South Texas Gulf Coast: Beaches Review
Posted September 08 2012
Bajahoodiez is based out of San Antonio, Texas, nearby to many vacation spots and tourist attractions along the South Texas Gulf Coast. Tourists and locals frequent the South Texas beaches for recreation, cuisine, and shopping. Many fans of the Señor Lopez baja hoodie love the beach as well, whether for serious or casual surfing, outdoor recreation, or just hanging out with friends and family.
Team Bajahoodiez also enjoys all things coastal and that includes fashion and quality beach time. And, we thought it would be helpful to compile a summary of three South Texas Beaches. Included in our summary are some activities to enjoy, and where to go for shopping for beachwear or casual clothing.
Let’s get started!
Galveston Island
*** Not technically South Texas, but I really wanted to include them ;-) ***
The Texas Gulf Coast is by no means the mecca of surfing. Some say if you can surf in Galveston you can surf anywhere due to its surf inconsistency. But, the Island still brings enough interested surfers to keep it a moderate interest in the area. I tend to think those that can do their sport wherever and whatever the case may be, are in my opinion, the die hard fans of the sport. Others might enjoy kayaking in the lagoon, horse back riding on the beach, or dolphin watching while riding the Galveston-Bolivar ferry. Pier 21 can offer most of these activities in addition to the Great Storm multimedia presentation or the year-round Haunted Mayfield Manor.
If your more in the shopping mood you need to visit the Historic Downtown District, "a 35-square-block area filled with plentiful shops, antique stores, art galleries and some of the finest cuisine on the island.” If you have a sweet tooth you can even find homemade candy on the island. Now, let’s take a look at some of coastal clothing shops.
Jammin' Sportswear – One of the longest running clothing stores on The Strand, Jammin’ carries a great “selection of casual clothing, beachwear, swimwear, sandals and accessories for men, women, teenagers, tweeners and kids starting at infant sizes.” Whether you’re into surf or skate you’ll find your favorite brands at Jammin’: hurley, billabong, quicksilver, element, and more. They seem to have everything you need; consider it a one-stop shop for all your beachwear vacation needs. “The inventory is ever changing.”
Yaga – Originally a T Shirt shop, Yaga incorporates the cause of uniting cultures and expression to a retail store. Their mission is to spread peace and goodness through the clothing they sell. You’ll find something to like whether it’s for the streets, the beach, or any type of outdoor occasion; there’s no preference of sport at Yaga. Where “island life is mo’ bettah!”
Surf Styles – Another beachwear shop on The Strand is Surf Styles offering the latest in surf apparel, foot wear, head gear, accessories, and surf memorabilia. In addition to apparel you can buy or rent surf boards for the day at Surf Styles.
The Style Co. – If you’re looking more of a chic fashion on The Strand, The Style Co may be for you. Located next to the Mosquito Café, The Style Co carries “sleek and edgy” contemporary fashion in a variety of casual dresses, skirts, tops, and jeans. They also carry a great selection of shoes and handbags; all of this for affordable prices.
Corpus Christi
Having lived in Corpus, I was quite surprised to find there is quite a bit to do, with enough variety. We still visit the Coastal Bend for a weekend vacation to get away; it’s only a 3 hour drive from San Antonio.
Some say Corpus Christi beaches offer the best surf in Texas., if you can find the right locations- Port Aransas, Fish Pass Jetties, Bob Hall Pier, Little Shell, and Port Mansfield to name a few. However, just to put a warning out there, a lot of locals don’t like the beaches due to the abundance of jellyfish and seaweed.
When it comes to outdoor activities you’ll have everything you’re looking for in Corpus. Mustang Island State Park on Upper Padre Island offers fun outdoor activities from camping, mountain biking, kayaking, to watching coastal wildlife. If you want more of an indoor activity for the kids, try the Texas State Aquarium, and explore the local marine wildlife; it even has a petting pool. Corpus Christi, the home of Selena Quintanilla, is no stranger to music. There are a handful of theatres supporting local music artists. You can check out The House of Rock, a music and concert venue supporting a “wide range of entertainment including live music, art shows and many other cultural events.” And if you’re ready to shop La Palmera is a perfect shopping center to meet all your needs.
But we prefer the local small business shops, where you‘ll find niche specific products, like our favorite…baja hoodie. Beach shops are our favorite, and here are some you might enjoy:
Beginning as a small surfboard factory manufacture it expanded to beachwear retail. Today, Benjamin’s leads retail in the area with “great merchandizing and strong global fashion, as well as skateboard and surfing supplies.” In fact, Benjamin’s leaves surf and skate enthusiasts saying “it has the best selection in town.”
Ocean Treasures – Is the only souvenir shop that we’ll mention in this post, but for good reason; it has everything! And, they have pretty affordable prices from collectibles and toys to shirts and hats. They have a wide selection so you bound to find something to take with you to remember the classy Corpus Christi.
South Padre Island
For South Padre Island I’m turning to list format. What can’t you do at SPI? Choose your leisure:
Cruises:
Water Park:
Horse-back Riding:
Museums/Exhibits:
If quality beach time is your main objective, you’ll enjoy miles of sandy beaches; swimmers will love the warm waters. Kite-boarding and windsurfing are also available and very popular.
Now to a couple surf shops:
Ocean Motion – Go to Ocean Motion on South Padre Island for the largest beach wear retailer on the Island…seriously. ‘Nuff said.
On The Beach – Catering to all watersports is On The Beach, but their main specialty is surfing, supplying SPI visitors with all surfing equipment, and rentals and repairs. They also claim to carry “the best” merchandise, the best quality, at a fair price. Worth checking out.
So there you have it; our summary of three Gulf Coast Beaches – what to do for fun, and where to get some quality shopping done in between adventures. If you happen to visit, send us an email or comment below about your vacation. We’d love to hear your experiences and we’ll have to make new ones ourselves!!!
Best Regards,
Team BajaHoodiez