We took the opportunity to take a long weekend visiting Surfside Beach, Texas, earlier in August before the fall semester started. It was an enjoyable, affordable, and nearby beach destination from our home base in the DFW area.
Before You Go
While we’re still in the COVID era, we opted again for an Airbnb instead of a traditional hotel so that we could social distance ourselves more easily. There are a lot of available beach houses in Surfside, and we were able to grab a good deal for a house on the canal side of the island so that we could enjoy the sunsets and watch the barges go by from our porch.
Tip #1: Bring Your Own Water
Fortunately, the house we rented mentioned to us that the water in Surfside is NOT good for drinking or cooking, so be sure to bring your own for yourself and your furry friends.
Tip #2: Rideshare and Food Delivery is Spotty at Best
We usually rely quite a bit on rideshare apps like Lyft and food delivery options like Doordash both at home and when on the go. We didn’t have very good luck at all while visiting Surfside, so plan ahead to stay near food joints you can walk to – or be prepared to go ‘old school’ and alternate the designated driver when going out in the evening.
Food & Drink
As usual, we made it a point to stop at a winery on our way down to the beach, this time at Blue Epiphany Winery in Conroe, Texas. BE Winery has a large patio and yard to enjoy their offerings – pupper-friendly, of course!
During our stay in Surfside itself, we visited several of the beach-side restaurants in the area. All of the ones we visited offered outdoor seating for the health-conscious. And don’t forget to sample the local appetizer favorite: jalapeno poppers stuffed with crab meat!
But I would say our favorite restaurant ended up being the one we visited our last night in town across the canal in Freeport: Captain’s Table and Bar. This multi-story establishment offers a swim-up bar on the first floor, and one of the best views of the harbor from the third floor (where we ate.) We had some of the best service and seafood that evening, and can’t wait to go back next time we’re in town.
Hiking the Surfside Vykruta Jetty Trail
As usual, I made it a point to make it out for at least one hike while on vacation. For Surfside Beach, a great option to get your mileage in is at the Surfside Vykruta Jetty Trail at the very south end of the beach. There’s plenty of parking, and the jetty is lined with locals and visitors fishing on each side of the trail.
Shipwrecks & Sunsets
As mentioned before, one of the best aspects of our trip was the sunset view over the water from our porch. The colorful clouds did not disappoint each evening, and even our pups got to enjoy basking in the lazy breeze while watching the ships go by our house.
Another interesting view from our porch is the shipwreck of the Mis Hijas across the way. You can read more about the history of the ship on Linda Murdock’s photography blog – needless to say, it sounds like this boat isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. There are also several other, smaller boats now abandoned in the area, presumably from more recent storms.
I have to say, after well over a year of little-to-no travel due to COVID, it’s nice to hit the road on occasion again. Next stop: New Orleans!