Best Of South Padre Island: Eat, Sleep, Play

The Best of South Padre Island: Where to eat, stay, and play

Texas’s tropical paradise, South Padre Island, is where most Texans go for sandy beaches, great weather, and clean water. With an average of 62 degrees, going here makes a fun vacation for the entire family any time during the year. Read about the best of South Padre Island below and make plans to visit.

If you want to scour the beach for seashells, build a sandcastle, maybe see a dolphin or two, or visit sea turtles, consider visiting Texas’s most popular beach and explore these  SPI experiences.

Related: Things To Do With Young Kids In South Padre Island

The Best Of South Padre Island

Whether you visit in the summer for a full-blown vacation or to escape the cold in the winter, South Padre is a tourist town open year-round with unforgettable experiences. Explore miles and miles of tropical paradise from the world-class water experiences to activities on the bay – you’ll never tire of something to do.

Padre is miles of beaches with plenty of public access to the water with lots of parking. The Island is large enough for many people to play and stay. Welcome to Paradise.

Related: Outdoor Activities At Texas Beaches

Play At Isla Blanca Park

The crown jewel of parks, they say. If kids are along, this park is a must-see. Isla Blanca Park — a park like no other is more than just a park where kids play. It’s filled with endless water recreation, beachfront pavilions, food concessions, restaurants, beach rentals, a walking trail, surf fishing, etc. You can bring a tent for camping or your RV. There are restrooms and showers throughout the park and shaded picnic areas. Make reservations online for camping.

Cruises And Tours On South Padre Island

Osprey Cruises offers a variety of cruises, so there is something for the whole family to enjoy. The 55′ Speedboat & Bay or Deep Sea Fishing trips would thrill your group. The dinner, sunset & fireworks cruises are great for everyone too!

Cruises And Tours

Osprey Cruises

For Dinner Cruises and Black Dragon Pirate Cruises, contact Osprey Cruises.

The Original Dolphin Watch 

There are fun tours on the island, but The Original Dolphin Watch tour company is a popular one to check out.

Breakaway Cruises

Another dolphin tour cruise to check out is Breakaway Cruises.

Captain Murphy’s Isla Tours

Contact Captian Murphy’s Isla Tours for more information on Fireworks Cruises and Eco Tours.

Island Adventure Park

How about a morning horseback ride or an hour of speed zipping on the beach? If these two outdoor activities don’t thrill you, there are many other things to do. Heck, parents, let the teens play, and you get a massage! Island Adventure Park provides entertainment for the whole family.

Meet Allison At Sea Turtle Inc.

Sea Turtle Inc is a non-profit organization that rehabilitates sea turtles like Allison. Also, learn about the sole founder of Sea Turtle, Inc., Ila Fox Loetscher  – what her career was before her love for sea turtles. For $4- $10, year-round on a self-guided tour, you will meet the friendly residents and patients through the education facilities.

Take A Sandcastle Lesson

Building a fascinating sandcastle takes time and practice. Or, you can take an hour or so sandcastle lesson and learn exactly how to create a masterpiece. I did this for the first time at a beach in another state. The sandcastle instructor taught us how to build an adorable sandcastle in about an hour. It was indeed a fun experience.

At Sand Castle Lessons in South Padre, one of the sandcastle builders will teach you and your crew techniques to build something fun using sand, water, and tools.

Fly A Kite On The Beach Or Learn How

Bring a kite and fly it all around the beach, or you can take kite lessons on the beach from B & S Kites and another friendly outfitter. One of our travel writers has used B & S Kites in the past. I bet they have kites for sale too.

B & S Kites announce on Facebook that the SPI Kite Fest is returning in 2023.

Take Up Birdwatching

Taking a guided birdwatching tour is a great way to see the beautiful birds and the butterflies of South Padre Island. The tour guides are residents and primarily volunteers. They are incredibly knowledgeable about everything. You’ll enjoy a trip on the boardwalk through the tidal wetlands along the Laguna Madre on this guided birdwatching tour. And, don’t forget your binoculars or the center has some you can borrow. Check out the guided tours here >>> SPIbirding.

Beach Souvenirs

South Padre offers plenty of activities that do not involve water, like shopping! Different styles for different folks! You’ll find beach essentials and beachwear from farmer’s markets to mom-and-pop shops to an inside mall to walk through to get out of the heat. Be sure to pick up some local souvenirs to remind you of the fun you had on the island.

Best Restaurants In South Padre Island

Dining in South Padre Island is just what you expect —fresh seafood from the Gulf.

more to come

Hotels In South Padre Island

There are plenty of hotels in South Padre to choose from, and many are right on the beach. Beach houses and vacation homes are probably the most popular, but if you have a small group, you may want to consider renting a condo. A plethora of hotel chains is also right on the beach.

Beach Houses

If you’re headed to the beach to play in the water the whole time you’re there, why not book your perfect beach house on the water. Vrbo has thousands of beach house rentals in SPI, mostly beachfront. I bet those go first, so book early.

Isla Grand Beach Resort

Isla Grand Beach Resort has it all – you may never want to leave. You must read about this beachfront full-service resort on the Gulf.

The Palms Resort

Stay and play and eat at one of the best beachfront cafes on the Island when you stay at The Palms Resort. Located at 3616 Gulf Blvd.

Pet-Friendly Hotels In South Padre Island

There are tons of pet-friendly hotels in SPI. Here are a few with affordable pricing.

• Isla Grand Beach Resort – rooms from $98 with beach access
• Pearl South Padre Beachfront Resort Hotel – rooms from $79 with beach access
• La Quinta And Suites – rooms from $99 with beach access

There you have it – the best of South Padre Island – so many eat, play & stay moments!!

Don’t forget to read the beach rules to stay beach safe.

PIN IT!