I was fortunate enough to have recently spent a weekend in South Padre Island. My first trip to this destination on the Gulf of Mexico was a great experience and leaves me wanting to return.
Just minutes from the border with Mexico, I found miles of clean beaches with beautiful ocean waters in several shades of blue under sunny skies. Do expect slow traffic from Port Isabel onto the island, though the wait is worth it.
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| Deck overlooking the ocean |
We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn. It is located on the beach. While not a luxury, five star resort, we enjoyed out short stay. Our room was larger than expected and it was very clean. The lobby, though a bit small, was clean and comfortable. The pool area is quite large and faces the ocean. Plenty of seating was available.
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| Comfy |
A short walk on the pathway from the pool area leads to the beach. Halfway along this walk is a deck with plenty of seating overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. I spent a bit of time lounging here, soaking up the sun and enjoying the sounds of the waves. There was also a free fireworks show behind the hotel that we watched from this deck. The
fireworks show runs through October this year, on Friday and Saturday nights.
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| Free fireworks show! |
The best experience at the Hilton was the staff. One of the most courteous, professional, and friendly hotel staffs I have ever encountered, they made sure all our needs were met. They beach towels provided at the front desk, as we made our way to the beach, were a nice touch. My only complaint is parking. More spaces are needed. We had to circle the lot one night for several minutes before a spot became available. That said, we will return to this hotel on our next trip.
Our stay was short so we did not have time to explore the numerous restaurants on the island. We did dine at Daddy's Cajun Kitchen and Seafood Market one night. Though the seating is a bit crowded the food was good, the portions were generous (my burger was large), and our waitress was a pleasure. On a Saturday night we were seated in less than fifteen minutes. I would eat there again.
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| Perfect. |
I look forward to returning to South Padre Island when we can spend several days relaxing on the beach and exploring the island and its activities even more.
The thoughts and opinions presented here are mine. Pictures are also mine.
More thoughts and ramblings on twitter @MattBellWrites
