Our family is looking into renting a beach house at surfside east bach. How is this beach area? Is nice white sand to play in the ocean or more for fishing? We have not been to Surfside.

Surfside is OK. There's not much to do aside from the beach. If you head east you can find some pretty isolated beaches, which is kind of nice. I prefer Galveston because there's a lot more to do overall, but if you're just looking for some sand, you'll find plenty of it!

Surfside sand is typical Texas beach sand depending on time of year for seaweed, etc. You can drive on the beach in SS and county beaches. We vacationed there for years and now own house. Our kids are 07 &09 and still love to go back. Had 4 fish camps some up to 28 kids. They all loved it. Not much to do but make your own fun. Like vacations from when I was young. Good to great food at several restaurants in Surfside and Lake Jackson. Lake J also has movies and small mall all within 8 - 10 miles. Lake J home of BucEes. Not much traffic except some weekends. Cheaper rent than Galveston. Galveston about 50 mins from Surfside over toll bridge so can go in for the tourist attractions and lots of them. Give Surfside a try!

I'm looking to take the kids for half a day on Saturday just to play in the sand. Where is the best place to just pull on to the beach, get out and build some sand castles? Haven't been to Surf Side since a buddy sold his boat 5 years ago and not familiar with beach access at all. Also, do you need a permit to drive on the beach?

Thanks for any recommendations.

The beaches are a mess right now. Tons of seaweed and driftwood, but the water has looked really good. If you don't mind seeing the gulf in it's natural state, I would head towards the toll bridge area around San Luis Pass. Give or take a couple miles in either direction you should find some decent spots.

Be sure to grab a burger from Kitty's Purple Cow and a good seafood dinner at Red Snapper Inn. Both are off the "Bluewater Highway" over the Surfside Bridge when you take a left. It's actually CR 257.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Me and four buddies got jellystung in July of last year. Apparently that's the time of year you gotta watch out for them.

We were all in 2 feet of water.

Nothing serious, just really annoying pain and no one had to pee...