South Padre Island Vacations

South Padre is an island filled with beaches, but lounging in the sun isn’t the only thing to do here. Ramp up your fun with professionally guided expeditions, of which San Padre has dozens. Choose from diving, fishing, horseback riding, sand castle lessons and more. From kite-flying to dolphin-watching, beach fitness classes to Sea-Doo rentals, there is no shortage of fun. Need more color? Every Friday in summer, there’s a fireworks display over the Laguna Madre Bay.

The Museums of Port Isabel is a complex with three diverse facilities: the Port Isabel Historic Museum, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum (think pirate treasure and cool shipwrecks), and the Point Isabel Lighthouse -- which also hosts free movies during the summer.

Located just 25 miles from the Mexican border, this tiny town is teeming with 50,000 college students with one goal in mind: Party. Each year TV crews set up, every club is packed, hotel rooms are full, and kegs are legal on the beach. (You have to be at least 18 to party, 21 to drink.)

With over 300 species native to the island, spy birds of different feathers here on the Laguna Madre waterfront. As part of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail, you'll get up-close to birds not normally seen in the wild via boardwalks that wind through fresh, salt and brackish water habitats.

If you don’t see a dolphin on your South Padre vacation, you must have a very good reason -- wild bottlenose are almost everywhere, and numerous tours help you spot (and learn about) our dolphin friends. The South Padre Island Dolphin Research & Sea Life Nature Center is dedicated to their preservation, and offers hands-on experiences with sea creatures (a hit with the kids).

Fishing is kind of a big deal here. The Texas International Fishing Tournament draws crowds in late summer, with winnings totaling almost a quarter million in cash. Ladies Kingfish Tournament, Hooters Tournament and Redfish Rodeo are popular, too. Heads up: As of September 2011, noodling (catching catfish by hand) will be legal in Texas.

Stroll this large boardwalk to learn about dune systems and bird species that frequent the area. Observe exotic birds, fish, alligators, butterflies and more in their natural habitats.

Prepare to spend a day here with 11 attractions and 13 water slides on seven acres, located between the protected dunes and wetlands. Accessible from Padre Boulevard via a beach footbridge, this park features a “Transportainment” river system. Designed to minimize lines, rivers transport guests around the park.

Spring break's sensible sister boasts a national seashore on North Padre Island with a long beach and nature preserve. Primitive camping is available and most of the beach is only accessible to 4X4s. A program to re-establish a nesting beach for Kemp's Ridley sea turtles began in 1978, and in the summer, visitors can witness the release of newborn turtles. (And slow down if you see one crossing the road!)

This national park preserves the grounds of the Battle of Palo Alto. Learn about the Mexican-American War with videos, exhibits and more. A half-mile trail leads to an overlook of the battlefield and includes interpretive panels.