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.