Location: South Padre Island
Top Things to do in South Padre Island
Countries
What to do and see in South Padre Island, Texas (TX): The Best Sights & Landmarks
Right off the southern tip of Texas is the tropical paradise of South Padre Island. This barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico offers vacationers a sunny respite from the daily grind. Gaze at a magnificent sunset from the flats, laze on the white sandy beach or go deep sea fishing and cook your catch at Andy Bowie Park. Take a dolphin-watch tour, look for more than 300 species of birds at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center and dine on fresh Texas Gulf seafood.
Restaurants in South Padre Island
1. Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 137 reviews
This 1,500-foot boardwalk crosses four acres of marshland, where bird watchers can spot many coastal and migratory birds and numerous others tempted by the berries on the fiddlewood bushes along the trail
Reviewed By TGoodGurg - Coeur d'Alene, United States
Great walk for the early morning or late evening. Great birds to view. So pretty and an easy trail on a boardwalk.
2. University of Texas - Pan American Coastal Studies Lab
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By terrycT590ZR
Great place to learn about coastal biology in the area and the research that is being conducted there.
3. Largest Outdoor Sandcastle in the USA
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 270 reviews
We Have finished rebuilding the largest Outdoor permanent sandcastle in the USA. Originally built in Oct 2013, it remains the oldest outdoor permanent sandcastle in the USA and has been featured on just about every show and publication there is.
Reviewed By wvgirlygirl27 - Joliet, United States
The sandcastles are cool to see! Make sure you go inside the visitor center and take a look around. They have a lot of pamphlets on area attractions.
4. Cristo de los Pescadores
5. Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 79 reviews
This one-acre park and fishing pier was once the Queen Isalbella Causeway.
Reviewed By marandalanay - Saint Anne, United States
We’re visiting SPI for our honeymoon and decided to go check out the fishing pier. It’s free to walk and view. Wasn’t busy or crowded, was very clean. Quite a few people were fishing and we even seen a few dolphins come up close. Definitely recommend taking a walk down this pier. ♥️
6. Wyland's Whaling Wall
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 142 reviews
The Whaling Wall is part of artist Wyland’s contribution to walls around the country. The Whaling Wall is featured at the South Padre Island Convention Centre and it’s located on the north end of the Island, approximately four miles north of the causeway. The title of Wyland’s Whaling Wall #53 is “Orcas off the Gulf of Mexico”. This magnificent mural takes up three sides of the convention center’s walls. Wyland’s purpose in painting these murals is to raise awareness to the dangers that these marine mammals face. Robert Wyland the artist was born in Detroit in the mid 1950’s. He has become famous painting enormous outdoor murals of marine life on buildings throughout the nation.
Reviewed By karenh825
Always enjoy stopping by the Whaling Wall. The artwork is beautiful and I love how it flows from one wall right into the next wall. Great stop for kiddos!
