It’s not every year that the 4th of July and my birthday collide in such fabulous fashion. But this year? It was fireworks-worthy. I wanted something equal parts festive and relaxing, family-friendly but teen-approved—and I found it in Port Aransas, Texas. We packed up the kids, some sparklers, and a healthy appetite for seafood and fun, and headed straight for the coast.
But the real win? Booking our five-bedroom beach house through Whimstay—a platform I’m now officially obsessed with. Think Airbnb or VRBO, but with better prices and customer service that doesn’t ghost you. Whimstay specializes in last-minute vacation rentals—aka if you’re the kind of parent who forgets to book until school’s already out, this is your new best friend.
We booked our house less than 30 days before check-in and scored a great deal on a spacious home steps from the beach. It had everything we needed: enough bedrooms for everyone to have their space, a kitchen for snacks and birthday cake, and plenty of space for the kids to spread out, hang out, and burn off energy (while I sipped coffee in peace—bless).
Here’s everything we did during our long holiday weekend in Port Aransas that kept the teens, the kids, and me very happy.
Day 1: Arrival & Dinner at Tortuga’s
We rolled into town just in time for a sunset dinner at Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill. It’s the perfect first stop after a long drive—laid-back but upscale enough to feel like a “treat yourself” meal. Don’t want to go out to eat, they’ve got plenty of grocery stores and Domino’s on the island.
Day 2: Jet Skis, Fireworks, and All the Festive Vibes 🇺🇸
Morning Thrills:
We kicked off the 4th of July bright and early with a jet ski adventure through Gettin’ Salty. This was the highlight for the older kids—nothing bonds siblings like racing each other at 40 mph across the bay.
Afterwards, I took my nieces to the beach where they boogie-boarded and built sandcastles.
Lunch:
We dried off and refueled at Grumbles Seafood Co.—a casual spot with killer harbor views and seafood so fresh it may have winked at us. You do not need a reservation to dine here. You stand in line to order and then grab an available table. The line was long when we were there, but you can grab a drink at the bar as you wait in line.
In the afternoon, we relaxed at the pool because the wind was fierce. That’s one thing about the beach in Port Aransas, the wind can really kick up at times, to the point you would rather be doing something else.
Evening Magic:
Our night ended with the Fireworks Boat Cruise hosted by Deep Sea Headquarters. Watching fireworks burst over the water while floating in the bay? The perfect view.
My cousin and his family did not go on the boat cruise, and they could see multiple fireworks shows from our house rental, including the one we saw. So, based on this, I would say that you can see fireworks from almost anywhere on the island.
Day 3: Coffee, Pickleball & Catching Dinner (Fishing)
Morning:
We started the day slow at Coach’s Island Grill — a cozy spot with coffee strong enough to revive even the grumpiest teen and affordable breakfast options good enough for my single mom budget. My meal was just $5!
Midday:
Next up: Pickleball at the Port Aransas Community Park. Somehow, this sport has become a great generational unifier—kids, teens, adults, everyone had a blast. Jonah and I play all the time. Not in the mood for pickleball or it’s just too hot, hit the beach again!
Lunch:
We tried FINS, but also heard rave reviews about The Gaff and Trout Street if you want to shake things up. The benefit of eating at Fins was that it was right next door to the place we were catching a fishing charter from. We didn’t have a reservation but managed to walk right in.
Afternoon:
Time to fish! We hopped aboard a Bay Fishing Charter with Deep Sea Headquarters. The kids got to reel in fish (and bragging rights), and we even brought some back for a sunset dinner.
I did think based on the description, we were doing a short deep-sea fishing experience. I quickly realized that the reason it could be done in 3.5 hours was that we went out to the shipping channel to fish. We caught a lot of fish, it just wasn’t remotely deep-sea fishing. The nice thing about this is no sea sickness. The last time we went deep-sea fishing, everyone threw up. On this excursion, no one even felt queasy.
Adults need a one-day fishing license for all waters. Kids do not need a fishing license.
Dinner:
For dinner, we feasted at Virginia’s on the Beach. They will cook the fish you catch for $15 per person. Didn’t catch anything, don’t worry, they’ve got an extensive menu.
They do not take reservations, but you can join the live waitlist on Yelp. There are only two restaurants with live wait lists; the other is Seafood and Spaghetti. As soon as we were done fishing, I put our party of 14 on the waitlist for both places. It took a little over an hour, but we got a table no problem at Virginia’s. I thought all their food was great, but the service was super slow. Took two hours to eat here.
Bonus: Beach Bonfire & S’mores at Cinnamon Shores
What’s better than a beach bonfire? A beach bonfire you didn’t have to set up. Cinnamon Shores handled everything—from the fire pit to the s’mores kits—so we just showed up, made gooey marshmallow masterpieces, and watched the stars come out.
Why I’ll Be Booking with Whimstay Again
Booking a beach house with Whimstay was a game-changer. Here’s why I’ll be using them for future family getaways:
- Better Prices: Whimstay offers the same properties you find on Airbnb or VRBO—often at up to 40% less when you book within 30 days of your trip.
- Last-Minute Friendly: Great for us spontaneous types (or those of us who forget to plan until the week before… not naming names).
- Customer Service That Actually Answers: Rated 4.3 on Trustpilot, compared to Airbnb’s 1.3. Enough said.
- 365 Days of Deals: Yes, they specialize in last-minute, but you can book with them year-round.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to create core memories without core stress, Port Aransas is the ultimate destination. It checks all the boxes for family travel: beach, food, activities, and plenty of room to relax.
