78 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • March/April 2018 TheCoastalBend.com Local investors stick with Port A after Harvey When San Antonio residents, and Port A vacation home owners, Judy and Rick Smith, purchased My Coastal Home last year, they could not have anticipated what a truly life-altering experience their investment would become. Within months of closing their purchase of the stores in Port Aran- sas, Rockport and North Padre Island, Hurricane Harvey struck, damaging all of the stores, and nearly wiping two of them out. While so many property and business owners chose to take the insurance money and leave, the Smith’s did the complete opposite and got the stores up and running as quickly as they could, understanding that their island neighbors would need help re- building and refurnishing their homes. In fact, they took a larger space for the Port A store with an expanded outdoor furnishings area. As they were working to rebuild their own properties, the Smith’s took time to partner with Mat- tress Firm Corpus Christi to provide free furniture and mattresses to Port A families who had lost their homes in the storm. Judy and Rick Smith can be counted among the growing popula- tion of Port A transplants who have shown their commitment to the com- munity following the historic storm. Port Aransas No vacation to the Coastal Bend is complete without getting your time on the water, and unique adventures are abound include pirates, dolphins, jet skis and even sailing yachts. Woody’s Sports Center, located on the Port Aransas Marina, is home to a variety of waterborne adventures in addition to fishing, the most popular of which are its Dolphin Watch Nature Tours. The waters of the Coastal Bend are home to thousands of bottlenose dolphins that seem to find great fun traveling in the wakes of boats and ships. Dolphin Watch takes you up close to these magnificent animals in their natural environment. 136 W. Cotter Ave. • (361) 749-5252 WoodysOnline.com Especially during the spring and summer months, dol- phin excursions have been known to come under (mock) attack by watergun-wielding pirates aboard a second boat. Luckily, these are traditional, theatrical pirates, and not those that have made so much news in recent years. This super-fun adventure is ideal for groups of all ages! Big fun on the water in Port Aransas Chute Em Up Parasailing One of the most popular saltwater adventure sports is available all spring and sum- mer, offering an all-ages adventure and breathtaking views of the islands, channels and inland bays. (361) 749-4600 • ChuteEmUpParasail.com Red Dragon Pirate Cruises offers an interactive, floating theater, pirate themed experience that is fun for the whole family. The newly constructed ship features a crew of “pirates”who lead eager guests on cruises in the channels and nearby bays. Snacks and full bar. (361) 749-2469 • RedDragonPirateCruises.com Fisherman’s Wharf Home to popular fishing party boats the Wharf Cat and the Scat Cat, as well as private offshore and bay fishing charters and the Jetty Boat to St. Joseph’s Island, located across the Port Aransas Shop Channel. (361) 749-5448 Chamber of Commerce posting lists of reopened businesses on website Lodging, restaurants, fishing tours opening weekly as town recovers. The mission of the small but dedicated staff of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau is to let folks know that the town is open, and reopening more, every week since Hurricane Harvey. Lists of avail- able lodging, open restaurants and dozens of other businesses are posted on the cham- ber’s website: PortAransas.org Gratitude was among the first Port A businesses to reopen after Harvey. Golf carts a big thing in Port A Golf Carts may be driven on the beach and on city streets with speed limits under 35 mph, which pretty much covers the entire town. Carts may not be driven on South Alister (TX- 361) south of Avenue G, and drivers must pull to the side when safe to allow faster vehicles to pass. Always operate with great care!