PORT ARANSAS, Texas - I love my job. Selling real estate is one thing, but showing people how they can enjoy a laid-back, island lifestyle that is only a few hours from home and a world away from life in the big city...well, that's the fun part. Over the next couple of weeks there will be a series of posts that will seek to answer the FAQ of Vacation Home Ownership in Port Aransas.
Part One asks a simple question "Why Port A?" The subtitle could also read something like "So you think you want a place on the beach and you can't decide between South Padre Island, Galveston or Port Aransas."
The Texas Gulf Coast offers something for everyone. Having grown up in Houston, I have been to Galveston on countless occasions and love the historical aspects of this majestic coastal city. There are conflicting census numbers, but the population is somewhere near 60,000. The Strand is a Texas treasure. Galveston earned the legacy of being "The Texas Gulf Coast" a generation ago. Galveston has much to offer and has rebounded from hurricane Ike.
South Padre Island (SPI) means beach vacation and spring break to many. SPI is the Texas Riviera. The offshore currents provide SPI with arguably the prettiest water on the Texas Coast. Years ago SPI set out to be a full-scale travel destination. The hotels and condos are frequently packed with visitors from the US and Mexico. Like Port Aransas, the City of SPI has a small population that rapidly expands during tourist season.
Well of course, I am biased. Port Aransas (Port A) is in my opinion the best little beach town in Texas. On an almost weekly basis, I hear from someone that is visiting Port A for the first time in many years. Port A has been a "sleepy little fishing village" and while that it still true, it is not as sleepy or as little as it once was.
If you haven't been to Port A in a few years, it has changed a little. There is a new Arnold Palmer golf course and some new places to stay and even more great places for breakfast, lunch and dinner. More importantly, what has not changed is that there is not a Starbucks, McDonald's, Walmart, Taco Bell or Red Lobster. Instead, Port A offers a great selection of "mom and pop" cafes, diners, restaurants and stores.
Located on Mustang Island, Port Aransas offers miles of unspoiled beaches with beautiful dunes and abundant wildlife. If you are a regular visitor on this site, than you know quite a bit about Port A. If not, stay tuned and you might also want to visit the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce.
There is a Texas beach town to accommodate every taste. To many, Port A is the kind of place best described in a Jimmy Buffett song.
The next installment will focus on Port Aransas condos and homes.
Thank you for visiting the Port Aransas real estate blog.
Keith McMullin – Broker/Realtor
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