The Tiny Beach Town In Texas That’s The Perfect Day Trip Destination
While it’s always a fun time to visit Texas’ most popular beach towns like Galveston, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island, the constant crowds are something we could do without. Fortunately, there’s a tiny South Texas town right on the water that offers the same gorgeous views and carefree, beach day experience — with only a fraction of the tourists. Port Isabel is a historic small town brimming with shops, restaurants, museums, water activities, and a beautiful beach, and it makes a perfect day trip destination in Texas.
One of the oldest towns in south Texas, Port Isabel dates back all the way to 1519, when it was charted by Spanish explorer Alonzo de Pineda.
You'll enjoy a sweeping, 16-mile panorama that includes South Padre Island, the Queen Isabella Causeway, Brownsville Ship Channel, the Gulf of Mexico, and SpaceX on Boca Chica.
History buffs will also want to check out the Port Isabel Historical Museum, located in the 1899 Charles Champion building.
The two-story building has served as everything from a post office to private family home; today, it boasts a variety of exhibits that tell the fascinating story of how Port Isabel came to be.
You can't visit a beach town without spending some time on the water, and Port Isabel boasts ample opportunities to do just that.
If you have children, we highly recommend climbing aboard the Black Dragon, a replica 17th century pirate ship. Tours feature entertainment by a crew of professional pirates who keep the fun going with treasure hunts, water pistol battles, music, sword fights, and more.
Dolphin Docks is another great tour outfitter in Port Isabel, boasting the area's largest excursion boat and several different cruises.
Have you ever been to Port Isabel? If so, what’s your favorite thing to do in town? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below, then check out our previous article for more can’t-miss day trip destinations in Texas.
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
