While Texas is known for many things, beaches aren’t often the first thing that comes to mind. Given a glance, however, the gulf coast has more than plenty of beachfront fun to offer big families along the coast and on barrier islands alike. We’ve compiled some of our top picks below, along with links to where your family can easily stay nearby. For your convenience, we’ve included links to nearby big family friendly hotels first and then vacation rentals.
Galveston Island R.A. Apffel East Beach
While there are seven beaches on Galveston Island that you can choose from, R.A. Apffel East Beach is famous for great festivals and live concerts held all through the summer. Located at the far eastern tip of the island and home to events such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Sandcastle Competition, East Beach offers plenty of year-round services and entertainment as well. The beach park offers a pavilion, boardwalk, and entertainment stage as well as public restrooms, showers, chair, and umbrella rentals, food, and drinks, as well as other amenities.
Big Family Hotels in Galveston
Galveston Island Vacation Rentals
Seawall Urban Park
Another family-friendly Galveston beach, this 10-mile gulf-facing beach offers both secluded stretches as well as more getaway-tailored parts of the park. Plenty of restaurants, shopping centers, and fun can be found in and around Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park, with cheap and convenient nearby parking to boot. What’s more, Seawall Urban Park is more than welcoming to pets, so long as they’re kept on leashes; just make sure your choice in a hotel is, too.
Nearby Galveston activities to fill out your trip itinerary:
- Head over to the Galveston Railroad Museum to let your kids check out the various model and full-sized trains.
- Take a short hour cruise on the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat
- Visit Historic Pleasure Pier for amusement rides and dining options
- Check out Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark
- Visit Galveston Island State Park
- Visit the Galveston Children’s Museum
- Take the Galveston Island Ferry to Port Bolivar and back for free. The terminal is 2 miles away from the beach. Be on the lookout for dolphins during the cross-over! Then check out Bolivar Lighthouse (no tours available) and Fort Travis. Be sure to check out Houston Transtar as wait times can be long during peak periods.
Big Family Hotels in Galveston
Seawall Beach Vacation Rentals
Mustang Island State Park
Spanning more than five miles of coastline, Mustang Island State Park has plenty of room for fun in the sun. A short distance from the local community of Port Aransas and Corpus Christi, Mustang Island offers options for camping, shopping, surfing, kayaking, fishing and more, with a handful of nearby hotels that’ll keep you and your family close to whatever action you may find.
Nearby activities to fill out your trip itinerary:
- Visit the Texas State Aquarium
- Check out the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier Museum
- Explore the Ranger Programs through the Mustang Island State Park
Big Family Hotels in Corpus Christi
Mustang Island Beach Vacation Rentals
South Padre Island
A bit further south than our last entry on this list is where you’ll find South Padre Island. Located a fair deal closer to Corpus Christi, this sandy refuge offers just about all anyone could ask for; from an extensive array of shopping locales to stunning arts/architecture and no shortage of good eats, South Padre Island has a bit of it all not too far out from the city, as well as a variety of places to stay.
Nearby activities to fill out your trip itinerary:
- What do you do in the Sand Castle Capital of the World? You take Sand Castle Lessons of course!
- Visit Sea Turtle Rescue to learn about their mission to rehabilitate, to educate, and their conservation efforts.
- Visit the South Padre Sand Dunes
Big Family Hotels in South Padre Island
South Padre Island Vacation Rentals
Boca Chica State Park Beach
Spanning eight miles of pristine coastline and near the Mexico border, Boca Chica State Park offers plenty of peace and tranquility for visitors. Calmer waters give way to more relaxed swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and kiteboarding, with hiking options also nearby. The tranquility of this beach does however come at the price of a lack of a handful of amenities, so be sure to pack as necessary. Most big family hotels can be found nearby in Brownsville.
