This was a very quick trip! We chose a perfect weekend for it, because school wasn't out yet...great tip! Dates reserved: May 23rd-May 26th. We stayed at a private condo that was right on the beach. Definitely the way to go when you are toting five kiddos and all their toys. We just called down and had the management company put out an umbrella and chairs everyday, worth the $30/day!
Here's one link to some of the condo reservation companies in South Padre:
http://www.pirentals.com/properties/beach-front-properties/beachfront-condominiums
Activities:
Turtles, Inc: We went to a turtle conservation place the first day. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but again, the kids loved seeing all the different turtles swimming in tanks and the staff was wonderful in answering all their questions (and you know how many questions kids come up with) A must stop when you are wanting to take a break from the shore and do something that is free (although they do have a donation box out front)
Link: http://www.seaturtleinc.org/
Bay Fishing: Includes a 3 hour fishing trip. $25 for people fishing and $15 for spectators. Our one year old would have been free. We didn't get to do this, but if we hadn't overslept..this would have been quite a memory for the kids!
Link: http://ospreyfishingtrips.com/prices.asp
Visited the Lighthouse: There was a lighthouse close to the Parrot's Eyes restaurant. It's right before you drive over the bridge to get to the island. The kids loved rolling down the hill and climbing the stairs.
Some information on it: 414 East Queen Isabella Boulevard, Port Isabel, TX 78578-2411
Restaurant:
Parrot Eyes. The food was a bit of a disappointment to my husband and I, but the atmosphere was so wonderful for the kids that it made up for it. The restaurant is on the bay and has a long pier that goes out into the intercoastal bay. The kids loved walking out and watching the water. While we were there, a man caught a stingray and the kids watched as they brought it in.
Pros: Great Atmosphere
Cons: Food is average, price is higher than average.
Link: http://www.parroteyesspi.com/index123.htm
Last, but certainly not least...the kids all wanted souvenirs and I gave them each $5 for something little. Well, we realized quickly that there was NOTHING on the island in that price range! But, we found this amazing souvenir store that was only five miles inland that not only had a ton of items in that price range...they had lots of shells and things that actually wouldn't end up in the garbage as soon as you get home! The name of it was Harris Sea Castle and it looked like a sea castle...can't miss it. Their number is 956-943-3234.
It was not as far in a BOBZ WORLD...this place would be way off my return to list! They have the souvenirs out in the frontof the store...and for that part, it would be fine (although that castle shop is cheaper and they are Christians...it was the only store that didn't have vulgar t-shirts and booby mugs) Bobz World advertises this amazing exhibit-tour thing. They made it sound very fun, a bit wierd, but also educational. Well, one world came to mind...RANDOM. and it was $40 worth of random, because that's how much it cost for our family to go on this 40 minute tour. Also, it's not good for young children at all. The first exhibit is pirates...all skeletons and gore. Bloody, spiderwebs, gooey...not appropriate at all for younger kids. The rest of the tour is simply bazaar and random.
Link: http://www.bobzworld.com/tours.html
