GULF COAST REGION: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS

Map of South Padre Island Area & Additional South Padre Island Information

South Padre Island Sign South Padre Island is both a town and an island. The town is on South Padre Island in Cameron County. South Padre Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf Coast which is connected to the mainland by a causeway from Port Isabel.

The Queen Isabella Causeway, it being the 2.5 miles "bridge" to South Padre Island is crossed by over one million beach visitors a year.

The population of the town of South Padre Island is around 2,500. There are almost 2 hotel/motel/condominium rooms for every resident. Making it rather obvious that tourism is the main industry of South Padre Island.

White sand beaches surround South Padre Island, both on the Gulf of Mexico east side of the island and the Laguna Madre west side. Highway 100 will take your for miles along undeveloped beach front before ending at the manmade Mansfield Cut, a ship passage that divides the barrier island in two.

Spring Breakers, taking a break from college, flood South Padre Island by the thousands. Snowbirds from Canada and the American north head to South Padre Island for the winter.

The Gulf and Laguna Madre are popular windsurfing and kiting destinations. There is also regular surfing, wave running, parasailing, kayaking and banana boating.

At Andy Bowie Park, at the northern end of South Padre Island you'll find beachfront pavilions, boogie board rental and BBQ picnic facilities. Isla Blanca Park is at the south end of the island. At Isla Blanca you'll find boat ramps, a fishing jetty, charters and a marina.

Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark has more than a dozen water attractions, among them are tube chutes, slides, uphill water coasters, the Boogie Bahn surfing ride and the Sand Castle water fun house. Plenty of fun for kids, with free parking, free use of inner tubes. There is a full service restaurant and sports bar, but you can bring your own picnic basket. As long as it is alcohol-free.

FISHING INFORMATION

You can fish from the beach, piers, jetties and boats, catching redfish, trout, sheepshead, flounder, skipjack, croakers and drum. Charter boats will take you deep sea fishing where you might catch mackerel, kingfish, marlin, tarpon, sailfish, ling cod, pompano, bonito, wahoo, red snapper and warsaw.

To check on fishing conditions and other fishing information you can check at Jim's Pier, Fisherman's Wharf or the Sea Ranch Marina. For dolphin watches check out Breakaway Cruises. For Gulf and Bay fishing go to Murphy's Charters or Skipper Ray.

WHERE TO STAY ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

You can call Padre Island Rentals at 800.926.6926 for information and reservations in 15 hotels and condominium complexes.

WHERE TO EAT ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

South Padre Island has many restaurant choices. Among them are Amberjacks, which overlooks Laguna Madre, Blackbeard's for burgers and seafood, the Grill Room at the Pantry for steaks and seafood and the Sea Ranch Restaurant at the Sea Ranch Marina for Tex-Mex and seafood.

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