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This Beach Town Is Known as the ‘Caribbean of Texas'—With Clear Waters, Powder Soft Sand, and Warm Weather Year-Round
Located on the Southern tip of the Lone Star State, South Padre Island is frequently touted as one of the best beach towns in Texas and one of the best islands in the South. Although spring breakers do descend on the 34-mile-long coastal paradise in March, the rest of the year boasts a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
The Laguna Madre borders the inland side of South Padre Island, but the Caribbean parallel stems from the body of water to the west. The warm, blue-green water and the pristine white beaches of the Gulf are what create South Padre Island's Caribbean comparison. (Notably, the aforementioned nickname is sometimes applied to North Padre Island, but the waters of South Padre Island tend to be clearer and calmer.) Not to mention, temperatures average around 74 degrees 12 months a year.
The sub-tropical climate is shaped by the island's latitude as well as its proximity to the Gulf, as the Gulf's warm waters give way to milder weather, even during the winter. Of course, December and January won't be quite as hot as the middle of summer, but it's still mostly comfortable enough for swimming.
One of the best things about South Padre Island is its variety of activities. You're certainly welcome to swim and lounge on the beach all day long—Treasure Island Circle Beach is a popular spot—but the island also has a number of ways to stay active. If you want to get out on the water, rent a paddle board or kayak from SPI Sessions Watersports. You could also opt for a three-hour-long snorkeling excursion in the Laguna Madre with Breakaway Cruises. To get the adrenaline really pumping, there's windsurfing with Windsurf Inc. and parasailing and jet skiing with Sonny's Beach Service.
If you're the type of traveler who likes to immerse themselves in nature while on vacation, the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary might be more up your alley. The organization has naturalist-led birding tours, daily educational 'Gator Talks,' and 'Snake Talks' throughout the month. It's the perfect complement to any South Padre Island beach day, and it's an activity the whole family will enjoy.
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The dry-aged Kansas strip, tomahawk wagyu, truffle spaghetti, and seafood towers offer genuine value for quality and draw locals and other travelers in for a destination dining experience, not just captive hotel guests. Aura, the poolside grill, offers more than a convenient outdoor lunch. Dishes like beef barbacoa tacos, grouper ceviche with mojito tartar, fennel‑apple salad, and crispy plantains with guacamole are thoughtfully executed. It's one of the best meals on property, not just the easiest to reach—another example of a food and beverage program that outperforms the resort norm. Riva, the coastal Italian venue, serves housemade pasta from a counter-side chef station and also handles breakfast. The morning menu includes à la carte options alongside a full buffet with fresh fruit, pastries, and made-to-order egg dishes. Indoor and outdoor seating faces the lagoon and central pool deck. 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Guests enter beneath a mirrored dome at the Celebration Bar, which sets the tone before check-in. There are 14 treatment rooms, including a private suite with its own shower and hydrotherapy tub, along with a full-service salon for hair and nails. Treatments use La Mer products, including the 90-minute Genaissance de La Mer facial, which combines massage and drainage techniques. The hydrotherapy circuit includes a eucalyptus steam room, cold plunge, snow shower, and outdoor vitality pool with six custom hydrotherapy pods facing the water. The lagoon is the visual and ecological centerpiece of the property. Stocked with more than 2,800 native reef fish, nearly 50 stingrays across three species (all de-barbed for safety), and two Aldabra tortoises, it's more than decorative. Guests can book daily snorkeling and stingray feeding sessions, or learn more through the Reef Rangers Children's Club. Amber Lighting at Night During Turtle Nesting Season. St. Regis Longboat Key At night during turtle nesting season, the property switches from white to amber lighting and asks guests to keep their curtains drawn. Artificial light can disorient hatchlings, pulling them away from the ocean and toward roadways or buildings—a common and often fatal outcome along Florida's coast. Elsewhere, the property includes a 475-foot-long lazy river with waterfalls that leads into the Grotto, a secluded hot tub area with jacuzzi jets and champagne service at the push of a button. An adults-only pool sits adjacent to the lagoon, while the larger family pool is ringed with daybeds and cabanas. The gym includes Technogym cardio and strength equipment, Peloton bikes, and a schedule of yoga and group fitness classes held outdoors. At The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, the Gulf offers a breathaking backdrop for relaxing and playing. 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