Vacation... South Padre Island
One of the advantages to living in Kansas City is that we are in nearly the geographic center of the United States. That means, while we are not close to an Ocean but we are about equally as far from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans or the Gulf of Mexico.
With that in mind, for the last ten years my family has headed to South Padre Island, Texas, a taste of the tropics without leaving the U-S. While it has a reputation for Spring Break during the month of march, SPI becomes a family haven and quieter place during the month of June. So why not vacation at South Padre Island and why not spend some time deep in the heart of Texas, where as they say everything is bigger, especially the mugs of Coca-Cola at the Longhorn Cattle Company in San Benito, on the expressway between Harlingen & South Padre.
Every vacation destination comes with a price but if you find the right spots S-P-I can be had without coming home to a steady diet of Ramen noodles every night for a month.
While hotels or a rented condo will be your biggest expense you can lots of affordable if not down-right cheap entertainment. One of our favorite spots that we visit every time we are on the Island is Sea Turtle Inc. It’s a turtle rescue and rehabilitation hospital where admission is just a small three dollar donation for adults, two bucks for kids. On our last visit it looks like one of the turtles remembered us and raised a fin to say “hi”
The turtles will help remind you how our ecosystem is so fragile and how we impact it with our every action. I don’t think there is a person who can remind us more of that than Scarlet Colley. She is known around SPI as the “Dolphin lady”. For 25 dollars a person, up to 6 people at a time, Scarlet will take you to several pods of dolphins of which she has been interacting for 16 years. If you are lucky, like we were you might see some of the dolphins surfing ahead of a tug boat as it moves through the bay of the Laguna Madre.
Something else that won’t cost a dime, the beach! Be careful of the sun’s stronger rays and if you do a free ride on a great wave like the one Seth found can be yours.
We like the Beach access near Clayton’s resort. Clayton’s just opened up a year ago. The beach near his place is clean, well maintained and he serves burgers and cold drinks for a break from the sun, sand & surf.
While we were there we also found a familiar name to us here in Kansas City. Schlitterbahn! Schlitterbahn, South Padre Island is absolutely an Island Oasis at the Beach. Its similar to the one here in Kansas City, but Palm trees surround you and a huge sandcastle give it a distinct feel.
I have not tried out the BoogieBahn at KC’s Schlitterbahn but if its anything like the one at SPI what a wild ride it will be.
Schlitterbahn has theme park prices but there are discounts to be had, just plan ahead. If waterparks aren’t your cup of tea and you would rather sip an ice tea, then sit back relax and catch a sunset over the bay.
Oh, a couple of recommendations on food. You have try the Grapevine for breakfast, Isabella’s for breakfast or lunch and Louie’s backyard for its seafood buffet and Windjammer’s inside the Isla Grand for one of its buffets. We went on Thursday night for the Pasta. Wow, I want to go back!
And I am sure we will!