BEACHES

Some beaches in the state have online camera feeds to help you plan in advance.

Has this ever happened to you? If so, you know what I’m talking about. If not, here’s some advice on how to best deal with ocean tar.

The Padre Island National Seashore says it recently received a “not-so-welcome visitor.” The invasive Australian Spotted Jellyfish, or Phyllorhiza punctata, was spotted on North Beach, PINS said.

Galveston Island State Park is celebrating its grand reopening following a years-long renovation due to damage from Hurricane Ike.

The Padre Island National Seashore is asking for public input on a series of possible changes at the national park, including potentially limiting beach driving.

Jace Tunnell with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute found a “rare” monster-like fish on Mustang Island near Port Aransas. Tunnell, who is the reserve director for the institute, posted a video of a dead 4-foot-long American eel.

The beach side of Galveston Island State Park reopened on Monday with new campsites and amenities — a renovation that was years in the making after Hurricane Ike damaged structures there in 2018.

It doesn’t really matter what time of year it is, there’s almost always a beach calling my name somewhere.

In this free newsletter, you should expect to find stories about state parks, wildlife, hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, running, camping and traveling.

Are you looking to visit a Texas beach, but are a little hesitant due to the expected crowds?

Bob Hall Pier is closed until further notice due to construction. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will temporarily close some saltwater fishing spots along the coast — including some on Padre Island and near Rockport, Fulton and Aransas Pass — due to freezing weather. The 21 fishing sites will close at midnight on Monday and stay closed until 11:59 p.m., TPWD said in a news release on Saturday. During that time, fishing will be off-limits in these areas in an effort to protect the wildlife and resources. You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices.

PORT ARANSAS, Texas – Port Aransas beaches will be closed to vehicle traffic starting at 8 p.m. Thursday through at least Saturday. Charles Bujan, mayor of Port Aransas made the initial proclamation Tuesday and amended it Wednesday, keeping the time beaches will remain closed to vehicle traffic open-ended. Beaches will reopen to motor traffic “when the mayor deems the beach to be safely accessible by vehicles," according to the proclamation. Get the latest Hurricane Delta information from the KSAT Weather Authority here. Read the full disaster declaration from the city of Port Aransas below:

Additional campgrounds at the Padre Island National Seashore will reopen on Friday after being closed for months. The national seashore on Wednesday announced both Malaquite and Bird Island Basin campgrounds will reopen on a first-come, first-serve basis. The overnight fees for Malaquite Beach will be $14, and the overnight fees for Bird Island will be $8 per night. Over the summer, the shoreline at Bird Island Basin was stabilized due to damage from Hurricane Harvey, and water lines and a lift station were repaired at Malaquite Beach. The park previously allowed primitive camping on North and South beaches and overnight parking at the Bird Island Basin boat ramp following Hurricane Hanna.

SAN ANTONIO The majority of Padre Island National Seashore will reopen on Thursday after being closed due to damage from Hurricane Hanna. Both north and south beaches, as well as Malaquite Beach, the Bird Island Basin day-use area and boat ramp, will open at 6 a.m., according to the park. At this time, developed campgrounds at Malaquite and Bird Island Basin will remain closed. Primitive camping on both north and south beaches, however, will be allowed. The park says the dock at the Bird Island boat ramp is in the process of being rebuilt.

SAN ANTONIO – The mayor of Port Aransas says the city can no longer afford to implement the county beach closure order that was issued in July to help curb the effects of COVID-19. FYI: The city can no longer afford providing 24 hour day policing of the county beaches closure order. We have depleted... Posted by Mayor Bujan Information Page For Port Aransas Citizens on Sunday, August 9, 2020The mayor said as of Sunday morning, the city would no longer enforce the beach closure order. The order forces the closure of vehicle access points at beaches within the county, which encompasses Port Aransas, Padre Island and Corpus Christi. Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs told KIII in Corpus Christi that the department began to see a diminished outcome.

SAN ANTONIO – Rockport Beach is the latest to issue restrictions due to recent surges in COVID-19 cases. Beginning July 19, no vehicles will be allowed into Rockport Beach Park, including the boat ramp. 12 states require Texans to quarantine due to COVID-19 concernsAll those wanting to go to the beach can park on the fair grounds located near the beach area. ‘We need help’: Corpus Christi official asks tourists not to visit beaches amid COVID-19 surgeThe order is in effect until Aug. 1. Nueces County implemented a similar order on Wednesday that limits access and adds curfews at beaches in Port Aransas, Padre Island and Corpus Christi.

Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales on Wednesday issued a new order that limits access and adds curfews at beaches within the county, which encompasses Port Aransas, Padre Island and Corpus Christi. Until 6 a.m. Aug. 1, unless extended or rescinded, vehicle access points will be closed at county beaches and parks, the order states. We need some help: Corpus Christi official asks tourists not to visit beaches amid COVID-19 surgePeople with physical disabilities or disabled veterans will be allowed to use golf carts on beaches. Canales made the plea to out-of-towners Monday during an interview with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi has recorded 70 COVID-19 deaths and 7,532 total cases.

TEXAS – Are you looking to visit a Texas beach for Labor Day weekend, and want to scope out the crowds early? Some beaches in the state have online camera feeds, so visitors can check out the crowds ahead of time. Remember, if you’re visiting, be mindful of social distancing guidelines. Here are the beaches you can check out live on camera:Click here for the Queen Isabella Causeway webcamClick here for the North Beach webcamClick here for the South Beach webcamClick here for the Surf Video webcamClick here for the Seawall webcamClick here for the Galveston Fishing Pier webcamClick here for the Whitecap Beach Access webcamClick here for the North Padre Sea Wall webcamClick here for the SeaGull Condos webcamClick here for the Bay Tree Condos webcamClick here for The Mayan Princess webcamWe’ll update this article as more live webcams become available. Port Aransas prepares to welcome beachgoers back for Memorial Day weekend

The Padre Island National Seashore announced Wednesday that it will close beaches and will not allow overnight camping during the holiday weekend. The national seashore, which park officials say has been very busy on weekends, will close at 8 p.m. Thursday and reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 7. Padre Island National Seashore still very busy despite rise in COVID-19 cases in TexasAccess to the beaches and camping will not be allowed during those days, according to a news release. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Padre Island National Seashore is our number one priority, the release stated. On Tuesday, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales issued a temporary ban of vehicles on county beaches, including Port Aransas.

Cameron County, Tx – Cameron County announced Monday that effective at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, all County Parks and County Beach access area will be closed. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. has ordered the closure of county parks and beach access areas until 12:01 a.m. on July 13. The Department of Health and Human Services has reported 2,183 cases in Cameron County as of June 29. The closure of the parks does not affect parks and beach accesses that are owned and operated privately. The following parks and beach access areas will be closed to the public:

But at Padre Island National Seashore — the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world — things have become a little crowded. The park on Saturday said that the beach has been “very busy” with visitors during the summer. “Every weekend has seemed like it’s Memorial Day weekend all over again,” the national seashore wrote on Instagram. The Padre Island National Seashore does not have a capacity limit and does not take reservations. Greg Abbott has allowed to beaches, as well as rivers and lakes, to remain open.

TEXAS – Are you looking to visit a Texas beach for Father’s Day weekend, but are a little hesitant due to the expected crowds? Some beaches in the state have online camera feeds, so visitors can check out the crowds ahead of time. Remember, if you’re visiting, be mindful of social distancing guidelines. Here are the beaches you can check out on camera:Click here for the Queen Isabella Causeway webcamClick here for the North Beach webcamClick here for the South Beach webcamClick here for the Surf Video webcamClick here for the Seawall webcamClick here for the Galveston Fishing Pier webcamClick here for the Whitecap Beach Access webcamClick here for the North Padre Sea Wall webcamClick here for the SeaGull Condos webcamClick here for the Bay Tree Condos webcamClick here for The Mayan Princess webcamWe’ll update this article as more live webcams become available. Port Aransas prepares to welcome beachgoers back for Memorial Day weekend

TEXAS – Are you looking to visit a Texas beach this weekend, but are a little hesitant due to the expected crowds? Some beaches in the state have online camera feeds, so visitors can check out the crowds ahead of time. Remember, if you’re visiting, be mindful of social distancing guidelines. Here are the beaches you can check out on camera:Click here for the Queen Isabella Causeway webcamClick here for the North Beach webcamClick here for the South Beach webcamClick here for the Surf Video webcamClick here for the Seawall webcamClick here for the Galveston Fishing Pier webcamClick here for the Whitecap Beach Access webcamClick here for the North Padre Sea Wall webcamClick here for the SeaGull Condos webcamClick here for the Bay Tree Condos webcamClick here for The Mayan Princess webcamWe’ll update this article as more live webcams become available. Port Aransas prepares to welcome beachgoers back for Memorial Day weekend

The holiday weekend push for a return to normal life comes as health officials continue to warn that the US has not contained the virus. In 10 states, the number of new cases is on the decline, while it seems to be steady in 22 states, according to the data. But in 18 states -- including Georgia, Arkansas, California and Alabama -- the number of new cases is rising. The second wave of the pandemic would likely not hit before the fall, but a second peak in this first wave could be much sooner, officials said. Health officials in St. Louis County, Missouri, issued a travel advisory Monday after videos surfaced from Lake of the Ozarks, where hundreds crowded a pool party.

Beachgoers pack Port Aransas as lockdown easedPublished: May 25, 2020, 8:09 amAt a beach in Port Aransas, people gathered to sunbathe and enjoy the warm weather while practising social distancing.

From Florida to Indiana and across the country to California, Americans were out enjoying the weekend as states loosened coronavirus restrictions. The event had already been heavily promoted on social media and large crowds still descended on the city bringing chaos in their wake. Aerial videos of the large crowd show people tightly packed together with no social distancing practices apparent. In Texas, four parks in Travis County closed after reaching capacity, according to CNN affiliate KEYE. In Playa Del Rey, California, the beach wasn't packed but cyclists made good use of the path with masks to boot.

In fact, some states are seeing new spikes in coronavirus cases. Texas is one of a handful of Southern states at risk of seeing a rapid surge of new coronavirus cases in some areas, according to a new projection model. That model predicts that Harris County, which includes Houston, could see more than 2,000 new cases each day by June. "We're not equipped to handle that type of surge," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. The projection model also shows parts of South Florida and parts of Alabama and Tennessee are also poised for spikes in coronavirus cases.

TEXAS – Are you looking to visit a Texas beach this weekend, but are a little hesitant due to the expected crowds? Some beaches in the state have online camera feeds, so visitors can check out the crowds ahead of time. Remember, if you’re visiting, be mindful of social distancing guidelines. Here are the beaches you can check out on camera:Click here for the Queen Isabella Causeway webcamClick here for the North Beach webcamClick here for the South Beach webcamClick here for the Surf Video webcamClick here for the Seawall webcamClick here for the Galveston Fishing Pier webcamClick here for the Whitecap Beach Access webcamClick here for the North Padre Sea Wall webcamClick here for the SeaGull Condos webcamClick here for the Bay Tree Condos webcamClick here for The Mayan Princess webcamWe’ll update this article as more live webcams become available. Port Aransas prepares to welcome beachgoers back for Memorial Day weekend

(CNN) -- When beaches in Cocoa Beach reopened last weekend, people flocked to the sand -- and the trash came with them. Two weekends ago, teams collected 297 bags of trash -- at 40 pounds a bag, that's almost 12,000 pounds, Bobbitt said. The staff and volunteers at Keep Brevard Beautiful typically clear the 100 trash cans on the beaches of Cocoa Beach about three times a day, he said. Police are dispatching more officers to the beach to focus on litter violations and that started this weekend, Cocoa Beach Detective Sgt. Normally, Cocoa Beach is one of the few places in the state that permits drinking on the beach.

Photographer Neesy Tompkins captured images of the beach in Port Aransas, Texas on Saturday, May 2, 2020. SAN ANTONIO – The comments flooded her Facebook page as quickly as Texans flocked to the Port Aransas beach. On her Port Aransas Beaches Facebook page, which normally consists of nature photography, commenters urged people to report her page, with the goal of having Facebook take it down. ‘Ridiculously unmanageable’The beach at Port Aransas, which Tompkins called “ridiculously unmanageable,” wasn’t the only destination that saw high volumes of people. ‘I want the town to be open safely’The Port Aransas beach along with several businesses reopened over the weekend as Gov.

Galveston beaches are open beginning Monday, but don’t pack the car with chairs and an umbrella too soon. Beginning April 27, the public beaches will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily for exercise only and other non-stationary activities. The Galveston City Council voted to allow people to surf, swim, wade fish, and access the rock groins during the designated hours. Public beaches will be closed outside the hours of 6 a.m. - 9 a.m., violation of a Class C misdemeanor and will carry a $500 fine, Galveston City Council says. As of April 25, Galveston County reports 255 active cases of COVID-19.

HOUSTON – Surfside Beach was busy with visitors Saturday. The majority of the people seem not to be respecting social distancing guidelines or didn’t wear a face mask or covering. Hundreds of people visit Surfside Beach, but many didn’t respect social distancing. On April 7, Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta ordered the temporary closures to county parks, including Quintana Park and Stephen F. Austin Park. Hundreds of people visit Surfside Beach, but many didn’t respect social distancing.

Spring break is a great time to cut loose and celebrate the end of winter. There’s a reason why destinations such as Mexico and Fort Lauderdale are so popular for spring break. If you’re going to a popular spring break destination, make your travel arrangements now, as accommodations might sell out. If you're looking to do something really different for your spring break, why not escape spring altogether with a trip to the Southern Hemisphere? From lounging on the beach to skiing to volunteering, these seven spring break ideas offer fun for people of all ages.