Just last week, I shared our plans for a beach getaway to Freeport, Texas, and all the things we were hoping to do while we were there. Now that we’re back home (and still sweeping sand out of the car), I thought it was the perfect time to circle back and give a little update on what we actually checked off that beach bucket list... and share a few fun stats from our time away.
It was one of those soul-filling trips... slow mornings, sun-soaked afternoons, salty air, and plenty of laughter with family. The kind of trip that leaves you refreshed but already dreaming about when you can return.
Beach Bucket List Update
Here’s what we actually got around to doing on our trip (and honestly, I’m proud of how much we squeezed in!). This trip was mostly about relaxing and just hanging out as a family.
✔️ Watch the sunrise or sunset over the water – We watched several sunsets from the dock, and each one was its own kind of magic. Texas sunsets hit different.
✔️ Hunt for seashells or shark teeth – Found a few treasures to bring home... six seashells, to be exact. Not many, but we actually didn't spend a lot of time at the beach. Our house rental was the perfect oasis and we wanted to spend most of our time there.
✔️ Take beach photos with sandy toes – not as many were taken as usual, but we snagged a few.
✔️ Go fishing off the Jetty or Marina – We fished, we laughed, we got sunburned. Classic summer.
✔️ Float the day away in the pool – this was an everyday thing as we had a pool at our beach house. The outdoor area of this house is the best for family hangouts! There's tables, a bar top, shade, lounge chairs, a fridge & bathroom, and then of course the docks to fish from.
✔️ Watch the boats come in and out of the marina – This became a favorite evening activity. It was neat to see all the yachts preparing for time on the water and then actually leaving and coming in. I love that this house is right in the marina area.
✔️ Have a lazy lunch picnic/charcuterie by the pool – we love making a good charcuterie board. And, it's perfect for pool days.
✔️ Read a book – Three, actually! More on that in the numbers below.
✔️ Do my Bible study outdoors – Quiet mornings by the water, Bible open, and heart ready. My favorite kind of stillness.
✔️ Go crabbing – Yes! Well, we tried. We didn't catch any crabs this trip.
✔️ Recreate some photos from the last time we were there – we were able to recreate a couple!
✔️ Go out for seafood (maybe try something new) – We did and tried a couple new-to-us restaurants.
✔️ Go to Surfin’ Ritas – Because it’s just not a Freeport trip without it.
✔️ Write our names in the sand – Check. Thanks to Mason! He also added one that said "Jesus Loves You". I love this boy.
✔️ Play card or board games with the family – Game nights were full of laughs and a little friendly competition.
✔️ Take sunset pictures – y'all know this girl isn't going to pass up a sunset moment!
✔️ Make a family “trip highlight reel” with photos and videos – 529 photos and videos later... I’d say we have plenty of material.
✔️ Go to a beach shop – we went to a few but only bought a pair of sunglasses. Nothing really spoke to us!
All in all, we checked 18 items off our beach bucket list... and each one made the trip a little more special.
Here’s a fun little breakdown of our trip...a snapshot in numbers:
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3 books read (It Happened One Summer, Beach Read, This Little Promise)
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397 pages, 361 pages, and 214 pages respectively
2 paperback, 1 Kindle
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6 Bible studies completed using the She Reads Truth App
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7 people in the New Testament studied
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1 walk on the beach
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1 time our toes touched the sand (but it was enough to remember why we love the coast)
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6 seashells collected
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2 local restaurants tried
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3 daiquiris bought (and thoroughly enjoyed)
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1 trip to Galveston
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1 trip to the beach...I know! But, our house was just too much fun. And the beach was crowded!
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4 Bucee’s stops (because… obviously)
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4 nights spent soaking up coastal vibes
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4.5 hours road trip there, 4 hours back
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6 bags packed (and somehow it still felt like we forgot something)
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529 photos/videos taken
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192 edited and kept
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3 jellyfish spotted (thankfully from a distance)
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4 sunsets watched from the dock or beach
11 family members
4 vehicles
3 or 4 different species of fish caught
3 photos recreated from our last time at this beach house
5 years in between our first time to stay at this house and now
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71 Dolphin Lane – the address we’ll be dreaming about until next time
Every beach trip is different, but this one felt especially sweet. Maybe it was the slower pace, the moments carved out for worship and reflection, or the laughter shared around a card game... whatever it was, we’ll carry it with us.
Already counting down until we’re back at the coast...sunburns, seashells, sandy toes and all.
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