Where to eat, drink, sleep and play in South Padre?

March 9, 2008 9:33 PM

Things to do in South Padre, Texas or on the way from Baton Rouge, LA?

My best friend and I are planning a short low-budget road trip from Baton Rouge to South Padre Island, what should we do on the way and once we get there? We've got about 5 days round-trip and not much dough. We're a couple of guys in our mid/late twenties - where are the best places to eat, drink, stay and be merry?

posted by JPDD to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

Naturally's health food store offers a nice change of pace to all the seafood and Mexican joints around town... we were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was when we were there at Thanksgiving.

Also, if you happen to be going down 35 and get near West, Texas, you might as well visit the Czech Stop. They are truly to best kolaches/bakery in Texas (that I know of).
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:57 AM on March 10, 2008

SPI is not a epicurean mecca.

I love the chips at the Palmetto Inn. They are thick and greasy, as if they just fried up some thick tortillas. The rest of the food is ok. There's a brewery that has decent food, the Padre Island Brewing Company.

If you're hankering for deep-fried seafood, there's a place back across the causeway in Port Isabel, just as you exit the causeway on the south side of the street. I forget the name, but you can get some good fried fish there. It's a smallish, unassuming place.

Not sure about drinking or staying. Are you going to be there this month? During spring break weeks there are a ton of spring breaker college kids, and the island will be packed.
posted by schmoppa at 4:35 PM on March 10, 2008

Czech Stop may or may not be the best bakery in Hill County (certainly not TX), but it ain't on their journey...by a long shot.

Much of your journey is going to be pretty boring. There is nothing, nothing for vast stretches of your trip south of Corpus Christi. Maybe the King Ranch.

Don't mess with the cops down there.
posted by popechunk at 7:14 PM on March 10, 2008