We just wrapped up our annual Port A trip — four days with two kids, a big group, and so much good food. If you’re looking for a mix of laid-back beach hangs, toddler-friendly recs, easy meals, and a rental that doesn’t make you lose your mind… here you go.
I’ve pulled together everywhere we ate, what we brought, how we got around, and everything I’d actually do again — all in one place.
🍽️ Dinner Spots
Grumbles Seafood Co. – never misses. Dolphin cruises leave from here too.
Bluewater Cowboy – relaxed vibe, sushi + steaks
Trout Street Bar & Grill – on the water, great view
Venetian Hot Plate – elevated Italian, better for adult nights
Roosevelt’s – upscale surf & turf
Seafood boil night at the house with fish from Paul’s Seafood Market
✨ Hot tip: Grab a sitter and head to Palm Social Club for cocktails, then a late-night slice at The Gaff
🍔 Lunch Spots
Lelo’s Island Bar – casual with a kids’ play area
Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill – indoor seating + seafood
Sip Yard – food trucks + full outdoor hang area
Port A Poke – quick and fresh, not super kid-friendly menu
☕️ Coffee + Breakfast
Coffee Waves – lattes & smoothies every morning
Island Café – last-day diner breakfast
Donut Palace – guys grabbed this before their fishing trip
Quick taco run from Island Market
🍦 Treats
Port A Creamery – cute outdoor spot for kids
Coffee Waves – also amazing gelato
Winton’s Candy Company – nostalgic, great for bribes
Tropical Sno – classic sno cones
🛺 Golf Carts
We Love This Island or Bron’s – both reliable
Island Motor Bikes – another great option
🧺 What We Brought (Groceries + Prep)
We did HEB curbside in Aransas Pass and stocked up on:
Easy breakfasts: breakfast tacos, pancakes, one-pan breakfast hash, yogurt bowls
Kid-friendly lunch snacks + fruit Popsicles, sparkling water, adult drinks
Everything for our seafood boil (shrimp, potatoes, sausage, corn, Old Bay, etc.)
Having a few simple snacks like fruit, cheese, sandwiches etc. made it way easier with little ones running around.
👨👩👧👦 Activities
Fisherman’s Wharf – deep sea fishing + dolphin sunset cruises (dock is next to Grumbles)
Palmilla Beach Club – guys’ golf day
Red Dragon Pirate Cruises – themed, family-friendly fun
Chute ’Em Up Parasailing – scenic & adventurous
Aero-Copters – for a bird’s eye view of the island
Rainy day ideas:
Fire It Ceramics – paint-your-own pottery
For crunchy mamas:
3rd Coast Shack – CBD, crystals, oxygen bar, foot detox
🏠 Where We Stayed
We booked a house through Sway Vacation Homes — pool, rooftop, toddler-friendly layout. Highly recommend.
🗓️ Our Itinerary (What We Actually Did)
Day 1:
Travel (optional lunch stop)
Arrival + HEB curbside grocery pick-up
Dinner: Grumbles + optional dolphin cruise
Day 2:
Breakfast at home: pancakes, sausage & fruit
Beach 9–11 AM
Lunch: Lelo’s Island Bar
Nap + pool
Dinner: Trout Street
Day 3:
Breakfast at home: one-pan breakfast hash
Guys: deep sea fishing with Fisherman’s Wharf
Donuts for the guys from Donut Palace
Girls + kids: beach time
Afternoon: guys swim with kids
Girls Lunch: Tortuga’s
Pick up fish from Paul’s Seafood Market
Dinner: Seafood boil at the house
Parents night out: Palm Social Club + slice at The Gaff
Day 4:
Breakfast at home: breakfast tacos & yogurt bowls
Beach morning
Lunch: Sip Yard
Dinner: Bluewater Cowboy or Venetian Hot Plate
Treat: gelato from Coffee Waves
Day 5:
Breakfast out: Island Café
Drive home
Optional aquarium or lunch stop on the way
🧑🍳 Crowd-Friendly Recipes
Seafood Boil (Feeds a Crowd)
This was perfect after the guys’ fishing trip — we even cooked some of what they caught!
What you’ll need:
Shrimp (2–3 lbs, peeled or unpeeled) Red potatoes (quartered)
Corn on the cob (halved)
Smoked sausage (sliced into coins)
Lemons (halved)
Garlic (minced)
Butter (1–2 sticks)
Old Bay or Cajun seasoning
Salt, pepper, crushed red pepper
Optional: crab legs, mussels, clams, or crawfish
How to make it:
In a huge pot, boil water with a generous amount of Old Bay, salt, lemon halves, and garlic.
Add potatoes — boil for 10–15 min.
Add sausage + corn — boil another 5–7 min.
Add shrimp — cook until just pink (2–3 min). Drain and dump it all onto a foil-lined table or sheet pans.
Drizzle with melted garlic butter (melt 1 stick of butter with more garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice). Serve with salad, bread, and cold drinks.
One-Pan Breakfast Hash
So easy to prep before the chaos of a beach day with toddlers.
What you’ll need:
6-8 eggs (pasture raised)
3-4 red potatoes cut into cubes (sweet potato would also be great!)
2 large sausage links, diced (I love aidells chicken apple sausage)
Optional: 4-5 slices of bacon, diced 1/4 onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1/2 avocado, diced
1 tbsp Avocado oil (higher smoke point than olive oil)
1 tbsp Butter
Salt, pepper, cayenne
Optional: chopped chives for topping
Hot sauce of choice
How to make it:
Heat large skillet (ideally cast iron) over medium high heat. Add butter to pan. Add potatoes, peppers, onions and bacon. Cook about 15 mins until potatoes are starting to crisp.
Add avocado oil and add sausage to pan. Cook about
7 minutes until crispy. Stirring less frequently will help allow the potato to get a nice crispy sear on it. Season with salt, pepper and a dash of cayenne (more for more heat).
Once potato is cooked through (can check with a fork to make sure it’s soft), crack eggs right on top. I like to make little nests in the hash to pop them into. Cover and let egg white cook through about 4 mins. Can also pop the pan under the broiler in the oven for a few mins if the egg whites aren’t cooking fast enough.
Top with avocado and optional: chives. Enjoy with some hot sauce!
Other Breakfasts We Loved
Pancakes – we used a high-protein mix and made mini stacks for the kids with sausage & fruit
Breakfast tacos – eggs, potatoes, sausage, cheese
Yogurt bowls – Greek yogurt, fruit, nut butter, and a little granola
Breakfast sandwiches – scrambled eggs + bacon + cheese on English muffins
📲 Stay Connected
If you’re headed to Port A, I hope this made planning way easier.
Follow me on Instagram for real-mom travel tips, high-protein meals, and toddler-friendly finds — and don’t miss my Traveling With Kids Must-Haves!
