South Padre Island's 34-mile long stretch of white sandy beaches is the perfect hotspot for those looking to escape the cold.

South Padre

Island Paradise Awaits

When you mention vacationing in the islands, the Caribbean or Hawaii may come to mind. But for people in the know it's South Padre Island. Located on the tropical southern tip of Texas just 25 miles north of the Mexican border, it's one of the nation's premiere resort communities.

This 34-mile long stretch of white sand is bordered on the east by the Gulf of Mexico and on the west by the Laguna Madre Bay. The conveniences and attractions of a modern resort coupled with miles and miles of pristine beaches and warm waters is what draws thousands of visitors to the area each year. For college students throughout the southwest, it's the perfect destination for spring break. But it's also a great family destination year-round and for serious fishermen (and women) it can't be equaled.

The natural beauty, relaxed atmosphere and friendly people that call the Island home match South Padre's rich history. The white, sandy beaches of South Padre are known throughout the United States (ranked as one of America's top 10 teaches), with the emerald water of the Gulf of Mexico serving as the perfect backdrop for spectacular sunsets. From sunrise to sunset, the Island is the perfect playground for sailing, fishing, windsurfing, dolphin watching, horseback riding, shopping and golf, just to mention a few. As the day winds down with spectacular sunsets over the bay, the evenings come alive with dining, dancing and music. Large selections of fine restaurants are available for your choosing, and many will even cook your catch.

While its many amenities make South Padre the premiere vacation spot in the state, the location of the Island also makes it one of the premiere spots in the state to observe wildlife in its natural state, and to find that elusive bird to add to your list. One of the best spots in the United States to see all of the regularly occurring rails, South Padre has over 300 recorded species to date, and the list continues to grow, as do the bird watchers.

With year-round moderate temperatures, South Padre is the ideal vacation spot for everyone. Whether you are a family looking for a week long getaway, a winter visitor looking for a warm spot during the cold months in the northern states, or a college student looking for the best spot to relax during spring break, South Padre Island is your choice.

Seafood is the best to be found anywhere. Schlitterbauns Shrimp Haus features a dozen different shrimp dishes on its menu. It serves only the freshest shrimp, right out of the Gulf of Mexico, which guarantees the most flavor. In addition to fried shrimp, beer-battered fried shrimp and grilled shrimp, there's shrimp scampi, coconut fried shrimp, blackened shrimp, baked stuffed jumbo shrimp, and shrimp brochette. There's also shrimp enchiladas, shrimp newburg, chipotle shrimp, pecan crusted shrimp and more. There's even a peanut butter shrimp‹shrimp slowly simmered in a rich peanut butter sauce and served with rice pilaf.

There are dozens of great restaurants on South Padre Island serving everything from prime rib to burgers and pizza.

To learn more about this island paradise and plan your vacation, see www.sopadre.com.