What better time to make your beach vacation dreams come true than in the summer months and what better place to live them than in Port Aransas? It’s true, We at the Dunes, may be biased, we love our Texas hometown with a fierce passion and we have made it our life’s goal to introduce all that’s wonderful about Port A to travelers from all over the world, so when your journey has you heading west to the beach, we seriously can’t imagine why you would choose anywhere else to stay. There are always wonderful on-the-waters activities in Port Aransas, that surround our coastal village, and today we would like to show you a few of the ways you can enjoy all the hours you will spend on the water, as well as remind you about the comforts you will experience when you are off the water, lounging happily in our Dunes summer sanctuaries.

swimming - activities in Port Aransas

A Time to Swim

Ok, this is kind of simple and obvious, but not everyone understands the pleasures of swimming in the warm and salty waters of the gulf. The feel of the sun shining down on the exposed parts of your body, the way the water embraces your body, taking the pressure off backs and knees and seeming to massage tight shoulders that have held the weight of the world on them. The sounds of seagulls squawking overhead, the quiet roar of waves crashing against the sandy shores, and the laughter and conversations of fellow swimmers and those lounging on the beach. Even when surrounded by people, you may feel as if you are in your own watery world, sheltered from the world’s problems and if lucky, you may even catch sight of dolphins frolicking in the waves off in the distance.

Since We’re Talking About Dolphins

Now that you have caught the dolphin-watching bug, why not take a closer look at the happy silver creatures that live in the sea, taking part in a dolphin tour? Woody’s Last Stand/Dolphin Watch Nature Tours, 154 W. Cotter Avenue, is one of Port A’s most popular tour companies, taking guests out to where the dolphins play. Offering sunset cruises that begin with the dolphins and end with the fire in the sky, dolphin watch tours that include trawling for shrimp, giving visitors an idea of how many local seamen make their living (only this tour is much more comfortable!) and although the 4th of July has nothing to do with dolphins, they also offer a 4th of July Fireworks Tour that offers the best seats in the house for another display of fire in the sky.

dolphin watching

Hang Ten in Port Aransas

The thrill of pitting man against waves in a sport that has lingered in the spotlight for thousands of years never gets old and even if you have never tried to surf before, there are multiple companies in the area that will help you get the “hang ten” of things! Texas Surf Camps, located at I B McGee Beach Park offers both surfing lessons and surfing camps to ensure that your surf experience is exceptional. In business for over 20 years, the staff really knows their stuff and will take students to areas that are arrestingly beautiful and stunningly perfect to learn the sport. Texas Surf Camps | Surfing Lessons-Summer Camp-Standup Paddleboard

Angling for the Big Ones

Every fisher-person tells stories about the one that got away, but when you sign up for a deep-sea fishing charter with Deep Sea Headquarters, 440 W. Cotter Avenue, you may just find yourself posing next to the trophy fish you caught during your Port Aransas deep sea adventures. Offering private fishing charters that are either 8 or 12 hours long, bay fishing trips that keep travelers with motion sickness in the calmer waters, your choice of adventure is surely going to make the highlight reel of your Texas vacation memories! Prices range from $43 (children) for a bay fishing charter that lasts about 3.5 hours to thousands of dollars for the longer deep sea expedition for up to 30 people.

Keeping the Sea in Sight

And for those moments not spent on the water, guests can keep the sea in their sights by renting one of our beach view rentals in Port Aransas, Texas. Spend your downtime sitting out on the balcony, letting salt air breezes whip through your hair as you watch the sea do its thing below or, if you have had enough salt air for the day but aren’t through with the beach, watch summer movies on televisions offering pictures so clear you will swear you can feel the sand between your toes. And at night, when the moon is casting its ethereal glow on the waves crashing against sandy shores, you and your family will sleep deep in the most comfortable beds in the state. Reserve your favorite escape today and enjoy these fun water activities in Port Aransas!