The Peaceful Pelican is an antebellum inn with wraparound veranda sporting a coveted Texas historical marker. This cozy Palacios bed-and-breakfast houses six unique rooms, each decorated with antiques and offering individual amenities. Its Third Floor Suite includes a spiral staircase to a rooftop widow's walk, the Sunrise Room features bay views from bed and tub, and the Magnolia Room beckons with its own fireplace. There's even a room without common walls that's perfect for families with a baby or pet. Room rates include a gourmet breakfast and afternoon glass of wine while enjoying views from your favorite rocking chair.
Palacios's 19th-century Luther Hotel has undergone its share of adventure -- a move across town, expansions and a devastating fire. Today, the renovated inn stands gracefully beside Palacios Bay, welcoming visitors in rooms decorated with antiques that exude its original charm. Without television, room phones or Internet, guests linger on the porch -- at one time the longest in Texas -- sipping iced tea beneath magnolias. Gracious innkeepers prepare a lavish breakfast, and guests may also use in-room refrigerators or dine at the nearby Outrigger restaurant. A local icon, the hotel's past is featured throughout its corridors with framed documents and photos of prominent past visitors.
In Port Lavaca, the two-story Chaparral Motel is an economical, family-owned option. A basic inn near the warm Gulf waters, the Chaparral provides clean, remodeled rooms with refrigerators, microwaves and coffeemakers. Near fishing and water recreation, it's popular with both tourists and contractors -- who come to work with nearby mega-industries -- as it offers reasonable weekly rates. In addition to regular rooms, executive suites are available, and Fido is welcome for an additional deposit.
Right on the water, Port Lavaca's Motel 6 draws fun-loving budget travelers. The inn provides its usual bare-bones rooms at a great price, but this Motel 6 adds a view, ocean breezes and huge outdoor pool. It's also got coin laundry, in-room Internet, mini-fridges, free morning coffee, a pet policy and handicapped-accessible rooms. Near the Texas Zoo, Calhoun County Museum and the Historic Houses District, this Motel 6 location offers plenty of rainy-day options.
