Winter is approaching, and once temperatures in Texas finally take a dip, you might find yourself longing for sunny skies and warmer weather once again. Or maybe, you’re looking for a place to change up how your family celebrates Thanksgiving or Christmas. If so, then Port Isabel just might be the ticket for a winter vacation along the coast that’s a little off the beaten path.
Recently, Travel Awaits, a travel guide site that caters to travelers who are 50 or older, ranked the coastal Rio Grande Valley town as one of the “11 great spots for winter beach vacations in 2025,” beating out the Valley’s more well-known beachy tourist town, South Padre Island.
“(Port Isabel is) favored for being a peaceful retreat compared to South Padre,” Travel Awaits writes.
“It’s a great spot for any retirees who want to avoid the depths of winter cold,” the site said. Port Isabel was the only coastal city in Texas to make Travel Awaits’ list, which was topped by San Clemente, California; the Golden Isles, Georgia; and Key West and Perdido Key, Florida, respectively.
The historic Port Isabel Lighthouse, seen on Monday, June 23, 2025, was built in 1852 and has played an important role in the history of the Rio Grande Valley. It is the only lighthouse in Texas open to the public. (Dina Arévalo)
While Port Isabel may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking of coastal Texas travel destinations, the nearly century-old town exudes charm and is chock-full of history, including the historic Port Isabel Lighthouse, which is the only lighthouse in the state that’s open to the public. The lighthouse is the centerpiece of Lighthouse Square, where travelers will find artisan shops and clothing boutiques, as well as a variety of family-friendly dining options that play on Port Isabel’s coastal location with pirate and beachy themes and generous seafood menus.
With Port Isabel also being the shrimping capital of South Texas, it’s not hard to find shrimp hauled fresh from the ocean the same day diners place an order at local restaurants.
Just two miles away lies a hidden gem travelers may not know about: Arturo Galvan Coastal Park. It’s the only park on the mainland that offers free public access to the Laguna Madre, the hypersaline bay that separates South Padre Island from the mainland that is prized among shallow-water anglers.
Port Isabel also boasts a handful of charming hotels and inns, as well as short-rental options, including unique stay opportunities in two neighborhoods – The Fingers and Long Island Village – that are reminiscent of Venice, Italy, because of how they’re located along a series of manmade canals. Many of the homes in the canal neighborhoods are outfitted with private boat slips, making them the perfect place for those looking for a serene, waterfront stay that offers easy access to the bay for fishing or pleasure cruises.
This article originally published at Surprising Texas coastal town is the state’s best winter vacation spot.