Port Aransas

Sea turtles traverse the sandy bluffs of the world's longest barrier island, unfolding along Texas's southern coast along the Gulf of Mexico — welcome to Padre Island. Originally one island, Padre Island is now two, consisting of North and South Padre Island, but though sharing the same landmass, they are 100 miles apart, split by the Mansfield Channel. Witnessing some of the largest waves of tourism in Texas during the warm season and spring break, it is home to the city of Port Aransas on Mustang Island and the community of North Padre on Padre Island, which is a part of Corpus Christi. "I love living here. We only have about 3,000 people living here full-time, but we draw 8 million visitors annually. It's a huge tourist town," says Tara Hogan, a Broker Associate at Mark Grosse Real Estate and a long-time resident of Port A. <br><br>Students in Port Aransas may be a part of the Port Aransas Independent School District, a highly sought-after district and ranked #1 in the Corpus Christi area. Students may be zoned for Olsen Elementary, Brundrett Middle, and Port Aransas High School, all of which ranked with an A, according to Niche. Families in North Padre opt to apply for the Seashore Charter Schools, hosting the Seashore Learning Center, serving kindergarten through fourth grade, and the Seashore Middle Academy, ranked with an A-minus or above, according to Niche. <br><br>North Padre Island's homes are situated on small peninsulas surrounded by Corpus Christi Bay and clustered close to neighbors. Soft tan and sea-blue waterside ranch-style and Mediterranean-influenced traditional homes offer attached garages with minimal yard space. In Port Aransas, palm trees line the blocks, and three-story beach houses painted in coastal hues tower over the shorelines. "There are many more houses than people because they are often used as Airbnb's," Hogan says. Homes in Port A usually hover well over $500,000, reaching upwards of $1 Million, while North Padre's prices are similar; there are also opportunities for homes around $400,000. <br><br>A popular spot for watching migratory birds fly high above the seafloor— in the early mornings, fishermen set up for a day of casting their line out for trout and redfish, and boaters put on their life jackets to paddleboard through marked trails. "We run on island time; everyone is 15 minutes late to everything and walking around in their flip-flops and shorts, Hogan says. In Padre Island National Seashore, locals come to watch baby sea turtles begin their life in the waters of The Gulf and collect seashells at Malaquite Beach. Here, locals and tourists are just a bike ride or walk away from the pleasures of the outdoors. Avid kayakers travel to Mustang Island State Park, stretching 18 miles long, to explore the sandy waters of Corpus Christi Bay and marshes to Port Aransas. <br><br>Tortuga's Saltwater Grill in Port A is curated with fresh catches and Seafood & Spaghetti Works plates fried oysters and fish accompanied by traditional Italian pasta. In North Padre, sea breezes beckon at Doc's Seafood and Steaks, with its outdoor patio, live music, and land and sea offerings. And Guajillo's on the Island tops it with its savory authentic Mexican cuisine. Every other Thursday, the Padre Island Market has set up tables since 2016, bringing farm-fresh produce and local artisan vendors outside of Island Presbyterian Church. For daily essentials, residents living in North Padre can head to Island Market or Dollar General for groceries or run into Downtown Corpus Christi, around 20 miles away, for big-box shopping. Port A locals have a bit more shopping options. <br><br>Every year in April, thousands of people worldwide fly to the beaches of Port A for the iconic Sandfest. In the largest competition of its kind in the country, skilled sculptors test their skills, breathing new life into the sand and masterfully crafting sandcastles against the backdrop of live musical talent. In February, vibrant purples, greens, and gold flood the island streets of North Padre, with locals dressed in traditional masks on decorative floats during the annual Barefoot Mardi Gras Festival. <br><br>In Port A, Texas's Department of Transportation runs The Port Aransas Ferry System, which is entirely free, and residents can access the mainland to the north by State Highway 361 heading to Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi via the Harbor Bridge. Port A also has three bus routes into Corpus Christi for different reasons: shopping, commuting to work and the ship channel. Residents of North Padre can head back into Corpus Christi via Texas Park Road 22, leading to the JFK causeway bridge. Depending on where they are on the island, residents are about 30 miles from Christus Spohn Hospital and Corpus Christi International Airport.