It's not hard to get off the beaten track on South Padre Island - and that's its charm. Eco-tourism is important to the area and wildlife watching can keep you busy.

Hikers enjoy the trails through the 45,000 acre Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, one of the top bird watching destinations in the United States. There is a butterfly garden that feeds over half the species of butterflies in the U.S. You may even see an ocelot or a jaguarundi. It's about a 20 minute drive onto the mainland.

Nature lovers should catch a turtle show at  Sea Turtle, Inc. run by "The Turtle Lady" to help save the Kemp Ridley sea turtles. You can see different sea turtles and learn about their endangered status. The center (6617 Padre Blvd.) is open daily, except Mondays, from 10AM - 5PM

Bird watchers flock to the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center - a preserve on 50 acres near the Convention Center. Hike through dune meadows, salt marsh and inter-tidal flats that attract migrating birds. The area is known for water birds, tanagers, warblers, and vireos.

Learn about dolphins at the Dolphin and Nature Research Center, and see exhibits about area sea creatures. Bay tours, available through outfits listed on the bay tours website, are a popular way to see dolphins in the wild.

History fans like the Port Isabel Historical Museum at 317 E. Railroad Ave. Exhibits trace the area's history from the early Mexican days to its modern role as a fishing and tourism center.

South Padre Island has a beach full of great sandcastle building material and you can take a private or group lesson with the local pro... a unique way to have fun on the beach and a great family activity.

About an hours drive (25 miles) will take you to historic Matamoros, Mexico where you can cross over the border and find a Mexican market, historic areas, and lots of restaurants.