Seafood, Sand & Surfing: How to have the Greatest Beach Trip Ever

The carful of kids love to try new things so we drive to the Texas coast for long weekend packed with seafood, sand and surfing. This is an easy road trip for most Texas families, taking just a few hours to drive to the beach.

After picking up the kids after school, we arrive at the beach condo on Friday night. Everyone pitches in and we have our gear unloaded in no time. I prefer to rent a condo since I can cook a couple of meals and they usually have a washer to take care of those wet towels.

Exploring the Bridge of the U.S.S. Lexington.

It's Saturday morning and after a quick breakfast, the carful of kids head out to our first activity--the U.S.S. Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier. This tour is a must for school-age kids, though not as easy for the smaller kids since much of the tour isn't stroller-friendly.

The U.S.S. Lexington is located at 2914 N. Shoreline Boulevard in Corpus Christi. The admission is $14.95 for adults and for the kids 4 to 12 it's $9.95. It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (6p.m. in the summer), 7 days a week, closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Parking is available for $3.50.

After the carful of kids explore all the decks of the U.S.S. Lexington, we head back to the beach for our next adventure, building sand castles. We're not just building any sand castles, we're learning sand construction from a sand sculptor.

Chip Cooper, a sand sculptor, has over 30 years experience molding sand castles and he has won countless awards.

Award-winning sand sculptor, Chip Cooper, has been playing in the sand his whole life. With a few everyday, household tools, Chip has the carful of kids building the best sandcastles on the beach.

This is a great activity for the whole family, babies and grandmas included. Chip brings all the tools and a canopy to keep us covered. The lesson is about 2 hours and that's enough time to build individual sand castles or a larger family sand castle.

Who doesn't want to learn how to make awesome sand castles? 

After a quick stroll along the beach shell hunting, it's time to head back to the condo for dinner, island-style. Earlier in the day, we stopped by Port A Seafood, located at 108 S. Alister St. for some shrimp, a Gulf Coast speciality.

Along with some corn, sausage and potatoes I brought with us, I boil up a fabulous seafood dinner for a fraction of the cost to eat out. It's a one pot meal so clean-up is a breeze.

It's not a trip to the beach without a Shrimp Boil.

The carful of kids hit the bed hard after a day full of activities; we have another full day of fun planned. I take a Mom moment and head out to the balcony to enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the waves.

I don't have to poke the carful of kids more than once to get them going this morning. They're headed to the SUV before I can get everyone sun-screened.

The carful of kids are learning how to surf with the Billabong Surf Camp on North Padre Island, located in front of the Windward Parking Lot, next to the Holiday Inn. We pick out our boards and put on our rash guards. The carful of kids seem to get it but what about a Mom with a teen? I don't even like to get my hair wet.

The one day learn-to-surf class starts on the sand with a core class where I learn I can't pop up like a 13-year-old. I'm still optimistic, I can do this. I ditch the sunglasses and lug my board into the water.

Well, it's a lot of work to paddle out. I get out there and the instructor sets me up to catch a wave. In the process of popping up on my board, my bathing suit gets wedged up my rear end. I think it's afraid. All I hope is my instructor didn't see all my Momma parts.

On the first try, I get on my knees and then I slide right off my board and in the water. I shake the saltwater out of my hair as I stand up and catch my board.

I head back. Same thing, paddle, paddle, paddle, the instructor holds my board while we wait for the perfect wave. He pushes me off and then I'm suppose to pop up and ride her in.

So my carful of kids are gliding in like pros this time. Me, I'm just a soggy mess. I'm not going home without this. I stand up and head back out there. My surf instructor greets me with a smile.

I'm doing this I tell myself. I visualize getting up on the board just so I can brag to my husband. I wait for the wave and off I go.

Pop! And UP! Yes, this Mom of three, gets up on her board and rides it for a glorious millisecond before I go down and under.

When I get back to the beach, one of the instructors asks me, What do they call a Mom who gets up on her board?

I don't know. What?  Not knowing what to expect.

A Surfer. 

I have to smile.

Time to get out the sandwiches. I'm starving.

A trip to the beach is not complete without a photo with the giant shark.

The carful of kids are much more successful at surfing. Due to the size of the surfboards and strength needed to paddle out, I recommend this for middle-school kids.

It's been a great weekend and it's time to hit the road. Monday will be here before you know it.


Chip's List of Household Items for Sand Castle Construction:

• Long-handled garden shovel
• Old pens for drawing vines or stones on the sides of your castle
• Plastic spoons, knives and forks
• Chip brushes to sweep away excess sand
• Short sections of PVC pipe for turrets and towers
• Large kitty litter container or gallon bucket for molding wet sand
• A can of Pam cooking spray, to coat inside of the bucket for an easier release

I added some cute items from the craft store to my sand castle kit, like cocktail flags, tiny artificial  flowers and doll house or fairy garden furniture. Just be sure to remove the items after you snap a couple of pictures with your sand castle. Don't want to add litter to our beaches.

Wildflowers at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Central Texas

It's spring in Central Texas so that means one thing--wildflower season. It's a great time to get out and drive the backroads of Texas in search of the best wildflower fields possible. This time the carful of kids drive out to some of the best wildflower fields in Texas, near Johnson City.

We can't talk about wildflowers without talking about the First Lady of Wildflowers, Lady Bird Johnson. Lady Bird Bird Johnson campaigned for the Highway Beautification Act that limited billboards and planted wildflowers along our highways during her time as First Lady of the United States.


Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President

Lyndon B. Johnson, or LBJ as he was commonly called, was the vice president under President John F. Kennedy and became the 36^th president after Kennedy’s assignation in 1963. Born in 1908 of humble roots in Johnson City, Texas, he spent the majority of his life in politics.

The carful of kids sit at the same table that President Johnson did when he signed an education bill.

  

After graduating college, LBJ taught school. In 1930 Johnson began his political career. For his presidential run, he campaigned on his vision of a Great Society by improving civil rights, education, transportation and protecting the environment. Many of those ideals can be traced back to his formative years in Texas.

Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch near Stonewall, Texas

For generations, the Johnson family worked cattle along with politics. In 1951 LBJ bought a family 250-acre ranch along the Pedernales River and eventually expanded it to 2700-acres. He raised 400 head of prize-winning Hereford cattle. The descendants still roam the ranch.

A stop at the Show Barn is a must-do for kids at the LBJ Ranch.

There are several stops along the self-guided driving tour of the LBJ Ranch. The first stop for kids is Junction School, Johnson’s one-room schoolhouse where he started school at 4-years-old. With a couple of kerosene lanterns and a pot-belly stove, this school gives my kids a new appreciation for the air-conditioning and fluorescent lights of their school.

The LBJ Birthplace, a reconstructed house that resembles the original, is the next stop. Across the street is the family cemetery where former President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson are buried; we walk over to pay respects.

 

My 11-year-old works on his cowboying skills.

My kids want to trample through the Show Barn to take a look at LBJ's cattle. This is where the ranch staff would pamper LBJ’s registered Herefords to get them ready for stock shows. His prize-winning Hereford cattle fetched more money when auctioned for breeding purposes. Even at the height of his career, President Johnson would call his ranch foreman daily.

The Airplane Hanger

When we arrive at the Johnson’s home, my boys climb up the stairs to peek inside of the president’s airplane that's parked outside the hangar. Inside of the old Airplane Hanger we check in at the Visitors Center to get our tickets for the ranger-guided tour of the Texas White House ($3 for adults and free for those under 17).

My boys stand next to LBJ's Lookhead Jetstar that's parked outside of the hanger. 

The Texas White House

As the kids walk into the Texas White House, LBJ and Lady Bird's home, it’s the details of another century that catch their young eyes. Why aren’t the TVs flat and why did he have three? Is the first thing they ask when they see three sets with dials mounded side-by-side on a cart in the Johnson’s living room.

The carful of kids head inside of the Texas White House located along the banks of the Pedernales River. 

The corded telephones are another hit with my kids. There are 72-corded phones that play hide and seek throughout the house. LBJ relied on the 72 phones and the 15 phone lines to run the country. The park ranger points them out that as we meander through the sprawling Texas White House.

Kids at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

After the tour, my kids head back to the hangar to finish up their Junior Ranger booklets. As we walk through the displays, we learn more about the important legislation that LBJ signed like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The National Park Service hands out Civil War to Civil Rights trading cards at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park for his role in the 1960s.

After the tour, the carful of kids play on the rotary dial phones.

My boys are ready to check out LBJ’s car collection next. It’s located behind the hanger and has a couple of his legendary white Lincoln Continental convertibles. Another favorite with the boys is the Lagoon Blue Amphicar that LBJ would drive into a nearby lake.

Spring Break at Lyndon B. Johnson National Park

The park rangers have a special ranger program series scheduled for Spring Break starting on Saturday, March 5th, and continuing until Sunday, March 20th. The programs are free and last about 30 minutes. With ranger programs three times a day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., there's time to catch more than one.

The Lyndon B. Johnson park rangers have special programming for Spring Break.

The programming varies from day to day and topics include: 100 years of America's Best Idea, Wildflowers and the Ranching the LBJ way. For the kids there are programs about the Secret Service at the Ranch, Aviation and Roping and Ranching.

Getting to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park has two districts—one in Johnson City and one 14-miles away near Stonewall, Texas.

The Johnson City location encompasses the LBJ Boyhood Home, the Johnson Settlement, the Visitors Center and the park headquarters. It is located in Johnson City, 50 miles west of Austin, Texas, along U.S. Highway 290 West at 100 E. Ladybird Lane. It’s free and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At the LBJ boyhood home in the center of Johnson City, the carful of kids stand on the porch just like President Johnson did he was a boy.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch and the Texas White House are 14 miles west of Johnson City along U.S. Highway 290 West. For the self-guided driving tour, visitors must pick up a free permit at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park at 199 State Park Road 52 in Stonewall, Texas. It’s free and the LBJ Ranch gates are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

No public transportation is available to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The airstrip at the LBJ Ranch is not open to the public.

Know before You Go:

• Both units of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park are Free.
• Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park’s Junior Ranger badge can be earned at either location.
• Photography is not permitted inside of the Texas White House.
• The LBJ is a working ranch, stay off of fences and away from cattle.
• Cattle have the right-of-way on park roads.
• Drones are not permitted at any NPS location.    

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