South Padre Island, Texas
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS - At the southern tip of Texas, at the end of 110 miles of beach, lies South Padre Island, home of drive-on beaches, deep-sea fishing and a bird watcher’s paradise.
Named for Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who built a mission on the island in the early 1800s, Padre Island is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. Head north out of town, and you’ll find nearly 30 miles of beach where it is legal to drive your car. Deep sea or bay fishing charters are available for hire, or you can bring your own pole and try your luck for redfish, trout or mackerel. Head west to the bay’s edge and you’ll find herons and pelicans fishing for their dinner in the shallow water.
South Padre was named by Sherman's Travel Magazine as one of the top ten places to dump your car during summer vacation, due to it’s small size (only a half mile wide), free shuttle and numerous, easily reached attractions.
It was also named by Men's Fitness Magazine in its top 10 list of hot spots to visit this summer. Windsurfing and body boarding make South Padre a great adventure vacation spot.
Vacationers have numerous exciting local activities to choose from, including a visit to Sea Turtle, Inc. (which aids and assist in the protection of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle), South Padre Island Dolphin Research and Sealife Center, South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center and World Birding Center, and the Beachcombers Museum (you’ll be amazed at what washes ashore here!).
Just across the bay, known as the Laguna Madre, lies the sleepy beach town of Port Isabel, which has its own fun attractions, the most prominent being the Port Isabel Lighthouse, a state historic site, and the only lighthouse in Texas open to the public. A climb to the top of the lighthouse reveals a spectacular view of the bay, South Padre Island and the Gulf of Mexico. Port Isabel also shows movies on the side of the lighthouse during the summer months.
Within walking distance of the lighthouse are the Port Isabel Historic Museum and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. The Historic Museum houses one of the largest collections of Mexican artifacts from the U.S. – Mexican war, fought from 1846 to 1848. The Treasures of the Gulf Museum spotlights three Spanish shipwrecks that occurred in 1554, thirty miles north of Port Isabel. Artifacts from the ships are on display, and there are murals, hands on activities, a Children's Discovery Lab and a Ship Theater.
Coming soon to Port Isabel will be a Pirate ship. Constructed as a replica of a Spanish Galleon, the 75-foot “Black Dragon” will offer two-hour pirate adventure cruises and sunset cruises. Crewmembers, described as the scurviest band of cutthroats, brigands and marauders on the Spanish Main, will dress in period costume and provide entertainment.
For accommodations, South Padre offers a Radisson resort, the Bahia Mar resort, a Sheraton hotel, a La Quinta hotel, the La Copa Inn Beachfront Resort, the Padre South Hotel On The Beach, and the Wanna Wanna Inn, among others.
If you’re looking to relocate to South Padre Island, or want a summer/winter home, there are plenty of developments to consider, such as The Shores of South Padre, Sapphire High Rise Condominiums, and South Padre Island Ocean Towers High Rise Condominiums.
