Padre Island Vacation

Padre Island located in the state of Texas in the United States of America is the longest barrier island in the world. It has also been listed as the largest island in terms of surface area within the contiguous United States. The Padre Island is fed by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the white sandy beaches around this island area are some of the most popular, attracting people from all over the world. A typical Padre Island vacation will mean lazying around these beaches and getting the perfect tan as you soak in the sun’s rays on the beaches. The Padre Island is divided into two distinctive parts, the North Padre Island and the South Padre Island, the Port Mansfield Channel acting as the barrier between the two halves. Here is a list of places to visit in Padre Island, the hotels that you can stay in while on a visit here and the best climatic conditions which favor a holiday.

 

Best Time of the Year to Visit the Padre Island

 

The Padre Island is known for the numerous activities undertaken on the beaches of this island during the spring season. If you want to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Texas, Padre Island is the place for you to be in. The summer activities and the winter sports arranged for tourists in this holiday destination are the prime attractions for visitors. In fact, the Padre Island was also listed in a recent survey among the top 100 destinations to be in if you are interested in water sport activities.

The ideal Padre Island holiday should be arranged during the spring break in the month of March. The spring vacation in schools and colleges brings a huge young crowd to Padre Island. The one month spring season is the time when youngsters party hard on the Padre Island beaches, therefore this is not the best time to arrange a Padre Island tour if you are taking your family along.

It is only towards the end of spring that the tourist crowd in Padre Island takes a whole new picture. It is time for families with children to visit this world famous island and celebrate the Holy Week that leads to Easter. Spring is also the start of the water sport season in Padre Island. Windsurfing is the most seen sport on the Padre Island beaches.

If spring scores high on the number of festivals for tourists to enjoy, summer is the time when water sports are enjoyed the most. From jet skiing, scuba diving, surfing and fishing, to parasailing and snorkeling, every kind of water activity can be availed in the waters of the Padre Island. You can also spend your entire day at the beaches of Padre Island getting tanned under the summer sun. Summer, as many say, is the best Padre Island climate for holidays. Even if you are not very adventurous and do not want to participate in water sports, you can spend the time watching whales playing tricks on the sea surface, sail the waters on a day or evening cruise or build sand castles on the beach.

The fall season of Padre Island was a few years ago not a very good time to vacation in the island. However, with the huge influx of tourists and the extension of the tourism calendar, fall sees a number of tourists who come to Padre Island for fishing and watching the various festivals held during this time celebrating the traditions and culture of the place.

The winters of Padre Island are the time when various birds migrate to this area. Therefore if you are interested in bird watching, winter is the best time for you to travel to Padre Island.

As you will have noticed by now, the best time to visit Padre Island does not depend on the climate of the region, but rather on the activities you are interested to participate in during your holiday.

 

Places to Visit in Padre Island

 

Padre Island is divided into two halves, the Northern part and the Southern part. You can visit both parts of the island which have some of the most beautiful beaches to tour and participate in water activities.

Popular places to visit in North Padre Island:

• Padre Island National Seashore – tent camping is the chief attraction in the beach area here. Fishing may also be done in the waters of the lagoon or the gulf. You can enjoy a relaxed picnic here and also freshen up in the customized bathrooms and restrooms at the Malaquite Beach. The National Seashore is also the home of rare species of terrestrial and marine animals and plants.

• Bird Island Basin – camping, windsurfing or using the services of the launching boats are the prime attractions in this site. Though the camping facilities are not much upgraded, you can still spend some quiet time here.

• Wildlife Variety – North Padre Island is not only known for its picturesque locales but also for its rich collection of plant and animal life. The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, a sea animal on the verge of extinction, is found only here.

• The beach at Isla Blanca Park – this is one of the largest parks of not only the island but also in Texas. The white sands of the beach is perfect for picnics and games by children. Camping facilities are also available, as are fishing jetties which take far into the water.

• South Padre Island Convention Center – this place serves as a reserve for some of the most rare wildlife species in the world. The boardwalks constructed over the bay are places from where you can stand and watch these animals and also fishes.

• Cristo de los Pescadores – the fishing village culture of South Padre Island still remains intact in this place, which means ‘Christ of the Fishermen’ in English. The village is home to several fishermen and shrimpers of South Padre Island.

 

Hotels in Padre Island

 

The Padre Island hotels are available in a wide range of tariffs and categories. Here is a list of the best hotels that you can choose from.

• Saida Towers
  410 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas 78597
  Ph No. 956-761-7801

• Palms Resort
  3616 Gulf Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas 78597
  Ph No. 956-761-1316

• Sangria Condominiums
  1400 Gulf Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas 78597
  Ph No. 956-761-2141

• Comfort Suites
  15209 Windward Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
  Ph No. 1800-102-1122

• Holiday Inn Beach Hotel
  15202 Windward Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
  Ph No. 361-949-8041

Have a happy Padre Island vacation!