A Sunny Day at Point Ruston

This past weekend we made a trip over to Point Ruston and I’ll just say this, apparently everyone else had the exact same idea.

The weather was about as good as it gets around here, and after a long stretch of gray, people were ready to be outside. It was busy… but honestly, that’s part of the fun when the sun finally decides to show up.

We ended up grabbing lunch at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar. And despite the name sounding like it might be more of an adults-only kind of place, it’s actually really family friendly. Solid burgers, good fries, milkshakes for the kids—and yes, plenty of whiskey if that’s your thing. It’s one of those spots that just works for everyone.

After lunch, we did what you’re really supposed to do at Point Ruston, which is just walk around and enjoy it. There are a ton of options over there; places to eat, grab ice cream, do a little shopping, even catch a movie but a big part of the draw is just being outside along the water.

The walking paths are great whether you’re walking, biking, skating, or just slowly making your way along while debating if you should stop for ice cream again. (We didn’t… this time.)

If you head down far enough, you’ll run into Dune Park, which is a cool spot, especially if you’ve got kids with you. There’s also a play structure nearby and a place to rent those pedal carts and other rolling contraptions that look like a great idea until you realize you’re the one doing all the work.

One thing that caught me off guard, in a good way, was the parking. It must have been a little while since I’d been there, because I was fully expecting to deal with the usual parking situation. But now it’s free, with a 5-hour limit. No paying, no validating, no trying to figure out if you did it right. Just park and go. Honestly, that alone might be reason enough to come back.

With the weather starting to turn and the sun showing up more consistently (hopefully), it’s that time of year to get outside again. And if you’re looking for an easy place to spend a few hours—grab some food, walk around, and enjoy the view—Point Ruston is about as good of a spot as you’ll find.

Just maybe plan on a few other people having the same idea.