The Texas Gulf Coast and Coastal Bend region is the perfect road trip for visitors who are interested in space exploration, arts and culture, unique indie retailers, great places for coffee and dining and, of course, the beach!

A hidden Texas Gulf Coast beach we love is: Indianola, a beachfront “ghost town” and Recorded Texas Historic Landmark on Matagorda Bay. This is a peaceful, beautiful hidden gem among Texas beaches that is worth leaving the beaten path for.

Enjoy Texas coastal seafood at: Joe’s Oyster Bar, Port Isabel; Shrimp & Stuff, Galveston; Virginia's by the Bay, Port Aransas

For a special night out, try: Prohibition, Corpus Christi; Th_PRSV, an award-winning Thai/Native American restaurant in Kemah.

Reach for the stars, then play in the sand: SpaceX Starbase, Boca Chica

Pay homage to another star: Visit Mirador de la Flor, The Selena Memorial, in Corpus Christi

Enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack: Central Kitchen, Corpus Christi, MOD Coffeehouse, Galveston

Make sweet memories: La King's Confectionery on The Strand in Galveston; Winton's Candy
Co.,Port Aransas; Rao’s Bakery, Beaumont (Rao's Bakery Petit Fours are among the best we've tried!)

Shop local at: Sew Bonita, Corpus Christi; Mercantile on the Strand, Galveston; Fullen Jewelry; Galveston; Wildflowers Emporium, Corpus Christi

To feel cultured, go to: K Space Gallery, Corpus Christi; Galveston Artist Residency, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont

A cool place to experience nature on the Texas Gulf Coast is: Cattail Marsh, Beaumont

My favorite thing about our “Shorelines” book is: How the photos show the diversity of the journey along the Texas Gulf Coast and Coastal Bend. From the crystal clear waters of Port Isabel, to the bustling, beachfront city of Corpus Christi, historic Galveston to the more functional, workday views of Port Lavaca and Port Arthur, each place is different, but special in its own way. We believe the book communicates that!

Must-have items for a Texas coastal road trip: flip-flops, an extra towel for the car, iced coffee from a local coffee shop

A perfect day at a Texas beach looks like: We are big fans of off-season beaches, so we would love to spend a (relatively!) cool, winter day in Galveston. After a late morning of picking up seashells and taking photographs, we'd go to Maceo Spice & Import Co. for one of their famous mufaletta sandwiches and to peruse thegrocery shelves. After
lunch, we'd grab a coffee down the block at Red Light Coffee Roasters, then drive to the Strand to spend an afternoon people-watching, checking out all of the indie shops, and taking in the historic architecture. In a perfect world, there would be an event at the artist's residency, after which we would retire to the new, hip Hotel Lucine, or begrudgingly return home.