Nothing comes close to the Texas coast! Hit the road and pack your bags for a getaway to South Padre Island to admire the white sandy beaches and colorful sunsets. South Padre is recorded as the longest barrier island, and is located along the Gulf of Mexico, making you feel like you’re truly on a tropical vacation – just much closer! Visitors can explore beachfront restaurants, local shops, thrilling adventures, and various wildlife! Read on for our tips on where to stay, eat, shop, and more!
Where to Eat
New hotspot alert! F&B South Padre Island is o-fish-ally our new favorite Modern American restaurant with a Coastal Flare. Featured in Texas Monthly, this upscale eatery offers fresh seafood, house-made pasta entrees, and mouthwatering desserts. Located in the heart of the island, this restaurant is an absolute must visit if you’re looking for an extravagant meal.
Stop for a sweet treat at Berry Divine Acai Bowls! Brand new, this fruity restaurant is serving up the healthiest snacks in the most delicious way. This is the perfect mid-day snack while hanging out at the beach, the best place to grab breakfast before hopping on a dolphin cruise, or the yummiest dessert to end dinner.
What could be betta than a coastal restaurant that has fabulous frozen cocktails, you ask? Landshark Bar & Grill also has a swim-up bar! WOW! Located inside Pearl’s Beachfront Resort, this bar and grill’s menu consists of American food with a coastal twist, cold draft LandShark, and the best island vibes!
Don’t forget, you’re on island time, which means you can relax, soak up the sun and sip on a pina colada. In fact, the perfect place to do all of those things at once is at the Painted Marlin Grille! This laidback bayfront eatery offers beach-shack vibes and serves burgers, sandwiches, seafood, and delicious cocktails. Here you can kick back and dine above the Laguna Madre bayside and Jim’s Pier!
Craving new tropical flavors? Rocotto Grill is one of the newest restaurants on South Padre island that sits beachside and overlooks the Gulf. Here you can indulge in a mix of cuisine ranging from sushi and tacos to crispy coconut shrimp!
You have to SEA this premier island restaurant that’s had visitors returning for over 35 years! Sea Ranch Restaurant has a menu that changes regularly, but always highlights the best wild-caught seafood, steaks and pastas, all with marina views!
Let’s Party! Clayton’s Beach Bar and Grill is the biggest beach bar in Texas! Grab your friends and boogie on over to this lively hangout with indoor and outdoor venues, volleyball, American fare, live music and much much more.
Where to Stay
Looking for the perfect spot to stay? South Padre is packed full of great options to choose from! Browse from over 190 Padre Island rentals with beachfront views here.
If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay, South Padre Resort Rentals, Inc., is one of the finest beachfront condominiums on the island – providing vacation rentals for nearly 25 years! You can experience views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay, and tour the many included amenities. What’s even better, is South Padre Resort Rentals is conveniently located by many of the local and delicious restaurants.
The Courtyard by Marriott, South Padre Island is one of the newest beachfront resorts in South Padre Island. Guests can expect all of the impressive amenities including outdoor pools, fitness rooms, complimentary WiFi, and so much more, all while being right off the beach and near attractions such as the Birding and Nature Center, Sea Turtle Inc., and the Largest Outdoor Sandcastle in the USA.
Some of our other favorite spots include My Sapphire Luxury Beachfront Rentals and Pearl’s Beachfront Resort. Check out all of the lodging options here!
What to Do
One of our favorite things to do when visiting this beautiful island is Horseback riding on the beach. Gallop on over to South Padre Island Equestrian Center where trained instructors are ready to offer beach and bay rides, Polo and riding lessons, and classes on safety, grooming and general care for the horses. Whether you’re looking for a romantic experience, or a fun event for your whole family, this is the place!
This island, like all others, is overflowing with wildlife galore! Coined as the Rio Grande Valley’s premier destination for birdwatching, you’ll be sure to spot different species of birds, butterflies and wildlife natural to South Coastal Texas. From Alligator sanctuaries and guided bird walks, to a five-story viewing tour, there are so many wildlife attractions your family will be sure to love.
Blastoff with the whole family to the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch site, and combine your island vacation with a space exploration! At the SpaceX South Texas Launch site, you can view some of the most advanced rockets being tested for missions to Mars! Make sure to look for available excursions that can take you close to the launch site ahead of time, as test launches occur at different times. You don’t want to miss this.
Make a splash with the family at Schlitterbahn! This one-of-a-kind waterpark that is recognized as America’s first family waterpark. Here, you can enjoy many different water fun and resort-style accommodations, hang out at Kristal Cove or float around in a tube on Kristal River. There is even a swim-up bar for when the kids stay at home. And of course you have to go down the world’s tallest water coaster, the MASSIV Monster Blaster!
If you’re looking for an even more thrilling adventure, look no further than Island Adventure Park. Take a horseback ride along the water’s edge and spot shoreline and marine life, head over to the zipline towers for Zip-a-thon, where you have 45 minutes of unlimited zips, or visit the petting barn full of rescued birds and animals!
For more family-fun, the Beach Park at Isla Blanca is a 25-acre waterpark, zipline, Sea Trek and underwater scuba experience all wrapped into one park! How cool is that! Enjoy an adventure-packed day and then grab a bite to eat at the several outdoor eateries this park has to offer. Ranked #1 Kid-Friendly attraction by Texas Family Magazine, this park is truly a water wonderland.
Looking for a more laid-back, sight-seeing experience? Check out Isla Tours! Cruise along the lower Laguna Madre on a 67-foot double decker with an optimum viewing of dolphins in their natural habitats, a glimpse at SpaceX, the US Coast Guard station and marine wildlife.
Where to Shop
Check out the South Padre Island hidden gem that is Annabelle’s Fashion Boutique! Come check out the unique hand-picked clothing items and affordable prices, and spruce up your wardrobe with the cutest two-piece sets, or grab the comfiest new sandals they have in stock.
Prepare for your shopping bags to be full. Isla Coastal is an upscale island boutique that offers men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, art and so much more! This boutique is the perfect place to buy your island t-shirts and straw hats as keepsakes from your island vacation.
Adjacent to Isla Coastal is Rica – a women’s clothing store popular for having linen clothing, comfy PJ sets, staple jewelry pieces and shoes galore. Stop by these two sister stores to see what has tourists returning year after year!
Watch out – you might have to purchase another suitcase to carry all of the dreamy new pieces you pick up at Renee’s of South Padre. Here, you can shop all the brands you love in one place! Choose from Kendra Scott, Vera Bradley, Dian Malouf, and Pandora.
Your trip to the island is not complete without a trip to some of our favorite Surf-style shops. On the Beach carries all of the popular beach and lifestyle brands like Quiksilver, Roxy, Hurley, Reef, Patagonia, and so many more! You can also rent surfboards, SUP and Bodyboards here for you and the family.
Island Style Surf Sports is another great spot to pick up all of your beach and bay needs. Pick from Billabong, Sun Bum, Yeti, and so many more favorites to maximize the perfect sunny beach trip.
If you’re looking for home décor, there’s no better place on the island than Sisters Interiors. For the past 30+ years, this family-owned business has been serving up interior design, renovations, home-furnishing and so much more!
Whether you choose to relax on one of the many beaches South Padre has to offer, explore the wildlife, chow down on some exquisite seafood, or hop on a boat to dolphin watch; there are so many options to choose from when planning your summer getaway. Make sure to add South Padre Island to your list for a girls trip, family getaway or a relaxing couples retreat! You won’t regret it!
