The National Seashore preserves an unblemished 80-mile stretch. Corpus Christi is connected with the north end of Padre Island by John F. Kennedy Causeway. Office of the Superintendent is at 9405 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi 78418. For information, call the visitor center at 512/949-8068.
J.P. Luby Surf Park
On Park Road 22 offers a surf pier for wave generation.
Padre Balli Park
On Park Road 22 (512/949-8121). Features overnight camping hookups, covered picnic areas, pavilion, park ranger station, and 1,200-ft. Bob Hall Pier (512/949-8425) with snack and tackle shop.
Packery Channel Park
On Padre Island near junction of Texas 361 and Park Road 22, is excellent day-use park with good fishing.
Padre Island Park
On Gulf side from Park Road 22, has bathhouse, sandy swimming beaches, overnight camping facilities, fishing pier, and small Beachcomber's Museum in park office with nautical and unusual items found along beach.
Island Equestrian
Take a romantic horseback ride along secluded beaches while savoring the beauty of miles of sand dunes encrusted with sea oats and beach morning glory along the Gulf of Mexico and Laguna Madre. Horses usually available from sunrise to sunset. Just north of town on Padre Blvd.
Padre Island
The long, narrow sand island sweeps in a golden arc north some 110 miles to Corpus Christi. Modern hotels and motels edge several miles of the Gulf at the island's southern tip. Farther north, the island is entirely natural--sand dunes, sea oats, and beach morning glory. (There is no bridge or ferry between South and North Padre.) Beautiful, gently sloping beaches are perfect for swimming and surf fishing. Beachcombers will find bright shells, perhaps floats from the West Indies, driftwood, and occasionally flint points of Karankawa Indians who roamed area.
Andy Bowie Park
Just north of the city limits, features the popular Laguna Madre Nature Trail for nature enthusiasts and bird-watchers. Other facilities include beach front picnic pavilions, children's playground, and a ranger station. For information and reservations, call 210/761-2639.
Isla Blanca Park
On the southernmost tip of the island, features more than a mile of clean, white beach along the Gulf of Mexico, for waterfront recreational facilities. The park includes picnic and playground areas, fishing jetty, restaurants and clubs, a full-service marina with daily charters, a water park, and boat ramp. There's even a nondenominational church, the Chapel by the Sea. Camping facilities include more than 600 RV sites with full hookups. For information and reservations, call 210/761-5493.
