Things to Do in South Padre Island

South Padre Island is understandably popular with the spring break crowd, but during the rest of the year, you'll find that it’s an ideal destination for your family to enjoy happy days of old-fashioned fun in the sun.

On the Beach and in the Water

On an island that’s only one-half-mile across at its widest point, you’re always just a short walk from the sand and the surf. You can spend your time sunbathing; get a bit more active and rent Jet Skis, surfboards and kayaks; or take advantage of prime conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try flyboarding and blast off above the water as high as you dare! The kids will be delighted with a voyage on the Black Dragon Pirate Ship—a 75-foot replica of a 17th-century galleon—on which they can hunt for treasure, learn to talk like a pirate and participate in water pistol battles. If you enjoy fishing, remember to bring your gear with you (or you can rent some fishing gear)—the Laguna Madre is a renowned fishery.

Adventures on the Island

Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark is open from April to September, and your family will have fun conquering every one of its more than 20 attractions, from high-speed water slides to the kid-friendly Sand Castle Cove fun house. The park even has an uphill water coaster and the first underground waterslide in Texas!

At the 40-acre South Padre Island Adventure Park, you can enjoy the quieter side of the island. You can ride horseback over dunes and into shallow water, or fly sky high on a zip-line circuit. Little ones love the petting barn, where they can ride ponies, feed barnyard animals and meet talking parrots.

Golfers love hitting the links at the 18-hole South Padre Island Golf Club, which is located on the mainland in Laguna Vista.

Nature and Wildlife Experiences

Delight in the wave-riding antics of the pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins that live in the gulf on a dolphin-watching tour. South Padre Island is also home to endangered sea turtles; the Sea Turtle, Inc. research, rescue and rehabilitation center allows you to get up close and personal with some of the sea turtle residents. While you’re there, walk next door to the island’s Birding and Nature Center to learn about the island’s more than 300 bird species, as well as its marine life and plants. Stroll along bayside boardwalks and through the butterfly garden, and enjoy an unsurpassed panoramic view of the island from a five-story-high viewing tower.

Al Fresco Dining

You have a choice of more than 50 restaurants on South Padre Island, most with water views, outdoor seating and a casual atmosphere. The kitschy Pier 19 Restaurant and Bar (1 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island) occupies a pier jutting into the Laguna Madre. You can watch a flotilla of boats while eating your breakfast, lunch or dinner. If you are successful in your fishing pursuits, the chef will even prepare your own catch of the day! If you prefer a party atmosphere, check out Clayton’s Beach Bar and Grill (6900 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island), which is hailed as the “biggest beach bar in Texas” and is a favorite with spring breakers. Clayton's serves up live musical entertainment and concerts along with its seafood, burgers and Mexican favorites—all that delicious food will give you the energy you’ll need for dancing!

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