A traveler’s delight, this 48-mile jaunt to the southern tip of Texas packs in smooth road, ravishing views, and tons of diversions. Start in Harlingen, where the Marine Military Academy holds the original plaster-cast solemn statue of the raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima. Then head east on TX Hwy. 106 to the twin cities of Port Isabel and South Padre Island, which jut into the crystal-blue waters of Laguna Madre and capitalize on its marine beauty. The two-mile ride on Queen Isabella Causeway is like nothing else, offering sweeping Gulf views and mounting anticipation as you approach the island. Loaded with beaches and eats, South Padre more than delivers.
Along The Way
HARLINGEN
HARLINGEN ARTS & HERITAGE MUSEUM
2425 Boxwood St.
956-216-4901
myharlingen.us
HISTORIC JACKSON STREET
E. Jackson Ave.
and N. 3rd St.
956-216-4910
myharlingen.us
LA PLAYA MEXICAN CAFE
502 U.S. Hwy. 77 S., Sunshine Strip
956-421-2000
laplayacafe.com
LAGUNA VISTA
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND GOLF CLUB
1 Golf House Rd.
956-943-5678
spigolf.com
PORT ISABEL
DIRTY AL’S PELICAN STATION
201 S. Garcia St.
956-943-3344
pelicanstation.co
MARCHAN’S WHITE SANDS MOTEL, MARINA & RESTAURANT
418 TX Hwy. 100 W.
956-943-2414
whitesandstexas.com
MUSEUMS OF PORT ISABEL
317 E. Railroad Ave.
956-943-7602
portisabelmuseums.com
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND DOLPHIN RESEARCH & SEA LIFE CENTER
110 N. Garcia St.
956-299-1957
spinaturecenter.com
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
BLACKBEARDS’ RESTAURANT
103 E. Saturn Ln.
956-761-2962
blackbeardsspi.com
CAP’N ROY’S
1313 Padre Blvd.
956-761-9990
capnroys.com
ON THE BEACH SURF SHOP
2105 Padre Blvd.
956-761-1194
onthebeachspi.com
SEABREEZE BEACH RESORT
5400 Gulf Blvd.
956-761-1541
On The Road
Pit Stops
1. MURPHY USA
1805 W. Lincoln St., Harlingen
2. STRIPES
102 E. Queen Isabella Blvd.,
Port Isabel
Grab A Bite
1. PIRATE’S LANDING RESTAURANT
110 N. Garcia St., Port Isabel
956-943-3663
pirateslandingportisabel.com
2. SEA RANCH 1
33256 State Park Rd. 100, South Padre Island
956-761-7777
searanchmarina.net
Stay The Night
1. PEARL SOUTH PADRE
310 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island
956-761-6551
pearlsouthpadre.com
2. QUEEN ISABEL INN
300 S. Garcia St., Port Isabel
956-943-1468
queenisabelinn.com
Diversions
1. PORT ISABEL LIGHTHOUSE
421 E. Queen Isabella Blvd., Port Isabel
956-943-2262
portisabellighthouse.com
2. SCHLITTERBAHN RESORT
100 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island
956-761-1160
schlitterbahn.com/south-padre-island
Only In Texas
1. LAGUNA ATASCOSA WILDLIFE REFUGE
22688 Buena Vista Blvd., Los Fresnos
956-748-3607
ws.gov/refuge/laguna_atascosa
2. MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY
320 Iwo Jima Blvd., Harlingen
956-423-6006
mma-tx.org
