Very nice "nature walk" ... free boardwalk, not too long, out into the marshes of Laguna Madre (the…read moreinterior side of SPI). Lots of wildlife to see, great signage along the trail with photos of the wildlife there. The highlight is the end of the trail, a small observation pavilion over the water, a great place to watch the many dozens of aquatic birds splashing, catching fish, just hanging out... GREAT place to catch a sunset amid the "buzz" of the wildlife. Highly recommend!

Next to the south Padre island convention center. Really nice views. Unfortunately I got there a…read moretad bit too late. Forgot to take pictures before the sun set, still beautiful though.

Isla Blanca Park in South Padre Island, TX, is home to El Cristo de los Pescadores or "Christ of…read morethe Fishermen" statue. My first thought was how huge the statue was. This depiction of Jesus Christ was created in the late '90s in memory of Gustavo De La Lastra and Jose Edwardo De La Lastra. Their June 1988 deaths by asphyxiation aboard a shrimp boat occurred "after using a chemical preservative on their catch." A lawsuit by the parents against chemical's manufacturer, General Chemical Corporation, ensued. I didn't know about this tragedy beforehand, however, the statue remained absolutely beautiful. I wish that the island wasn't so trashy on May 28, 2025 when my daughters and I visited. If that wasn't enough, daily vehicle passes were $12. I'd probably go here to view SpaceX launches from afar, but not to RV camp. It looked so crowded! Works Cited https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/general-chemical-corp-v-891520387 https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/how-the-statue-of-the-christ-of-the-fishermen-got-to-south-padre-island/

Fantastic way to spend an afternoon. There are public bathrooms, outdoor showers and parking. I…read morelove the area with tables and umbrellas which make it a great family friendly place.

We went on a horseback ride at 430pm. Everything went great! The people working there seemed like…read morethey loved what they do. We had Tarzan and Comanche for our horses. The guides were knowledgeable and very welcoming. The longhorn on the way to the stable was an added bonus to see before hand!

Great experience riding with the horses! Lindsey & Landon made the horse riding enjoyable and…read moreinstructions were clear and precise when mounting and riding the horses. Would recommend!

I was taken aback when the attendant told me $12 when we go to the Cameron County Parks and…read moreRecreation entrance. It was 7:55 pm on May 28, 2025, and we just wanted to look around, particularly at the Jesus statue. But no, we had to pay the full price! Scattered all across the loop we drove was litter. It was sad. Tons of RVs were at the campground. Several folks in single vehicles still enjoying the sunset. But those single day use areas weren't crowded by that point. Be very careful driving. I encountered many dog walkers who just didn't care or didn't know I was approaching, me in the right of way, but I digress. Also, watch out for kids just playing in the middle of the parking lot. Their parents oblivious to me trying to exit. That also happen... but there was a perfectly good beach area for them to play on just a few yards away. *sigh* Never again unless I am here much earlier in the day. I would never see myself camping here.

Yay!! First time taking a vehicle onto the beach. It's a great experience. People bring food and…read moregames for a fun family day. I enjoyed running up and down the dunes which was great.

Okay this is less of a Boca Chica review and more of a SpaceX Starbase review. We went on the long…read moredrive from South Padre Island to visit Boca Chica to see where the gulf meets the Rio grande but ended up arriving just as Elon was rolling a rocket out to his launch site so we were in a unique traffic jam and then Boca Chica was shut down for the day so we didn't get to visit it but seeing the big rocket and all the pics and video we got were still an awesome thing! Visit out here for Starbase alone and if Boca Chica is open see it too

OMG, Yes! If only it was true!!!…read more There Is No Boca Chica State Park! Evidently someone assumed it was and posted this site. I've asked Yelp to remove and they wouldn't. I even referred them to the Texas State Parks Web site which list All Texas State Parks. So just be aware this area is part of the lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge! I think since Yelps not taking it down I'll go ahead and post some photos from the area!!! All of these photos came from the same area other Yelpers have been mistakenly adding reviews to.

Going to the top of the lighthouse was a cool experience. If you have trouble with stairs and…read moreladders, I don't recommend this for you. The stairs are winding and small. The ladders are very narrow and steep. I had to put my feet sideways. The view at the top is really nice. It's worth the few dollars to pay. My friends and I wore sandals. Tennie shoes would be safer though. The lighthouse is right before you cross over the bridge to get to South Padre Island. It's small, but you can't miss it.

Tight quarters inside. The top is closed off. Good view once on level just below top but wanted to…read morego to top and should only permit one group in at a time -- not worth the $5 per person fee to climb it

The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is located in Los Fresnos,…read moreTX. My daughters and I drove around this refuge back on May 28, 2025. It was raining off and on, so hiking was a no-go since we had no rain gear. This amazing section of diverse landscape is comprised of 110,000 acres. "The refuge is home to an incredible biodiversity with more than 450 plant varieties, 417 species of birds documented, 130 types of butterflies, 45 mammal species, 44 reptile and amphibian varieties and approximately 40 fish species." Because it is a "national" refuge (part of the title was left out of the Yelp business page), fishing is allowed and there are public hunts offered here as part of conservation. This includes for alligator (hook & line only), archery deer, exotics (e.g. nilgai antelope), and white-tailed deer. Feral hog hunting is unlimited. Of high importance to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is refuge management of "the two remaining breeding populations of ocelots." We never saw any, but just watch NBC's "The Americas." They have footage of those beautiful little endangered cats. Annual passes were $9 while day passes were $2.50. Works Cited https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa

Can I give it 10 stars? The wildlife, birds, calm atmosphere, all add up to a wonderful experience.read more

It's amazing the number of birds you will see on this small plot of land, located in the heart of…read morethe Entertainment District. Volunteers help with the maintenance and upkeep. Supplemental water is provided for the birds which makes it an oasis for them. This is an excellent place to get up close and personal with a variety of birds. Birders will write down sightings, so you will know what to look for and what people are seeing. Highly recommended, and easy to get to and observe!

Designated land on SPI for wild native plants & birds. Its in a central part of the island closer…read moreto bayside. Nice little spot to stop hear the birds, catch your breath & actually see trees on an otherwise sandy island. There are no benches to chill though & no trail.

Clean park with a lot of activities. The equipment is in good shape. Kids always outside playing…read moreand having fun. Workout stations and walking trail. Also a great spot for events.

...pretty cool little park. Short track. Things for kits. Safe. Right next door to police…read moredepartment.

Butterfly Garden in South Padre, TX, is anything but an "overgrown vacant lot" (referring to…read moreStephanie H.'s review on 7/11/2021). I wish more flowers had been planted, but I love these community gardens. I have read countless articles about the butterfly and other highly important pollinators populations diminishing. Kudos to this neighborhood or whoever for keeping it mostly tidy, trash-free, weed-free, and a tribute to so many loved ones. According to a magazine that was in our room, this particular butterfly garden is part of the "National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge initiative. Mayor Barry Patel signed the pledge on October 22, 2016, declaring the City's support for Monarch initiatives." We saw only a few butterflies on May 29, 2025, however, it was a bit warm and breezy. More flowers and more butterfly baths, please!

One of the best ways to experience South Padre's wild side is to take a stroll along the Laguna…read moreMadre Nature Trail,. a boardwalk that meanders from the South Padre Island Convention Center out to the Laguna Madre wetlands. This is birding hotspot and also a butterfly hotspot--thanks to the beautiful Butterfly Garden. The Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a great place and best of all: is free and open 24 hours a day.. If you venture to the South Padre Island Convention Center, you will be very close--in fact, a short walk away from the Nature Trail. I rode the free Wave Shuttle there and the driver directed me to the Nature Trail entrance very near the Whaling Wall. I was there around noon on a very warm fall day. There are lots of shrubs, trees and flowers planted specifically to attract birds and butterflies. I just stood there and watched as many different kinds of butterflies flitted all around me. It was so wonderful. Then I walked back into a little area that had a small rocky area with water flowing through it. The butterflies and the birds seemed to like that too. Laguna Madre Nature Trail is a fantastic place to enjoy nature and the beautiful Gulf Coast area of Texas. Make sure you make the trek and get ready to become transfixed by some butterfly hot-spotting.