We asked on Facebook: What does the perfect coastal Christmas look like to you? How do you enjoy spending the day?

I live and work in Houston, but my soul belongs to the sea. I spend each and every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Halloween holiday on my beloved Galveston Island. Galveston is the most magical place to spend the holidays. Soul mending in sweet saltwater waves. I love you my sweet Galveston Island.

Katrina Lassberg

The perfect coastal Christmas is family in town, presents opened, Christmas dinner eaten and then a walk on the seawall — just enjoying each other’s company. If you are real lucky, there will be a small, clean surf.

David Avina

Barefoot on the beach.

Becky Dundee

Open presents, eat a great brunch and hang on the beach.

Eric Tucker

Walking on the beach in the morning and hunting sharks’ teeth, and discovering a neat holiday surf swell as a stocking stuffer!

Jerry Jones

It usually involves a nice long walk on the bay somewhere to look at nature and birds. Could be a nice long beach walk, too. The pleasure of a coastal Christmas is being able to see and enjoy our coast.

Karla Klay

Looking forward to decorating our new house and enjoying the season. Last year, we moved in four days before Christmas and barely got a small tree up. Christmas morning, we’ll be celebrating with our Texas family.

Fred Koperski

Marines and their Toys for Tots, and U.S. Coasties’ programs — military for community.

Tom Sherman

Relaxing at our second home in Galveston, morning walks on the beach with the dog, afternoon cocktails on the balcony overlooking the beach.

Liz Garcia Smith

Calling relatives and friends in faraway places. Going to the beach and reflecting on the present year and the year to come.

Jim Boone

Being with family, playing cards, doing a jigsaw puzzle and eating pumpkin and pecan pie.

Kristen Carlson

We always start with a Champagne breakfast and ham-and-cheese croissants. In the past, we’ve gone to the Hotel Galvez for a delicious lunch and then taken a stroll on the beach to walk off our over-indulging. This year, I’m craving a fresh seafood lunch, so a trip to Katie’s to stock up might be in order. I’m originally from New Zealand and was planning a trip home for Christmas, but due to travel restrictions, this is not possible this year. Like Galveston, New Zealand has many beautiful beaches and I’d love to celebrate my coastal Christmas under a pohutukawa tree, which flowers red each December and is considered New Zealand’s Christmas tree!

Shannon Huse Caldwell

A family workout (occasional grumpy teenagers included), PJs, love, snuggles, family movies, make a gorgeous dinner, get dressed up and enjoy!

Mary Claire Pastor Haver

Eggnog and mimosas Christmas morning then a family dinner.

Chapa-Gionet Linda

Being with family at our house for dinner and gifts!

Sharon Beust Sanchez

Downtown G-town all gussied up in Dickensian décor with the beach close by decorated in shells and seaweed. It never gets old.

Holly Thorson

I start by going to Dickens to get my Christmas spirit all amped up, then I participate in the Bayou Vista Christmas boat parade. Holiday week is spent on the bay with family enjoying the fire pit and food!

Bobby Martin

Waking up to the smells of turkey, ham, bread and other lunch items while family is gathering for present exchanges and coffee.

Helen Pausewang

Reading the newspaper, of course.

James Selig

Snow on Christmas Eve like 2004.

Gerri Plummer

I am nothing if not a traditionalist.

I look forward to Santa landing his sleigh in the surf off East Beach, with his pontoons deployed, of course; and his eight reindeer sporting life vests and water weenies.

Then he wades on shore, empties the salt water and sand from his boots, and makes his way to our place on Postoffice Street.

Laying a finger (I won’t say which one) aside of his nose, he hoists his bag of toys, swings it around his head three times, and hurls it through our window.

He drinks the beer and smokes the cigar I left for him, and leaves us a beautiful new window.

Every year! Ho ho ho!

Dan Braverman

Press pot coffee, grandbabies talking, first presents, homemade cinnamon rolls, strawberries and lil’ smokies, more coffee, daughter laughter, prayers, more gifts, lunch and relax. All day, no real time schedule. Just let it happen. Enjoy the journey.

Alan Hutchins

Normally it would be kicking off the holiday season at Dickens, dressed, shopping, taking in all the holiday fun to get us in the “spirit.”

However, this year with all the COVID issues/protocols, it will not be the same!

So, we will still be out and about frequenting The Strand and shopping local to get in the spirit.

Goodbye 2020

Nita Andrews Reid

Opening gifts with the kids in the morning, relaxing around the fire (if cold enough), enjoying family time and then a late brunch/lunch … and then back to relaxing. Also we call lots of cousins and friends to wish them merry merry.

Eliza Thomas Quigley

It includes both Chanukah and Kwanzaa as well as Christmas. It also includes generosity of spirit — not just retail.

Janet Cohen

Being able to enjoy the holidays with my wife, who after 25 years, always worked during the holiday season. It will be the beginning of a new family tradition with much love and enjoyment in celebrating Christmas with our grandchildren.

Michael Carrasco

My grands don’t live here, so I travel to them. When my kids were younger, we enjoyed the traditional up at the crack of 6 a.m., looking in our stockings, a big breakfast, opening presents and playing outside if we could.

Susana Finkel