South Padre Island is a barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico in the far south of Texas, separated from the mainland by the Laguna Madre. It is Texas's only true beach resort, and it earns the title: the Gulf water is warm, the beach is wide, and the pace of life is deliberately unhurried for most of the year. In March, the island turns into one of the biggest Spring Break destinations in the country, with Coca Cola Beach filling up with university students and the bars and clubs running around the clock. For the other eleven months, it reverts to a more accessible family destination.
The beaches are the main attraction. Isla Blanca Beach County Park at the southern tip, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Lower Laguna Madre, is the best spot for observing marine life — sea turtles nest here, dolphins are common, and the sheltered lagoon side supports a diverse ecosystem of birds and crabs. The park has facilities for surfing, kite boarding, fishing, and kayaking, and a jetty where you can watch the surfers from above. Further north, the long public beach is good for swimming, shelling, and horseback riding. The shallow, warm water makes it safe for children, and the consistent onshore breeze draws kite boarders and windsurfers.
The Laguna Madre on the west side of the island is a flat, hypersaline bay that is excellent for kayaking and birdwatching — the area lies along a major migratory flyway and attracts serious birders. The town of Port Isabel on the mainland, connected by the Queen Isabella Causeway, has the most intact 19th-century commercial district in the Rio Grande Valley and the Queen Isabella Lighthouse for views over the island and bay.