Our Winter Texan Friends

When it’s sleet and snow season, join us in South Padre Island where the average winter temperature is a beautiful 65 degrees. “Winter Texans” as we like to call them in Texas, flock to all parts of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and many decide to stay on South Padre Island because of the warm, subtropical climate. As you can imagine, these Winter Visitors also have a significant impact on the area and the economy. Because of this impact, South Padre Island works hard to make their stay pleasurable in hopes they will return for years to come.

Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay, South Padre Island is home to the most beautiful beaches in Texas, and some of the best offshore and bay fishing along the Gulf Coast. Birding watching, dolphin cruises, horseback riding on the beach, swimming in the ocean, spending an afternoon on the beach in your favorite chair reading a book, watching the magnificent Laguna Madre sunsets, or just taking a night time stroll on the beach are just a few of the things that make South Padre Island the place to be when snow covers the ground at home. If you like to volunteer; South Padre Island has a number of possibilities including the Birding and Nature Center, Sea Turtle, Inc. and numerous others. There is never a shortage of something to do while on the Island. The months of January and February are filled with great events. The Rotary Fish Fry, Kelly Miller Circus, Longest Causeway Walk and Run, Market Days Arts and Craft Shows, art shows, El Paseo Arts Foundation Plays, and numerous concerts are just a few of the events our Winter friends can enjoy. You are sure to work up an appetite from all of the fun you are having, and will find there is no shortage of awesome places to eat (check out the restaurant list in the back of this guide) or places to join friends for a drink. Did you go fishing and bring home a good catch? Most restaurants on the Island will “cook your catch” for you. Give it a try – invite your friends along, and talk about how your dinner “slept in the bay, or the gulf, last night”.

As your day draws to a close and it is time to get some rest, there is no need to look far for lodging. South Padre Island has an abundance of hotel rooms and condos, as well as over 800 RV sites (check out the lodging charts located in the back of this guide for a complete list). Many hotels and condos offer special rates for Winter Texans, and remember if you are staying over 30 days you do not pay hotel/motel tax; just one more reason to spend your winter months on the Island.

For more information call 956.761.6433, 800.SO.PADRE or go to www. sopadre.com, and whatever you do, do not forget what Winter Texans do while they are on South Padre Island — They have FUN! `