Today we headed off to SPI to just do a bit of looking around on our own, without the help of a dinner cruise boat. Going over the bridge/causeway is a danger when the pelicans are flying, I guess. You wouldn't want to hit one of those!
We stopped at the tourist center first.
They have this huge sand castle in the front. The largest in the U.S. by a guy who has won various awards all over the world. His art is all over the island commissioned by different hotels, etc.
At the entrance to the island is a statue of the dude for which the island is named, Padre Nicolas Balli (it could have been any padre).
We were there just after noon, and since we were up early, we were a little hungry. So we set off to find a spot to eat. This place, Wanna Wanna, came up on the radar. So we thought we'd try it out. Meh...but it was a good location right on the gulf.
After lunch, we took a short walk on the beach. The waves were rolling today, and it was rather foggy all day with the threat of rain. This person was wandering the beach, exfoliating her feet.
Gerard said, "It must have been a wild spring break, look at all the condoms on the beach." I had to set him straight.
This is an entrance to a shop along the main road on the island.
At the very southern point of the island is Isla Blanca Park. There is a commemoration there to all those fishermen who went through the pass and were never seen again. Quite a few, I might add.
In the park is an RV campground, a very large beach, and some open space.
The island itself is quite long, but not very wide. There are 3 roads that run pretty much the length of it, and tons of crossroads. The gulf side is lined with hotels, but there are lots of access points for the public to get to the beach. The lagoon side is lined with condos and private housing with some businesses. Then of course the main highway up the middle is lined with all kinds of businesses to take your money.
On our way off the island, we noticed these oil rigs in the bay. Hard to see through the chain link fence, but there are 3 of them.
And finally on our way home around Los Fresnos there's an awfully big gorilla sitting in a field. Yikes, let's get outta here!
All in all, a nice day on South Padre Island.
We stopped at the tourist center first.
They have this huge sand castle in the front. The largest in the U.S. by a guy who has won various awards all over the world. His art is all over the island commissioned by different hotels, etc.
At the entrance to the island is a statue of the dude for which the island is named, Padre Nicolas Balli (it could have been any padre).
We were there just after noon, and since we were up early, we were a little hungry. So we set off to find a spot to eat. This place, Wanna Wanna, came up on the radar. So we thought we'd try it out. Meh...but it was a good location right on the gulf.
After lunch, we took a short walk on the beach. The waves were rolling today, and it was rather foggy all day with the threat of rain. This person was wandering the beach, exfoliating her feet.
Gerard said, "It must have been a wild spring break, look at all the condoms on the beach." I had to set him straight.
This is an entrance to a shop along the main road on the island.
At the very southern point of the island is Isla Blanca Park. There is a commemoration there to all those fishermen who went through the pass and were never seen again. Quite a few, I might add.
In the park is an RV campground, a very large beach, and some open space.
The island itself is quite long, but not very wide. There are 3 roads that run pretty much the length of it, and tons of crossroads. The gulf side is lined with hotels, but there are lots of access points for the public to get to the beach. The lagoon side is lined with condos and private housing with some businesses. Then of course the main highway up the middle is lined with all kinds of businesses to take your money.
On our way off the island, we noticed these oil rigs in the bay. Hard to see through the chain link fence, but there are 3 of them.
And finally on our way home around Los Fresnos there's an awfully big gorilla sitting in a field. Yikes, let's get outta here!
All in all, a nice day on South Padre Island.
Looks like a great spot other than the beach partying (Hee hee)!
ReplyDelete