South Padre: Off the beaten path

Boating, fishing, diving, surfing, kite boarding, and simply lounging on the beach...all of these are perfectly apt to do when in South Padre....after all why else would you be there! Bear in mind that there are hundreds of others who flock to the island with exactly the same idea!! So if you are looking to do something off the beaten track, there are a couple options that are as rewarding as all of the above.

Laguna Madre Nature Trail  

One of the best ways to experience South Padre's wild side is to take a stroll along the Laguna Madre Nature Trail, a boardwalk that meanders from the South Padre Island Convention Center out to the Laguna Madre wetlands covering nearly 50 acres in area. 

This is also a major spot for bird-watching. Throughout the year, more than 300 species of birds pass through the South Padre Island area, and the Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a great place for you to see them in their natural habitat. 

There are several bird watching blinds where bird watching enthusiasts can set up shop dawn or dusk to capture rare glimpses of Laguna Madre's endangered feathered species. Bird spotting is quite a fun activity to engage the entire family in! 

The Laguna Madre Nature Trail is open 24 hours a day and access is free. You can access it from the South Padre Island Nature and Birding Center. The center offers morning bird walks and interpretive guides of the center, introductory video cast as wells as programs/lectures by area naturalists. You can find more information here.