Breakaway Cruises
Family-Friendly
1 Padre Blvd., slip 27
Tel: 956-761-2212
Fax:
Breakaway Cruises provides a variety of cruises and tours for the
entire family. Try a tour on the Xcape, their double-deck catamaran, or the
Aqua Dog, the Island's only amphibious vehicle. Breakaway also features daily
dolphin watches, sunset cruises, their famous Texas Ranch BBQ cruise, and
more.
 Historic
Attractions
|
Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical
Park Family-Friendly
421 East Queen Isabella Blvd.
Tel: 956-943-2262
The Port Isabel Lighthouse, built in 1853, offers panoramic views of
the Laguna Madre Bay, making it an obvious favorite for photographers. The
park contains a historical museum and a newly built visitor center, which is a
replica of the original lighthouse keeper's cottage and surrounding decorative
fence.
Arts,
Culture, & Science
|
Confederate Air Force/Rio Grande Wing
Museum Family-Friendly
955 South Minnesota Ave.
Tel: 956-541-8585
For those intrigued by flight, the Confederate Air Force/Rio Grande
Wing at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport displays
historic World War II aircraft and aviation memorabilia. Guided tours are
provided by CAF colonels and an Annual Confederate Air Force Show offers
demonstrations of the historic aircraft.
Whaling Wall #53 Family-Friendly
7355 Padre Blvd.
Depicting a pod of orcas, a giant mural known as the Whaling Wall #53
covers three walls of the convention center in South Padre Island. The wall
was painted by internationally-known environmental artist, Wyland, who plans
to paint 100 walls in total to inform people about the importance of marine
conservation.
Parks
& Beaches
|
Andy Bowie Park Family-Friendly
Tel: 956-761-2639
Andy Bowie Park is a good spot for families to relax. Facilities
include a unique children's playground, beachfront picnic pavilions, horseback
riding, and popular spots for windsurfing and wade fishing.
Isla Blanca Park Family-Friendly
Tel: 956-761-5493
Isla Blanca Park offers fishing from the jetty, camping, and a mile of
beach for waterfront recreation. It is also home to Jeremiah's, a water park
with slides for the kids and a full service bar for mom and dad.
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Family-Friendly
7355 Padre Blvd.
Next to the South Padre Island Convention Centre is the Laguna Madre
Nature Trail, a 1500-foot boardwalk overlooking four acres of wetlands. Many
species of birds and wildlife can be observed in their natural habitat.
Theme
Parks & Zoos
|
Gladys Porter Zoo Family-Friendly
500 Ringgold St.
Tel: 956-546-7187
Fax: 956-541-4940
Gladys Porter Zoo is considered one of the best small zoos in the
country. This 31-acre animal park houses more than 1,800 mammals, reptiles,
and birds laid out in four major geographical areas: Tropical America,
Indo-Australia, Asia, and Africa.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Family-Friendly
Tel: 956-748-3607
Fax: 956-748-3609
The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is a 45,000-acre federal
preserve ideal for wildlife viewing and bird watching. The refuge is filled
with redhead ducks, snow geese, sandhill cranes, ocelot, white-tailed deer,
and more. Tours and map guides are available at the visitors center.
