Head to the coast with the latest issue of Texas Highways. Our cover story, “Oh Shell Yeah,” takes readers on an exploration of Padre Island National Seashore’s wildness. Editor-at-large Christopher Collins traveled along the state's beaches to meet with local shelling enthusiasts, including collectors who comb the beaches before dawn, a researcher who has dedicated his work to studying the state’s mollusks, and shop owners that sell shells for a living. In "Making Waves," Joe Nick Patoski maps out some of the state's best human-made water attractions. From surfing in Waco to floating a lazy river in Houston, these water worlds provide an escape from the heat. A prehistoric water monster awaits in the waters of the Rio Grande Valley: the alligator gar. Writer Jason Buch visited with South Texas fishermen who cook the massive fish as a regional delicacy. The rest of the issue features Texas river stays, a scuba-diving mermaid in San Marcos, and royal red shrimp—the crown jewels of the Gulf Coast.