Located on the Southern tip of Texas is the tropical oasis South Padre Island (SoPadre.com), where soft sand meets the gentle lapping waves and there’s an entire island to explore—whether you’re looking for relaxation, active adventures, or exploration.
The island boasts Laguna Madre Bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, 34 miles of beaches, and sunshine almost year-round.
Relax
Of course, lazing the day away on the beach is always a great option. So is taking a sunset dinner cruise on a catamaran—the sun slipping into the ocean in the distance while dining on a freshly prepared meal with live entertainment to round out the experience. Check out Southern Wave (Southern-Wave.com) for the experience. Or, make it a daytime excursion to watch dolphins with Breakaway Cruises (BreakawayCruises.com).
Explore
The island is filled with places to explore. Begin at the historic Port Isabel Lighthouse (PortIslabelLighthouse.com) and wander through the Keeper’s Cottage Visitor Center before climbing up to the top of the lighthouse.
Those who like nature should add the nonprofit South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary (SPIBirding.org) to their list. Here, you grab a pair of binoculars to view birds, see various creatures, and experience the Gator Sanctuary, with its rescued alligators.
Another fun way to explore the island is to follow the Sea Turtle Art Trail and the Sandcastle Trail, which has artworks of sea turtles and sandcastles strategically places around the island (visit SoPadre.com for information on each trail).
Speaking of sea turtles, if you want to see sea turtle conservation in action, head to Sea Turtle Inc. (SeaTurtleInc.org), where you can take a self-guided tour through the rehabilitation and education facilities.
If art intrigues you, The Art Incubator helps nurture local artists. Head to Pike Street and Padre Boulevard and wander galleries such as the Paper Caper Co. (PaperCaperCo.com) and Ryan Henry Fine Art (RyanHenryArt.com).
Get Active
If physical adventure is more your speed, South Padre Island has that, as well. Head to Sand Monsters (Sand-Monsters.com) for an adventure on a sand track. Meanwhile, South Padre Island Adventures (SouthPadreIslandAdventures.com) offers everything from zip-lines to watersports to sunset horseback rides along the beach.
Dine
Of course, there’s no shortage of delicious food and drinks in paradise. Start your day at Grapevine Cafe (GVCafe.com) for a traditional breakfast. For lunch or dinner, The Meatball Cafe (TheMeatball-Café.com) delivers, with its selection of Italian dishes, seafood, and steaks. One favorite spot is Viva on Whiting St., an open-air restaurant offering stunning views, curated cocktails, and elevated eats.
Stay
Looking for places to stay? Try Margaritaville Beach Resort (MargaritavilleResorts.com).
While driving around is easy and convenient, if you prefer to ditch the responsibility, getting around the island is easy—hop on the free blue Island Metro shuttles that run daily. Just wave one down for a ride.