"South Padre Island...Texas' best beach" Top 5 Page for this destination South Padre Island by rsleisk
South Padre Island Travel Guide: 156 reviews and 181 photos
Recorded history begins in 1519, when Alonso Alvarez de Pineda sailed past the Isla Blanca (White Island) while charting the Gulf of Mexico for Spain. Pineda claims giants inhabited the coast, and may have been referring to the Karankawa Indians, a tall people as feisty as longhorn steers. The "Kronks", as they were nicknamed, wintered on the mainland and spent the summer on the island, living on fish and clams. Early stories portray them as cannibals who ate flesh of still-living victims or roasted their foes over campfire.
In 1804, Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, a Catholic Missionary Priest, founded a settlement on South Padre Island called Rancho Santa Cruz where he raised cattle and horses. At the eastern foot of the Queen Isabella Causeway stands a bronze statue of Padre Jose Nicolas Balli clad in a cassock and clasping a crucifix in his right hand. In 1829, the year he died, Balli was awarded title to the Island by the Mexican government. His nephew, Juan Jose Balli, lived on the Island until 1853. Rediscovered in 1931, the site of Rancho Santa Cruz is known as the Lost City of Padre Island. Numerous Balli descendants still live in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
- Pros:Texas' best beach, plenty to do.
- Cons:Gets busy during Spring Break!
Reviews (6)
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Things to Do
(2)
The Laguna Madre Nature Trail was a great place to take a stroll and watch the different birds and even alligators... more travel advice
Really good food!
Restaurants
(2)
The food here was really good. they have just about all kinds of food, plenty of choices (American, Barbecue,... more travel advice
Good food out!
Restaurants
(2)
Good food and service. Great view of the bay, especially at sunset. The interior is cooly decorated with all sorts of... more travel advice
Discover Sea Turtles!
Things to Do
(2)
Sea Turtle was the home of Ila Loetscher, better known as "The Turtle Lady of South Padre Island." It has expanded its... more travel advice
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Hotels (2)
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rsleisk
““The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley so great that I thought I was in a dream.””
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See All Friends (16)Latest South Padre Island hotel reviews
- Isla Grand Beach Resort South Padre Island
- 133 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2012 - Pearl South Padre
- 121 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2012 - Howard Johnson Resort
- 4 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 12, 2012 - La Copa Inn Resort
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Latest: May 22, 2012 - Best Western Fiesta Isles Hotel
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Latest: Mar 23, 2012 - Sunchase IV Resort
- 21 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 27, 2012 - Comfort Suites South Padre Island
- 101 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 22, 2012 - Bahia Mar Resort
- 1 Review & Opinion
- South Padre Beach Resort
- 66 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 12, 2010 - Peninsula Island Resort
- 54 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2012 - La Quinta Inn And Suites South Padre Resort
- 285 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2012 - Wanna Wanna Inn South Padre Island
- 54 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 23, 2012 - Travelodge South Padre Island
- 290 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 23, 2012 - Bayview Hotel Of South Padre Island
- 30 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 15, 2012 - Gulf Point Condominiums
- 3 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 28, 2012

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Comments (1)
I found your South Padre Island pages to be interesting, helpful, interesting, and fun. Great info on the hotel. Thanks.
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