Obviously, water sports are among the top things to do at South Padre Island, as well as beach activities, including Beach Buggy rentals fun with off the road cruising the sand dunes or just driving along the beach. When it comes to golf, South Padre has one of the best golf courses in Texas, and the characteristic climate allows a tee off all year round.

The Laguna Madre Bay is recognized as the world's top windsurfing destination. Laguna Madre Bay separates South Padre Island from the Texas mainland. Water depth in this region varies from 3 to 5 feet, with daytime winds of 18 mph and yearly temperatures of 70º Fahrenheit degrees on average.

Sailing season in South Padre runs from September through May at Laguna Madre bay, gathering professionals and novices that compete at the site featuring some of the fastest windsurfing speeds in the United States and Canada.

Recreational sailing takes place aboard a 60ft double-decker Catamaran exclusive of the Booze Cruise, a 2-hours day trip ferry cruise to nowhere, but watching the dolphins and enjoying the splendor of the Gulf sunsets. Speaking of Dolphins, there are many other eco-tours operating in the area, bringing you close to the maritime life through interesting stories.

The Gulf of Mexico offers white sandy beaches and the best waves in all of Texas to enjoy numerous watersports and recreational activities such as banana boat rides, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, parasailing, jet skiing, and wave runner rentals. Sailing and surfing at its best is available at South Padre's Boca Chica or Isla Blanc Park, where southerly winds provide a great sea experience.

One of the newest things to do in South Padre island is kiteboarding, a water sport that is fast becoming the hottest adventure of the island. The Laguna Madre's waist deep water provides the perfect setting for a world-class kiteboarding, with the best flat-water conditions and consistent winds of the Gulf. There are also equipment rentals and lessons for beginners and expert riders.

South Padre Island is also Texas' hottest fishing spot, particularly at Port Mansfield and Port Mansfield Channel, dividing the island but not diminishing the fish catches, with high chances of getting the bite of an 800-pound Marlin. However, the Laguna Madre Bay is the favorite fishing destination with plenty of flounder, Wahoo, redfish, and speckled trout.

If you prefer a relaxing time, you can simply do what everyone else does; sunbath and relax watching the boat and yachts, or maybe picnicking by the seashore. Otherwise, you can try horseback riding along the beach and through the sand dunes. The Island Equestrian Center provide both tours and horses for all riding levels.

Children and first time riders are provided with horses especially trained to help them develop riding skills. Horseback riding tours on South Padre Island does not follow a single horse trail ride. In fact, tours are provided in small groups with a guide that gives people basic instruction and watches out for everyone's safety before leaving them alone.

Visitors can trot and lope their horses for the one or two hours each ride, going wherever they want to go along the beach. If you have never ridden, South Padre Island gives you the opportunity to learn and live a great horseback riding adventure.

Because of the location of South Padre Island at the southern tip of Texas and just above Brownsville, one of the most popular things to do away from the beach activities, is taking a Mexico Day Trip. The city of Matamoros Mexico is located on the Mexican-American border with Brownsville, within 25 driving miles from South Padre.

Matamoros is home to the historic Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Refugio (Cathedral of our lady of Refuge) former mission where Padre Balli was priest before relocating to the island of his name. Casamata Museum and Casa Cross are the two historic museum of Matamoros, although the city also has golf and beach activities, besides shopping featuring unique handcrafted items.

In addition, do not forget to pay a visit to the Whaling Wall, a giant mural featuring a pod of Orcas covering 3 walls of the South Padre Island Convention Centre. This mural is the work of the internationally-known environment Detroit's artist Wyland, who is famous for his ocean life painting in outdoor murals.

He chose the Killer Whales (orcas) to raise awareness of the dangers facing giant sea mammals and other sea life with colorful creatures painted in his South Padre Island's mural.