by Wendy Lafond

Created on: July 12, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

South Padre Island is the perfect location for the best weekend experiences Texas has to offer! With so much to do and even more to see, it doesn't matter what time of year you go, you are in for the get-a-way adventure of a lifetime. On your way you will pass through Port Isabel at the mainland end of the causeway. There is a breathtaking view to behold from the sea faring lighthouse there. Built in 1852, and open to the public, it is an awe-inspiring piece of history.

The kick-off to the summer season is Spring Break, when college-age tourists from all over converge on South Padre Island for sun, fun, and relentless partying. Summer nightlife on the Island has officially begun! World class clubs and entertainment await all who want to break-away from the grind. Whether you enjoy sports bars or karaoke, Las Vegas style entertainment or lounging at the local gay bar there is a piece of South Padre nightlife beckoning for you to come and partake of this one-of-a-kind encounter with pleasure.

Summer on South Padre Island is a touch of paradise. Anything you can imagine to do in the water is possible here; parasailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, charter boat trips, or a day at one of the country's top rated water parks, the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark. Fishing is a popular pastime and there are rental as well as charter boats to cruise the bay fishing and absorbing the beauty of the bay. There are over 100 fishing guides in the area so, even if you are not an experienced angler you will be able to fish like one off South Padre.

South Padre Island offers many ways to enjoy a weekend "off the beaten path". The wildlife is diverse and the trails abound. Maybe hiking through some of the 45,000 acres of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, located about twenty minutes inland, is your weekend adventure of choice. Or could it be Bird watching at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, with 50 acres of pristine dunes, salt marsh, and inter-tidal flats with their own population of native birds as well as being a resting spot for many migrating species.
Horseback riding on the sparkling white sandy beaches is a favorite of tourists and natives of the area alike. There are accommodations for every level of rider from novice to the equestrian. If you prefer motorized exploration there are four-wheeler beach tours and excursions as well.

Kids of all ages will delight in the perfect sandcastle sand that abounds on the beaches. South Padre boasts the first, and quite possibly the only, sandcastle academy in existence. Classes for individuals and groups are available (complete with instruction book!) and taught by a master sand sculptor.

From Memorial Day until Labor Day weekend there are fireworks over the bay. The shows start at 9:15 sharp every night. If you are looking for romance, try a fireworks cruise and watch from the deck of boat, with the colorful display reflecting off the bay around you. With fireworks to start off every weekend, the Fourth of July has to be big to compete, and big it is! With parades, concessions, and a dazzling patriotic display at dusk, South Padre is a perfect place to vacation for Independence Day.

October brings the "Roar by the Shore" annual Harley-Davidson rally, four memorable days of concerts and events. The Grand Finale is the South Padre International Music Festival, this year to be held from October 31 to November 2, 2008. An incredible weekend of music from around the world, with 13 venues throughout the island, this festival turns South Padre Island into a musical, magical paradise.

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