Malaquite Campground

Malaquite Campground in the Padre Island National Seashore fit our needs perfectly for four nights.  While there were no electrical or water hookups, the gulf breezes kept the temperatures around 80 during the day and around 70 at night.  There was ample sun to top off the Brew Hut battery with our solar panel. The amenities were flush toilets, cold water shower (which felt refreshing during the heat of the day), fresh water, and dump station–all for $14/night and $7/night if over 62.  Of course the biggest attraction was the gulf view and wind protection provided by the sand dunes buffering the beach. No Verizon service, but I didn’t miss it.

On our second day, we drove twenty miles down the beach to Big Shell Beach which had small shells.  Little Shell Beach had no shells.  We found our biggest shells by walking a couple of miles up our own beach by the campground.  We also saw many crabs.  Julia wanted so badly to see a sea turtle, but the Turtle Patrol reported to us that only one had been sighted so far this month–none during our stay.

We found a little seafood shop with fresh local fish.  One night, I cooked red snapper.  Another night, we tried black drum.  Both were delicious.  I made French toast one morning that had Julia so happy that she performed seaside acrobatics.

On our one overcast day, we took the Port Aransas Ferry to get to Rockport, where we dined at Mac’s Pit BBQ.  I had the sliced beef sandwich, along with sides of bacon mac cheese and peach cobbler, washed down with sweet tea.

The manager was kind and welcoming, stopping to chat at our table when the lunch crowd slowed down.  In fact, he gave us his personal card, telling us that if there was anything we needed during our stay, we should call him.  I think that’s a first for me at any restaurant.

We ended our day at Rockport with Julia leaning into the wind.

Padre Balli Park

We enjoyed our four-day stay at Padre Balli Park–which was conveniently located to both Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore.  On Thursday and Friday, the area was moderately crowded.  We spent our time mostly on the beach, starting our hikes before dawn.

But as Easter approached, the crowds arrived.

On one day, we sampled the beers at Lorelei Brewing Company, which had  a delightful outdoor space.

On another day we went to the Texas Sealife Center where injured or diseased sea turtles and other creatures are nursed back to health and then released.

On Easter morning, we got up at 5:30 a.m.and attended a non-denominational Passion Play held for many years at one of Corpus Christi’s waterfront parks.

By Sunday afternoon, the beach was packed as tight as a parking lot with vehicles, dogs and people.  As campers left the full Malaquite Campground at the National Park to go home, we vultured a prime campsite protected by the dunes but still overlooking the gulf.  By Sunday night, the crowds had left, and we had the beach to ourselves.