and some of the best shrimp in the state. Locals compare it to the Hamptons — the once-quiet beachside getaway at the eastern end of Long Island that became a second-home haven for wealthy New Yorkers. Luxury developments like Palmilla Beach, Sunflower Beach, and Cinnamon Shore now dot the shoreline. But locals insist the town hasn't lost its charm — just evolved. 'We're the closest beach to both Austin and San Antonio. Those are our bread and butter markets,' local realtor and former Port Aransas mayor Keith McMullin tells 'It's mainly locals with second homes who drive in for the weekend or summer.' With that surge in demand, prices have exploded. In just 10 years, real estate prices have shot up 155 percent, according to Redfin. In the last year alone they are up by more than half. The average home now costs $850,000, and buyers are shelling out around $470 per square foot. The average home now costs a whopping $850,000 up from just one year ago 'Many years ago we were a sleepy fishing village,' McMullin says. 'Now we have areas like Palm Beach and Sunflower Beach where the architecture and design remain like the village but now we've got everything from luxury properties those communities to condos and everything in between.' Wealthy Texans and a few out-of-state beach lovers began moving in to 'Port A' about 15 years ago, citing its small town charm and stunning shores. McMullin says that while Galveston and South Padre Island remain popular as beach destinations, the allure of Port Aransas has to do with the its remote feel. 'When you're here you're thinking about some New England town maybe closer to the Boston area,' he says. 'It's just a little bit more of an authentic fishing town.' Residents, like McMullin, who has lived in Port A for 25 years, say flip-flops and golf carts are a way of life. The gulf waters are a clear turquoise, neighbors meet for campfires on the beach, and one-third of the island is a state park with a meticulously maintained nature preserve. Beautiful boardwalks line the shores of Port Aransas and some of the best seafood in the country can be found there. 'We cater to tourism. It's our largest industry, so we've got far more restaurants than a regular small town would be able to sustain,' McMullin says. 'There's great seafood, shrimp, and fresh gulf fish. We're a foodie destination for seafood lovers.' While most buyers hail from the Lone Star State, the area is becoming known throughout the US, McMullin says, with some affluent Midwesterners buying on the island. Despite Post A being a paradise accessible only by ferry, there is a downside. The island is extremely vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding — which makes expensive weather insurance an absolute must. But for those with deep pockets and a love of beach life, that's usually not a problem. 'It's a laid-back and tropical, it's very hot in the summer,' McMullin says. At just a three and a half hour drive from Austin, the area is a popular getaway from the city But at just a three and a half hour drive from Austin, it can't be beat. 'What makes it so popular is that families in Austin, San Antonio or Houston or Dallas can load the family in the car and go to the coast and have a great beach weekend and you don't have to get on a plane or go to an airport.' Meanwhile, as Port A thrives, much of the rest of the US is bracing for a housing crash. For example, in Miami the market is on a knife-edge as spiraling numbers of homebuyers pull out of deals at the last second. It's the latest area in the Sunshine State at risk of a crash. Inventory is flooding the market, prices are being slashed, and sales are stalling —as the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs raise fears of a recession. 'April pending sales are way down and it will be even worse next month,' says local Florida realtor Jeff Lichtenstein. Across the rest of the country home sales lowered more than expected in March — and dropped to their slowest pace since 2009.
Wall Street Journal
08-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Home Prices Have Exploded in the Once Sleepy Fishing Village of Port Aransas
On the Texas Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi is Mustang Island, a narrow barrier island with 18 miles of mostly uninterrupted beachline and a large state park. Its main city, Port Aransas, known as Port A, has a population of roughly 3,500 that swells to the tens of thousands in the spring through fall. Within the past decade, Port A home prices have grown 155%, according to Redfin. Once a small fishing village, the city has become a hub for wealthy second homeowners buying multimillion-dollar, pastel-colored properties within newer master-planned communities designed to evoke northwestern Florida's 30A stretch. Still, Port A is distinct, a place where a laid back pace of life meets a mashup of island vibes and Texas hospitality. It has character Golf carts are a primary mode of transportation. Restaurants include funky beach shacks and long-running local joints. Fishing bait is a common shopping purchase. Live music is an attraction.
