Natural harbors, quaint fishing villages, busy ports, offshore islands, sheltered bays and abundant recreational havens are sprinkled along the seashore. As a seaside playground, South Padre Island has hosted vacationers from Texas and Mexico since the 1800s. They're joined today by tourists from the American Midwest, Canada and Europe. The Port of Beaumont offers free guided tours daily of its modern facilities.
Condominiums line the beach at South Padre Island.
Surf fishing is a popular sport along the Texas Gulf Coast. Sesquicentennial Park in Houston.