Golf Carts, In-Home Shrimp Boils, and a Pirate Ship Playground: Inside Texas’ Best Family Beach Resort

Driving over the JFK Causeway from Corpus Christi onto Mustang Island, life seems to slow down a notch. Here, island time officially kicks in, and golf carts roll through town in Port Aransas alongside vehicles as a means for beach transportation. On this barrier island, where marshes, beaches, and calm bays welcome lazy days in the sand, families flock to Cinnamon Shore, a booming beach community where meeting new neighbors and making friends is encouraged. 

Set on over 300 acres across two main phases (north and south) on Mustang Island, Cinnamon Shore is a large beach village in Port Aransas where community is key. Palm trees, man-made sparkling lakes, plenty of pools, and beautiful vacation rentals create an oasis that feels like a curated, coastal suburbia in the best way possible. Guests can choose from a mix of accommodation styles, from small cottages to mid-size townhomes and sprawling full homes with views of the beach or lakes. 

On-site dining ranges from elevated New American fare to a casual pizza spot and quick poolside bites. A small-yet-modern fitness center is available for those looking to stick to their workout routine, but outdoor movement is encouraged with pickleball courts, half-court basketball, beach yoga classes, and paddleboard yoga. Families with kids appreciate the variety of parks and playgrounds, plus three man-made lakes for fishing, seven pools, beach access from five different dune crossovers, and activities such as bike rentals, sandcastle lessons, movies on the lawn, and more. 

Cinnamon Shore is for families who love to meet new friends and travel together with their tried-and-true crew while experiencing beach days, on-site dining choices, hopping around the resort on golf carts, and quality time together. Whether it’s a calm day by the pool, casting a line in the lake, a day in the sand with valet beach chairs and umbrellas, or an organized, off-shore excursion, your clan is sure to find fun here. 

Cinnamon Shore offers a multitude of different accommodations, each designed to give guests close proximity to the water while sharing a modern coastal aesthetic: clean lines, ample natural light, and plenty of gathering spaces for your group. Options include beachfront vacation rentals, Gulf view rentals, lakefront rentals, pet-friendly options, and condos, cottages, townhomes, and large homes. Couples will find adorable one-bedroom options, and large, multi-generational groups enjoy sprawling homes with eight-plus bedrooms, garage parking, and sizable patios and balconies for entertaining. 

Cozy cottages offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom options, with dedicated, full kitchens so families can cook meals at home after a long day in the sun. They also have plush couches and sitting areas, modern bathrooms, high ceilings that give the allure of more space, and beautiful views.

Larger units offer the same coastal feel, but with more bedrooms, larger living spaces, and additional patios and balconies. Beachfront rentals are going to have direct access straight to the beach, whereas Gulf view rentals might be a street away, but still an easy walk to the surf. Even a townhome or condo within this coastal community is not far from the beach, and many families rent golf carts to make the commute even easier. Standalone homes are the most private option, as you’re not sharing walls with other guests and have more room to sprawl out. 

Across all categories of rentals, expect Wi-Fi, smart TVs, kitchens, access to numerous pools, beach access, and washers and dryers. Some units have outdoor showers, private hot tubs, and soaking tubs. 

The community’s dining scene is one of its strongest selling points, as the numerous options allow families to dine on-site without having to venture out if they don’t want to. For elevated New American fare, there’s Stout’s at the Shore, where craft cocktails, fresh pasta, and seasonal seafood dishes give families a nice night out. Lisabella’s focuses more on seafood while still giving an elegant vibe. They’re known for their crab cakes, scallops, and mermaid soup–a lobster-coconut broth with shrimp and curry spices. 

For something more casual, there’s C Bar, located at Keira’s Pool, where you’ll find beer and margaritas and pool snacks such as nachos, guacamole, mahi tacos, and burgers. Coastline Grill, at the Cabana Pool or the Splish Splash Family Pool, offers similar options. Dylan’s Pizzeria is the spot for coal-fired pizzas, plus meatball subs, chicken parmesan, and other Italian dishes. Located in an Airstream-style trailer in Town Center, C Treats is perfect to grab an ice cream and a snack before a movie night, and for a quick coffee or lunch in the form of bagels, wraps, avocado toasts, and acai bowls, stop by Shore Cafe. 

If you’re looking for a night in but don’t want to cook, Cinnamon Shore offers in-home shrimp boils and paella parties, where staff members come in to prepare a feast for your family.

Seven pools dot the Cinnamon Shore campus: three in the north side, four in the south. In the north, the Dune Pool is the biggest (and the biggest within Cinnamon Shore), and this is where you can take paddleboard yoga classes. Also on the north side is Keira’s Pool by Lake Gavin, which is heated and home to C Bar. Then there’s the Still Water Pool on Still Water Drive, which is fenced, gated, and less crowded than the larger pools in the community. 

On the south side, the Cabana Pool is an adults-only pool overlooking South Lake. This infinity pool has a sun deck and hammocks suspended above the water. Also overlooking South Lake is the Splish Splash Family Pool, with shallow water for kids and a splash pad. At the fitness center is the Glow Pool, a smaller, quieter pool with lounge chairs, and at Neighborly Square is the Neighborly Square Pool, with shaded pergolas and loungers set directly in the water. 

Throughout the property are five beach access points, called crossovers. You’ll simply need to walk or drive your golf cart across the crossover boardwalks, which pass over the sand dunes, to get to the beach. Three crossovers are on the south side, and two are in the north. 

Numerous parks, playgrounds, and large lawns are found throughout Cinnamon Shore, offering another place for kids to play while not at the beach or pools. Dune Dogs Playground and Sandy Paws Dog Park both offer grassy, fenced in spots for dogs to play, with Sandy Paws also including a variety of obstacles for dogs to play. The Great Lawn is a palm tree-lined greenspace that works as a common meeting spot for families and as a picnic area, and the Pirate Ship Playground has a wooden pirate ship for kids to play pirates. Play lawn games at Coastline Park and Tailwind Park, and play bocce ball at a designated Bocce Ball Court. 

Five man-made lakes are spread across Cinnamon Shore for fishing and leisurely walks along the shoreline, and there are also two fishing pavilions: one in the north and one in the south. For live music and annual holiday events such as photos with Santa and Easter morning service, head to Terry’s Place, an outdoor stage and lawn that’s popular year-round. 

Outside of beach and pool days and fishing from the lakes, guests at Cinnamon Shore have a large variety of activities available. Bike rentals allow you to cruise the community at your own pace, or you can book parasailing, kite surfing lessons, offshore fishing excursions, skydiving, and other adrenaline-pumping adventures. Movies on the lawn, outdoor concerts, weekend Mahjong, and beach bonfires are also options. Cinnamon Shore staff can help you coordinate off-property journeys. 

Cinnamon Shore makes family vacations simple, as you don’t have to leave the property if you don’t want to. With direct beach access, restaurants, pools, parks, and events, you’re sure to meet fellow families and make new friends without going far.  

Book your trip early, as rentals can fill up 9 to 12 months in advance, especially in the summer and around holidays. Also, rent a golf cart. It’s going to make getting to and from the beach and around the community a breeze. 

The starting Average Daily Rate (ADR) for properties with one to two bedrooms ranges $225-425, for properties with three to five bedrooms,  $300-$1,350, and for properties with six to nine bedrooms, $600-$1,550. Rate will vary based on location, caliber, size, owner preferences, and seasonal demand.