How does South Padre beach compare to Port A's (Fort Hood: restaurant, food)

[homeinatx]

Originally Posted by pwumavs

I agree that Northern Florida (and Florida in general) has nicer beaches/sand and water than do any beaches in Texas, but does anyone know why that is? This question has been bothering me for like a century. Northern Florida, for one, is closer to the mouth of the Mississippi River, so one would think the water would be cloudier. But instead, Northern Florida waters and sand look tropical, even though that part of Florida definitely doesn't have a tropical climate.

Because of prevailing currents, all the Mississippi silt flows west not east, which is why the water in Northern Florida is clear and the water along the Texas coast is murky. It starts to clear up around South Padre.

[pwumavs]

We need a giant fan that blows those currents the other way then.

[theloneranger]

The beach itself is nicer at Padre than at Port A, but Port A is a better trip. It's not as trashy as Padre.

[texas7]

Weird how that is - S. Padre is nicer beaches but trashier city but extremely safe city all the same. Hotels tend to be crappy - better off in a condo.

[Budzyblue]

I am confused, the initial question was about Texas beaches and what is best which is the answer I am looking for. If I wanted to find the best beaches in America I would search for such. Can anyone who actually knows about Texas beaches give a good answer? I am trying to decide between Port A, South Padre, or Mustang Island. This is my 25th anniversary and we will not have kids. Thank you.

[alwaysmiling]

Originally Posted by Budzyblue

I am confused, the initial question was about Texas beaches and what is best which is the answer I am looking for. If I wanted to find the best beaches in America I would search for such. Can anyone who actually knows about Texas beaches give a good answer? I am trying to decide between Port A, South Padre, or Mustang Island. This is my 25th anniversary and we will not have kids. Thank you.

South Padre hands down. Padre reminds me more of a Florida beach than Port A, which just got hit by hurricane Harvey and reminds me more of a redneck Texas beach. I grew up going to port a but padre is worth the extra hour drive on the Texas Tropical trail. Pier 19 is fun. Good Italian and a few other restaurants and bars...

[Texyn]

Originally Posted by Budzyblue

I am confused, the initial question was about Texas beaches and what is best which is the answer I am looking for. If I wanted to find the best beaches in America I would search for such. Can anyone who actually knows about Texas beaches give a good answer? I am trying to decide between Port A, South Padre, or Mustang Island. This is my 25th anniversary and we will not have kids. Thank you.

All are decent overall. South Padre will be the most crowded, but it also is the most reliably blue and clear compared to the three you mention.

Overall, South Texas beaches are topped only by Florida and Hawaii in terms of achieving that classic "tropical beach vacation" status. The low latitude ensures warm SSTs for much of the year, as well as among the mildest winters the country has to offer.

[centralaustinite]

It depends what you want! For my family, surf quality is the most important, so SPI hands down. But I know plenty of people who love the fishing and quick drive to Port A.



SPI has decent water quality, good surf, one of the best Italian restaurants in the STATE (and I am so super picky about Italian food), and interesting things to do -- birding, kayaking, Sea Turtle Inc., Birding and Nature Center.



We try to avoid times popular with college students (so not March or April), but have had great trips in July, Labor Day weekend, and January.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by alwaysmiling

South Padre hands down. Padre reminds me more of a Florida beach than Port A, which just got hit by hurricane Harvey and reminds me more of a redneck Texas beach. I grew up going to port a but padre is worth the extra hour drive on the Texas Tropical trail. Pier 19 is fun. Good Italian and a few other restaurants and bars...

SPI is not 1 hour further than Port A it is 2 hours further.

Austin to Port A 3.5 hours.

Austin to SPI 5.5 hours.

That said it is worth the drive but I go to Port A the most.

[DashRiprock]

South Padre Island beaches are head and shoulders better than Port Aransas. The town of Port Aransas has more of a laid back beach town feeling while SPI seems more commercialized.

Port Aransas is close enough to Corpus Christi that you could go do some of the stuff there (State aquarium, original Whataburger and... not sure what else tbh).

SPI has a Schlitterbahn and is close to Mexico if you're feeling brave enough to cross the border.

The drive from Austin to SPI is a beating. Long stretches of basically nothing but scrub brush except for a few impressive wind farms the further south you go. A nice break stop would be the King Ranch tour. We did that a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.