Snowbirds and winter visitors love South Padre Island! Beautiful beaches, warm Gulf waters, fishing, boating, bird watching, shopping, and a diversity of activities make South Padre Island one of the best snowbird destinations in the world.

A popular warm haven for the winter-weary, the community works hard to make your stay as fun as possible. Special events and activities have been created specifically for snowbirds. There are many choices when it comes to lodging. The Island has a large number of hotels/motels with kitchens, condos, beach houses and RV parks.

With year round moderate temperatures, South Padre is the ideal snowbird spot for everyone. Winter visitor looking for a warm spot during the cold months in the northern states will enjoy the climate. The island's sub-tropical temperatures rarely drop below 65° in the winter, and steady easterly breezes sweep past palm trees and sandy dunes with wonderfully fresh air.

South Padre Island and Padre Island were one and the same. In 1964 the Port Mansfield Gulf Channel was completed, permanently making one island two. The northern island fell under the auspices of the federal government and was declared Padre Island National Seashore. South Padre Island, meanwhile, became a tourist mecca, especially after the Queen Isabella Causeway was completed in 1974, connecting the island's beautiful white beaches to the South Texas mainland.

Laguna Madre is the wide, 609-square-mile body of water that separates South Padre Island from Port Isabel and the rest of the South Texas mainland. It serves as an important breeding area for dozens of species of aquatic birds (making it a veritable bird-watcher's paradise), and the shallow Laguna Madre also offers first-rate fishing with calm waters.

The beaches of South Padre Island are the number one attraction for many snowbirds. The white, sandy beaches of South Padre are known throughout the United States (ranked as one of America’s top 10 beaches), with the emerald water of the Gulf of Mexico serving as the perfect backdrop for spectacular sunsets.

There are no privately owned beaches in Texas, so everyone is welcome to enjoy every inch of the entire coast line. There are beach access points every few blocks along Gulf Blvd, or you can go to one of the county park beaches where you'll find pavilions with picnic tables and restrooms.

The island boasts some of the best fishing in the country. There is fishing off of a jetty, wade fishing along the beach or in the Laguna Madre, and bay fishing or offshore fishing charter. There are approximately 600 different species, but the most commonly caught fish are the red or black drum, spotted sea trout and southern flounder in the bay, and tarpon, red snapper, king mackerel, amberjack and pompano in the gulf.

South Padre Island Golf Club offers a 18-hole championship golf course and is situated across the Laguna Madre Bay, a short 10 minute drive from South Padre Island. This par-72 course is home of the Texas Senior Open and presents an absolutely beautiful lateral view of the Island.

South Padre Island is a true warm haven for the winter-weary.