On South Padre Island you will find activities and ongoing events for all
ages. You can be age 1 or 100 and learn the fine art of sand castle building,
experience the first surfing lesson, or indulge in shopping for that special
souvenir within the many stores. Beach adventures here offer families,
honeymooners, Spring
Breakers, and nature lovers to this area for their much needed beach getaway!
Attracting summer and holiday vacationers, winter retirees,
and fisherman year round, it’s the place to take it easy and slow down. Lie
on the beach listening to the crash of waves and read a book, or go for it all
and jump on a jet ski! On the white sandy beaches you can explore for seashells
and look for those lost doubloons from the seafaring ship that has yet to be
found, experience an adventure on a 4-wheeler down the dunes, or just take an
easy stroll. You can watch in awe as the Sea Turtle
Rescue Center releases baby turtles into the ocean at dawn. Enjoy
a sunset over the bay with a glass of wine and fresh shrimp, or catch your own
for dinner on one of the many fishing adventures available here.
For the outdoor enthusiasts, the Rio Grande Valley area is well known as the
birding area. The Laguna Madre Nature Trail on the
island is a 1,500-foot boardwalk and known locally as the birding boardwalk.
Extending across four acres of the Laguna Madre bay, onlookers can see SPI's
own White-Morph Redish Egret wading in the shallow waters with many others, including
the Brown Booby and Yellow billed loon.
Accomodations here offer condos, beach houses, hotels
and resorts to best fit your taste and your budget. There are campgrounds for
parking your RV, or you can pitch a tent for that true 'camping on the beach'
experience!
Deep Sea fishing trips offer those astute fisherman
the opportunity to catch the big one! Or how about horseback
riding on the beach at sunset? Ever thought of parasailing…or
trying the banana boat to release that wild energy within you? Water enthusiasts
wanting to explore the world of sea creatures have the chance to on the dolphin
watching and eco tours! Aside from these adventures, those wishing to
'take it easy' can enjoy a soothing massage or a
yoga class at one of the resorts.
Conventions held at the South Padre Island Convention Centre offer
all the facilities you need to entertain as well as educate. Schlitterbahn
Waterpark offers water activities for the adventurous and the tame.
Restaurants on South Padre Island offer a menu for
all tastes, with fresh seafood abounding! For that evening margarita while
watching the sun set over the water, or enjoying your dessert with the weekly
summer fireworks display, there are many restaurants to choose from.
On your way to SPI before crossing the causeway, you'll venture through Port
Isabel with its sea faring lighthouse built in 1852. Open to the public
it offers an incredible view of the coastal area. Along with the many arts and
crafts stores, ice creameries and restaurants, there are history museums and
fishing guides available for all types.
And don’t forget Mexico! Just 10 miles
to the border you can grab a tour bus, or hop across on your own for a day of
shopping and a night of tequila! Muy bien!