Tiffany Stakes, 29, with her 20-gauge Beretta A400 shotgun, and Jennifer Provaznik, 30, with her 20-gauge Remington 870 pump shotgun, both enjoy duck hunting. Makeup by Desa Polivka, a Mary Kay independent sales director. Hair by Rebecca Rivera, of Total Technique Salon in Texas City. Photo by Robert Mihovil

Area girls and women build bonds, thrive on adrenalin in pursuit of their prey

Hunting is not a man’s sport. Women and girls, throughout the county and Texas, are stalking their prey — from hogs to deer to ducks.

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Rusty Legg, Texas state chairman of Ducks Unlimited, said the organization’s members have spearheaded numerous restoration projects. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

When most people think about the upper Texas coast, they think about fishing. But the area also is full of avid duck hunters, with hundreds committed to preserving habitats and the sport.

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Ice sculptors from China are turning 900 tons of ice into sculptures, tunnels and a slide for Moody Gardens Ice Land: Ice Sculptures with SpongeBob SquarePants, which will open to the public Nov. 15. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

30 Chinese sculptors, tons of ice on subtropical isle makes for cool attraction

On days when they’re carving ice, the 30 Chinese artists who have been working at Moody Gardens since late September crank up the heat — all the way to a balmy 17 degrees.

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Reesa Cerdas relaxes in a vintage wooden Chris-Craft boat owned by Jack Robinson along the Galveston Yacht Basin. Photo by Robert Mihovil

Being at the helm of a boat means power, freedom and fun for women sailors

Whether it’s racing, cruising or sailing, many women in these parts have taken to boating, well, like fish to water. For some, it’s a special way to connect with family; for others, the sport offers an opportunity to compete or travel. Whatever the reason, these women are making the most of their Gulf Coast lifestyles. [Read more…]

Photos by Robert Mihovil

Isle shrimpers fight to keep Gulf Coast tradition alive

There’s something idyllic about watching shrimp boats drag their nets in the Gulf of Mexico or wedge through the nickel-gray waters of Galveston harbor, pelicans perched regally on their bows, circled by seagulls, trailed by dolphins. Trawlers at docks or in sunset silhouettes give visitors a sense of the place they may have imagined when they booked their seaside escapes. The boats also offer glimpses of a traditional way of life and an industry built largely by European immigrants; the last traces of it, perhaps.

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Some people dream all year of hitting the beach. But for many lucky area

residents, the beach is part of daily life. This month, Coast caught up with people who play and work on the beaches, along with those who fight to protect them. [Read more…]

Cover model Cindy Buckley, owner of Astoria Beach Chair, makes vintage 1930s reproduction beach chairs like the red one on the cover. Photos by Robert Mihovil

Good food, little luxuries can turn camping into ‘glamping’

There’s always that moment when the reality of camping sets in. Perhaps it’s when you lose cellphone reception and Wi-Fi service. Or when the sun sinks into darkness and the mosquitoes come out to play. Slapping the bugs away, you zip yourself into a tiny triangle on ground so hard you could tap dance on it. Or maybe that moment arrives when, after wrestling with the tent, you finally dig into the pouch of freeze-dried beef stew that seemed so promising, but didn’t quite deliver on the gourmet guarantee. [Read more…]

Borbala Suranyi, of Galveston, models a black lace Betty surfer rashie and Dietrich drawstring bottom by Fluid Sunwear in the heated pool at Diamond Beach Condominium in Galveston. Suranyi is a massage therapist and personal trainer. Photos by Robert Mihovil

Isle firm behind movement to make swimwear fit and flatter women

Summer is approaching. Days are getting longer, shorts are getting shorter, and the rising temperatures heighten the urge to lounge poolside or on the beach. But it’s impossible to dive into summer without first embarking on a sometimes grueling, uphill shopping trek to find the perfect swimsuit. [Read more…]