Want the bright lights of a big city? Hungry for glitz, glam and decadence? Go to Vegas. Looking for something a little closer to the quiet tranquility of the rugged Texas Gulf Coast? Try Palacios, just two hours south of Houston. Called "The City by the Sea," Palacios is both tiny (with less than 6,000 residents) and big (home to more than 400shrimping boats, it's the shrimp capital of Texas). There's a bit of a boardwalk, and a few hundred yards of white sandy beach, but the lack of an extended waterfront is made up for by several piers and jetties that extend well out into the water, both of which are popular with fishermen in the early mornings and couples at sunset. Two family restaurants, the Outrigger (which serves seafood) and Palacios Mexican Restaurant, satisfy most tastes, but fishing enthusiasts can also catch their own supper and grill it at one of the many beachside picnic/barbecue shelters.