From fishing to kiteboarding to horseback riding right on the beach, South Padre Island has all of the ingredients for a superb and unique holiday destination. By booking vacation packages online with Travelocity, you can take advantage of all of the offerings of this barrier island at surprisingly cheap rates. Find out more about what South Padre Island has in store so you can narrow down Travelocity's many deals on South Padre Island hotels and travel packages and stat enjoying a trip that's tailor-made to your tastes. From South Padre's privileged position on the Gulf of Mexico, you'll have access to plenty of coastline, with cerulean waters that are perfect for swimming, scuba diving, or water sports. On land, enjoy top-notch golf courses, pristine hiking trails, and an international spread of restaurants, shops, and bars.
South Padre Island's major attractions are its beaches, whether for day-long sunbathing or sunset cruises. However, the island is also home to a water park and several nonprofit nature centers, and several golf courses are just minutes away on the mainland. For indoor entertainment, you can easily salvage a rainy day at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art or the Children's Museum of Brownsville. The island's popularity as a spring break destination also means that you can enjoy a lively nighttime scene, with local bars and clubs offering live music and regular beach-side parties all year long. Otherwise, most visitors prefer to devote their time on South Padre to exploring the seashore, whether by foot, by horse, or by kayak.
For active travelers, South Padre Island specializes in setting you up for water sports and unusual new experiences, from skydiving to sailing. Kiteboarding is particularly popular, and many local outfitters can set you up to paddle in a kayak, join a fishing excursion, or try your luck at stand-up paddle-boarding. For the equestrian, South Padre is one of the rare places in the country where you can go horseback riding right on the beach. Nature lovers will marvel at the biodiversity of Padre Island National Seashore, where rare sea turtles and more than 380 bird species make their home. Part of the National Park Service System, the protected seashore extends 70 miles along the barrier island coastline, including dunes, prairies, and tidal flats. Visitors are welcome 365 days per year to enjoy birding, beach-combing, hiking, fishing, picnicking, boating, hunting, windsurfing, or camping.
If your idea of a beach holiday involves lots of sunshine and R&R, South Padre Island has no shortage of low-key ways to take in local sights. Book yourself a ride on the dolphin-watching cruises offered by many local charter services. Short day cruises abound, whether aboard a catamaran or, for something special, on a replica of a 17th century galleon with a crew of "friendly pirates." Only half a mile wide, South Padre Island's geography means that you're never far from sandy beaches for sunbathing or swimming. Many of the hotels on South Padre Island put you just steps from the island's sandy beaches. For some of the most scenic stretches, head to Isla Blanca Park at the southern end of South Padre or Andy Bowie Park at the island's northernmost tip. Should the weather interrupt your beach plans, book tickets to a tour or demonstration at the University of Texas-Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory. The school's public educational outreach center offers a range of ecologically themed activities. For absolute indulgence, book a massage or a treatment at one of the many local day spas.
South Padre Island is perhaps most widely known as a high-octane spring break destination. Every March, hotels in South Padre Island, TX, do indeed fill with pleasure-seeking college students. The rest of the year, though, visitors can find plenty of family-friendly and cheap hotels in South Padre Island, making it a well-rounded holiday destination most weeks of the year. The summer temperatures on South Padre typically stay in the upper 80s, making it a hot destination between June and August. On the upside, the very high temperatures also bring hotel rates down. In addition, South Padre residents and visitors enjoy fireworks on the weekends all summer long, from Memorial Day until Labor Day. For a balance between warm temperatures and minimal crowds, head to South Padre in the fall. September, October, and November also bring some of South Padre's biggest festivals and events. Alternately, a winter trip to the island makes a perfect getaway from chilly northern climates. Bear in mind, though, that many visitors from northern Texas like to visit between December and February, so it's worth booking your hotel room and travel packages well in advance.
When it comes to hotels, South Padre Island's geography lends itself to a beach-side stay. Even from a room without Gulf views, you can walk to the water in minutes. When choosing among Travelocity's selection of South Padre Island hotels and packages, your main choice is between a more economical room on Padre Boulevard or a room at one of the island's beachfront inns and resorts.
With miles of untouched coastline and beautifully preserved national seashores, South Padre can feel far from civilization. In fact, driving from Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport to the island only takes about 35 minutes. With regular flights from United Airlines, American Airlines, and AeroMexico, the airport is fairly easy to reach from most major national and some international airports. Transportation options to and from the airport include car rental, taxis, and a free island shuttle with regular service. Given the ease of transportation, most visitors to South Padre choose to fly into Brownsville but stay at the beachfront hotels South Padre Island is best known for.
Whatever brings you to South Padre Island, building your trip around a Travelocity hotel package can simplify the logistics and cut down on costs, too, so you can focus on enjoying your stay. With the money you save on hotel rooms and airfare, you can dedicate more of your budget to the many local attractions, from fresh Gulf Coast cuisine to romantic sunset cruises to blood-pumping water sports.