South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
Nature enthusiasts from around the world visit the island to see its more than 300 species of birds. The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, located at the southern tip of the island, is a great place to start. It encompasses more than 50 acres of dune meadows, salt marsh and intertidal flats, along with shrubs and trees that provide valuable habitats to several species of birds, including rainbow warblers, tanagers, orioles and thrushes, as well as the Brown Pelican, Piping Plover, and Peregrine Falcon. In fact, South Padre Island is the first landfall most birds experience while making the cross-Gulf migration from Southern Mexico and northern Central America.
South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center
6801 Padre Boulevard
South Padre Island, TX 78597
956-243-8179
spibirding.com
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
The southernmost waterfowl refuge in the United States, Laguna Atascosa harbors the most bird species documented at any wildlife refuge. It also provides habitat for 10 federally endangered or threatened species. Its landscape is flat, with forests of thorn bushes interspersed between freshwater wetlands, coastal prairies, mudflats and beaches. Ocelots, Texas tortoises, and other animals also make their home in the 45,000-acre refuge. An annual ocelot festival takes place every February. Several hiking trails are located within the refuge, and tram rides are available twice a day from November through March.
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
22817 Ocelot Road
Los Fresnos, TX 78566
956-748-3607
fws.gov
Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site
South Padre has the only lighthouse in the state of Texas that is open to the public. It was completed in 1853, and a decade later both Union and Confederate soldiers used it as an observation post. It is still used by sea vessels as an aid to navigation, though it was decommissioned in 1905. The lighthouse is open every day, weather permitting, and, as of 2010, has a $3 admission charge. Visitors may climb to the top for an unobstructed view of Port Isabel and Laguna Madre.
Point Isabel Lighthouse
421 Queen Isabella Blvd.
Port Isabel, TX 78578
956-943-7602
portisabellighthouse.com
South Padre Island Dolphin Research & Sea Life Nature Center
The Dolphin Research & Sea Life Nature Center plays an important conservation and educational role on South Padre Island. Each day the research team gives presentations on the dolphins of the island, and the center offers several touch tanks and aquariums with live starfish, urchins, snails and other sea creatures. Visitors can also help feed the octopus, moray eels, hermit crabs and sea horses. As of 2010, the suggested donation for admission is $3, and the center is open every day except Tuesday. The Center also offers birding and dolphin photo safaris by reservation.
South Padre Island Dolphin Research & Sea Life Nature Center
110 N. Garcia
South Padre Island, TX 78578
956-943-6626
spinaturecenter.com
