The seawall is the 10-mile concrete barrier that islanders built to protect their homes after the infamous 1900 hurricane nearly wiped the city off the map. Since then, the mural-covered fortification has aged quite well, fulfilling its defensive purpose while concentrating a great deal of island fun across a single well-trafficked frontier. A day spent drifting between the beach and the boulevard along the seawall is time well spent.

Set up the day with an umbrella firmly planted on Babe’s Beach, a pristine 15-block stretch of sand west of 61st Street, newly dredged as of 2015 and named for A. R. “Babe” Schwartz, the longtime Texas state legislator who ensured public access to Gulf beaches. This section sits far enough from the tourist traps to avoid the biggest crowds, while remaining close enough to area attractions. 

There’s something timeless about strolling along Galveston’s seawall and simply heading down broken concrete steps to a plot of sand covered with umbrellas and teeming with bathers. But what do the locals do when they want to flee the crowds? They head west, to a pristine strip of coastline just outside the city limits known informally as 8 Mile Road.

To get there, take Seawall Boulevard west until the seawall ends and turns into Termini San Luis Pass Road. Turn left on 8 Mile Road and drive until you hit the water. Beachgoers are welcome to drive on the sand, and they do so with lawn chairs, volleyball nets, and coolers in tow. Surfers and fishers can also be seen in substantial numbers.

The biggest public beach in Texas is also known as Houston’s Playground, thanks to its party-friendly reputation—though it’s also popular with families. In 2013, East Beach unveiled a new pavilion, boardwalk, and entertainment stage, courtesy of a $1.6-million makeover. With plenty of chairs and umbrellas available for rent on this sprawling sandlot, plus summer concerts held on most Sunday afternoons, it’s the perfect place to spend a summer weekend.

Surfside Beach lies an hour down the coast from Galveston and has an entirely different feel—it's wackier, homier, and cheaper. But this little fishing village in Brazoria County has personality in spades, and an authentic feel: think bait shops, not fudge shops. Many visitors do a big trip to the grocery store, set up in a rental for the week, and never leave. But for those with a busy life, Surfside is actually a great day-trip destination. Head down Highway 288 on a weekday, and enjoy the sunny saltwater vibes.

Padre Island National Seashore is home to over 400 bird species and is a haven to, among others, the extremely endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. At 70 miles long, Padre is also the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island coastline in the world.

Be advised: Coming from the town of South Padre Island, vacationers can only drive about 35 of those miles to about as far as Port Mansfield Pass, but only with a four-wheel-drive or if you’re an extremely skilled person behind the wheel of a two-wheel-drive. The rest of the seashore can be accessed from the north or by boat. 

Located on Mustang Island, one of pirate Jean Lafitte’s haunts, Port Aransas gained international fame in the early twentieth century for its tarpon fishing; between 1899 and 1910, the town was simply called “Tarpon.” The majestic silver fish began disappearing in the 1950s, forcing Port A to rely more heavily on tourism, which today is its principal industry. It’s rumored there are more hotel rooms in the city than residents. All these rooms mean there’s something for everyone and every budget, from lavish resorts by the ocean to modest cottages closer to town.

When Houstonians go to the beach, they usually head for Galveston. But some road-less-traveled types opt instead for the eccentric appeal of the Bolivar Peninsula, a short ferry ride from East Beach. Bolivar’s draws include good beachcombing on desolate stretches of sand, barbecued crabs, and rare birds, but it shocks many first-time visitors with its bizarre combination of rural and industrial vibe (think: roseate spoonbills perched on pumpjacks).

Galveston has a history of civilized refinement, but Bolivar’s fascinating past is primarily that of pirates. The 27-mile sand spit is named after the Latin American rebel leader Simón Bolívar, who gave French pirate Jean Lafitte a “letter of marque,” commissioning him as an official privateer with permission to attack Spanish ships.

Everyone drives on the beach, so remember to buy an annual beach parking sticker.

An aspiring artists colony and popular retirement destination for wealthy Texans tired of city life, Rockport is a bit more status-conscious than the laid-back Port A. It’s a place where people occasionally dress up for dinner, and where “going shopping” means art galleries and antique stores rather than a beer run to the nearest gas station. Still, Rockport is a beach community at heart, surrounded on three sides by the Aransas, Copano, and Port bays.