A casual vibe draws homebuyers and tourists to Port Aransas
Port Aransas, on Mustang Island, offers a laid-back lifestyle where people spend their days lounging on the beach, driving golf carts to dive bars and catching trophy fish. “You can wear a bikini and flip flops just about everywhere here,” says Laura Staves, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Island Escapes who moved to Port Aransas with her husband in 2019. This casual vibe appeals to full-time residents, second-home buyers and over a million tourists every year. Despite being a vacation destination, Port Aransas maintains a small-town atmosphere, with a highly rated school district, quirky community events and a location about 30 miles from Corpus Christi. “It feels like we live on our own little planet because we’re a bit removed from any major cities, and all the full-timers are so chill and welcoming,” Staves says. “When we moved here, it immediately felt like we’d already lived here for years.”
Condos and single-family homes may be short-term rentals
Port Aransas has a mix of condos, coastal contemporary homes and cottages. Houses are often painted in pastel or neon colors and raised by stilts or concrete slabs. Many of these properties are short-term rentals, which are popular year-round. “It’s like an endless summer here because there’s really no off-season,” Staves says. For buyers, one- to two-bedroom condos typically range from $50,000 to $350,000, while larger units often sell for $400,000 to $950,000, with some waterfront options reaching up to $1.5 million. Smaller, inland single-family homes generally fall between $400,000 and $675,000, and larger houses tend to cost from $700,000 to $950,000. Homes closest to the water hit the highest prices, usually between $1 million and $4.5 million. The median sale price is about $685,000, which is above the national median. Hurricanes and heavy rainfall may impact the island, and almost every property is at risk of flooding.
Port Aransas is known for its beaches and fishing
Beachgrass-covered dunes frame Port Aransas’ 18 miles of sandy shoreline. During the day, people lounge under umbrellas, and at night, they gather around beach bonfires. Cars and golf carts loaded with supplies can drive straight onto the sand with permits. Anglers cast lines from jetties and fishing piers, hoping to reel in redfish, speckled trout or flounder. “This is the Fishing Capital of Texas, so some locals won’t go a day without trying to catch something,” Staves says. A public marina sits next to Roberts Point Park, where people often go to the top of the observation tower to see dolphins swimming in the shipping channel below. Hiking paths cut across marshland, sand flats and upland prairie at Port Aransas Nature Preserve, a popular bird watching spot home to spoonbills and egrets.
Locals and tourists usually go to the same restaurants
Souvenir shops, ice cream parlors and restaurants make up downtown Port Aransas on the island’s northern tip. La Playa is a cozy Mexican Grille known for its crab enchiladas. Sushi, steak and seafood are on the menu at Bluewater Cowboy, a three-story spot that regularly has live music. Locals and tourists tend to go to the same restaurants, although some places prioritize seating locals first. “A lot of restaurants put clipboards on their doors, and then we drive the golf cart up, put our numbers on the list and wait to be called for dinner,” Staves says. “Tourists typically don’t know about that trick.” Lowe’s Market is Port Aransas’ only grocery store. Seafood markets and convenience stores are also around town.
A golf cart parade celebrates Port Aransas High's seniors
Port Aransas School District serves the community. Kids can attend H.G. Olsen Elementary, which Niche grades an A-minus. They may continue to Brundrett Middle and Port Aransas High, both of which earn As. The district, with just under 600 students, helps make Port Aransas a close-knit community. “The high school hangs a banner of every senior on Alister Street,” Staves says. “Then, when they graduate, they do a golf cart parade around town, and by that point, we know all their faces.”
A highway and a ferry system links Port Aransas to the mainland
State Route 361 is the only road connecting the island to the mainland. It reaches Corpus Christi, home to the nearest hospitals and international airport. The Port Aransas ferry operates 24/7, year-round, taking passengers to Aransas Pass, a mainland town with a few big-box grocery stores. Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority also provides bus service around the island. Traffic and public transportation are often more congested during peak tourist times. “A lot of us will just leave the island for spring break or Labor Day because everything gets so crazy,” Staves says.
The Gaff hosts Turkey Bowling and belt sander races
With over 20 fishing tournaments during the summer and a regatta every October, Port Aransas has several community events throughout the year. Some of the most popular gatherings for residents are held at The Gaff, a pirate-themed bar. “Dollar bills are all over the walls and there’s live music fairly often, so it’s a very classic beach watering hole,” Staves says. After Thanksgiving, the bar hosts Turkey Bowling, where contestants step up to the ‘fowl line’ and roll frozen birds to knock down pins. On the second and fourth Saturday of each month, people fill the patio to watch souped-up belt sander races, a tradition that has been around since 2005.
