South Padre Island Attractions
What to See
A Celebration of Water. Dinner, surfing
and comedy. An exciting and new dinner experience. Watch
in amazement as the Schlitterbahn Surf Team shows off their
hottest tricks. The show is free and tons of fun. Dinner
is at 8:00 and the show starts at 8:30. For dinner reservations
call (956) 772-7873 ext 221. 90 Park Road Hwy. 100.
Andy Bowie Park. 4 miles north of the
Island. Picnic pavilions, children's play ground. Day use
fee per vehicle.
Confederate Air Force/Rio Grande Wing.
Historic aircraft and aviation memorabilia. Open daily 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for children
ages 12-18, $4 for seniors, children ages 12 and under free
with adults. Located at the Brownsville/South Padre Island
Airport. 955 Minnesota, Brownsville. 956-541-8585.
Gladys Porter Zoo. One of the top 10
small zoos in the country. The zoo is a 31-acre preserve
with more than 1,800 mammals, birds, and reptiles. Located
at Ringgold and Sixth streets in Brownsville. Open daily
from 9 a.m. to sundown. Adults $6; children $3. 956-546-7187.
Isla Blanca Park. RV camping, 2 picnic
pavilions, jetty fishing. Sea Ranch Marina. Day use fee per
vehicle $4. 956-761-5493.
Island Equestrian Center. Horseback
riding on the beach North of city limits. Not a trail ride
- no single file riding. Children 4 and first time riders
are welcome. Daily specials. Open year round, weather permitting.
Pony rides for children 4 and under. Call for reservations.
956-761-HOSS (4677).
Jeremiah's. Water slides for big kids
as well as tots, a video arcade, a snack bar, and a full
service bar for Mom and Dad. Phone: (956) 761-2131.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
A 45,000-acre federal preserve for wildlife and bird watching
on the mainland. Open daily from sunrise to sundown (about
6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.). $2 per vehicle. 956-748-3608.
Laguna Madre Nature Trail. A 1500-foot
boardwalk overlooking four acres of wetlands next to the
South Padre Island Convention Center. Visitors can observe
many species of birds and wildlife in their natural habitat.
Laguna Station. Located on South Padre
Island, Laguna Station offers a variety of exciting aquatics
adventures to Boy Scout Troops and co-ed explorer posts.
Fishing, sailing, scuba and Island adventures round out the
opportunities. Laguna Station also offers off-season camping
and programs to church youth groups and other youth groups.
For more information, call Glenn Harrison, director, at (956)
423-0250, or write: Laguna Station, Rio Grande Council, 1301
S. 77 Sunshine Strip, Harlingen, TX 78550.
Matamoros, Mexico. Bargain shopping
for silver, leather goods, and handicrafts at vibrant Mexican
markets. Traditional dining, museums. Thirty minutes southwest
of the Island. Escorted tours available.
Schlitterbahn Beach Water Park. Offers
a fun dining experience with spectacular views of the Gulf
of Mexico and Laguna Madre. Open 4 pm-10pm Monday - Friday
and 11 am - 10pm Saturday and Sunday. No waterpark admission
fee required to dine at Club Rio Beach. Enjoy fabulous brick-oven
hand-made pizza, seafood, steaks, burgers and more. 90 Park
Rd, Highway 100. (956)772-7873 or (956) 772-9772.
Sea Turtle, Inc. Bounded by the "Turtle
Lady," Ila Loetscher. Shows featuring endangered sea
turtles Tuesdays and Saturdays. 6617 Padre Blvd. $2 Donation
required.
Three Flags Over Padre. Offers go-carts,
miniature golf, spaceball, a ferris wheel, and a video arcade.
1201 Padre Blvd. Phone: (956)761-1947.
University of Texas-Pan American Coastal
Studies Laboratory. Several aquariums containing sea
life indigenous to the area, as well as an extensive shell
collection. Located in Isla Blanca Park. Open Sunday through
Friday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Free admission to the lab, but
must pay $4 admission to the park. Phone: 956/761-2644.
Whaling Wall. Internationally-known
environmental artist Wyland picked South Padre Island to
paint Whaling Wall #53, his only wall in Texas. Wyland is
planning to paint 100 walls during his career to educate
people on the importance of marine conservation.
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