Attractions

South Padre Island Attractions

South Padre Island is one of Texas’s favorite vacation attractions. Located at the very southern tip of the state, its shores are washed by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico year-round. South Padre’s attractions strike a balance between modern comforts and conveniences on one hand, and natural beauty and exploration on the other. You can enjoy world-class hotels and restaurants, and also go diving in clear water or ride horseback along unspoiled beaches.

If you can do it on the water, you can do it on South Padre Island, including swimming, diving, parasailing, boating, surfing, or just lying on the beach working on your tan. The weather and water are almost always warm, but not as hot and humid as some resorts farther south. If you’re not an ocean swimmer, the island’s attractions include a 15-acre water park.

The island is a popular spring break destination, so there are plenty of hotels and hotel rooms available, as well as beach houses. Since South Padre Island is right next to the Mexican border, its restaurants feature some of the best Tex-Mex cuisine to be found anywhere. Since the fishing in the Gulf is so good, you can also enjoy the freshest of seafood, prepared by expert chefs in the island’s restaurants.

If you’re a nature lover, South Padre Island is as popular with the wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico as it is with people. Sea turtles nest on its beaches, and dolphins swim in the waters. A variety of operators offer nature tours on land or by boat, and you can also go diving to meet the fishes that throng the water up close. Naturally, the Gulf also offers excellent fishing for everything from flounder and snapper to — for the ambitious angler — marlin and sailfish. Every summer, the island hosts the Texas International Fishing Tournament.