Let's go to the beach! It's been a bit rainy, but sunnier days are ahead.

Why it matters: With summer underway, we're breaking down our favorite beaches with some pros and cons.

Galveston

Pros: Galveston's free beaches and the history surrounding the city are enough for more than a day trip.

• Plus, attractions like Moody Gardens, Pleasure Pier and The Strand will keep you busy after you've had your fill of sunshine.

Cons: It's crowded, y'all.

• Be prepared to pay for parking along the seawall. It's modestly priced at $2 per hour.

🐚 Shafaq's pro tip: Galveston Island State Park is usually a quieter alternative. Admission is $5 for anyone over 12. The park has solid facilities, space for grilling and camping, and is great for birding and exploring marshes.

Surfside

Pros: You can park on the beach.

• Annual parking passes are $30, and day passes are $15.

Cons: Driving on the beach is a fun excursion, but getting your tires stuck in soft sand is no good.

El Jardin Beach

Pros: It's quiet, calm and great for families who want a low-key beach day.

Cons: It's a small area, part of a 4.5-acre neighborhood park. It's free for residents, but $10 for nonresident adults.

Quintana

Pros: Quintana is a gem of a beach with a nearby park and showers, plus RV and camping opportunities.

• It's perfect for a weekend getaway.

Cons: It's pretty far from Houston. There also aren't as many restaurants or attractions nearby. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there is a $5 parking fee per vehicle

Bolivar

Pros: Like Surfside, you can park on this beach as well. And it's cheaper at $10 for a pass.

• It's a great beach tucked away on Bolivar Peninsula with a bit of history. Check out Fort Travis Park on your way out.

Cons: It's a ways away. For a smoother drive, your best bet is to take Interstate 10 to Winnie and head south to the peninsula.

• Otherwise, you can take Interstate 45 to Galveston and wait for the ferry.

📬 Readers, what are your favorite beaches?

👋 Jay and Shafaq here! We both love a beach day — but we go about it very differently.

🏖️ Jay's way: The earlier you take off, the better. I'm usually on the road by 9am to claim a solid spot, where I set up with my lawn chairs and trusty canopy tent.

• My go-bag stays packed with the essentials: change of clothes, sunscreen, snacks (kind of like a hurricane kit, but more fun-spirited), lip balm, a comb, a first aid kit and plastic cups (most beaches don't allow glass containers).

🌅 Shafaq's way: My fun New Year's goal was to go to the beach or be near some body of water 10 times this year. It's grounding for me to be near the water every so often and unplug.

• I'm halfway to my goal. I lean into living close-ish to the coast and head out on a whim, spend a few hours by the water and stay for sunset. In the summer, I'm usually there for just a couple of hours before the heat gets to me.
• My go-bag comes together fast — a couple of towels, water bottle, hat, sunscreen, snacks (cucumber with Tajín!) and a book I bring but rarely read.

💰 James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, raised $30 million during the second quarter of 2026, more than triple the amount raised during the period by his Republican rival Ken Paxton. (Texas Tribune)

Some legal experts say local authorities have the power to investigate Araujo's killing, but those cases are difficult if federal agencies refuse to cooperate. (Houston Chronicle)

Mexico plans to file criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE custody. (Axios)

🏭 Baker Hughes will close a Houston facility and lay off 174 employees, the company confirmed. (Click2Houston)

🛒 A Costco is under construction, and a Home Depot is planned at NewQuest's Grand Mason development along the Grand Parkway corridor. (Houston Business Journal)

There are over 30 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases reported so far this summer in the Houston area.

• The intestinal illness is caused by a microscopic parasite that's typically spread through contaminated produce or water and can cause explosive diarrhea and stomach cramps.

The big picture: Cyclosporiasis cases tend to increase during the summer months, Theresa Tran, Houston Health Department director, says in a statement.

• While the CDC is investigating a multistate increase in cases, Tran says local officials haven't seen an unusual increase in the Houston area compared with recent years.

By the numbers: As of Wednesday, the Houston Health Department had confirmed 16 cases in the city and Harris County Public Health had confirmed an additional 18 cases.

• For context, Houston reported 66 in 2025, 25 in 2024, and 156 in 2023, ABC 13 reports.

What they're saying: "We have not found a common source for our cases or any linkages between our local cases and other cases around the country," Tran says, adding that "the myriad benefits of eating fresh produce far outweigh the potential risk of contracting cyclosporiasis."

💧 Tran's pro tip: Wash fresh produce thoroughly under running tap water and wash your hands with soap and water before eating to reduce the risk of infection, Tran says.

Answer these three questions correctly, drawn from this week's batch of newsletters, and you could win a much-hoped-for shoutout in our Monday edition.

📧 Reply to this email.

1. Which country won the last World Cup match Houston hosted?
2. What condiment became so popular this summer with World Cup visitors?
3. Where is the largest bat colony in the world?