Best Stores in Port Aransas, Texas

Beach shops, surf gear, groceries & souvenirs

Forgot the sunscreen? Need a fishing license, a bag of ice, a kite for the kids, or a t-shirt that won't fall apart by July? Port Aransas stores cover the whole spectrum from full grocery stops to the souvenir shops along Alister Street and the surf and tackle counters that have been here since the cut was dug.

Beach essentials — chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, coolers, fishing tackle — are easy to grab once you're on the island; you don't have to load up before you leave home. Surf and tackle shops can sort you out with a fishing license on the spot, plus the live bait and rigs you'll actually catch something with from the jetty or the pier.

Grocery options are more limited than a mainland town this size — there's one full supermarket and a handful of convenience stores. Stock up the cooler when you arrive rather than waiting until you're out of milk on day three. Liquor and wine are sold separately from beer at most stops, same as the rest of Texas.