Once on the Island, you will notice that the atmosphere on the Island is friendly and relaxing. Even our finest restaurants encourage you to be comfortable – don’t even think about packing a tie or evening wear!!! The Island is a melting pot of ages and backgrounds. There are no strangers here; only friends we haven’t met yet.
The Island offers opportunities to try things you’ve never tried before, or enjoy activities you love to do. How about a little surfing or wind surfing? Winds here are a dream for kiteboarding. How about snorkeling or scuba diving? Or parasailing or riding the banana boats? Dolphins are frequent visitors to our waters and the dolphin watch cruises give you an opportunity to enjoy these fabulous creatures. Try out the dune buggies or an electric car to get you around.
Looking for something a little more tame? Grab your beach towel and some sunscreen and head to the beach. There you will find our beautiful white sand beaches. Pull up a chair, play in the surf, catch a nap or read a good book. Drive up the beach at the north end of the island to collect amazing shells. Don’t forget to stop at the Sea Turtle Rescue and the Birding Center.
Prefer to spend some time with indoor activities? Consider stopping by one of the bridge, bingo or mahjong gatherings open to the public. Of course, stop by one of the many t-shirt shops to pick up your souvenirs. The local movie theater offers feature movies. Or head to some of the shopping malls on the mainland.
1) Visit Schlitterbahn's
Get wet at one of the top water parks in the country. Schlitterbahn's Beach has water slides and rides for visitors of all ages and also features restaurants and evening entertainment.
Isla Tours of South Padre Island offers dolphin watches, sunset cruises, fireworks cruises, snorkel trips, and more to make your South Padre Island vacation complete.
How can you be surrounded by water and not want to go fishing? South Padre Island boasts some of the nation's top inshore and offshore sport fishing.
American Diving offers a wide array of diving and snorkeling expeditions in the clear Gulf waters surrounding South Padre Island.
With miles of shallow, calm water in the Lower Laguna Madre and strong winds coming off the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island is a windsurfer's dream.
Located across the bay in Laguna Vista, the South Padre Island Golf Course is just a short drive for visitors wishing to play a round of golf.
South Padre Island's Sea Turtle, Inc. is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles, particularly the endangered Kemp's Ridley. Sea Turtle, Inc. also offers education tours, giving visitors an up-close look at these magnificent creatures.
South Padre Island's Island Equestrian Center offers kids and adults alike an opportunity to ride a horse on the beach on the desolate stretches beach on the north side of South Padre Island.
Fins 2 Feathers Cruises of South Padre Island offers a variety of private sunset, dolphin watch and bird watching cruises and activities.
Located in Port Isabel, one of the oldest towns in Texas, the Point Isabel Lighthouse served mariners along the Lower Texas Coast throughout the Civil War and into the 1900s.