SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas—With subtropical temperatures, miles of sugary white sand beaches that have won awards year after year, blue waters, and an abundance of wildlife, South Padre Island is a nature lover’s dream. I’ve always been a soft touch for animals, which is probably why we’ve had three rescue cats over the years, and whether it flies, swims, or crawls, I’m all in. As it happens, this Texas Gulf Coast destination has critters that do all of the above.
The barrier island is situated on the southern tip of Texas and is only 34 miles long and a half-mile wide. It is bounded on the east by the Gulf of Mexico and on the west by Laguna Madre Bay. Locals refer to these locations as either the gulf side or bay side, which made it simple to keep my bearings. Because the island is on the same latitude as Fort Lauderdale, visitors enjoy balmy days year-round with an average temperature of 74 degrees.
