Whether you live in the area or plan to visit, you may wonder about things to do in North Padre Island. Padre Island is a barrier island more than 100 miles long on the east side of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. At its upper end, North Padre Island is a district of Corpus Christi, Texas, where year-round mild temperatures provide ample opportunities for entertainment.
Things To Do in North Padre Island: Boating
As an island, North Padre Island is a premiere boating locale. You can charter boats to see dolphins, host special events, watch the sunset, or even just enjoy the area’s natural ecology. However, you may also enjoy sailing, water skiing or just spending time on the water for pleasure.
North Padre Island Fishing
As a world-renowned fishing destination, fishing is one of the most common things to do in North Padre Island. You can find fish right from shore. From the waters of Upper Laguna Madre, you can find trout, flounder, black drum and redfish.
However, if you have a boat you park at a local marina, you can also get out on the water. North Padre Island and Corpus Christie also offer fishing charters, where you can get into deeper waters and catch sharks, northern red snapper, tuna, snook, sailfish, tarpon, marlin, mahi-mahi and other large fish species.
Before your fishing adventure, get a valid fishing license from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Learn about the regulations concerning freshwater and saltwater fin fish, crustaceans and mollusks. These include catch limits, fishing methods, boating regulations and aquatic species transports. Before you eat any fish you catch, check with The Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Texas to learn about any advisories.
Non-Motorized Water Sports
If you seek a non-motorized activity on the water, you can lease a kayak and get close to the sea life in the area. You can even fish from your kayak. Kayak tours, some of which glow for an evening adventure, are another of the things to do in North Padre Island.
Surfing is one of the most popular water sports, and if you don’t have experience, you can lease equipment and pay for lessons. You can also try skimboarding or bodyboarding. Paddleboarding has become a popular water sport as well. You don’t need a lot of gear, and you can work out your entire body while you glide along the island’s coast.
If you want more of an adrenaline rush, consider kite surfing or windsurfing. Both these activities harness the wind to move you around the water. You also can enjoy scuba and snorkeling adventures.
Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore is 130,434 acres of undeveloped island, including 70 miles of coastline. Visit this national park is one of the most appreciated things to do in North Padre Island. You can observe the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, the most endangered in the world, as well as other endangered and threatened species. View bird species in the park’s different habitats, such as the tidal mudflats, the grasslands, or the beach.
Visit the beaches, where you can swim, fish, search for seashells or just relax in the sun. You will also find campgrounds, and you can camp right on the beach with a tent. You can even rent beach chairs, fishing equipment, children’s toys, coolers and canopies to protect you from the sun. Don’t forget horseback riding along the beach.
Texas Sealife Center Tours
If you have children or simply want to learn more about wildlife preservation, consider some alternative North Padre Island things to do, including a visit to the Texas Sealife Center. This nonprofit rescues local wildlife. These aquatic and coastal species may have injuries or become stranded and need a little help. The center provides rehabilitation and support to local species, but its goal is to release the wildlife back into their natural environment. The center also provides educational opportunities and tries to raise awareness of its conservation efforts and those of others.
North Padre Island Things To Do: Golf
If you are looking for things to do in North Padre Island and enjoy golf, you are in for a treat. In Port Aransas, you will find Pamilla Beach, where you can golf without a club membership. This 12-hole course was an Arnold Palmar creation.
The Oso Beach Golf Course offers lessons, camps, a junior academy and golf events, such as the Monday Night Scramble and a 9-hole league. Designed by John Bredemus in 1949, the course hosts the World Championship Four-Ball Match. If you want an 18-hole regulation course, driving range and putting area, check out the Lozano Golf Center.
If you bring your children, check out Treasure Island Golf and Games, a treasure-island-themed mini-golf course with an indoor arcade.
Corpus Christi Museums
To supplement the things to do in North Padre Island, consider visiting the museums in Corpus Christi. Start with the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The Bay Education Center also houses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Science on a Sphere.
You may also consider the Art Museum of South Texas or the Art Center of Corpus Christi. View various historic homes, including the French Galvan House, Britton-Evans Centennial House, Julius Lichtenstein House and the Grande-Grossman House, which includes the Tejano Civil Rights Museum.
For a little naval history, check out the USS Lexington Museum, a working WWII aircraft carrier. Experience the Haunting on the Blue Ghost and tour, and don’t forget the Texas Maritime Museum.
Swimming in North Padre Island
Can you swim at North Padre Island? Yes!
You can swim along the Gulf of Mexico’s coast. Several beaches allow swimming, including North, Malaquiet and Laguna Madre at Bird Island Basin and South Beach. However, none of these beaches have lifeguards and often have strong currents, tides and sharp drop-offs. Pay attention to the beach warning flags to keep yourself and your family safe.
Find More Things To Do in North Padre Island
Because the island is part of the greater Corpus Christi area, if you visit, don’t hesitate to check out the activities available around the city. As a resident, purchase a boat to take advantage of all the water activities. Contact us to learn about marina storage and membership.