Oftentimes, the best vacations are those that come with a seemingly endless lineup of options for customized fun for travelers to enjoy as soon as they arrive. When visitors make Mustang Island, Texas, their vacation destination of choice, that’s exactly what they can look forward to and so much more! Sitting on the scenic Texas Gulf Coast, Mustang Island enjoys warm weather and sunny skies year-round in addition to a collection of gorgeous beaches for travelers to explore at their own preferred pace.
Beyond the sand, Mustang Island also plays host to some truly incredible wildlife and an enticing array of delicious restaurants to check out. Whether you spend your time popping in and out of the many charming shops located across the island or take as many unique tours as possible, your Mustang Island vacation promises to be truly unforgettable.
Here, there’s always something for travelers with every interest to enjoy, so consider using the following ultimate Mustang Island, TX travel guide the next time you’re in town so you can be sure you’re experiencing as much of this inspiring destination as possible.
Take Time to Truly Relish Your Mustang Island Beach Days
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to adding unique adventures to your Mustang Island itinerary. That said, a true highlight experience for travelers heading this way is surely going to be the quality time they set aside to enjoy the beach. When you make your way to Mustang Island, Texas, you’ll be treating yourself to access to 18 miles of gorgeous shoreline just waiting to be discovered. The beauty of this stretch of sand lies in the fact that each beach access point comes with its own unique appeal for travelers.
If you’re heading this way looking to enjoy a beach day that feels a bit more off-the-beaten path, you’re going to want to consider making time to unwind at Mustang Island State Park Beach. While Mustang Island State Park itself spans nearly 4,000 acres of terrain, the beach is a quiet and beautiful place within its parameters to spend a tranquil afternoon on the sand. Many visitors head this way to enjoy shelling, wildlife spotting, and a beach experience that’s often refreshingly void of large crowds. If you’re a visitor with an interest in landscape photography, this is an opportunity to pair your beach day with some time capturing gorgeous, natural terrain on film.
In the event you’re a visitor to Mustang Island this year who prefers to enjoy a beach day alongside a vibrant crowd of fellow travelers, you can’t go wrong with time enjoyed at Port Aransas Beach. This is a popular destination in the area because it’s both easy to access from the center of Port Aransas and a great place for beachcombing, swimming, and sunbathing. You’ll very often find solo travelers, couples, friend groups, and families alike convening on this beach, which is fun, inviting, and a beautiful place for a beach picnic as well.
Make Sure Your Mustang Island Getaway Include Delicious Dining Options
No trip to Mustang Island is really complete without some palate-pleasing experiences built into the itinerary. Whether you end up spending all your time on the sand, out on the water, or exploring in town, at some point, you’re going to find that you have an appetite you need to attend to. The good news is that Mustang Island is home to a wide variety of fantastic restaurants to explore, no matter what you might be in the mood for.
Treat Yourself to Great Flavors at FINS Grill and Icehouse
If you find during your time on Mustang Island that nothing sounds better than seafood served up in spectacular waterfront surroundings, we would definitely recommend making your way to FINS Grill and Icehouse for a meal while you’re here. You’ll find this family-friendly eatery located at 420 W. Cotter Avenue, and they’re open from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday, with extended hours until 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Guests who come here will enjoy options to settle in at a table on the large outdoor deck, which puts a firm frame on beautiful harbor views during your dinner.
Start things off with a house margarita while you peruse the menu and decide what would satisfy. The menu at FINS Grill and Icehouse has everything from fish tacos and grilled Gulf fish to coconut shrimp as well. They’re also happy to serve up burgers, salads, and sandwiches upon request. If you’ve spent the day out fishing and happened to catch something great, this eatery will also happily clean and cook your catch for you to enjoy right at the table.
Check Out What’s Being Served up at Blue Water Cowboy Saloon & Mercantile
When you’re on the hunt for a vibrant atmosphere, flavorful selections, and great views, too on Mustang Island, the Blue Water Cowboy Saloon & Mercantile has it covered. Located at 229 Beach Street, this local eatery is a great stop for happy hour specials, a delicious dinner for two, or even a meal out with the kids. The Blue Water Cowboy Saloon & Mercantile is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm for dinner and from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm Friday through Sunday.
Whether you’re longing for steaks, seafood, sushi, crab stuffed jalapeno poppers, the seafood nachos, shrimp tacos, sashimi, or filet mignon, you’ll find it right here. You’re sure to leave feeling full and satisfied. That said, no matter what dish you select, you’ll want to be sure to match it with just the right handcrafted cocktail on the menu, which pairs particularly well with the sunset views you can also enjoy from this welcoming, local eatery.
Memorable Activities to Add to Your List on Mustang Island
Travelers who enjoy adding as many unique and memorable activities as possible to their itineraries while on vacation will find Mustang Island always has plenty to offer. If you happen to be a history buff taking time out of a busy schedule to travel to Mustang Island this year, don’t leave without spending at least one afternoon exploring the exhibits and displays at the Port Aransas Museum. This stop is a truly fascinating glimpse back in time, and its location in a 1900s kit home makes your visit even more incredible. When you visit this museum, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to learn more about how hurricanes have affected Mustang Island through the years, as well as the shipwrecks storms have left in their wake, and the fishing culture that long kept this area resilient.
Another great experience to add to your lineup during your stay is a day of exploring and enjoying downtown Port Aransas. This area truly works as the heartbeat of Mustang Island, and it’s a terrific place to spend time discovering the local boutiques or checking out locally owned surf shops as well. From the art galleries to the inviting coffee shops, it’s easy to spend more time here than you might have originally planned for.
If you have an unwavering love for adrenaline-pumping fun, you can’t go wrong when you book an excursion with the team over at Chute ‘Em Up Parasailing/Port A Parasail. This is an absolute must-do for thrill seekers in the area who aren’t afraid of heights and can’t wait to enjoy a bird’s eye view out and over the waves! As you zip over the Gulf at impressive speeds alongside your team of professionals, you’ll be treated to panoramic vistas from above that are guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.
Experience the Beauty of Nearby San José Island for Yourself
Depending on how much time you have set aside to vacation on Mustang Island, you’ll want to consider spending a day exploring nearby San José Island as well. This is a picture-perfect place for nature enthusiasts to experience during their trip when getting close to wildlife and spectacular views is the goal.
San José Island is no more than a 5-minute ferry ride from Mustang Island, with vessels departing daily from the Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf. This makes it an easy-to-access day trip destination no matter what time of year you arrive. Travelers will want to keep in mind that San José Island is privately owned, and when you arrive, you’ll only be allowed to explore the pristine beach areas below the mean high tide line. Not to worry though, because this area is rich in opportunities for fun and thrills. It’s a great place to spend the day fishing, shelling, or birding alongside family and friends. In total, the area boasts 21 miles of sand and vehicles are prohibited, keeping the terrain wild, rugged, and thriving for the wildlife that call this area home.
Places You Won’t Want to Miss
Those with a heart for birding who are making their way to Mustang Island in the name of a great vacation this year will want to make sure a stop at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center is at the top of their itinerary. This is a beloved place for birdwatchers to gather and spot everything from egrets and herons to roseate spoonbills and beyond. It’s a true hot spot in the spring and fall as migratory species fly through, and there are opportunities to encounter turtles, native fish species, and alligators on-site, too. You can find the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at 1356 Ross Avenue, and it hosts salt marshes, prairie habitats, and freshwater wetlands alike.
Feel free to drop by daily from sunrise to sunset without needing to worry about admission to explore the area. Those who visit will find a variety of trails to explore, as well as shaded observation platforms to check out and spotting scopes in place. If you would prefer to enjoy birding alongside a guide, consider attending the birding program hosted here every Wednesday at 9:00 am. This is a chance to spend time on a guided walk led by a local expert where you can learn even more about the species you’re spotting overhead.
Getting Around with Ease Is a Breeze
While many visitors choose to drive to Mustang Island from Corpus Christi, or sail in on the ferry from Aransas Pass, once you get here, you can feel free to leave the car parked. That’s because many travelers lean into the idea of getting from point A to point B using a golf cart instead. There are many convenient rental options to consider across Mustang Island, and when you have a golf cart to use, you won’t have to worry about parking at all. You can also build customized sightseeing into your stay, enjoyed at your own preferred pace.
Packing Tips to Keep in Mind Before You Travel
Mustang Island is a sunny vacation destination to enjoy, and even in the wintertime, that Gulf sunshine is strong. We would highly suggest making sure you have plenty of high SPF sunscreen in your suitcase, so as you move between the shoreline and in town adventures, you’ll always be comfortable and protected. Summertime travelers will want to make sure they include bug spray on their packing list when heading this way, but travelers in all seasons will find they can benefit from the use of a reusable water bottle while they’re in town. When you can’t wait to enjoy dolphin watching or birding while you’re here, having a quality pair of binoculars in your bag is a must as well.
Book Your One-of-a-Kind Mustang Island Stay Today
There’s absolutely no reason to wait when you’re ready to enjoy a well-deserved adventure to Mustang Island. When you can’t wait to turn those travel plans into reality, making your trip unforgettable begins with booking your Mustang Island accommodations through the team at On Island Time Vacation Rentals. Reach out today to learn more about our inviting and exciting property options that come with amazing views, world-class amenities, and room for small and large groups alike to settle into style. Our team can’t wait to help you plan a trip to Mustang Island you won’t forget, and we look forward to seeing you in sunny Texas soon!
Sometimes the simple adventures in life are the best ones, something you will soon discover when beginning to plan your Texas Memorial Day weekend getaway to Mustang Island. Offering 5 miles of pristine coastline and being one of the few beaches that allows guests to drive their cars on the sand, Mustang Island is sure to be one of your favorite vacation adventures and our On Island Time holiday hideaways on the island will be a large reason why! Offering all the comforts of home blended with the modern conveniences of life, these spaces are sure to make you feel at home and because most of our Mustang Island retreats will feature views of the beach, peace and serenity will be one of the best amenities provided!
Plan to Pack Very Light
Memorial Day temps are sure to be on the warm side, making packing for your adventures an easy thing to do; just toss a bunch of swimsuits into your luggage, add flip flops, shorts, tees, and sun dresses or cover ups and you have a complete holiday wardrobe that won’t take up much space. But don’t make the rookie mistake of bringing your smallest bags—oh no, that won’t do at all. Bring the big bags, and when you can tear yourself away from the unspoiled beaches you can enjoy a shopping spree in the Port Aransas shops or even the Corpus Christi shops that will fill your heart with joy! But we will talk more about shopping later, because there are still a few things you need to pack and we want to get that out of the way first. Sunglasses, baseball hats or those big floppy hats that you see all the movie stars wear, and a gallon of sunscreen are highly recommended!
A Little About Mustang Island
Named for the wild horses that used to roam the shores of our island home, we’re not really sure how they got here in the first place or where they all disappeared to over the years, but that’s ok. There is still plenty to do on this barrier island that stretches out 18 miles over the Texas coastline, including riding horses on the beach with the company aptly named Horses on the Beach providing the necessary equipment, in other words, the horses you will need to make your beach dreams come true. Located at 19136 Park Road in Corpus Christi, guests are offered the choice of an hour long ride in the daytime for $79 per person (ages 8 and up) or an hour and a half long ride at sunset for $109 per person (also ages 8 and up) making memories you will cherish forever.
Angling for a Good Memorial Day Time
Fishing is big on Mustang Island, and whether you choose to fish from the beach or jetties at Port Aransas Beach or think that hiring a fishing charter to go out in the deep waters seeking to make your trophy fish dreams come true, this adventure will be better than you imagined it could. Inshore you can expect to catch redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and black drum as well as sheepshead and sand trout. Offshore, however, the skies the limit on types of fish and, of course, the size of the fish you will catch! Marlin, tarpon, tuna, mahi mahi, and even sharks are on the list of deep sea fish that can be caught and Deep Sea Headquarters, located at 440 W Cotter Avenue, can help lead the way to your dream fishing vacation!
Live Music, Cold Drinks, and a Seriously Good Time
Bron’s Backyard is a seasonal place in part and open year-round in part and we can’t help but feel like summer has begun every time we step through the doors of this venue that offers a little of everything! Located at 314 E Avenue G in Port Aransas, Bron’s is the kind of place you want to make your own, offering a casual vibe that makes everyone feel welcome, during the season (which begins in March) guests can enjoy good food, fantastic drinks, shaved ice, and live music, with the party only stopping at the end of the season. When you first arrive on Mustang Island you may notice that many people drive around in golf carts and if you want to join in the fun, Bron’s Backyard is one of the top golf cart rental places on Mustang Island, open year round for this activity!
Time to Live On Island Time This Memorial Day!
Your plans for a relaxed and fun Memorial Day Weekend will downshift into quieter, calmer, and more comfortable gears when you set aside time to explore all the wonders of our On Island Time holiday hideaways. Family barbecues, pool parties, or serene sunset watching sessions from the comfy chairs on decks or balconies that overlook the blue waters of the Gulf, all add to the sparkle of a Mustang Island Memorial Day adventure. Reserve your favorite escape today!