South Padre Island, a resort destination and beach town in Texas, offers visitors many attractions and beaches year-round. Although South Padre Island receives over 1 million visitors annually --- most visiting on day or weekend trips from nearby cities, it is home to only about 5,000 residents, according to the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. Water-related activities, bird-watching and dining are some things you may enjoy on day trips to the Island.
The number one attraction for many people visiting South Padre Island is the beach. Because there are no privately owned beaches, visitors of the Island may enjoy any of the beaches --- as well as the playgrounds, pavilions, picnic tables and showers available on them. Families may also enjoy visiting the Island's clean, sandy beaches to build sandcastles and play on the sand dunes, as they were given a score of five out of five by the Travel Channel for child-friendliness. Bird watching, horseback riding, sunbathing and kite flying are other beach activities visitors may find of interest.
Water-related activities are another of South Padre Island's biggest attractions. According to the Travel Channel, South Padre Island's warm, shallow water provides some of the best surfing and swimming the Gulf of Mexico has to offer. Other available water-related activities include scuba diving, jet skiing, windsurfing, body boarding, snorkeling, parasailing and bungee jumping. The Island also offers a wide range of fishing opportunities including bay, offshore, boat and flyfishing. Dolphin lovers may also enjoy seeing dolphins and other marine life up close on a dolphin-watching cruise.
Nature and bird lovers may enjoy spending the day at the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center. Home to over 360 recorded species of birds --- all of which are exhibited at the facility, South Padre Island is one of the largest birding locations in the western hemisphere, according to the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. In the facility, visitors can learn about the birds, beaches, dunes, animals and ecosystems found on the Island. They can also experience unparalleled views of the Island from the 60-foot observation tower. Outside the facility, visitors can walk the Nature Center Boardwalk and observe many birds and wildlife in their natural habitat.
If you're interested in more than beaches, birds and water-related activities, you may enjoy visiting Three Flags Over Padre during your day trip. This amusement center is open to the whole family and offers features such as a miniature golf course, huge arcade room, go-cart riding and spaceball. Nearby is Island Cinema where families can enjoy a movie on one of the four available screens. Children may enjoy learning more about wildlife through exhibits and videos presented at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge or learning about sea turtles and other reptiles at the nonprofit organization Sea Turtle, Inc.
If you get hungry before leaving South Padre Island, many dining spots are available. According to the Travel Channel, value-conscious visitors will appreciate the abundance of moderately priced restaurants the Island offers. Some options include Amberjack's Bayside Bar & Grill --- serving seafood, hamburgers, steaks and pasta; Big Boys Wings & Sports Bar --- serving seafood, chicken and sandwiches; Bada Bing! Bagels --- serving bagels and deli sandwiches; and Parrot Eyes, which offers a restaurant, bar, water sports and gift shop at its location on the Island.
