Down south, at the end of the world’s

longest barrier island, you’ll find South

Padre Island and the cleanest, most scenic

beaches in Texas. From the moment you

cross the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge

and see the blue waters of the Lower

Laguna Madre beneath you, and the Gulf of

Mexico in front of you, you’ll know you’re

in a special place and feel like you’ve left

the world behind. And once you’re on the

Island, the feeling never goes away. You

see, South Padre Island is only a 1/2 mile

at its widest point, which means no matter

where you are, you are always just steps

away from the beach.

And as if that wasn’t enough, we’re also the Sand Castle Capital of the World and The

Fireworks Capital of Texas. The Lower Laguna Madre that hugs our western shore is one

of 6 hyper-saline bodies of water in the world creating one of the most unique and abundant

fisheries anywhere. We’ve been hosting TIFT, the Texas International Fishing Tournament, the

largest salt water fishing tournament in Texas, for 76 years giving testament to our World Class

on and off shore fishing credentials. Due to our favorable winds and shallow bay, we’re also

known as the Kite Boarding and Wind Surfing Capital of Texas! In short, South Padre Island

has the Best Beach In Texas and world class beach activities. And at only a 1/2 mile wide,

you’re always just steps away from them all!

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topic:Change Your Latitude

Weather

Life's A Beach

EcoTourism

Fish On!

KidTastic!

Land Ahoy!

Accolades

Swim, Fly Or Drive

Flag Warning System

Good Clean Fun

Beach Ambassadors

Catch The Wave

Beach Access

The Padre's Island

For The Birds

UnConvention Centre

Surf & Turf

Events

Accommodations

Hotels

Rentals

Camp Sites

Island Map

Note Pad

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It’s amazing what a change in latitude can do. A trip to South Padre Island isn’t just a vacation, it’s a journey. A journey to reconnect with nature, family and friends. Imagine yourself sipping a cold drink, sand sift ing between your

toes and the warm rays of the sun melting your worries away as you familiarize yourself with everything South Padre Island has to off er. The following Field Guide is your tool to live like a local and optimize your time on the Island.

-01- -02-

3333As a matter of fact, we average over

300 days of sunshine per year! Our

average winter temperature is around

65˚, same as our average winter age

as thousands of our neighbors from

up north make the Island their home

to escape the cold. Summers average

in the mid 80’s as our tropical breeze

keeps things cool. Mild temperatures in

Spring and Fall make them some of the

best times to visit. So no matter what

time of year you like to travel, any time

is a great time to get your beach on at

South Padre Island.

A���T��� ���T���YEA� IS�A ���AT��IM��T���ISI� S���H PADR��IS�AN�.

-03- -04-

If Beach Bummin’ were an Olympic sport, South Padre Island would be

awash in gold medals. And while our beach is our #1 attraction, we have

plenty of activities to get you out of your beach chair. From a leisurely

bike cruise down the beach to an adrenaline pumping skydive, we’ve got

an array of activities for active lifestyles. Go parasailing to get a birds eye

view of the Island or snorkeling for a glimpse of life under the sea. Catch

a catamaran and sail off into the sunset or hit the links and catch a birdie.

Surf some tasty waves or jet ski in the bay. On South Padre Island, we’ve

got something for everybody.

-05- -06-

While we pride ourselves on attracting

over 1 million visitors yearly, we’re even

more proud of the fact that millions of

migratory birds and sea turtles instinc-

tively migrate to South Padre Island on

their own. As a matter of fact, over 300

species of migratory birds drop by each

year, making South Padre Island one of

the best birding spots in the world. We’re

also the only place in the world where

you can see a baby Kemp’s Ridley Sea

Turtle in captivity. How cool is that? Join

us for a hatchling release and create a

lifetime memory.

Learn more at www.seaturtleinc.org

-07- -08-

Tight lines and singing drags! A trip to South Padre Island is not

complete if you don’t get your line wet. Inshore or off shore, charter

boats or kayaks, surf fishing or wading, you can get bowed up no

matter what species you’re targeting and the best part is most local

restaurants will cook your catch for a fixed fee. And when it comes to

fishing captains, we’ve got some of the saltiest dogs you’ll ever meet.

Hook up a guide at sopadre.com or bring your own boat and launch

at one of several public boats ramps.

Parrot Eyes

Polaris

Jim’s Pier

Palm Street Pier

ttttPublic Boat Ramps:

-09- -10-

Get your kids o� of the electronics and on the

beach! South Padre Island has an array of family

friendly activities that’ll have you coming back

year after year. Get totally tubular at the year-

round Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark or learn to

talk like a pirate on the Black Dragon Pirate ship.

Arghhh! You can also learn how to be the King of

the Castle with private sandcastle building lessons

or when the sun goes down, try your hand at

miniature golf and go carts at Gravity Park. It’s all

good clean fun and it’s all on South Padre Island.

-11- -12-

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CENTER

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-14-

If you’re a first timer on the Island or an old

salt, a stop at the South Padre Island Visitors

Center is always a good idea. Our well-informed

and friendly staff can answer any Island-related

questions about area attractions and current

events. They can also help you create an itiner-

ary based on your interests to ensure you have

an awesome time. Be sure to pick up a free map

so you can get around like a local.

-13-

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ACCOLADES!Apparently, we’re not the only ones who think South Padre Island is fantastic. While our opinion might be a bit biased, we couldn’t agree more with what these fi ne folks have to say.

Named to TripAdvisor’s List of Top 25 Beaches in

the U.S. Also named one of the world’s “Top 30”

island beaches by Condé Nast Traveler magazine

in 2007 and a “Top 10” beach by Men’s Fitness

and Women’s Day magazines in 2008.

Named one of America’s Top 10 Winter Beach

Escapes by International Business Times.

Named as a Best Aff ordable U.S. Vacation and a

Best Family Beach Vacation in U.S. News & World

Report’s first-ever Best Vacations.

TripAdvisor’s top five vacation rental hot spots.

•

•

•

•

-15- -16-

Austin 340 miles

Dallas 531 miles

Houston 367 miles

San Antonio 285 miles

El Paso 815 miles

Monterrey 225 miles

Mexico City 666 miles

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KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLES SWIM FOR WEEKSTO MIGRATE TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND. YOU CAN BE HERE IN A MATTER OF HOURS. Whether you fly or drive, getting to South Padre Island is a breeze. Located at the tropical tip of Texas, we’re accessible by land, sea or air. It doesn’t matter to us how you get here, as long as you do.

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fBY AIRBrownsville South Padre Island International Airport (a 30 minute drive

from the Island). Served by AeroMexico, American Eagle and United Airlines.

www.flybrownsville.com

Valley International Airport in Harlingen (50 minutes away). Served by

Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines.

www.flythevalley.com

Miller International Airport in McAllen (a 1.5 hour drive away). Served by

American, Delta and United Airlines.

www.mcallenairport.com

All three airports provide access to South Padre Island. Each off ers car rentals,

taxi and shuttle services. For more information about public transportation:

Valley Metro: 1-800-574-8322, The WAVE: 956-761-8178, and MetroConnect:

855-220-8827.

-17- -18-

$ *

On South Padre Island, your safety is always our primary concern. The Island has implemented a flag

system to inform you about surf conditions. Watch

for these flags and heed their warnings:

RED – Heavy surf and dangerous currents.

YELLOW – Calm to moderate water. Does not assure safe water.

BLUE – Presence of venomous marine life (Jellyfish and Man-O-War).

G – The absence of a flag does not guarantee safe water.

-19- -20-

South Padre Island is renowned for having

the widest and cleanest beach in Texas. Help

us keep it that way. To ensure everyone, you

and those around you, enjoy their well-deserved

beach vacation, please observe the following:

v

Please do not trash our beautiful beaches. Trash cans are provided for your convenience. In the event receptacles are full, please take trash with you for disposal.

Glass is not allowed on the beach.

While use of small charcoal grills is allowed on the beach, open campfi res built into the sand are not. When cleaning your area, please take your coals with you. Do not bury your hot coals as someone could come along and step on them and be burned; and please do not dump them into trash receptacles.

Be considerate of people around you in regards to language and music volume.

No dogs off leash.

No vehicles on the beach.

*

*****

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

-21- -22-

BEACHAMBASSADORS

Keeping you safe is the primary concern of the South Padre Island city staff.

But, they’re also here to ensure you get the most out of your stay. If you

have a question or concern, flag down a South Padre Island city staff member.

You can identify them by the South Padre Island logo on their shirt and they

can provide information on topics ranging from “what kind of fish is that” to

“where is a good place to watch the sunset”. So if you need a band-aid or

directions to the nearest shade, flag down the South Padre Island Beach

Patrol or city staff member. They’re happy to help.

-23- -24-

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The WAVE is the free shuttle system serving South Padre Island and

Port Isabel. Catch one at a number of convenient WAVE stops or just wave

one down. WAVE buses run Sunday-Thursday 7am-9pm, Friday & Saturday

7am-Midnight (extended hours during the summer) and are equipped with

wheelchair lift s (ADA Accessible) and bicycle racks.

M���M��� YOUR TIME O���HE��S�A�D A�DLEA�E ��E ��I�I�G �O �S�

-25- -26-

We pride ourselves on equipping many of

our beach access points with amenities for

the convenience of all our guests. Walkover

decks allow beachgoers to “walk over” the

sand on a raised deck while “Mobi-Mats”

are placed directly over the sand on beach

access paths for pedestrians, disabled

persons, wheelchair users, strollers and

bicycles. Access points with restrooms and

drinking water as well as ADA Compliant

access points are also available.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Walkover: Seaside, Surf, Bougainvillea, Poinsettia, Neptune, Aquarius, Good Hope, Gay Dawn

Mobi-Mat: Gulf Circle, Beach Circle, Seaside, White Cap, Treasure Island, Moonlight, Fantasy

Restrooms and Drinking Water: Gulf Circle, Treasure Island

ADA Compliant: Seaside, Surf, Blue Water, Treasure Island, Moonlight, Bougainvillea, Fantasy, Gay Dawn

Beach accessible wheelchairs are available for loan from the SPI Fire Department:call (956) 761-3040 in advance to reserve.

HE��’S A�L�S� ���AM��ITI�S A���T���R �OC���O�S:

ACCESS9

BEACH

-27- -28-

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Back in the day, when migratory

birds and sea turtles had the Island

to themselves, Padre Jose Nicholas

Ballí brought the first permanent

settlers while establishing a church

and attempting to bring Chrisitanity

to the native Karankawa Indians.

Charted by the Spanish in 1519,

the Island had been granted to his

grandfather, Nicolás Ballí in 1759,

by King Carlos III of Spain.

When Padre Ballí owned the

Island, it was known as the Isla

de Santiago, but the people he

ministered to affectionately

referred to it as La Isla Del

Padre. The name stuck and

people have been flocking to

The Padre’s Island ever since.

-30-

Birds and Turtles aren’t the only ones who like to meet every

year on South Padre Island. Hundreds of businesses and

associations gather on the Island to hold meetings, conventions,

trade shows and special events. From small groups to corporate

conventions, the South Padre Island Convention &

Visitors Bureau staff can help you plan an event that will have

your attendees raving for years to come.

Call them today at 800-OK-PADRE or click on sopadre.com for more information.- -333333

AND BUSINESS PEOPLE!THE BIRDS…AND TURTLES…THIS PLACE IS FOR

rt

t-31- -32-

WE TAKE THE C���E���O�OUT OF C���E���O��CE���E.

There’s nothing conventional about the South Padre Island Convention

Centre. Located on 30 scenic acres with a view of the Laguna Madre Bay,

its 45,000 square feet can be configured to meet your needs. Primary facili-

ties include 22,500 square feet of exhibit hall space, a 2,633 square foot

conference auditorium with seating for 225 and 9,000 square feet of meeting

rooms available in a variety of sizes. Let our friendly and attentive staff make

your next convention as unconventional as possible with personal assistance

that will knock your socks off . And since sandals are the norm on South

Padre Island, that shouldn’t be a problem. So bring your flip flops and leave

your ties at home, as South Padre Island enforces a strict NO TIE policy.

-33- -34-

S��� &, T��FOAnd as the sun goes down you’ll want to head to the

nearest watering hole aft er a long day at the beach.

We have over 50 restaurants, bars and nightclubs to

choose from so you can dance, sing, listen to live music

or grab a bite. We have a wide range of dining options

ranging from casual to up scale serving breakfast,

lunch and dinner and our world famous Gulf Shrimp is

fresh off the boat! In addition to seafood, you’ll also

enjoy BBQ, Burgers, Pizza, Italian, Mexican, Irish and

even Mediterranean delicacies.

S���ETS�AR��A B�G ��A��ARO�N���ER�.

-35- -36-

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall,

South Padre Island has it going

on. Summer is prime family time

featuring Friday and Saturday night

fireworks displays on the beach

and bay at both ends of the Island.

It’s also a great time to catch a

tan, a wave or a fish. Fall is also a

favorite time of year due to cooler

temperatures and even cooler

events like Sand Castle Days,

where you can see some impres-

sive sand sculptures. Our average

winter temperature is a cool 65

degrees, same as our average

winter age as flocks of retirees

descend upon South Padre to flee

the snow and cold from up north.

It’s also a great time to get down to

business, as it’s a popular time of year

for business meetings and retreats.

Spring brings the annual mass migra-

tion of college students who come to

get their Spring Break on and families

from around the U.S. and Mexico also

come during the spring to celebrate

Easter and Semana Santa. We also

specialize in seasonal special events

year round. Check the list here or on

sopadre.com and see why any time

is a great time to get your beach on

at South Padre Island.

GET YOUR BEACH ON ALL YEARLONG AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.

JanuarySPI Polar Bear Dip

Penguin Plunge

Longest Causeway Run & Fitness Walk

Market Days

February Walk For Women Chili & Bean Cook Off

Market Days

Schlitterbahn Music Fest

MarchSpring Break Car Show & Sound Off

UME (Ultimate Music Event) Electronic

Music

AprilBeach & Biker Fest

TGSA Surfing Championship

SPI Sand Crab Night Run

South Padre Island SPLASH

MaySPI Kiteboard Roundup

Run the Jailbreak Beach Escape

Pedal to Padre

SPI Beach Volleyball

Fireworks Memorial Day-Labor Day

Cyclovia So Padre

JuneGreat Texas Catamaran Race

Shark Run

JulyJuly 4th Fireworks

TX Int’l Fishing Tournament TIFT

Beachcomber Art Show & Sale

AugustTX Int’l Fishing Tournament TIFT

Lady Kingfish Tournament LKT

SeptemberLabor Day Fireworks

SPI Beach Volleyball

Walk For Women

SPI Dive Week

October Sand Castle Days

SPI SPLASH

SPI TRI

NovemberSPI Marathon

December SPI Holiday Parade

Breakfast with Santa

_List of Events

soPadre.comtt-37- -38-

soPadre.comtt

ACCOMMODATIONSFinding a place to stay is easy on South Padre Island. The hard part is

leaving. We offer a wide variety of luxury or laid back hotels and motels

on the beach and bay. Go with a well-known national chain or one of the

Island’s unique indies. Most feature restaurants, exercise rooms, laundry,

swimming pools, WiFi and the works. Take your pick and book it down here.

If you’re interested in a longer stay, go condo and contact any of our

top-notch rental agencies representing hundreds of condo units and beach

houses. Just give them a call and they’ll help you set up house on the beach

or by the bay. Or you can make rental arrangements directly with the owner.

And if camping is your thing, load up the RV or pack your sleeping bag and

tent. South Padre Island has a campground for every nature. Many feature

swimming pools, snack bars, playgrounds, laundry rooms and boat ramps –

everything you need to make roughing it as easy as possible.

-39- -40-

Hilton Garden InnBeach Resort7010 Padre Blvd.877-782-9444956-761-8700enjoyspi.com

Isla Grand Beach Resort500 Padre Blvd.800-292-7704956-761-6511islagrand.com

Schlitterbahn Beach Resort100 Padre Blvd.956-772-7873schlitterbahn.com

Pearl South Padre310 Padre Blvd.800-222-4010956-761-6551pearlsouthpadre.com

America’s Best Value Inn & Suites – Casa Bella Hotel5601 Padre Blvd.877-224-7700956-761-7700casabellaspi.com

Beachside Inn4500 Padre Blvd.800-865-1777956-761-4919padrebeachside.com

Blue Bay Inn & Suites901 Padre Blvd.956-761-4350southpadreinn.com

Charlie’s Island Hideaway120 E. Atol956-761-5622charliesislandhideaway.com

Clayton’s Resort6900 Padre Blvd.956-761-2344claytonsresort.com

Comfort Suites912 Padre Blvd.877-774-7848956-772-9020comfortsuites.com/hotel/tx467

Days Inn South Padre Island3913 Padre Blvd.800-329-7466956-761-7831daysinn.com

Flamingo Inn3408 Padre Blvd.888-761-3375956-761-3377flamingo-spi.com

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites6502 Padre Blvd.888-465-4329956-761-8844hiexpress.com

Island Inn3813 Padre Blvd.956-761-8500southpadreislandinn.com

La Copa Inn350 Padre Blvd.866-452-2672956-761-6000lacoparesort.com

La Quinta Inn & Suites7000 Padre Blvd.800-531-5900956-772-7000lq.com

Motel 64013 Padre Blvd.800-466-8356956-761-7911motel6.com

Padre South Hotel –On The Beach1500 Gulf Blvd.800-313-4626956-761-4951padresouth.com

Palms Resort3616 Gulf Blvd.800-466-1316956-761-1316palmsresortcafe.com

Ramada Limited4109 Padre Blvd.800-272-6232956-761-4097ramadasouthpadreisland.com

South Beach Inn120 E. Jupiter956-761-2471southbeachtexas.com

South Padre Motel204 W. Gardenia956-761-6701sopadremotel.net

Suites At Sunchase1004 Padre Blvd.866-926-7711956-761-7711suitesatsunchase.com

Super 84205 Padre Blvd.800-800-8000956-761-6300super8padre.com

Surf Motel2612 Gulf Blvd.800-723-6519956-761-2831surfmotelpadre.com

The Inn at South Padre1709 Padre Blvd.956-761-5658theinnsouthpadre.com

Travelodge6200 Padre Blvd.866-601-6200956-761-4744southpadretravelodge.com

Wanna Wanna Inn5100 Gulf Blvd.956-761-7677wannawanna.com

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-41- -42-

Aff ordable Beach HouseVacation Rentals SPI, Inc.5712 Padre Blvd. #3956-761-8750padrebeachhouses.com

Bonita Isla Rentals & Real Estate127 E. Dolphin956-792-3550southpadrebonitaislandren-tals.com

Chacon Realty & Rental5800 Padre Blvd., Ste. 205B866-230-5633956-761-5633chaconrealty.com

Coastal Lifestyles, Inc.5312 Padre Blvd., Ste. C877-782-9774956-761-8900vacationpadre.com

Fina Rentals & Real Estate108 Pompano956-761-4588finare.com

Franke Realtors8605 Padre Blvd.800-447-4753956-761-2606frankerealtors.com

Furcron PropertyManagement4800 Padre Blvd.800-892-6278956-761-6961furcron.com

Island Services1700 Padre Blvd.800-426-6530956-761-2649mypadre.com

Latitude 263213 Padre Blvd.956-761-9926latitude26.com

Padre Getaways700 Padre Blvd., Ste. D-1956-761-8888padregetaways.com

Padre Island Rentals3100 Padre Blvd.800-926-6926pirentals.com

Paradise Rentals210-885-0700paradise-rentals.net

Seaside Services100 E. Swordfish, Ste. D877-544-1066956-761-6104southpadrebeach.com

Service 242100 Padre Blvd., Ste. 4800-828-4287service24.com

South Padre BeachHouses & Condos3800 Padre Blvd.800-377-3262956-761-6554sopadrerentals.com

South Padre Resort Rentals1000 Padre Blvd.800-944-6818956-761-6818gosouthpadreisland.com

Tropical Realty & Rentals108 E. Dolphin956-761-1004tropicalrealtyspi.com

Vacation Villas281-222-0432ezbookvacationhomes.com

Andy Bowie Park7300 N. Padre Blvd.956-761-3704co.cameron.tx.us/parks/andy_bowie.htm

Isla Blanca ParkPark Rd. 100956-761-5494co.cameron.tx.us/parks/isla_blanca.com

South Padre Island KOA1 Padre Blvd.800-562-9724956-761-5665southpadrekoa.com

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