South Padre Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Texas. Not only is SPI well known for its fine restaurants and clubs, but also for its natural beauty. The World Birding Center located on South Padre Island is 50 acres of intertidal flats, native shrubs, and trees that are the first stop for the birds making the cross Gulf migration from Mexico and Central America. Warblers, tanagers, orioles, and thrushes are common to the wooded areas while the wetland areas are host to waterfowl, shorebirds, and even the endangered species of brown pelican, piping plover, and peregrine falcon. South Padre Island is famous for being a spring break destination. Hotels will fill up with college kids, often several to a room.
It is the finest coastal resort in Texas, with beautiful beaches, tall sand dunes, and warm clear clean Gulf waters. South Padre Island is located two miles off the southernmost coast of Texas and is only 25 miles from Matamoros, Mexico. Matamoros, which is known for its clubs (drinking age is 18) and excellent shopping, is a mecca for students because of its easy accessibility by bus or taxi. SPI is Sub-tropical and semi-arid with mild & dry winters and warm & humid summers. From sunrise to sunset, the Island and Laguna Madre offer year round bay fishing opportunities.
South Padre Island is also considered by many to be a veritable heaven for those who like to go fishing. Canyon fishing, bay fishing, and deep sea fishing are just some of the different varieties of fishing available here. It is one of those spots not to be missed. Average summer temperatures on South Padre Island is 82 degrees with the winter months averaging 65 degrees. It’s rare to see a day on the Island that’s not warm and sunny which helps to make the Island a popular affordable beach vacation destination year round.
It’s located at the southern tip of the USA, close to the Mexico border. In my opinion, this is the best beach destination in Texas. South Padre Island is separated from the northern two-thirds of the island by the Mansfield Channel. The composition and pattern of vegetation on South Padre Island are relatively well known, but data on the interrelationship of dune and vegetation stability are lacking.
Water sports such as surfing, fishing and parasailing are naturally the most popular form of fun activity at South Padre Island. You can rent equipment and find out about weather conditions from one of the many services available in the area. Also look for jet skiing; bay, surf and deep-sea fishing; parasailing; sailing; dolphin cruising; and windsurfing. Other island activities include bicycling, tennis, shelling and horseback riding on the beach. Here you can observe the belted kingfisher, oyster catcher, egrets, herons, plovers and terns. Look for the convention center, north on the island where you will find the warbler rest stop and the nature birding trail.
Tags: endangered species, Piping Plover, World Birding Center, Fishing Bay, excellent shopping, tennis, Herons, Warblers, Intertidal Flats, Matamoros{ 0 comments }
