One Day in South Padre Island

It’s a happy day when you get to go horseback riding on the beach! Take me back! 🐎 #SoPadre#TexasToDo #LetsTexas

I’ve been to the beach. 🏖️ I’ve been horseback riding. 🐴 I’ve been to Texas. But to do it all at the same time was just MAGIC. ✨

Feeling the wind in my hair, seeing views of sand dunes to my left and the Gulf Coast waves on the right, getting to explore a remote section of the island, it was an experience I won’t soon forget. 💗

The adventure begins where the sand dunes swallow the pavement. It’s literally the end of the road. There were no hotels or beach bars or beach chairs here, just me, my horse Trigger, my guide, our adventure pals, and nature! Love exploring the road less traveled.

And can you imagine horseback riding at sunset?!? I will be back!

Tag someone you’d like to do this with!! 💗

📸🎥 Shot with the new Canon Powershot V1 (and a couple shots from my EOS R5 C). #teamcanon #createwithcanon#canoncolabambassador #powershotv1

#🐎 South Padre Island Adventure Park
 
📍South Padre Island, Texas @visitsouthpadreisland@traveltex

#travelingjules #🐎 #🐴 #horsebackriding #summertravel#travelmore #happytravels #instatravel #travelgram #✈️

This TEXAS star is such a vibe and #SoPadre! South Padre Island is a great tropical getaway on the Texas Gulf Coast, here’s why. #TexasToDo #LetsTexas

You’ll naturally become a birder visiting the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, one of nine World Birding Center sites located within the lower Rio Grande Valley. Boardwalks lead you through the tidal wetlands to spy on cool birds 🐦 and you’ll find great views of Laguna Madre Bay from the top of the watchtower. @spibirding

Clayton’s Pier is a classic SPI hangout and the biggest beach bar on the Texas coast. Loved watching the waves crash on the sand and people watch. 🏖️

The highlight? Seeing remote parts of the island horseback riding on the beach! 🐎 Feeling the wind in my hair, seeing views of sand dunes on my left and the Gulf coast waters on the right was such an adventure!

Wild to find the end of the road where sand dunes cover the pavement and stop you in your tracks. 🚘

Nothing like a fried shrimp basket with a view at Cafe on the Beach. 🦐

It was fun to meet some local artists at the Art District and learn about a special residency program. 🎨

The Dolphin Watch cruise is a wonderful way to get on the water. Seeing dolphins play in the wild is just magic. 🐬 @breakawaycruises

So special to see sea turtles up close at the largest enclosed sea turtle hospital in the world! Sea Turtle, Inc. rehabilitates turtles and releases them back into the wild. I want to come back this summer to see the turtle hatchlings make their way back to the water. 🐢 @seaturtleinctx

What is your favorite thing to do in South Padre Island?
 
📍South Padre Island, Texas @visitsouthpadreisland@traveltex
 
#travelingjules

Exploring a new region in TEXAS —have you been to the Rio Grand Valley area? First stop, McAllen! Art, culture, nature and so much more.  #TexasToDo#LetsTexas #VisitMcAllen #ExploreMcAllen

You know, a lot of cities have mural art on walls, but this was a surprise—in McAllen, there is public art painted on 200+ irrigation pipes around city.  🎨  It’s a nod to the area’s agricultural history, a collaboration with the community and a welcome splash of color.  @keepmcallenbeautiful

A must-see in this part of the world is Quinta Mazatlán, a World Birding Center 🐦! It’s an urban oasis where you can tour a historic home 🏠 and enjoy beautiful gardens and forest trails 🌳. Among many rare birds that pass through, I got to meet a local, the plain chachalaca which is almost as fun to watch as it is to say the name. @quintamazatlan
 
I was surprised by our international foodie stops in McAllen. 🍽️ The new A Todo Mar had an impressive display of fresh seafood from around the world, a festive michelada cart and lots of delicious nibbles.  The large screens playing underwater scenes gave this space such a stylish vibe. @atodomar_
 
Sunset at Toloa Rooftop in North McAllen for a drink 🍹 and modern Mexican food was also a hit, with open-air and indoor seating, a bar area and inviting community table.  @toloarooftop
 
Families will enjoy a visit to the International Museum of Art & Science.  Cool to see how NOAA and NASA project info and cool visuals onto a spherical canvas (called Science on a Sphere).  See paintings from Spanish America, a rotating gallery space, and enjoy some hands on time at El Studio to have a play with physics. @imasmuseum
 
I enjoyed my stay at the legendary Casa de Palmas Hotel in McAllen’s Art District, just 10 minutes from the McAllen airport.  Its’ beautiful Spanish architecture and modern conveniences were inviting, I need to come back for some pool time! @casadepalmashotel

More to come on this Texas adventure! 👊