A “New Beginnings” ribbon cutting event was held at the Aransas Pass Visitor’s Center on April 12. Chamber of Commerce officers and members joined with city officials and residents in celebrating the official reopening of the Visitors Center eight months after the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey.
Ribbon cuttings and media announcements of a store, restaurant and hotel reopenings in the North Bay area are happening every week. My coastal world is planning to be “open for business” for the Memorial Day weekend and summer season.
A few of the large hotels have not completed repairs but others have. Some restaurants are not planning to reopen and others have moved to a new location. All retail grocery and “box” stores are reopened following updated restorations. Many small retailers have been open for months and are anxious to greet summer visitors.
Local residents can tour their own and neighboring communities to see what is open now. Guests from throughout Texas and other states can contact a favorite hotel or restaurant directly for local knowledge or use the internet to search for information. Researching vacation homes, hotels or restaurants for Rockport, Aransas Pass, Ingleside and Portland will result in many options. Some listings will include the phrase, “contact this property for rates and availability”. You can infer it is not yet reopened.
When planning a weekend, vacation or fishing trip in the area, just remember the travel time between any of the North Bay communities is between 15 and 30 minutes. If a trip to the Gulf beaches is planned, Hwy 361 comes through these coastal bay cities. Smile and someone might even share the time of day with the shortest ferry wait time.
So, find an open room, explore the area, find an old or new favorite store or restaurant and enjoy the company of our welcoming residents.
My Coastal World 