How is South Padre Island for vacation? (El Paso, Corpus Christi: spring break, 2015)

[smittydore]

Is it nice and safe and fun? Or is it better to stay in Harlingen and drive to the beach? Is there plenty of good public beach access if so? Are the fishing party boats any good?

Thanks!

[ScoPro]

Why would you stay in Harlingen an hour away from the beach when there are plenty of decent beachfront hotels & condos? Plus SPI is probably the safest place in the Valley.

[jackalope48]

Driving an hour during spring break is not a very safe thing to do since it's apex time for drunk driving. If you are safety conscious I'd stay close to the beach or whatever amenities you want to do at night and drive mid day for other things.

If you want college party atmosphere do South Padre. If you want family atmosphere do North Padre. If you want something in between do Port A.

[smittydore]

NOT spring break at all. Was thinking late April or early May. Is that a good time for a SPI vacay?

NPI is Corpus, right? Is it nicer in general?

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by smittydore

NOT spring break at all. Was thinking late April or early May. Is that a good time for a SPI vacay?

NPI is Corpus, right? Is it nicer in general?

Yes, that is a good time to go. And yes, South Padre is the nicest beach vacation spot in Texas without question. Both in terms of the quality of the beaches, and also the built environment in terms of condos, hotels, and restaurants. You would have to drive all the way to Destin Florida to find someplace nicer.

Yes, North Padre is next to Corpus. There isn't much there except beaches that you drive to with a 4x4. No condos or beach houses that you can rent. The main beach resort area around there is Port Aransas which is on a different island.

[ScoPro]

Well, North Padre Island and Mustang Island have been connected together ever since Fish Pass was filled in by a hurricane decades ago.
For the OP.... Port Aransas, another tourist/beach/fishing destination is on the northern tip of Mustang Island. They form the barrier island that ecloses Corpus Christi Bay and the city of CC.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Well, North Padre Island and Mustang Island have been connected together ever since Fish Pass was filled in by a hurricane decades ago.
For the OP.... Port Aransas, another tourist/beach/fishing destination is on the northern tip of Mustang Island. They form the barrier island that ecloses Corpus Christi Bay and the city of CC.

They are still separated by Packery Channel.

In any event, for most people, you cross the bridge from Corpus Christie and if you turn south you are on Padre Island and it quickly becomes parkland and pretty wild where you need a 4x4 to access. If you turn north you are on Mustang Island and you quickly get to Port Aransas which is the main beach resort town on the central part of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Comparing the towns of South Padre to Port Aransas, we have stayed many many times in both towns. I prefer South Padre. The beaches are nicer, the water is cleaner, and cars are banned from the beaches which makes it more relaxing. On busy weekends the numbers of vehicles on the beach in Port Aransas can get overwhelming and you are constantly worried about your kids getting run over by drunken college idiots zooming by in their monster trucks. This is the difference:

Typical Port Aransas Beaches during peak season and holidays like the 4th of July




By contrast, South Padre allows no vehicles on the beach so you have this:





although during spring break you still get massive beach parties like this

[ScoPro]

Ah yeah, I forgot about Packery Channel. It has been a while since we went to PA. Our favorite place, the Sandcastle Condos, has not reopened yet after the last storm devastated the place.
We’re heading down to SPI at the end of June.
The July 4th beach parade from several years ago.....

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

The beaches are nicer, the water is cleaner, and cars are banned from the beaches which makes it more relaxing.

Just so there is no confusion, cars can access SPI Beach just not around where the hotels and condos are. Access to vehicles begins at around beach access # 5 just North of the hotels/condos.

Originally Posted by texasdiver

You would have to drive all the way to Destin Florida to find someplace nicer.

For someone in West Texas, Southern California beaches or Puerto Peñasco, Mexico are also good options within driving distance. I think El Paso is actually closer to San Diego than it is to any Texas coastal town and it is definitely closer to Rocky Point, Mexico. Not sure where OP is coming from though.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

Just so there is no confusion, cars can access SPI Beach just not around where the hotels and condos are. Access to vehicles begins at around beach access # 5 just North of the hotels/condos.



For someone in West Texas, Southern California beaches or Puerto Peñasco, Mexico are also good options within driving distance. I think El Paso is actually closer to San Diego than it is to any Texas coastal town and it is definitely closer to Rocky Point, Mexico. Not sure where OP is coming from though.

Yeah but it is wise to drive your personal vehicle into Mexico?