Padre Island National Seashore

This past weekend Tom, Pepper and I decided it was time for a vacation. My school year jobs are done, Tom is about to start TAing this summer and soon my summer student teaching will start. We packed up and headed south. To the Gulf of Mexico. We drove the back roads down to the coast. Stopped in Corpus Christi for a while and then headed to the National Seashore. North Padre Island. We camped on the ocean and spent our days romping in the sun, sand and salty water. It was beautiful, relaxing... Read Full Story

Whether you're looking to join in spring break fun or you're waiting for those crowds to go away, the Gulf Coast of Texas should be on your list of places for a spring vacation. Not familiar with the area? Go to the state's official Texas Travel — http://www.traveltex.com/ — click on "Cities & Regions" and find Gulf Coast on the map for a quick primer on the region that stretches along more than 600 miles of shoreline on the warm Gulf of Mexico. Then look to the right side of the page for... Read Full Story

Michigan State senior Paul Bonenberger avoided temptation during South Padre Island's season for wild spring break partying by leaving his passport at home. “I’ve heard tons of (stuff) about the border,” said Bonenberger, 21, two beers in hand and surrounded by hundreds of Midwestern spring breakers on the beach. “I’ve heard it’s unsafe. I’m not about the border anymore, it’s not worth the risk.” Once, most spring breakers to this Texas border town visited nearby Matamoros, Mexico, for the... Read Full Story

Michigan State senior Paul Bonenberger avoided temptation during South Padre Island's season for wild spring break partying by leaving his passport at home. “I’ve heard tons of (stuff) about the border,” said Bonenberger, 21, two beers in hand and surrounded by hundreds of Midwestern spring breakers on the beach. “I’ve heard it’s unsafe. I’m not about the border anymore, it’s not worth the risk.” Once, most spring breakers to this Texas border town visited nearby Matamoros, Mexico, for the... Read Full Story

Located in the Padre Island National Seashore is Bird Island Basin. Bird Island Basin is popular for it's near perfect conditions for windsurfing and beginner sailors. It looks like the perfect family spot really. Just a place to spend a day on the beach and enjoy life. So what's up with the cameras at the check in area where people pay their fees to use the national park? Visitors are greeted with cameras that photograph their faces, their profiles, their license plates, and obviously their... Read Full Story

Took the family for a weekend getaway in beautiful South Padre Island, Texas this past weekend and they had a blast. The weather was humid, but that is what you get when you are on the Texas coast. We stayed at the Bahia Mar Resort and Conference center and must say that I was pleasantly surprised. From the exterior, the property could use a little sprucing up, but the inside of our two bedroom condo was very nice. It was well-appointed with cool, art-deco style furniture and a full... Read Full Story

South Padre Island is a resort community in Cameron County , Texas with location on a barrier island along the Texas Gulf coast accessible via a causeway from the town of Port Isabel . South Padre experiences a humid subtropical climate, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. Fishing, watersport and normal beach activities are prevalent, along with horseback riding, ecological tourism and just plain strolling. Subsequent to rebuilding from Hurricane Beulah , the island became a... Read Full Story

Although Hurricane Ike looks to be turning further north, people on Padre Island in Corpus Christi weren’t taking any chances. They boarded up their homes and businesses, and some hit the road to safer ground. View my other coverage of Hurricane Ike . Read Full Story

Are you looking for some great vacation ideas? Consider a trip to the Lone Star State for your next family vacation. Texas covers a huge area and includes many different types of terrain. From major cities to mountains, magnificent beaches, hills, deserts and forests, Texas has much to offer. There are so many things to see and do that it is hard to choose, but here are some great vacation ideas that are definitely worth considering for your next trip. Big Bend National Park Big Bend... Read Full Story

Texas Camping – A Great Family Adventure Executive summary about Texas Camping by Chris E. Graham Camping in Texas Do you find yourself having difficulty trying to come up with a destination for your family vacation ? Have you thought of a traveling camping trip through Texas? There is no better gift to give your family than the memories of your family camping adventure . Have you thought about lodging and food expenses on an average family trip? You can always bring a cooler and... Read Full Story