This week we took a quick trip to Port Aransas, one of the most dog-friendly destinations in Texas. The beaches here are dog-friendly year around but we love the fall months when the beaches are very quiet. (Leashes are mandatory year-around.)
We wanted to share our top activities on this trip:
Enjoying the Dog-Friendly Port Aransas Beach
As I mentioned, the beach is dog-friendly and, on the stretch of beach in town, driving is restricted to a driving area up by the dunes. That makes this our favorite stretch of beach. Further south, Padre Island National Seashore is equally beautiful but vehicles on the beach are scary with the dogs; the wind and the sand make it impossible to hear an approaching car.
Staying at A Laughing Horse Lodge
We stayed at A Laughing Horse Lodge, a collection of dog-friendly cottages just a few blocks from the beach. Not only does the accommodation provide dog tags with the hotel address at check-in but the facility also includes a self-service dog wash.
Shopping at a Dog-Friendly Souvenir Shop
Port Aransas is known for its Texas-sized gift stores; we took a break from the heat at the dog-friendly Palace Gift Store (405 S Alister St.)
Dining at Stingrays
Stingrays has a great dog-friendly patio and even brings out bowls of water for the dogs. We couldn't miss a chance to snap a photo of Irie and Tiki in front of the restaurant's Farley Boat (above). You'll see these concrete planters throughout town, a reminder of the famous Farley Boats that brought the attention of the world to this coastal town for tarpon fishing.
Dining at The Beach Lodge
As the name suggests, The Beach Lodge is right on the beach. Along with dog-friendly accommodations, they also have a dog-friendly patio (with three meals a day!) We enjoyed a shrimp dinner here our first night.
Getting Take Out Breakfast at Whataburger
We've had a lot of Whataburger meals across Texas–but we've never had a golf cart in line ahead of us! Golf carts are street legal in Port Aransas except on the main stretch of highway. Irie and Tiki love this Whataburger–they offer dog treats at the takeout window 
We got breakfast every morning here and headed to the park to watch for dolphins.
Watching Sunrise on the Beach
Since daylight savings time will soon end and sunrise is as late as it ever gets, it wasn't too difficult to get up and head to the beach before dawn–and the beautiful colors were definitely worth it!
Spotting Dolphins from the Ferry
The free ferry that connects Port Aransas and Mustang Island to the mainland is a great place to watch for dolphins; on our arrival, we spotted three dolphins along the short ride. Irie and Tiki are old pros at riding the ferry now and don't mind the noises that first were a little frightening to them.
If you're looking for a dog-friendly beach getaway in Texas, we highly recommend Port Aransas, especially during off season. For more information, visit the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce.
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