For the Nagy family, their recent vacation to Crystal Beach was more than just a trip to the shore—it was a homecoming. Kris and Sarah Nagy, along with their 14-year-old triplets Jack, Mia, and Ella, and their two dogs, Daisy and Clover, revisited the beloved coastal spot for the first time since 2012.
Back then, the family was living in St. Louis, with Kris still serving in the Air Force. Traveling with toddler triplets was no small feat, but the memories made were worth the effort. This time, life looked different—retired from the military, settled in Frisco, Texas, and with teenagers in tow—but the essence of their Crystal Beach experience remained the same: pure family fun.
Sarah Nagy has deeper roots in Crystal Beach, having spent childhood summers here with her grandparents and cousins. “Bringing my kids back to the same place is really special,” she said. Watching her children form the same attachment to Crystal Beach that she’d cherished as a child felt profoundly meaningful. As they buried their feet in the same sand she had decades earlier, she realized they were now part of this place’s story. “I see them making memories here that they’ll want to share with their own kids someday,” she said.
While the Nagys have traveled to destinations like Hawaii, Europe, and Mexico, Crystal Beach holds a unique appeal. “It’s pure family fun—just togetherness,” Kris explained. “Not everyone can fly to Hawaii, but everyone can drive here.” The affordability, relaxed atmosphere, and ability to drive golf carts on the beach set it apart from other coastal spots.
In their Frisco daily life, between school activities and Kris’s business, family dinners often get sacrificed to busy schedules. Here, they rediscovered the art of family meals together. “At home we’re always rushing to the next thing,” Sarah noted. “Here, we’ll sit on the deck just watching the waves and listening to each other.”
No family vacation is complete without a few mishaps. The Nagys laughed about their 2012 trip, when a then-toddler Jack wandered naked to a neighbor’s house. This year’s adventure involved grandma’s lost dental retainer—thankfully recovered before the dogs could bury it in the sand.
The family plans to return next summer, possibly inviting extended family to join. But for now, they’re savoring the memories—beach days, crab feasts at Stingaree Restaurant, and the dogs living their best life on golf cart rides. As Kris put it, “This is what vacation is all about—just being together.”
