Relaxing and rejuvenating at Cinnamon Shore

When our kids were small, I regularly fantasized about taking a romantic getaway with my husband. A weekend trip where the two of us could reconnect. We’d drink wine and laugh with our foreheads touching. We’d hold hands and watch the sunset. Maybe a clawfoot bathtub would be involved. It occurs to me now that my fantasy sounds like a gauzy commercial for prescription medication, but that’s the vacation I wanted.

Now it’s years later and we’re empty nesters who can get away whenever we feel like it. Unfortunately, most of our trips are to Costco, which is why this fall I insisted we stop shopping in bulk and instead head to Cinnamon Shore for a few days. We both loved this pretty beachside community in Port Aransas, Texas, when we stayed there a few years ago with our sons and my parents, so I thought it’d be fun to experience it with just us. We’d rent one of the light-filled condos, cottages, or townhouses perfectly sized for our needs, maybe even with a clawfoot bathtub, and just relax and reconnect. But then things changed.

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You see, what nobody tells you about having an empty nest is that it doesn’t always stay empty. Our oldest son Sam moved back in with us after graduating from college, and when he heard that we were headed to the coast, he said what every parent of grown kids dreams of hearing: “Can I come, too?” We chose to believe this was because he loves our company, not because we’d be staying just steps from the beach and he’d have full access to a rented beach cart with a Bluetooth sound system. He then asked if he could invite along his girlfriend, Nicole, who lives in Canada (yes, Canadian girlfriends really exist) and who’d never visited Texas before. Of course we said yes, and suddenly our twosome was a foursome. We needed a bigger boat.

Cinnamon Shore is located on the Texas Gulf Coast. Contributed by Wendi Aarons

Luckily, Cinnamon Shore, both the original Cinnamon Shore North and the newer, second development on Mustang Island, the rapidly growing Cinnamon Shore South, has plenty of lodging options. We opted to stay in a gorgeously decorated and comfortable three-story house in North, right across from the Great Lawn and not far from the boardwalk to the beach. Because the house was so spacious, we all had our privacy, but were still able to share the comfortable common rooms and wrap around porches. This is the ideal situation when you’re with young adults who maybe don’t want to get up at 7 a.m. to do a few light stretches and then head out to the Cinnamon Shore reserved chairs and umbrella that were waiting for us just over the dunes each morning. (You can also book a private bonfire on the beach for later in the day.)

For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure of a visit, let me back up a second and explain that Cinnamon Shore is a luxury coastal resort town in Port Aransas, Texas. It’s a few hours drive from Austin, San Antonio and Houston, and not far from the Corpus Christi airport, making it an easy destination for many Texans. Designed as part of the New Urbanist movement, it’s become a popular destination for both vacation homeowners and renters alike, due in no small part to its emphasis on community. There’s a wonderful feeling of neighborliness that prevails at Cinnamon Shore thanks to the special events and the friendly staff. It’s truly a “gathering place” to connect with others. Who couldn’t use more of that these days?

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Both Cinnamon Shore North and South include fabulous, family friendly amenities like multiple pools, stocked fishing ponds, bike rentals, and more. South has grown a lot since our last visit, and now boasts the adults-only Cabana Pool, adjacent to the Splish Splash Family Pool and splash pad, with food available from the Coastline Grill. There’s also another pool, with three more in the works. Basically, you have no excuse to not go swimming at South, unless you’re too busy playing either pickleball or half-court basketball at the Seascape Courts or working out at the future Glow Pool and Fitness Center. Whew. And here’s the great news: Guests of Cinnamon Shore have access to both North and South, no matter where you stay. It’s just an easy drive down the beach from one location to the other.

Live music is among the offerings at Cinnamon Shore. Contributed by Cinnamon Shore

When it’s time for a meal, there’s absolutely no reason to leave the resort. Not only does every property have a beautiful kitchen with everything you need, but there are multiple on-site restaurants located in North, like Lisabella’s Bistro, Dylan’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, and The Shore Cafe, with more on the way. In the South, the South Town Square that’ll feature a few exciting restaurants is breaking ground this fall. There’s also soon-to-be boutique-type shopping at both North and South, which is great news if that happens to be your favorite sport.

We noticed during our stay that most of the guests seemed to be multi-generational families, but not all. There were families with teenagers, women on a girls’ trip, and a few couples who were maybe there for a romantic weekend like I one day hope to be when I’m not at Costco. But the time we were able to spend with our son and his girlfriend in such a relaxed, beautiful setting was incredibly valuable to us. 

Walk to the beach at Cinnamon Shore. Contributed by Cinnamon Shore

“Do they have something like this in Canada?” I asked Nicole on our last night when we were sitting in our beach chairs, watching the waves gently hit the shore and the sky begin to turn pink as the sun set. “Nope,” she said, “I think you have to come to Texas to find a place like this.” 

You do indeed.