A- Overview:
This popular seaside resort area on the Gulf Coast at the southern tip of Texas, includes the island and the neighboring mainland town of Port Isabel. Its 34 mile long stretch of white sand is bordered to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and to the west by the Laguna Madre Bay. The conveniences and attractions of a modern resort, coupled with miles of pristine island terrain are what draws thousands of visitors to the area each year and has brought many back to live.
South Padre Island is a dream come true for those that love to play in the water or soar through the sky. There are several places on the Island to rent equipment. Jet skis, wave runners, kayaks, and Hobie cats can be rented for as little as one-half hour or for longer periods of time. Windsurfing and kiteboarding are also popular water sports on the Island. There is a wide array of choices for touring the Island by land or by water. A horseback ride on the beach at sunset is one of several ways to end a perfect day in the tropics. South Padre Island is the spot to try those water sports that you have imagined yourself trying as you sat at home dreaming of a vacation in the sun.
Kiteboarding is fast becoming the hottest new water sport, and South Padre Island offers year round, world-class kiteboarding conditions. The Laguna Madre’s waist deep water and consistent winds give everyone from beginners to expert riders near perfect flat-water conditions in which to hone their skills. Advanced kiteboarders will enjoy riding the Laguna Madre and the waves of the Gulf of Mexico.
Other local activities include boating, swimming, fishing, surfing, sailboarding, beachcombing on long white beaches, birding, camping, in-line skating, parasailing, and bungee jumping.
Among the places to see in Port Isabel is the lighthouse, that was built in 1853 and is now a State Historic Site. You can climb to the top for a bird’s-eye view of the coast. Boats from Port Isabel’s fleet can be seen docked all around the harbor area, and you can watch them head out every morning.
The natural surroundings of South Padre Island and the Rio Grande Valley give birders and wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity to study and observe a wide variety of species. On South Padre Island, nature lovers will appreciate and enjoy the last 34 miles of ecologically significant, unspoiled beaches and sand dunes along the Gulf of Mexico. Due primarily to its location, South Padre Island is a feeding ground for various migrating birds. The fall months, namely October and November, bring birds headed south for the winter.
The white, sandy beaches of South Padre are well known throughout the United States. In fact, the beaches of South Padre Island are ranked among America’s top 10 beaches, with the emerald water of the Gulf of Mexico serving as the perfect backdrop for spectacular sunsets.
The island is perfect for sailing, fishing, windsurfing, dolphin watching, horseback riding, shopping, and golf. The evenings come alive with dining, dancing and music. Large selections of fine restaurants are available, and many will cook your catch! South Padre Island is the perfect place for a for a change of pace in a vacation paradise.
B- City Information:
Population: 2,422
Time Zone: Central Time. When it is noon at South Padre Island, it is 1:00 PM in New York City and 10:00 AM in Los Angeles. Daylight saving time is observed from April-October.
Elevation: At Sea Level
Area Code: 956
Land Area: 1.8 Square Miles
Location: Padre Island National Seashore is 150 miles southeast of San Antonio, Texas
Average Temperatures:
Month
High
Low
January
67F
47F
February
70F
51F
March
74F
56F
April
80F
63F
May
85F
69F
June
91F
74F
July
94F
75F
August
94F
75F
September
90F
71F
October
85F
65F
November
74F
54F
December
69F
50F
When to Visit:
Spring, early summer and fall are ideal times to visit the this area of Texas, though the climate is enjoyable year round. Breezes blow off the bay, so bring a sweater for the afternoons and evenings. From late March to mid June and from mid September through mid November, days are usually warm but not too hot and evenings are pleasant.
Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day
January ( 3rd Monday) Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday
January 19 Confederate Heroes Day
February (3rd Monday) Presidents’ Day
March 2 Texas Independence Day
May (Last Monday) Memorial Day
June 19 Emancipation Day
July 4 Independence Day
August 27 Lyndon B. Johnson’s birthday
September (1st Monday) Labor Day
November 11 Veterans’ Day
November (4th Thursday) Thanksgiving Day
December 25 Christmas Day
Time & Temperature: 1-956-546-2481
Weather Forecast: 1-956-546-5378
Arriving
By Air: Harlingen’s Valley International Airport and Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport in Brownsville are easily accessible.
By Car
The Queen Isabella Causeway is a 2.5-mile modern structure that links the Island to the mainland of Texas at Port Isabel. It provides easy access (and the only access by land) to South Padre Island.
From Houston: Take U.S. Highway 59 southwest to U.S. Highway 77 south (380 miles) to Texas Highway 100 east.
From San Antonio: Take Interstate 37 south to U.S. Highway 77 south (294 miles) to Texas Highway 100 east.
From Dallas: Take Interstate 35 east to San Antonio. Interstate 37 south to U.S. Highway 77 south to Texas Highway 100.
From Corpus Christi: U.S. Highway 77 south to Texas Highway 100 east. (166 miles)
C- Attractions/Things To Do:
The Laguna Madre Nature Trail
this wheelchair accessible facility can be accessed through the circle driveway leading up to the South Padre Island Convention Centre at 7355 Padre Boulevard.
The boardwalk is open at all times and is free of charge.
Known locally as the birding boardwalk, it provides access to the Laguna Madre bay for birders and other outdoor enthusiasts. From the 1,500-foot boardwalk that extends across four acres of wetland, onlookers can see egrets, herons, oystercatchers, terns, and the White-Morph Redish Egret wading in the shallow water of the Laguna Madre.
The boardwalk also takes nature lovers over wetlands and around a freshwater pond, providing them with an excellent opportunity to view a variety of rails, soras, kingfishers, moorhens, and numerous other species.
There is also a dedicated “Warbler Rest Area” adjacent to the boardwalk frigatebirds, boobies, and other pelagic birds. Whether you tour South Padre Island by car, boat, or on foot, your birding experience will be a special one.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
(956) 748-3607.
The Visitor’s Center is open October 1 through April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. The Center is open only on weekends during the month of May from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is closed June 1 through September 30. The Center is also closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Entrance fee charged per car.
A short 20-minute drive from South Padre Island is Located east of Rio Hondo and bordering the Laguna Madre bay, this 45,000-acre federal preserve is one of the jewels of the refuge system and has a record number of 411 birds documented. It is also home to endangered species such as the ocelot and jaguarundi. Other animals found at the refuge are javelinas, deer, Texas tortoises, indigo snakes, bobcats, coyotes and occasionally, mountain lions.
Andy Bowie Park
761-3704
Located on the northern end of South Padre Island, this park provides beachfront picnic pavilions, concessions, children’s playground, shower facilities, Group rental facilities are also available with prior arrangement for beach parties.
Edwin K. Atwood Park
Located 1.5 miles north of Andy Bowie Park on Park Road 100, this park offers a beachfront picnic pavilion, a concession, and a beach access road, which provides twenty miles of beach driving. 761-3704
Isla Blanca Park
(956) 761-5493.
On the southernmost tip of South Padre Island, this park is the crown jewel of the Cameron County Park System. Over one mile of clean, white beach along the Gulf of Mexico offers abundant beachfront recreational facilities. Enjoy picnic and playground areas, the south fishing jetty, restaurants, clubs, University of Texas Pan American exhibits, and the Chapel By The Sea non-denominational church. There is also a full-marina with daily charters, a water park, retail shops and a boat ramp.
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Cutting through the tall marsh grass are two boardwalks made of recycled material. Each boardwalk ends in a blind that allows people to become an unobtrusive observer of a host of birds, fish, turtles, dragonflies, lizards,and an alligator or two. Located just off to the side of the South Padre Island Convention Centre, the trail starts at the Warbler Rest Area, a plot of ground seeded with flowers designed to attract the winged creatures on a year-round basis. Located 4 miles north of the Queen Isabella Causeway. For more information call 800-SO-PADRE.
The Point Isabel Lighthouse Complex
421 Queen Isabella Blvd.
(956) 943-2262.
Daily, 9:00 – 5:00
Home to the newly renovated Point Isabel Lighthouse and the Keeper’s Cottage. In 1852, Congress approved the construction of a beacon in the Laguna Madre to support the growing ship industry of the South Texas Coast. The Point Isabel Lighthouse was built to protect and guide ships through Brazos Santiago and the barrier islands. During the Civil War, the light was closed and the tower was used as a lookout for both the Confederate and Union armies. The lighthouse was lit again after the war. In 1880, the lighthouse was renovated to accommodate a new light system. The lighthouse was officially closed in 1905. In 1952, the lighthouse was opened as a state park and is the only lighthouse on the Texas coast to be opened to the public. A replica of the Keeper’s Cottage houses the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, historic displays, and tourist information.
Port Isabel Historical Museum
317 E. Railroad Street
Port Isabel, TX
(956) 943-7602
Tuesday -Saturday, 10:00-4:00
Housed in the historic Champion Building, built in 1899 as a dry goods store and residence, it is one of the oldest structures in Port Isabel. The Museum houses numerous hands on exhibits, audio presentations and videos that commemorate the colorful history of the Port Isabel area, the stage of some of the most important chapters of Texas, Mexican and American History. The museum has two exhibit levels, a theater, gift shop and one of the largest collections of Mexican artifacts from the U.S. Mexican War. On the south end of the building is the famous “fish mural” painted in 1906 by a local fisherman.
Sea Turtle, Inc.
6617 Padre Blvd.
(956) 761-1720
Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 – 4:00
Small admission charge
Did you know that picking a turtle up by its shell without supporting the tummy is like being lifted by our finger, toe nails or hair? Founded by Illa Loetscher, affectionately known as the “Turtle Lady”, this enviro-friendly organization is dedicated to caring for and educating the public about endangered sea turtles. If you see a sea turtle, call the Turtle Hotline (956) 380-9677.
South Padre Island Center
2 Wallace L. Reed Rd.
956-943-0051.
The Center occupies The Old Coast Guard Station, the only historic building on South Padre Island., With its New England style design and lookout tower, it is a popular local tourist attraction. It was built in 1923 and served as an active Coast Guard station until the 1970s.
It was renovated in 1987 to house the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College’s first extension campus. The SPI Center is home to the University’s South Padre Island Technical Education Center
South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Center Whaling Wall #53
Built in 1992, this modern, airy, and colorful building located four miles north of the Queen Isabella causeway was created to host a wide variety of events.
The Convention Center is also the site of the famous Whaling Wall #53 by acclaimed environmental artist Wyland. Wyland wanted to show homage to whales and other creatures of the sea by devoting his talent to painting 100 walls across the world. His “Whaling Walls” capture the grandeur of his subjects. Spanning 153 feet in length, covering 3 walls and 23 feet in height, it took over 111 gallons of paint, 100 volunteers, and nearly four days to complete. Wyland donated his time and artwork, while local residents, private sponsors, and public organizations donated the paint, scaffolding, air guns, and lighting.
The Treasures of the Gulf Museum
317 E. Railroad Street
(956) 943-7602 for more information and current admission prices.
Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00.
The museum tells the story of the three ill-fated Spanish ships wrecked off the northern end of South Padre Island in 1554 near present day Port Mansfield, 30 miles north of Port Isabel. The exhibit incorporates murals, artifacts and hands-on activities to interpret this event. Actual artifacts from the shipwreck include silver planchas, or disks, coins, and weapons.
The Children’s Discovery lab features hands-on exhibits that teach visitors about marine archeology. Visitors are allowed to try on period clothing and map out a treasure site. The children’s section has a small-scale ship in which children can imagine themselves sailing the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The museum also has a “ship” theater and a nautical-inspired gift shop
University of Texas Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory
Located in Isla Blanca Park, near the north pavilion
956-761-2644
A satellite of the University of Texas Pan American,
Sunday -Friday, 1:30 – 4:30.
Charge per vehicle charge to enter the park
The Coastal Studies Laboratory studies and exhibits marine life such as crustaceans and marine vertebrates, and plant life.
North Padre Island National Seashore, Said to be the longest barrier island in the world, North Padre Island extends 113 miles from Corpus Christi almost to the Mexican border, with much of that part of the national
D- Family Fun Attractions:
Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark is Texas’ newest waterpark on the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island. Splash into more than a dozen family water attractions, including the world’s largest surfing ride and a five story Sand Castle.
South Padre Island Convention Centre Sand Castle
7355 Padre Blvd. on the north end of the Island.
The sand castle may be viewed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The South Padre Island Convention Centre is the location for the largest year-round sand castle in the State of Texas. Sons of the Beach Sand Castle Wizards, who complete in sand castle building contests throughout the world, built the sand castle and restore it regularly. They use 45 tons of sand mixed with an estimated 50 pounds of clay and 200 gallons of water to build the 10 feet tall statue. Built on a 10′ X 16′ base, it is topped off with an 80% water/20% Elmer’s glue solution. In all, about half a gallon of Elmer’s glue is used to coat the castle.
The sand castle has become a year-round treat for Island guests, and at times, the foreground is changed to welcome large groups and conferences, or to mark a special event.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
(956) 748-3607.
The Visitor’s Center is open October 1 through April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. The Center is open only on weekends during the month of May from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is closed June 1 through September 30. The Center is also closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Entrance fee charged per car.
A short 20-minute drive from South Padre Island is Located east of Rio Hondo and bordering the Laguna Madre bay, this 45,000-acre federal preserve is one of the jewels of the refuge system and has a record number of 411 birds documented. It is also home to endangered species such as the ocelot and jaguarundi. Other animals found at the refuge are javelinas, deer, Texas tortoises, indigo snakes, bobcats, coyotes and occasionally, mountain lions.
Andy Bowie Park
761-3704
Located on the northern end of South Padre Island, this park provides beachfront picnic pavilions, concessions, children’s playground, shower facilities, Group rental facilities are also available with prior arrangement for beach parties.
Edwin K. Atwood Park
761-3704
Located 1.5 miles north of Andy Bowie Park on Park Road 100, this park offers a beachfront picnic pavilion, a concession, and a beach access road, which provides twenty miles of beach driving.
Isla Blanca Park
(956) 761-5493.
On the southernmost tip of South Padre Island, this park is the crown jewel of the Cameron County Park System. Over one mile of clean, white beach along the Gulf of Mexico offers abundant beachfront recreational facilities. Enjoy picnic and playground areas, the south fishing jetty, restaurants, clubs, University of Texas Pan American exhibits, and the Chapel By The Sea non-denominational church. There is also a full-marina with daily charters, a water park, retail shops and a boat ramp.
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Cutting through the tall marsh grass are two boardwalks made of recycled material. Each boardwalk ends in a blind that allows people to become an unobtrusive observer of a host of birds, fish, turtles, dragonflies, lizards,and an alligator or two. Located just off to the side of the South Padre Island Convention Centre, the trail starts at the Warbler Rest Area, a plot of ground seeded with flowers designed to attract the winged creatures on a year-round basis. Located 4 miles north of the Queen Isabella Causeway. For more information call 800-SO-PADRE.
The Point Isabel Lighthouse Complex
421 Queen Isabella Blvd.
(956) 943-2262.
Daily, 9:00 – 5:00
Home to the newly renovated Point Isabel Lighthouse and the Keeper’s Cottage. In 1852, Congress approved the construction of a beacon in the Laguna Madre to support the growing ship industry of the South Texas Coast. The Point Isabel Lighthouse was built to protect and guide ships through Brazos Santiago and the barrier islands. During the Civil War, the light was closed and the tower was used as a lookout for both the Confederate and Union armies. The lighthouse was lit again after the war. In 1880, the lighthouse was renovated to accommodate a new light system. The lighthouse was officially closed in 1905. In 1952, the lighthouse was opened as a state park and is the only lighthouse on the Texas coast to be opened to the public. A replica of the Keeper’s Cottage houses the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, historic displays, and tourist information.
E- Events & Entertainment:
Mid January
Annual Taste of the Island
The Annual Taste of the Island, one of the most looked forward to events of the year, is held at the South Padre Island Convention Centre from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Area restaurants showcase their excellent food items, and there is also be a free tradeshow and live music for your listening enjoyment.Ticket information is available at the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce office located at 600 Pare Blvd., South Padre Island.
Early February
Annual Kite Festival
The summer blue sky will be filled with diving, darting, fluttering and hovering kites. Experts and other kite lovers are on hand to teach the fine art of hand-held sky ballet. South Padre Island is host to two kite festivals each year.
Early February
Annual South Padre Island Chili Expo (SPICE)
In good-natured competition, cooking teams vie for votes from the crowd for the coveted People’s Choice award and turn in their judging cups to be ranked by local celebrity judges. There are also awards for Showmanship, Best Vegetarian, Best Open Category and 1st through 10th Place for Best Recipe. Criteria taken into consideration for judging is aroma, consistency, red color, taste, and aftertaste. Showmanship (must have chili entered) is judged on theme, costume, booth set-up, action, and audience appeal. South Padre Island Chamber at 956-761-4412
Early May
Annual Windsurfing Blowout
This USWA (U.S. Windsurfing Association) event invites all recreational windsurfers to compete in course slalom and distance races. Finalists are sent to compete in higher divisions. Now a nationally recognized event, it has become an Island springtime tradition
Friday nights Memorial Day through Labor Day
Fireworks
Every Friday night is the Fourth of July on the Island. At 9:15 sharp, a silent barge in the center of the Bay releases it’s payload into the summer sky. With the firework light reflecting off the water, it’s a breathtaking display.
Early August
Annual Texas International Fishing Tournament
For more than 66 years, the Texas International Fishing Tournament has taken pride in creating an atmosphere of friendly fishing competition and wholesome family fun. The five day event, , offers fishing divisions that include bay, offshore and tarpon. TIFT is open to anglers of all ages and is the largest saltwater fishing tournament in Texas. (956) 943-8438
Mid August
Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament
The Ladies Kingfish Tournament has been an Island tradition for many years. The tournament is divided into two divisions, bay and offshore. Qualifying fish include redfish, trout and flounder for bay, and backfin tuna, dolphin and bonito for offshore. Like TIFT, the tournament is open to anglers of all ages.
Grand Champion Offshore and Overall Largest Fish. Prizes are also awarded for the best Hard Luck Story in each division. (956) 761-4412
Mid October
Bikefest and Motorcycle Convention Rally
It’s a South Padre Island Hog Rally that’s billed as “The Roar by the Shore.”
Late October
Sand Castle Days
It’s art and architecture in the sand. Get down and gritty along with sandcastle wizards who will inspire you to build sky scraping turrets and mind-bending arches. At the end of the day, go splash off in the Gulf and admire what your hands and buckets hath wrought. Prizes awarded for the most exemplary effort.
Early November
Tails Over South Padre Island Fun Fly Fiesta
The clear blue sky is filled with diving, darting, fluttering and hovering kites. Experts and other kite lovers are on hand to teach the fine art of hand-held sky ballet. South Padre Island is host to two kite festivals each year.