Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

TRAIL MIX Sea turtle lovers can hang out at the Sea Turtle Art Trail. There's a curated collection of original turtle sculptures across the city. So much flair and endless creativity! Sandcastle lovers will marvel at the Sandcastle Trail. Make pit stops along the informal route of 30 castles for selfies by these traditional castle designs. Kids can grab their sand pails and sign up for a special sand- castle-making lesson taught by a local artist. CRITTER STOPS Pack the binoculars for an outdoor nature walk at the South Padre Island Birding Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary. With more than one kilometre of boardwalk and plenty of scenic lookouts, families can anticipate close-up views of a variety of bird species. There are guided bird walks, interactive experiences, and educational gator talks. Visit the gator pond, home to "Big Padre," the ginormous resident alligator. PARK HITS For a good water park, Isla Blanca is home to Beach Park, rated as the number one kid- friendly attraction by Texas Family Magazine, while adrenalin-boosting challenges are pop- ular at the Island Adventure Park. It's here where you can zip line, race go-karts, enjoy minigolf or gallop in the surf on horseback. SEA TIME Whether it's dolphin watching, snorkelling, sunset cruises, or just plain old-fashioned lounging around, there's loads of family fun at the Sea Ranch Marina, where local tour boats offer various dolphin and ecotours, and kids can watch sea life in real time. It's time to leave behind the mainland and travel to this timeless Texas island for some true family fun! DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2022 24 T here's a sliver of sand that slides into the Gulf of Mexico on an island rife with soft sandy beaches. No wonder South Padre Island has been dubbed "The Sandcastle Capital of the World." Wherever you choose to hang out—be it the beach, a bookstore, or a downtown street— sand-sculpted figures stand out somewhere at this Texas island. No one is in a hurry here, either; not even the migrating birds or local gators. South Padre Island is famously known for its year-round warm temps, 300+ days of sun- shine, and clear warm waters where lapping waves kiss the barrier island's shoreline. See protected sand dunes that serve as a scenic backdrop and head to the north end for beach horseback riding. There's a trail for everybody, an outdoor adventure, where tailor-made family outings are created as easily as the sun shines off the Laguna Madre Bay. It's time to discover the family fun in South Padre Island. SOUTH PADRE ISLAND FOR FAMILY FUN // BY MADELAINE LAFRAMBOISE // PHOTOS: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND CVB TRAVEL PLANNER To see what's happening at South Padre Island please visit sopadre.com i DS P R O M O T I O N A L H I G H L I G H T

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