Destinations

Pack Your Flip Flops For South Padre Island

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While known as a “playground” for Texans, South Padre Island is also proving very popular with Canadians, especially those affectionately known as “Winter Texans,” reports Greg Coates in this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.

Located on the coastal tip of Texas at the end of one of the world’s longest barrier islands, South Padre is a nature enthusiast’s paradise, offering some of the best beaches in the Lone Star State, as well as a laid-back atmosphere – it’s said that neck ties are forbidden – reminiscent of Florida’s Key West.

The island is 2.5 square miles in total – five miles long and a half-mile wide – and natural beauty abounds.

Keith Arnold, director of the South Padre Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the area may be small, but the number of activities are plentiful and visitors are invited to do as much, or as little, as they want.

“It’s very casual, I’d say a cross between Margaritaville and Mananaville,” he said during a recent sales mission and fam tour of South Padre Island and the Rio Grande Valley. “It’s very relaxed. We like to have a good time and you can expect to do all the things you would do in a tropical destination.”

He said that for Canadians, South Padre offers good weather and good value, especially when compared to places like Arizona and Florida.

Arnold advises that agents evaluate a clients’ needs and if they determine they’re people that like activity, ideally love the outdoors, and like a tropical environment, then South Padre is an ideal destination.

For the full story, check out this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier by clicking here.