b'Port Aransas is the definitive seaside village of the Texas Gulf Coast, and its significant differ-ences compared to South Padre Island and Galveston have set it apart as the most Texas island vacation town. Galveston Island is all about the Greater Houston metropolis, and it is very much the island extension of that. The city of Galveston itself is quite urban and deals with its own elements of crime and social angst.South Padre Island is quite beautiful, that is not to be denied. However, its identity is very much like Miami Beach, where beach access is restrict-ed to hotel and condo guest use, no vehicles of any kind, including golf carts, are allowed on the beach, and personalities are less personal and feel more commercial.Port Aransas is the opposite of the twoits a real home to real people who are there to share the very best of this cozy, neighborly island community. Just four years ago, Hurricane Harvey delivered its most direct and powerful blow to Port A that left hundreds of families homeless, hundreds of businesses out of busi-ness, and closed many of the towns hotels and vacation homes for as long as three years.Over weeks of desperation and months of clean up and recovery, those great Port Aransans pulled each other though, the rich helping the poor, the strong helping the vulnerable. Harvey brought out the the strength and resilience of a great community who welcomes you today!TheCoastalBend.com THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE85'