Trip ideas while visiting South Padre Island in Texas
Consider taking a break from the beach and exploring the Museums of Port Isabel for more information about the area. You have three options to choose from: the Port Isabel Lighthouse, the Port Isabel Historical Museum, and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. You can visit them separately or get a discounted entry fee to access all three.
The lighthouse, built in 1852, serves as a guide for ships navigating through Brazos Santiago Pass. It is the only open lighthouse in the area that welcomes visitors to explore the nearby keeper’s cottage. Adjacent to the lighthouse, you’ll find the Port Isabel Historical Museum housed in an old dry goods store. This museum boasts one of the largest collections of artifacts from the Mexican-American War and also features a theater and gift shop. Right next to it, there’s the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, a must-visit if you’re traveling with children. At this museum, kids can discover what life was like on a 16th-century ship and marvel at the treasures unearthed beneath the Gulf’s waters.