Winter Activities Near South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island is the perfect location for a winter getaway. You can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere in warm weather, with a variety of activities catering to winter visitors. South Padre Island has a number of unusual winter celebrations, a one-of-a-kind bird migration, and easy access to Mexico.

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Winter in South Texas

Winter weather on South Padre Island is typically sunny and warm. For example, in January, temperatures are normally 50 degrees to 67 degrees. It's a little too chilly for swimming, but there are plenty of other activities to enjoy.

South Padre Island businesses tend to cater to the influx of visitors (snowbirds) during the winter months. You can typically find great deals when shopping during the winter months.

Even though plenty of tourists visit in the winter, the crowds are much, much smaller than what you typically see during the summer season. And, there are a number of seasonal celebrations you can only experience during the winter months.

Winter Celebrations

SPI Kite Fest
Typically held in early February, the SPI Kiet Fest has a number of kite displays and kite-flying performances from internationally-known kite fliers. Indoor kite flying performances are choreographed routines that are a real treat to observe. Outdoor performances, put on by some of the best kite-flying individuals and teams in the world, are also amazing to watch.

Island Christmas Parade
South Padre Island Christmas Parade is a Mardi-Gras like celebration that follows a parade route along Padre Boulevard. You'll see dozens of colorfully decorated floats and vehicles, marching bands, and dancers. Come early, and set up a chair and a cooler along the parade route to get a great view of the festivities.

Lighted Boat Parade
The Lighted Boat Parade is held in early December, each year. It's like Mardi Gras on the water. You can watch the water light up with the reflections of numerous beautifully decorated boats. The parade usually starts at Port Isabel's South Point Marina and ends at Jim's Pier.

South Padre Island Chili Expo (SPICE) Chili Cook-Off
The SPICE Chili Cook-Off is an annual fundraising event put on by Walk for Women volunteers. The event is usually held in early February. Contestants match their best chili recipes against each other in a number of categories, including Texas Red, White or Green; Freestyle; and Beans. Winners get cash prizes. Proceeds are used to help local women fight breast cancer.

Bird Migration

The South Texas area is part of the Central Flyway, a major route for birds migrating across the continent. Almost 400 bird species travel along the Central Flyway.

One of the best places to observe birds in the area is the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Here, you'll find over 3,300 feet of boardwalk, five bird blinds, and a five-story tower overlooking the island. You can expect to see a wide variety of birds, including warblers, orioles, and thrushes, as well as rare species, like brown pelicans and piping plovers. Interpretive walks are also available, with lectures from local naturalists and scientists.

Visit Mexico

South Padre Island is just 20 miles from the Mexican border. This gives you easy access to the sights and sound of Mexico. For example, you can take a day trip to Nuevo Progreso, a unique Mexican town that's just an hour from South Padre Island. Nuevo Progreso is definitely a tourist town, with over a million visitors from the United States, each year. The town even has a winter festival each December to welcome visitors to what they refer to as Winter Texans.

Conclusion

In general, if you're looking for a place to enjoy a variety of activities during the winter months, you'll find that South Padre Island is the perfect place to spend your time. Book a stay at South Padre Island Escapes, and enjoy all our part of Texas has to offer.

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