Freeport, TX – Saltwater, Sunsets, and Sweet Family Time
After what felt like the slowest countdown in history, we finally made it to the coast! On Wednesday, July 16th, we pulled into our beach house driveway around 6:45pm. Nate’s parents had already arrived and were settled in, so we got straight to unloading all the things...bags, coolers, fishing gear... you know the drill.
Once we got everything inside and situated, we snapped a few quick pictures before heading out to grab some supper.
Our pick for night one? Belly’s on the Brazos. The atmosphere there is absolutely top notch...the kind of laid-back, coastal marina vibe that immediately makes you feel like you're on vacation. The food and service? Meh... about a 5 out of 10 if we’re being honest. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. But the views? The views made up for it in every way! Boats were coming and going and the warm breeze off the water made it the perfect way to kick off our trip.
After we ate, we wandered out to the docks behind the restaurant. We watched boats dock, depart, and even get cleaned. I love that you can just pull your boat right up to Belly’s, hop off, and grab a bite. So coastal Texas! We even spotted a handful of jellyfish floating by and caught the most gorgeous sunset over the water. The sky lit up in the most peaceful hues of orange and pink...the kind of sunset that makes you pause and take it all in.
On the way back to the house, we made a quick stop at Buc-ee’s (of course!) for bait, drinks, and a snack run for Mason. I’m convinced that no Texas road trip is complete without at least one Buc-ee’s stop. Back at the house, Nate got in a little night fishing off the dock. The house has added these cool green underwater lights since the last time we stayed there, and they draw in so many fish! While he fished, I cozied up with my book and soaked up the peaceful night.
Later that evening, Mason, Nana, and PawPaw played on his Meta Quest VR headset and had a blast. Nate and I sat back and just enjoyed watching them laugh and have fun. It was the perfect, chill first evening. We were all ready to rest up for a full day ahead.
Thursday, July 17th –
We all slept in (thank you dark bedrooms with no windows!) and didn’t stir until around 8:30 or 9:00am. The bed in our room was super comfy, and I don’t think I moved all night. Nate’s dad made us a delicious breakfast, and we spent the rest of the morning hanging outside near the pool, just soaking up that salty air and sunshine.
Nate fished, I read, and we all watched the boats glide in and out of the marina. It’s one of my favorite things about this beach house... it sits right on the water with the marina in full view, so there’s always something to see. Yachts, fishing boats, party pontoons… you name it. It never gets old.
Around 12:30pm, Nate’s youngest brother and his wife arrived. They got unpacked and joined us outside pretty quickly. Then at about 1:45pm, the rest of the Hall family rolled in...and the boys didn’t waste a single second getting into the pool! The pool was the main hangout spot that day, and with the sunshine and the breeze off the water, it couldn’t have been more perfect.
That evening, we cleaned up and headed to dinner at On The River, and y’all... if you ever find yourself in Freeport, GO THERE. It was hands down one of the best meals of the trip. The food was incredible (and the portions were huge!), the atmosphere was cozy and inviting, and our waitress was the sweetest thing. Her kindness and joy really added to the experience, and everyone left happy and full!
Stay tuned for Days 3 & 4...coming soon! So much more coastal goodness and family fun to share... and trust me, the pictures just get better and better.
If you've made it this far, thank you! I tend to take a lot of pictures on vacation and then I have to split up the trip into several posts.
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