New Years trip to South Padre Island (Brownsville, Galveston: hotel, restaurants)

[beardown54]

My family is from the cold midwest and looking for someplace warm to vacation and take in the new year. We're thinking about South Padre Island. I hear they have a big fireworks display, and its obv the warmest place in Texas on average that time of year. I was in SPI late last January, wasnt quite beach weather but still a hell of a lot better than than cold & snowy. Hotel rates were super-cheap then too.

Anyone spent the new year in SPI? What kind of stuff is there to do in the winter compared with summer in SPI, and is everything still open seasonally? I was in Galveston a couple years back in late December, was kind of cold and lots of stuff was closed...

Thoughts?

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by beardown54

My family is from the cold midwest and looking for someplace warm to vacation and take in the new year. We're thinking about South Padre Island. I hear they have a big fireworks display, and its obv the warmest place in Texas on average that time of year. I was in SPI late last January, wasnt quite beach weather but still a hell of a lot better than than cold & snowy. Hotel rates were super-cheap then too.

Anyone spent the new year in SPI? What kind of stuff is there to do in the winter compared with summer in SPI, and is everything still open seasonally? I was in Galveston a couple years back in late December, was kind of cold and lots of stuff was closed...

Thoughts?

I was there on New Years two years ago. I think we had highs in the 60s, so it wasn't too bad. I didn't swim, of course, but I did take some nice beach walks. I don't think anything (restaurants/bars) were closed, but that's probably because the Winter Texans are arriving during that time. You heard correctly about the fireworks.

If you have kids with you, check out Sea Turtle Inc. I bet there's still some bay fishing going on at that time, as well. There is also the birding center. I haven't been to the center, but there is a nature walk there that was there before the center was built that I've walked. Boy, that was an awkward sentence, but you get the drift! Oh, there's also the Brownsville Zoo only 20 minutes away.

I don't think Galveston gets the winter Texans, so I imagine lots does close. I was there eons ago in December and about froze to death!

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by TXNGL

I don't think Galveston gets the winter Texans, so I imagine lots does close. I was there eons ago in December and about froze to death!

Yep, that wind coming in off the water can cut to the bone at times, can't it?

I second all your suggestions. There should also be some tours going out for dolphin watches I'd think, maybe someone can verify this. There's also another place that you can view different sea critters in aquariums and the man there is very knowledgeable regarding them. It's small, but we enjoyed going through it. They operate off of donations. I think it might be in Port Isabel though, I'm trying to remember.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

Yep, that wind coming in off the water can cut to the bone at times, can't it?

I second all your suggestions. There should also be some tours going out for dolphin watches I'd think, maybe someone can verify this. There's also another place that you can view different sea critters in aquariums and the man there is very knowledgeable regarding them. It's small, but we enjoyed going through it. They operate off of donations. I think it might be in Port Isabel though, I'm trying to remember.

Yes, forgot about that one. It is in Port Isabel. I think I remember that it is run by the Colley's (couple with a dolphin watch boat)??? Or maybe they're just mentioned in the place. I honestly can't remember.

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by TXNGL

Yes, forgot about that one. It is in Port Isabel. I think I remember that it is run by the Colley's (couple with a dolphin watch boat)??? Or maybe they're just mentioned in the place. I honestly can't remember.

Bob Phillips (Country Reporter) is on TV right now doing a segment on this. I just happened onto it and it was almost over, so didn't catch their last names, but it is a couple (George and Scarlett) doing this. They do have a boat and do the dolphin watch tours ( I was thinking that was where we learned about the place in town when you mentioned it). I think they just now called it the Sea Center on the Country Reporter, I don't know if that's the proper name for it or not, but they showed the interior and it is the same place we went to. My daughter and her friend was 15 at the time and thought it was really cool. I thought so too!

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

Bob Phillips (Country Reporter) is on TV right now doing a segment on this. I just happened onto it and it was almost over, so didn't catch their last names, but it is a couple (George and Scarlett) doing this. They do have a boat and do the dolphin watch tours ( I was thinking that was where we learned about the place in town when you mentioned it). I think they just now called it the Sea Center on the Country Reporter, I don't know if that's the proper name for it or not, but they showed the interior and it is the same place we went to. My daughter and her friend was 15 at the time and thought it was really cool. I thought so too!

That's them! We did a dolphin watch with them years ago and it was incredible. It's pricier than the others but well worth it. That's so funny they were on today. I missed it.