Our Babymoon in Texas: 9-Day Road Trip Through Houston, Port Aransas & San Antonio
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A babymoon in Texas? Absolutely — because Texas is safe, has excellent health institutions, is free from viruses like Zika and others, and is a true shopping paradise for baby items. What followed was 9 days we hadn’t expected. A road trip through a state larger than Germany, Austria, and Switzerland combined. Three completely different worlds: a big city with outlet shopping, a quiet beach on the Gulf of Mexico where wild dolphins come right up to the boat, and a city with a Mexican heart in the middle of Texas. And the food — I’ll just say: seafood in Port Aransas. The best I’ve ever had.
Here’s the full report — with every hotel, restaurant, activity, and everything you really need to know when you’re pregnant.
The Route: Houston → Port Aransas → San Antonio
The road trip follows a loop from Houston. First southwest to the coast at Port Aransas (about 4 hours), then inland to San Antonio (3.5 hours), and finally back to Houston for the return flight. Three completely different faces of Texas in 9 days — and you never drive the same stretch twice.
| Day | Date | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Apr 3–5 | Houston | Arrival, Premium Outlets, Galleria Shopping |
| 3–5 | Apr 5–8 | Port Aransas | Beach, Dolphin Cruise, Seafood |
| 6–8 | Apr 8–11 | San Antonio | SeaWorld, River Walk, San Marcos Outlets |
| 9 | Apr 11 | Return flight Houston | Stop New Braunfels, flight home |
Days 1–2: Houston — Soft Landing & Shopping
After nearly 14 hours of travel — two flights, a layover in Amsterdam — day one is sacred: it belongs to doing nothing. Pick up the rental car, check in, sleep. First Texas observation: the highways here are so wide that changing lanes takes a good few seconds to commit to.
KLM flew us directly from Basel via Amsterdam to Houston — flight KL 1942, departing 06:15, arriving Houston at 13:15 local time. Economy on a Boeing 777-200, more comfortable than expected, even with a bump. Return via Paris with Air France, equally smooth.
Houston Premium Outlets
Day two starts with what you must do in Texas: shop. The Houston Premium Outlets in Cypress are large, well-stocked and — crucially — fully air-conditioned. With a baby bump in April, that’s not a detail; it’s a non-negotiable. Brand mix from Coach to Kate Spade, plenty of outlet deals, seating generously distributed throughout.
Eating in Houston
The first proper morning starts at The Toasted Yolk — a brunch restaurant with a queue outside that fully delivers on what it promises. Huge portions, freshly made Eggs Benedict, great coffee. An absolute must for the first morning.
Shopping day lunch: Chipotle in Cypress — Tex-Mex fast food that is significantly better than its reputation. For something warm and low-effort after a long travel day: Panda Express has exactly the right energy.
Days 3–5: Port Aransas — Beach, Dolphins & Seafood
Port Aransas is the kind of place you can’t really explain until you arrive. A small island off the Texas coast, reached by a short ferry — the crossing takes maybe two minutes, but the moment you park on the ferry and smell the ocean for the first time is unmistakably beautiful. Standing at the railing with a baby bump, looking out at the water — that’s the moment you made this trip for.
The drive from Houston takes about 4 hours — a quiet beach town to the south, perfect for a lunch stop and waking up after the travel day.
The Beach on the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is different from what you’d expect. No big waves, no drama. The water is warm — already around 24°C in April — and incredibly shallow. You walk twenty meters in and you’re still knee-deep. For pregnant women: ideal. No waves to knock you off your feet, no spray in your face, just standing calmly in warm water in the sun. The sand is fine and light, the beaches large enough to find quiet corners even on busy days.
We had three beach days planned and didn’t regret a single one. Early morning the beach was nearly empty, the water still as a lake. By afternoon more people arrived, but Port Aransas is not a mass tourism destination — it stayed relaxed throughout. Sun lounger, sunscreen, ice water, and just being. That was good.
Sights in Port Aransas
Beyond the beaches, Port Aransas has plenty to offer culturally and scenically. One of the most notable landmarks is the Chapel on the Dunes, the oldest consecrated church on Mustang Island. The small white chapel was built in the late 1930s on a sand dune and enchants visitors with its peaceful atmosphere and beautifully detailed biblical murals inside.
For those curious about the island’s past, the Port Aransas Museum is well worth a visit. The museum traces the fascinating development of what was once a small fishing village, with historical photographs, maritime exhibits, and information about the Lydia Ann lighthouse and the region’s tradition of boat building. Admission is free.
A paradise for nature lovers is the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. Broad wooden walkways wind through wetlands that are part of the Great Texas Birding Trail. From the observation towers you can spot — with a little luck — roseate spoonbills, herons, pelicans, ducks, and countless migratory birds. During spring and autumn migration it ranks among the best birdwatching spots on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Dolphin Cruise — Highlight of the Entire Trip
If you come to Port Aransas and skip the Dolphin Cruise, you’re doing it wrong. The boat tours through the bays around the island last about 90 minutes and make one promise: you will see dolphins. That promise was kept — and then exceeded. The animals came right up to the boat, several at once, right alongside the railing. You can hear them breathe, see their fins, stand close enough that you almost want to reach out.
With a baby bump the tour is completely manageable — calm water, stable boat, plenty of seating. With the next generation essentially already on board — it was a moment that stays.
Book a Dolphin Cruise via GetYourGuide →
Eating in Port Aransas
Port Aransas is a culinary revelation — and I say this as someone who had never seriously thought about Texas seafood before.
At Fisherman’s Wharf, Grumbles Seafood & Crab Shack serves fresh fish straight from the Gulf, prepared without fuss, at a table with a view of the water.
For real tacos: Taqueria San Juan. Not touristy, not prettily decorated, but the tacos are exactly what you come to Texas for.
Taiyaki Ice Cream is the most photogenic food of the trip: fish-shaped waffles filled with ice cream and toppings.
Port Aransas — island impressions.
Days 6–8: San Antonio — SeaWorld, River Walk & Shopping
San Antonio is the surprise of the trip. We arrived with moderate expectations — another American city, we thought — and were caught off guard by a mix of Mexican culture, history, and a relaxed urban energy that feels completely different from Houston. San Antonio has a heart, and you feel it from the very first walk.
The drive from Port Aransas takes about 3.5 hours. We used it as a slow decompression day in the car — music, landscape, the gradual shift from coast to city.
SeaWorld San Antonio — A Full Day
I’m not normally a big advocate of wildlife parks and theme parks. But SeaWorld San Antonio changed my mind. The park is huge, well-organized, and genuinely pleasant to explore — wide paths, lots of shade, seating everywhere. With a baby bump you can walk here for hours without suffering.
We planned a full day and still left in the evening feeling like we hadn’t seen everything. The orca show was breathtaking — the sheer size of those animals when they clear the water is something else. The shark and ray aquarium was fascinating, and the sea lion and seal shows were unexpectedly funny and touching at the same time.
SeaWorld San Antonio — orcas, sea lions, and the aquarium.
River Walk — The Heart of San Antonio
The River Walk is what San Antonio is famous for — and rightly so. A network of footpaths directly along the San Antonio River, one meter below street level, lined with restaurants, bars, cafés, and small shops. That sounds unremarkable. But in the evening, when the lights reflect off the water, when Tex-Mex music drifts out of restaurant doors and you’re strolling slowly with an ice water in hand — it’s the most beautiful walk Texas has to offer.
No entry fee. No reservation. Just show up and stroll. Those who want a guided experience can take a boat tour on the river. River Walk Tour via GetYourGuide →
San Antonio — River Walk and city impressions.
San Marcos Premium Outlets
If you still have shopping energy after Port Aransas: the San Marcos Premium Outlets are bigger than Houston and have better brands. We gave it a morning and still felt like we’d barely scratched the surface. Great for baby and kids items, great for clothing, great for things you don’t need but buy anyway. Tip: go first thing in the morning, plan for lunch on site, and leave by 2pm before the crowds arrive.
Eating in San Antonio
Bunz was a happy accident: a relaxed burger joint with great meat. And of course, a visit to the Longhorn Steakhouse was not to be missed.
Tips for a Babymoon in Texas
- Choose April or October: In April Texas offers 25–30°C, little rain, and low tourist pressure. July or August with a bump is a completely different story.
- Book the rental car early: Texas does not work without a car. Thrifty was reliable and affordable — booking early makes a real difference.
- Gulf of Mexico over the Atlantic coast: The water is warmer, calmer, and significantly more comfortable for pregnant women than either Atlantic US coast.
- Don’t skip the Dolphin Cruise: Completely manageable with a baby bump, and the memory stays.
- Travel health insurance is non-negotiable: In the US, especially during pregnancy — no compromises.
- Bring a medical certificate: Some airlines require one from a certain point in pregnancy. KLM didn’t ask, but it’s good to have.
- Start beach mornings early: At 8am the beach is empty and the light is perfect for photos. By 11am the crowd arrives.
- Buy SeaWorld tickets in advance: Cheaper, and you skip the ticket queue entirely.
Final Thoughts: Would We Do It Again?
Yes. Immediately. Without hesitation.
Texas surprised us so much that on the return flight we were already planning when to come back — this time with a child in tow. The mix of beach, wildlife, city life, and shopping, all reachable in a single road trip without constant repacking, makes it one of the most versatile travel destinations I know.
What stays with me? The dolphins alongside the boat. The seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf. The quiet ferry crossing to Port Aransas when we first smelled the ocean. Texas was — very unexpectedly — exactly the right place for our babymoon.
This post contains affiliate links to Booking.com and GetYourGuide. If you book through these links, I receive a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
