The video above is a full tour of Port Aransas beach and the surrounding town, filmed during a spring break trip down to the Texas Gulf Coast. David Bridwell and a group of songwriters from the Thursday night songwriter series at the Redbird in New Braunfels made the roughly 200-mile drive south for the Redbird Road Trip — an event where the crew heads to the Gaff in Port Aransas to play music, eat, drink, and soak up the sun. Along the way, the video captures a long drive down the Port Aransas beach coastline, a walking tour of local live music spots, and performances at the Gaff itself.
Driving the Beach on Mustang Island
Port Aransas sits on Mustang Island, right up against the Gulf of Mexico and just a short distance from Corpus Christi. The beach stretches about 18 miles, and during spring break it's packed with cars, RVs, campers, golf carts, and families who return year after year. People grill out, have small fires on the sand, walk their dogs, surf, and drink along the shore. You can rent golf carts and cruise the beach with the breeze in your face, which honestly looks like a pretty great way to spend an afternoon. Sand dunes line the inland side of the beach the whole way. If you head south on Mustang Island, you eventually reach South Padre Island, another well-known spring break and surfing destination. Port Aransas also hosts Texas SandFest each April — billed as the largest beach sand sculpture competition in the country — so the town gets especially crowded that weekend. Fishing and bird watching are big draws here too.
What Live Music Venues Are in Port Aransas?
Port A is a small town, but it has a surprisingly solid lineup of spots for live music. Here's what the walking tour turned up:
- Bluewater Cowboy Saloon and Merkantile — A saloon-style spot right in the heart of town with a country-leaning atmosphere
- Shorties — A casual bar that regularly books live music acts
- Treasure Island Bar — Features live bands and a laid-back beach-town feel
- VFW Post 8967 — A veterans' hall that hosts live music nights for the community
- Salty Dog Saloon — Located right next to the VFW, another go-to for catching a show
- The Sipyard — A newer venue generating a lot of buzz, with a big stage and multiple levels for hanging out
- Woody's Last Stand — Sits right up against the water and advertises live music
- Palm Social — A social gathering spot along the main drag
- Bernie's Beach House — A beach-themed hangout in the mix of the town's music scene
- Tarpon Inn — A historic and well-known inn that has hosted live music over the years
- Beach Bums — A sports bar vibe with live music advertised on the sign out front
- The Gaff — The destination for the Redbird Road Trip, where David Bridwell and the songwriter crew played a full day of music
A Songwriter Road Trip Worth the Drive
The whole point of the trip was the Redbird Road Trip — taking the Thursday night songwriter community from the Redbird in New Braunfels and transplanting it to the coast for a day. It's about a three-hour drive each way, but a full day of original music, cold drinks, and Gulf Coast sun at the Gaff makes it worth the haul. If you're planning a trip to Port Aransas, there's more live music happening in this little beach town than most people expect.