South Padre Island Texas
A Tropical Island Paradise In Texas!

Without a doubt, South Padre Island Texas is one of our FAVORITE vacation destinations!

My family and I discovered this little tropical paradise a couple of summers ago. We have been hooked ever since!

Our favorite things to do in South Padre Island are the beaches, a visit to Schlitterbahn, and fishing. If you're going to South Padre, I want to tell you about our favorite hotels and restaurants. I also want to give you a map to help you get around, tell you about other events, and also give you and idea of what to expect of the weather.

Where Is South Padre Island?

If you're wondering where South Padre Island is, follow the Texas coastline towards Mexico. It is a couple of miles off the coast just about on the border with Mexico.

Things To Do In South Padre Island

Beaches On South Padre Island

The beaches on South Padre Island are probably the main reason why we go.

A seemingly endless stretch of soft, white, powdery sand along the Gulf-side of the island...

We usually take some goodies for the beach, like a beach shovel, frisbee, and boogie boards along. This provides for hours of fun in the sun. I like building sand castles with the boys. Last summer their quest was to ride the boogie boards in shallow water standing upright!

The boys also nagged me last summer to go parasailing. As a Dad, I was a little nervous, but in the end it was a fantastic experience! They just loved it...

Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen!

Schlitterbahn South Padre Island Texas

Although somewhat smaller than the Schlitterbahn waterpark in New Braunfels, Schlitterbahn South Padre Island makes for at least a whole day of water fun!

My kids usually race from one ride to the next. I prefer to simply lie on a tube and go round and round on the "river" that connects all the rides.

Schlitterbahn could seem a little pricey, but at least they let you take a cooler. So once you're in, you don't have to spend anymore money.

There is a restaurant (Shrimp Haus), and a sports bar (El Jefe's Sports Bar) in Schlitterbahn. After every three or four laps around the river, I also enjoy stopping off at Jefe's Backyard for a drink. It's important to keep the hydration up...

Next time we go to South Padre Island, we're definitely spending a day at Schlitterbahn!

Fishing South Padre Island Texas

If you're into deep sea fishing, South Padre Island Texas has it!

The story goes that South Padre Island is closer to the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico than any other place along the Gulf coast. So you spend less time getting there, and more time fishing! Afterall, that's why you're there, right?

You can fish for Red Snapper, Grouper, Kingfish, Shark, and more.

Keep in mind that these fishing trips last anywhere from 3 to 12 hours, depending on what you choose. Fishing captains are typically not in the habit of turning back if one person gets sea-sick. Be sure to take motion sickness medication if you're unsure how you're going to handle the sea!

There are a couple of outfits that offer fishing trips in South Padre. We have used Osprey's before and had a great time! I took my 12-yr old son on a trip recently and he caught his biggest fish ever! He was all smiles and that made me a happy dad!

Horseback Riding On The Beach

Do you think horseback riding on the beach could be fun? I certainly do. If you agree and want to do it, the Island Equestrian Center is the place to go.

You don't have to be an experienced rider to do this. Beginners can do it too. The guides are experienced and they take good care of everybody.

The rides take you out along the beach, and you're allowed to let your horse go a little bit into the surf, which is a lot of fun.

Horseback riding on the beach in South Padre Island Texas is fun activity that the whole family can enjoy!

Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center

A really great, value-for-money place to take the kids while on vacation in South Padre Island is the Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center.

The kids can get a hands-on experience at the touch tanks, where they can touch sea creatures. Their dolphin experience is also among the best you will experience anywhere. Captain George is an excellent, informative guide who tries to give you the best experience ever!

The Center is located in Port Isabel right by the Light House Square and Pirate's Landing restaurant. Worth a visit!

If you've never been to South Padre Island Texas, you have to go! It's a blast!

If thousands of students is not your thing, don't go over Spring Break though...

C'mon summer... c'mon South Padre!

South Padre Island Restaurants

My favorite of South Padre Island restaurants is Scampi's. They serve great seafood. We've seen some magnificent sunsets from there too!

I enjoy the home brewed beers of the Padre Island Brewing Co a lot too, and try to go there at least once during our stay. Another great seafood restaurant that has good pasta too, is the Sea Ranch, but keep in mind that it is a fancier restaurant, and therefore a bit pricey.

If you're in the mood for good pizza in a restaurant with a nice atmosphere, go to D Pizza Joint. We've also had some great pizza with the kids at Gabriella's Italian Grill & Pizzaria. They love it, and the price is great!

For more choices, here is a list of South Padre Island restaurants.

South Padre Island Lodging

Being a major vacation destination, South Padre Island has no shortage of lodging.

Here are a few of our favorite South Padre Island hotels and condos.

South Padre Island Map

When going on vacation, it helps a lot if you know where to find the attractions that you would like to visit!

To help with that, I have created a South Padre Island map to help you find your way to all the fun things to do in South Padre Island and that also shows where the restaurants and hotels are located.

South Padre Island Events Calendar

There are events that take place in South Padre Island that aren't fixed attractions. They can be a lot of fun too. Take a look at my South Padre Island Texas Events Calendar to find some fun events for your family.

You can also buy tickets to many sports events in South Padre Island right here!

South Padre Island Texas Weather

It always helps if the weather plays along when planning a trip to South Padre Island.

To find out what the weather's plans are for the next few days, check out South Padre Island's weather.

Your South Padre Island Vacation Story?

Have you been to South Padre Island before and have a fun attraction that you like to visit? Please tell us about it! Also read about others' favorite activities and experiences.

See Visitors' South Padre Island Vacation Stories!