Editing South Padre Island, Texas (section)

==Recreation==
[[File:South Padre Island beach panorama.jpg|thumb|South Padre Island beach in June. Boardwalks provide access over the dunes.|upright=1.8]]
The year-round warm tropical weather attracts tourists allowing them to experience the 34 miles of beach, over 300 days of sunshine, and all forms of entertainment from water sports to live music, <ref>{{cite web |title=City of SPI |url=https://www.sopadre.com/about/about-spi/}}</ref> with [[personal water craft]] rental, parasailing and [[Whale watching|dolphin watches]] being the most popular. Other favorites are horseback riding adventures on the beach, visiting the Sea Turtle sanctuary,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cervera |first1=Sara |title=Crews on standby to rescue cold stunned sea turtles at South Padre Island |url=https://www.krgv.com/news/crews-on-standby-to-rescue-cold-stunned-sea-turtles-at-south-padre-island/ |access-date=April 7, 2024 |agency=KRGV}}</ref> the Birding Center <ref>{{cite news |title=Birding Center celebrates Monarch migration with Sixth Annual Hallo-Wings |url=https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2023/10/05/birding-center-celebrates-monarch-migration-with-sixth-annual-hallo-wings/ |access-date=April 7, 2024}}</ref> and other ecological tours that explore the Laguna Madre and the [[Gulf of Mexico]].

Fishing is also popular. Every summer, the Texas International Fishing Tournament is held the first weekend of August,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About TIFT |url=https://www.tift.org/content.php?id=7719 |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Texas International Fishing Tournament |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330180209/https://www.tift.org/content.php?id=7719 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=July 1, 2020 |title=Meet Felicia Calo: Hostess for the 81st TIFT |url=https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2020/07/01/meet-felicia-calo-hostess-for-the-81st-tift/ |access-date= |website=Port Isabel-South Padre Press |language=en-US |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330180208/https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2020/07/01/meet-felicia-calo-hostess-for-the-81st-tift/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with winnings totaling almost a quarter million dollars. Other fishing tournaments include the Ladies Kingfish Tournament,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=July 27, 2021 |title=Ladies Kingfish Tournament Returns |url=https://valleybusinessreport.com/industry/recreation_tourism/ladies-kingfish-tournament-returns/ |access-date= |website=Valley Business Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330180209/https://valleybusinessreport.com/industry/recreation_tourism/ladies-kingfish-tournament-returns/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the Ron Hoover Tournament, just to name a few.

In March, the island is a popular [[spring break]] destination for college students.<ref name="TIME_spring_break">{{Cite magazine |last=Woodbury |first=Richard |date=April 6, 1987 |title=Spring Break at South Padre: Island Students find a new Fort Lauderdale on the Texas coast |url=https://time.com/vault/issue/1987-04-06/page/95/ |magazine=[[TIME]] |page=87 |access-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330180208/https://time.com/vault/issue/1987-04-06/page/95/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The rest of the year it is a popular family resort destination, with July being the most crowded.

In January 2011, the island hosted the [[NBA Development League]] Showcase at the [[South Padre Island Convention Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA D-League Showcase |url=https://www.myspi.org/eGov/apps/events/calendar.egov?view=detail;id=300}}</ref> and is designated as the "Official Island Escape" for the NBA team the [[San Antonio Spurs]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coker |first=Laurie |date=2023-11-10 |title=SPI partners with Spurs as Official Island Escape |url=https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2023/11/09/spi-partners-with-spurs-as-official-island-escape/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Port Isabel-South Padre Press |language=en-US}}</ref>

The island advertises its proximity to rocket testing and launch activities at the nearby [[SpaceX Starbase]] at [[Boca Chica (Texas)|Boca Chica]], which attract thousands of tourists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands Gather for SpaceX’s Fourth Starship Launch at South Padre Island |url=https://foxrgv.tv/thousands-gather-for-spacexs-fourth-starship-launch-at-south-padre-island/ |agency=Fox Rio Grande Valley |publisher=Space X}}</ref><ref name="sopadre">{{Cite web |title=SpaceX - South Padre Island |url=https://www.sopadre.com/spacex/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Visit South Padre Island}}</ref>