Among Texas’s bounty of natural wonders, the most highly treasured in the eyes of many are our long ribbons of sandy coastal beach . Every year, tens of millions of visitors choose a locale somewhere along our impressive, 367-mile stretch of Gulf shore—from Sea Rim State Park, near Port Arthur, down to Boca Chica Beach, at the state’s southernmost tip—at which they partake in all manner of beachy endeavors. Fishing, crabbing, surfing, camping, kayaking, beachcombing , frolicking in the waters, and just being “coastal” are all popular pursuits.

Sure, of all the beaches in the world, these are not the very best. The water is often a muddy brown color, though almost always full of sometimes-catchable fish. The surfing is not what anyone would rate as world-class, and frequently, there’s

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