We headed south to dip our toes in the sand.
“It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.” — Robert Henri
I know wherever land meets water is technically a beach, but I got tired of Texas thinking their lakes were cutting it. They weren’t. We drove 2 very uneventful hours from our hotel in San Antonio to visit Mustang Island and Port Aransas. I wanted to visit a real beach by a real ocean. I made my search more specific this time and typed in “blue water” and “white sand.” Mustang Island kept popping up, so we added it to our San Antonio visit even though it was a couple of hours away.
Unfortunately, we went on a windy day sandwiched between two rainy ones, so the weather wasn’t ideal. Still, I was happy to see actual waves, and water that wasn’t brown. It isn’t the West Coast, but it will do.
Port Aransas was more active than Mustang Island (probably because it’s free), with parasailers to watch and surfers to cheer on. But with more people also comes more trash. I soon noticed that I was stepping on glass and God knows what else, and we didn’t pack beach shoes. At any rate, my daughter enjoyed chasing seagulls and collecting seashells at both spots. Again, I was just happy to see water that wasn’t brown. It really is a lovely beach with a nice pier.
I trusted Google’s recommendation for nearby matcha with great reviews, and made my way to Coffee Waves.
My daughter had fallen asleep already, full from dinner a few stops down, so I just snapped a couple of pics and left. I had my usual oat milk matcha latte with vanilla, and it didn’t disappoint. The shop was all the vibes without the pretense, and the baristas were super nice.
Six years ago, Coffee Waves in Port Aransas was a total loss.
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey devastated Port Aransas, hurling 130 mph winds and a six-foot storm surge. The shop was a total loss. Seaweed and trash kicked down the front door to make way for 3 feet of flood water, heavy wind, and rain. But four months later, Coffee Waves was up and running again. Volunteers rallied together to remodel the space and bring happiness back to the community, sip by sip. Visit the site to read more about it and to see pictures.
“The greatest memory is that of serving the community fresh cowboy coffee made on our sidewalk that we gave away for free. We donated hundreds of pounds of coffee that brought incredible love and comfort to so many hurting people.” — David Bendett, Founder & Owner
We can’t always stop the storms of life, but we can always trust the one who creates beauty once again. #PortAStrong
“The quote on the wall is something I came up with and something I believe down deep. I pray it brings hope to all who come in our shop.” — Amber Bendett, Founder & Owner
Wander This Way
- Port Aransas Beach, 403 W. Cotter Ave., Port Aransas, Texas 78373
- Mustang Island State Park, 9394 State Hwy 361, Corpus Christi, TX 78418
- Coffee Waves, 1007 TX-361, Port Aransas, TX 78373
