Our Christmas got here early this yr, as we have been privileged to spend the primary 4 days of December on South Padre Island, a barrier island on the southernmost tip of Texas. Whereas it seldom ever snows that near the Gulf of Mexico, we found that Christmas season is simply as magical when celebrated with white sand as a substitute of snow. Christmas is a joyful season on South Padre, and embraced with nice enthusiasm by islanders and guests alike.
My husband and I have been comfortable to hitch within the vacation festivities that kicked off at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 with a Vacation Mild Present close to our lodge on South Padre Blvd. We stayed at Isla Grand Seashore Resort close to the seaside, and from there it was solely a brief distance to view the spectacular mild present placed on by South Padre Island CVB. We discovered this mild present continues nightly till after New Yr’s.
South Padre Adventures
Whereas our days have been filled with actions organized by the CVB–touring wildlife preserves like Sea Turtle rescue heart and the Birding, Nature Middle and Alligator Sanctuary, and attempting native eating places–the nights have been all about celebrating Christmas and the vacations. We watched the island’s annual Christmas Parade Dec. 2, which additionally got here down Padre Blvd. only a stone’s throw from our pretty resort cabana.
We have been actually impressed with the big variety of eating places on the island, providing all the things from seafood to Tex-Mex to Italian specialties. Yummies Bistro, a spacious, domestically widespread restaurant that solely served breakfast and lunch, was a favourite breakfast spot in strolling distance from our lodge.
Cafe on the Seashore
One other nice restaurant advisable by the chamber was Café on the Seashore on the Palms Resort on Gulf Blvd. It was a bit tough for out-of-towners like us to seek out, because it’s positioned in again of the lodge with an open-air view of the seaside, however we have been glad we did. Café on the Seashore options an expansive menu with connoisseur objects not normally discovered at an informal eating spot. My breakfast Eggs Florentine have been very good, and I might have liked to return for lunch or dinner if we had extra time.
Whereas their lunch menu is extra informal, with Blackened Shrimp Tacos, cheeseburgers and fried seafood baskets, the dinner menu sounds wonderful. It options seafood dishes like chilly water lobster tail, grilled sashimi grade tuna, Pink Snapper Veracruz, and blackened Mahi Mahi, together with filet mignon. In addition they have a full-service bar that we hear could be very widespread.
Dolphin Watch
Different actions included a Dolphin Watch Eco-tour cruise to observe the wild dolphins who thrive within the Gulf waters at play with their households. A gala boat parade Saturday evening featured plenty of spectacularly adorned boats, greatest seen from the staging space within the Leisure District. The district options plenty of eating places and golf equipment at evening, whereas providing a Ferris Wheel, sand citadel playhouse, and different family-friendly sights for daytime leisure.
You possibly can e book a fishing journey, or an Eco Cruise, or select from a mind-boggling array of water actions starting from windsurfing, kiteboarding, paddle boarding, or kayaking on the island. Guests may also discover horseback-riding excursions on the seaside. A few of us are comfortable simply strolling slowly alongside the white, sandy seashores, having fun with the sunshine and choosing up shells. Or marveling on the elaborate sand castles constructed by extra enterprising beachcombers. South Padre Island is called the Sandcastle Capital of the Universe, a lofty title however one they’ve earned.
Artwork Path
Proficient native Sandcastle Masters like Sandy Ft work yr spherical to take care of these sand sculptures. Guests can choose up Artwork Path maps on the Guests Middle to find over 20 unbelievable constructions which can be on view. Superbly adorned fiber glass Sea Turtle sculptures, painted by native artists, are additionally scattered all through the island. These pleasant creations can be discovered on the Sea Turtle Path map on the guests’ bureau.
When you’re within the neighborhood, don’t miss visiting the historic Port Isabel Lighthouse and the encompassing leisure space with fishing piers, boutique shops, museums, and eating places simply throughout the Queen Isabela Causeway. We stopped for lunch there on our drive to South Padre Island from Harlingen airport, and I liked my shrimp scampi pasta at Pirate’s Touchdown.
