Parting Thoughts....
Intro | Getting to South Padre | Where to Stay | What to Do | Where to Eat
Clubs & Bars | Parting Thoughts
 'Padre’ has always been a spring break party animal's paradise. Students reserve hotel rooms and condos months in advance and sleep 10 to a room in an effort to live even more cheaply than they do back at college. Therefore, rates triple from mid to late March through April and the island is overrun with partying 20-somethings. It's really an event in itself--the Island is literally taken over by college students and car traffic is bumper-to-bumper, bodies are skin-to-skin and intelligence level is zero-to-none. It's really a sight to behold. One wonders if it's possible for the island to sink due to so much weight:)
The other 10½ months of the year are perfect for vacationing families and honeymooners. We'd say the best months for a quiet and peaceful Island is AFTER Labor Day and until Christmas. So, if you're trying to figure out when is the best time to go, that is it! The Island is yours for the taking.
Some tips....(yes, I learned these the hard way)
- Do not swim after drinking too many tall ones. Bad mix.
- Wear plenty of sunshade on the beach or you'll be on the menu at a local seafood restaurant.
- No driving on sand dunes. $500 fine. No ATVs allowed on beach, but dune buggies are okay.
- No ties on South Padre Island. No ties. No ties. No ties. T-shirts yes. No ties.
- There are barricades there for a reason. Don't cross them!
- Yes, take extra bottles of water to the beach!! Just because you will be swimming in water doesn't mean that you won't be thirsty. Unless, of course, you like to drink salt water.
- Flying a kite is much more fun than it looks. Try it!
- South Padre Island's bridge is the longest in the state and one of the longest in the nation.
- Looking for a place to retire? While there are many options on South Padre, one of the best kept secrets is actually a little retirement village called "Long Island" in Port Isabel. Ask a local and they will show you the way.
Well, this is the conclusion of the South Padre Island First-Timer's Guide. I hope you enjoyed reading it and I hope that it answered a few of your questions. If you still have questions, please post them in our messageboard and someone will try and help. Until then......I'll see you on the beach.
Intro | Getting to South Padre | Where to Stay | What to Do | Where to Eat
Clubs & Bars | Parting Thoughts |
