Padre Island
- Texas
photo: Art Wager
Why go there?
Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) is 70 miles long with 65.5 miles of Gulf beach. North Padre Island is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. The seashore hosts a variety of pristine beach, dune, and tidal flat environments, including 380 different bird species. The Laguna Madre on its west coast, is a famous site for windsurfing. Some parts of PINS are open to four-wheel-drive vehicles, and camping is available in the primitive areas of the park. The unspoiled beaches and abundant wildlife are a stark contrast to South Padre Island, which is better known for vacationing college students.
