There's nowhere quite like Shorty's Place to ring in the Fourth — Port Aransas's storied neighborhood bar throws open its sprawling patio and lets the music do the rest. The John Elijah Band brings a raw, soulful mix of blues and rock that pairs perfectly with a cold drink in hand and the Gulf breeze drifting through the warm summer night. It's the kind of set that sounds even better under a sky about to fill with fireworks.
When the last note fades, Beached Inn is just a short walk away — cold-shower rinse, bare feet on the porch, and a front-row seat to whatever the Gulf decides to do with the rest of your evening.