The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Despite the title I chose, this, shockingly, is not a Christmas-themed post. (It does give me an idea for a future one, though.) Nor is it a review of the 2008 Hallmark film starring Henry Winkler and Brooke Burns, which, surprisingly, holds a 7.3 out of 10 rating on IMDb. (Kudos, Hallmark, as I genuinely assumed most of your films peaked around a 4.) Side note, and in the spirit of fairness, I’ll probably add that movie to our Christmas rotation this year just to see if it actually deserves the rating.

Anyway, true to form, and making sure that I am staying on brand, I’ve already managed to ramble before even finishing a full paragraph. So, let’s course-correct, or at least attempt to. Because, when I talk about the most wonderful time of the year, I’m not thinking about mistletoe, snow, or Santa, but rather our annual trip to Port Aransas.

I can’t quite explain it, but there’s something about our trips to Port A, and the Gulf in general, that brings me an unmatched sense of calm. If I had to distill it down, it’s that same feeling I get when I’ve either had a long day in the office, or traveling for work, and finally get back home.

The Texas coast, Port A and Corpus specifically, as I’ve written before, feel like my second home. At this point, speaking bluntly, I think the rest of the family would agree. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up with a little house down there one day, being able to watch the sunrise over the Gulf and vacuuming up way, way too much sand.

This particular trip was, by all accounts, great. The weather was perfect, the water incredibly clear, and the company even better, as we actually, without any planning, ran into some friends. Best of all, the crowds (riff-raff, if we’re being honest) were nowhere to be found, since we booked our trip, as usual, during the offseason.

As always, we stayed at Cinnamon Shore, opting this time to stay in a nice little condo, and spent most of our time either at the beach or one of the pools. We didn’t venture out much, again, keeping with tradition, with the exception of a visit to Nueces Brewing Co., which has become part of our regular rotation.

 Overall, the trip couldn’t have come at a better time. I was only a few months into a new role with a new company, and the break was badly needed. Being able to relax with the family while disconnecting from work was beyond refreshing. Last year, 2024, was tough, and this trip helped ground me, steady my mental health, and keep family life in balance.

I will certainly say that it is strange writing about this trip a year later, especially since we’ve already wrapped up our 2025 visit. However, looking back on the memories just makes me even more eager for our 2026 trip.

Until next time, which hopefully will not be in another six months, though, thanks to work, might sadly be the case.

Enjoy!

(I will admit that I did not take my camera out nearly as much as I had planned.)