SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
With its Easter egg-colored buildings and rows of primary colored golf carts for rent, the main drag of South Padre Island reminded me more of the Caribbean tropics than Texas!
It’s just 20 miles north of the Mexico border and with over 300 days of sunshine per year and 34 miles of white sand along the gulf coast, this barrier island is a great fall / winter retreat.
Be sure to check websites for different activities hosted on San Padre Island like Sandcastle Days (October) or the Polar Bear Dip (January). There are dolphin cruises, kite festivals, waterparks, restaurants in town, history museums, sea turtle rescues, and Bobz World (which Bob won’t let you miss. Mini golf, laser tag, arcades, etc.) if you want to plan an activity; but if you own an RV and just want to roam the beach and watch the birds, for a modest price, you can drive right onto the beach for your overnight stay, which is exactly what we did!
For the best experience, pay attention to high tide marks, the wind direction, and the condition of the sand so you enjoy a peaceful evening and aren’t stuck in the morning. We used blocks underneath, more for traction, than leveling. One last thing, expect to be cleaning up the fine, wind-blown white sand that tends to migrate into every nook and cranny of the RV for a few days after you leave.
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PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
To get from highly developed South Padre Island to the Padre Island National Seashore (essentially north Padre) requires a drive back to the mainland and over the bridge at Corpus Christie as the man-made Mansfield Channel splits the barrier island in two. We drove.
At the park’s entrance you’ll drive past several miles of grasslands to reach Malaquite Pavilion, the ranger station.
This National Seashore was established to protect the longest stretch (70 miles) of barrier island in the world!
If you’re a birder, this area boasts up to 380 species of birds at different times throughout the year, which is nearly half of all bird species that have been reported in North America. Not surprising with the beach/water and tall grasslands nearby. Piping plover and yellow-rumped warbler lovers rejoice!
There are two developed campgrounds here but, like South Padre Island, you can also drive your RV directly onto the beach. With the right vehicle you can drive as far as you dare down the beach but mile marker 5 is the officially signed turn-around point for 2 wheel drive. We chose a camping spot quite close to the entrance but, in one of his more unique bike rides to date, Doug rode his gravel bike on the firm sand near the waves to the 5 mile marker and back.
Corpus Christi is nearby and there are plenty of nature trails and water activities in the area or you can grab your favorite beach read, like we did, and enjoy a quiet winter beach vacation.
For a truly unique camping experience and unexpected Caribbean feel, mosey over to Padre Island and camp directly on the beach.
