We did it! We just got back from our first family vacation as a family of three. I strongly doubted that we’d be able to take a safe, social distancing friendly beach trip but Lively Beach exceeded all of my expectations. If you’re on the hunt for a safe, quaint, beachside accommodations in Texas then keep scroll on down to read about Lively Beach Resort.

The Drive

Lively Beach is located on Mustang Island outside of Corpus Christi. The drive is about 7 hours from Dallas. I was very concerned about how Skyy would do on a road trip this long (the longest we’ve ever traveled is to San Antonio when she was 3 months) but she did surprisingly well. Along the way we made a stop at Buccee’s in Temple and one quick stop outside of San Antonio.

Lively Beach is located on Mustang Island right outside of Corpus Christi. I’ve heard people refer to it as North Padre Island. It’s about 3 hours north of South Padre Island which is well known by Spring Breakers. One of my favorite things about the resort is that it’s quaint but everything you need is nearby. There’s a CVS right up the road, a Starbucks is about 5 minutes away, and there’s an HEB within 15 minutes from the resort. There’s also lots of shopping, a mall, restaurants, and there’s a Target nearby.

Beach Access

The resort provides direct access to the beach. You simply walk down the beautiful wooden dock and voila! You’re there! The walk is only about 5 minutes. There’s also an access road that you can use if you want to drive up on the beach. Out of all the beaches I’ve been to in the states, this is the first time that I’ve seen people park on the sand. We saw many families park on the beach which is a nice option if you don’t want to walk down to the beach with your supplies. You’ll see the access road once you turn out of the resort.

*** I didn’t see any beach chair rentals available on this strip of the beach so be sure to bring your own chairs. The resort provided us with plenty of beach towels.

We really enjoyed our day at the beach and we didn’t have any issues social distancing. Maybe it’s a Texas beach thing, but this is the first time I’ve seen folks fish on the shore. I was shocked to see a fellow beachgoer catch a shark!

Social Distancing

One of biggest concerns about taking this trip was being able to properly social distance. Lively Beach has a contactless check in where you complete a pre-check in process the day before arrival. The resort will send an email requesting your estimated arrival time and credit card info. On the day of arrival, you’ll receive an email with a code to access the resort’s gate and a pin number to enter your unit. This was fantastic because we never had to enter the resort’s lobby and we didn’t have contact with the staff during our stay.

Amenities

I’d get up early to visit the pool and observed it being cleaned by staff morning. There are also a few grills onsite and those were kept clean as well. The resort only has about 20 or so units so we didn’t have to worry about interacting with other guests. During our stay we had the entire pool to ourselves (we stayed Thurs-Sun). There are plenty of spots throughout the resort where you can chill and relax. I even spotted a cornhole set but forgot to grab a pic.

The Condos

I LOVED our condo. We stayed in a 2 bedroom 3 bath unit which was perfect for our group of 6. Our unit came with a sink, stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, pots, pans, and cooking utensils. Paper products, toiletries, and towels were also provided. The only thing missing was a washer/dryer.

The views were incredible and it was awesome to be able to see the ocean from our unit. The beds were comfy and the décor was so calming.

One of my favorite spots at the resort is the Sky Deck. The views are incredible and it’s the perfect chill spot.

Tips for a Great Stay

If you’re planning a stay at Lively Beach here’s a few tips to make your stay even better

Pack Mosquito Repellent

• This isn’t the resort’s fault, but the mosquitoes were intense during the week of our stay. After speaking with one of the locals, we realized that we planned our visit during mosquito season. On the day we checked out, I noticed someone spraying the ground’s so the resort is definitely aware and performing mosquito control. Be sure to pack plenty of bug spray, avoid perfumes, and wear long sleeves at night.

Don’t Pack Beach Towels

• The resort had a basket of beach towels available so there’s no need to pack your own.

Bring Beach Chairs

• Beach rentals aren’t available on the resort’s strip of beach so pack your own beach umbrellas and supplies

I really enjoyed our visit and I wouldn’t hesitate to visit again. Are you ready to plan your stay? Use code SHASHA to save 5% off the best available rate for your stay.

**** Disclosure*** My stay was hosted by Lively Beach but all opinions expressed are my own.