Page 25 - 2020GuidetoSPI_Neat

Fishing are over 2.4 million geocaches
to approximately 600 species of worldwide and over 6 million
South Padre Island is home
Attractions fish and boosts over 60 different geocachers.
people that refer to themselves as
charter companies and per-
On your next trip to South

Padre Island check out over 30
sonal guides to take you on
& Recreation the fishing trip of your life. caches, and when you have
found them all take a walk on
Best of all, the Island provides
the beach and do a little explor-
year round fishing opportun-
ities from the Gulf of Mexico
to the Laguna Madre Bay and ing. You never know, you might
be the one that finds the Singer
The fun of course the ever favorite surf hidden treasure.
fishing. If you bring your own
Golf
begins! boat, four bayside public boat The South Padre Island Golf
ramps are available at Jim’s Pier,
Palm Street Pier Restaurant & Club is located a short 20-minute
drive from the Island at Laguna
Bar, Parrot Eyes Restaurant & Vista. The club offers an 18-hole
Watersports, and at the end 72-par championship course and
of Polaris Street. For more provides a beautiful lateral view
information on fishing go to of the Island, and is decidedly
www.spichamber.com or call different with rolling green hills
956.761.4412 and “wildlife corridors” of native
Geocaching brush. For more information call
With the numerous stor- 956.943.5678 or go to www.spi
ies that have circulated over golf.com
the years of the long lost Isla Blanca Park
treasure of the Singer family Located on the southernmost
(Singer Sewing Machines), and tip of South Padre Island, Isla
the many people that have Blanca Park is the crown jewel of
searched for treasure; South the Parks system. Over one mile
Padre Island is the perfect of pristine beach along the Gulf
destination for your next geo- of Mexico that offers an abun-
caching adventure. Our Island
knows how to treasure hunt! dance of beachfront recreation-
Geocaching is an out- al facilities. Major renovations
a small pavilion, two shade struc- door recreational activity, in in 2018 and 2019 included the
tures with tables, and an infant which participants use a Global addition of an event center and
playground. Positioning System (GPS) an amphitheater, new pavilions
Water Tower Park is located receiver or mobile device and with concession areas, beach-
on the corner of Laguna Boulevard information, including direc- other navigational techniques front boardwalks, beachfront
and W. Huisache Street at the base to hide and seek containers, parking, walking trails and dune
of the Water Tower. The park tions to the museum go to www. called “geocaches” or “caches”, walkovers. Visitors can also enjoy
consists of a half basketball court, rgvcaf.org, or call the Museum anywhere in the world. fishing on the south jetty, restau-
Director, David Christopher at
several modern children’s play 970.397.4604. On May 3, 2000, Dave rants, retails shops, University of
structures, and shade structures Ulmer hid a bucket of trinkets Texas Rio Grande Valley marine
with tables. Public restrooms are Diving South Padre in the woods outside Portland, exhibits, and the World Famous
also available. Island Oregon and announced its Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark.
South Padre Island offers sev- location in a posting made to There is a full-service marina with
eral diving locations including
Commemorative Air the vertical reefs of oil platforms, a USENET newsgroup. This a public boat ramp, daily fishing
Force Transportation announcement was remark- charters, dolphin watch cruises
Museum numerous wrecks along the able for laying out the essence and watersport activities (snorkel-
The Commemorative Air Devil’s Elbow, the Liberty Ship of the hobby that is still in ing, diving, jet skis, parasailing,
Force (CAF) Transportation Reef System, Texas Underwater place today. It’s all there; the etc.). With close to 600 R.V. sites,
Museum features displays that Park and the Texas Clipper. For container, the trinkets, the log Isla Blanca is not only one of the
include 8 flying WWII aircraft, more information about diving book, and the rule of take some- biggest parks in Texas, it is also
and numerous vintage, oper- South Padre Island go to www. thing, leave something, and the best. If you do not have an
ational ground and support divesouthpadre.com sign the logbook. Dave Ulmer RV you can still enjoy an over-
vehicles. Most artifacts in the Dolphin Research and invented geocaching in one fell night stay at the park in one of
museum were provided by South Sea Life Nature Center swoop in that newsgroup post- eight cabanas. Each cabana sleeps
Texas families, which provides The Dolphin Research and ing. Within a day, the original 4 and has air conditioning, a
an up-close and personal touch Sea Life Nature Center, located at stash had been found. Within shower and bunk beds. For more
to the displays. Group and the base of the causeway in Port days, more stashes had been information call 956.761.5494.
school guided tours are available Isabel, is a great place for children hidden in California, Kansas,
year-round with advance notice. and adults to learn more about and Illinois. Within a month, Land, Sky and Water
The museum is located at the his- dolphins and the many other a stash had been hidden as far Adventures
torically significant Port Isabel – species of marine life the beautiful away as Australia. The hobby South Padre Island is where
Cameron County Airport, directly Laguna Madre Bay and Gulf of was fast on its way to being a dreams come true for those that
across the Laguna Madre from Mexico have to offer. For more worldwide phenomenon. As of love land, sky and water adven-
South Padre Island. For more information call 956.943.6626 the writing of this article there tures. There are several places on
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