Things to do in Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach is not a boardwalk-and-arcade kind of beach town. It's wide sand, big sky, fishing poles, golf carts and pelicans. Here's how we'd spend a week.

The beach

From our house it's a 4-minute walk to the sand. For the bigger beach setup (canopy, cooler, chairs, the works), most people drive on.

Driving and parking on the beach

Bolivar is one of the Texas beaches where you can drive on the sand. The county rules to know:

• 15 mph speed limit, and pedestrians always have the right of way.
• Parking sticker: you can drive along the beach without one, but a vehicle parked on the beach needs a Bolivar Beach Parking Sticker. It's $10, good through December 31, and $5 if you buy early in January or February. Local vendors sell them, and so do beach attendants, who take cash and cards. Stick it on the lower passenger side of the windshield.
• Free zones: no sticker is needed from Rettilon Road east to the first washout, or from about 2.5 miles east of Rollover Pass to the Chambers County line.
• No glass, stay off the dunes, and no open containers inside vehicles. The beach counts as a road.
• Golf carts and ATVs: drivers need a license, ATV riders need DOT-approved helmets and goggles, and ATVs and UTVs must be trailered to the beach.
• Campfires: small ones are allowed unless there's a burn ban. Put them out and pick up any nails and leftover wood.

The Crystal Beach Road access, about 5 minutes' drive from the house, has permanent restrooms and rinse stations. Bringing the dog? Read our dog-friendly beaches guide.

Fishing

Surf fishing right off the beach is the classic Bolivar move. There's also bay fishing on the north side of the peninsula, and the jetty out by Bolivar Flats. Anglers 17 and over need a Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement from Texas Parks & Wildlife. For a short trip, a one-day all-water license covers it. Kids under 17 don't need a license. A new public fishing pier is being built at Rollover Pass. It isn't open yet, so check for an opening date before you plan around it.

Birding

Birders come from all over the world for this peninsula, and you don't need to be one to enjoy it.

• Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary (Birds Houston, formerly Houston Audubon). Take Highway 87 to Rettilon Road, about 10 miles (15 minutes) from the house. Drive onto the beach, turn right and park at the vehicle barrier, then walk in. No vehicles or bikes go past the barrier, and please leave dogs out of the sanctuary. You'll need a beach parking sticker to park there.
• Horseshoe Marsh, another Birds Houston sanctuary, is in Port Bolivar near the ferry.
• High Island, about 16 miles (25 minutes) up the road, is famous for spring migration, which runs from mid-March to mid-May. Birds Houston says late April into early May usually brings the biggest variety. Its coastal sanctuaries charge $10 per person per day.

History and sightseeing

• Fort Travis Seashore Park in Port Bolivar has old coastal fortifications, picnic areas and a playground. It's open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The Bolivar Point Lighthouse is privately owned. You can see it from Highway 87 and from the ferry, but please don't go past the gate. It occasionally opens for special events.
• The ferry itself is free and runs 24/7, and you'll often see dolphins. Read the ferry guide.

Groceries and food

• The Big Store (Gulf Coast Market) at 2385 Highway 87 is a full grocery store just around the corner from the house, and the unofficial town square.
• Stingaree Restaurant & Marina on N. Stingaree Road is a Crystal Beach seafood restaurant with its own marina, about 2 miles (5 minutes) from the house. Hours change by season, so check before you go.
• Honestly, a lot of our favorite meals happen at the house: waffles in the morning and the grill and tiki bar at night.

Rainy-day ideas

• The hot tub is under the covered patio, so rain doesn't stop it.
• The house has board games, DVDs and smart TVs in every bedroom.
• Ride the ferry to Galveston for The Strand's shops and museums, or the indoor attractions at Moody Gardens. Check the ferry wait first.
• Bring binoculars. In spring, the weather decides how many migrating birds are around on any given day, and a stormy one can be a great day for birding.