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South Padre Island isn’t very big, but there are still plenty of things to do on South Padre Island that many of our guests don’t know about. Below, we want to share our picks for the top five under the radar attractions in South Padre Island that add an element of wonder to any vacation in our island paradise!
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
The South Padre Island countryside is a wonderful mix of sand, sea, marshland, and coastal woodlands, and although those beaches are amongst the best in the world, we love having the opportunity to share other parts of the island with our guests, including the Laguna Madre Nature Trail. The trail is a boardwalk, extending out 1500 feet while crossing acres of marshland, making it a popular spot for birdwatchers, for families, and for people who may have mobility issues. In other words, the trail that will lead you through the marshland and show you wonders that include a large variety of migratory birds, is an absolute delight for everyone interested in nature.
Address: 7355 Padre Boulevard South Padre Island, TX 78597
Horseback Riding at South Padre Island Adventure Park
South Padre Island Adventure Park may be one of our more well known attractions on South Padre Island, but we are pretty sure that not many know they offer horseback riding as well. Adventure parks are known for water sports, ziplines, even amusement park rides, but ours is also known for its petting barn and for the beach rides on horseback.
This truly is a family favorite, as kids 6 and older are invited to join in the fun, but it is also a romantic favorite, and their private morning rides have often served as the beginning of the longest lasting marriages, because how can you say no to a proposal on a sunrise beach ride? Prices start at $99 per person, and the riding time lasts between 1 to 1.5 hours, but of course the memories will last a lifetime.
Address: 21040 Ocean Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Phone: (956) 761-4677
Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM
Website
Water Adventures
This next under-the-radar South Padre Island attraction is actually a series of adventures that all revolve around the clear waters of our Texas island home. Not surprisingly, we are heading back to the Adventure Park we just visited for horseback riding, as it offers a lot of exciting water adventures for you to experience as well.
Parasailing at the park will make you feel like you are flying and riding the banana boats across the waves will make you laugh out loud. Even though the ziplines don’t cross the water, they do angle across the beach, and the waves crashing below will make this thrill-seeking activity feel very aquatic as well. Snorkeling is popular a popular activity, with the Laguna Madre being one of only a few hypersaline lagoons in the world, and its shallow waters and unique marine make this adventure one the entire family can enjoy.
Andy Bowie County Park
A walk in the park is always a good thing, but so is a drive along 20 miles of beach in the park, something everyone loves to do at Andy Bowie County Park. Offering a beachfront covered pavilion with picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and a boardwalk that leads straight to the beach, this park is a family favorite, and although you may not have heard about it before today, we South Padre Island residents hold it very close to our hearts!
Address: 7300 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597
UTRVG Coastal Studies Laboratory
The University of Texas Rio Grand Valley is a very popular school here in Texas and is one that offers a satellite lab right here on South Padre Island. The lab costs nothing to visit and features exhibits on our coastal ecosystems, including an extensive collection of seashells (Can you find some of what you see in the collection during your visits to the beach?) and other exhibits of living marine species that call our coastal region home. Also offering an aquarium and gift shop, the memories you and your family collect will lead to a lifetime long love of the sea and its inhabitants.
Address: 100 Marine Lab Dr, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Phone: (956) 761-2644
Hours: 1 PM to 4 PM Monday-Friday
Book Our Family-Friendly Rentals Today
These under the radar South Padre attractions will enhance your vacation experience, but it is our SPI Rentals family-friendly rentals that will bring you the greatest joy. Book your favorite rental on South Padre Island today!
