North Padre Islands, TX

After San Antonio, we went to Padre Island National Seashore on Padre Island to go camping. The island itself is known mostly for South Padre Island, a popular vacation and tourist spot on the more developed part on the island all the way at the bottom. Where we stayed was North Padre, and the National Seashore itself is over 60 miles of just seashore! You can camp anywhere you want along the seashore. Malaquite Campground has been voted one of the top campgrounds in the US and is tucked in behind the sand dunes and at the entrance before driving onto the beach, so if you don't want to be fully surrounded by sand this campground is for you. These sites are on a first come basis and from what we noticed for the week we were there they were always reserved.

The first night we picked somewhere out in the open on North Padre Beach but the high winds kept causing our tent to blow over, we ended up sleeping in the car but the next night we were able to go down the beach more and found a little opening in between a couple sand dunes so we were able to get out of the wind and it was perfect. There really is no better feeling than going to sleep and waking up to the sound of the ocean. It was so peaceful and relaxing. At night we saw things crawling all over and so we went to check it out and it was ghost crabs. They were fun to try and catch some of them were pretty good sized too.

One of the most special activities visitors can take part in on North Padre Island is a PINS (Padre Island National Seashore) Kemp's Ridley Baby Sea Turtle Hatchling Release.

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is the rarest species of sea turtle and is critically endangered. The Padre Island Seashore National Parks Service has established extensive conservation efforts through the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Project.

Witnessing this beautiful phenomena is, for most, a once in a lifetime experience. Here are a few tips on how to increase that likelihood of getting to experience this wonderful event! While we were there the turtle schedule said we would be able to see hatchings everyday but actually we only got to see the turtle release twice. So just keep this is mind when booking you trip even though they show turtle releasing during a specific time sometime conditions stop that from happening and you may not get to see a release. ​

• Plan to visit sometime between June-August

• Call the Turtle Hatchling Hotline for exact release details call (361-949-7163)

• Be prepared to wake up early!

​Releases usually take place at 6:45 am and last 30-45 minutes.


For more information on the baby turtles and hatchling releases, visit the PINS website. 





Has anyone else been lucky enough to catch a sea turtle release? What did you think?

San Antonio, Texas

When you do decide to make your trip to San Antonio, you’ll want to stay downtown. If you seek a more historical experience, go with The Fairmount Hotel. The Fairmount Hotel San Antonio is a historic, Victorian style hotel featuring 37 individually decorated rooms and suites, exquisite banquet, reception and meeting space, a jeweled granite and marbled courtyard and a chic, family-style Tuscan Italian restaurant. We were there for a pageant I was competing in and the room was stunning, when you first walked in was a room with an vanity to get ready and rustic Victorian couch, down the hallway was the bathroom with marble floors and vintage tub, and a large bedroom with a king size bed. We had a view of the river walk and door to a patio around back. I had salmon Caesar salad every day in the café for lunch, and I still think about the pan seared, tender, flaky salmon.


From the hotel, a walk to the famed River Walk is a breeze. You’ll see locals sitting, jogging and cycling along the three-mile downtown stretch. I would definitely recommend hoping one of the river boats to see more of the area and to get a better look at the shops and brilliant Spanish-colonial-inspired architecture. Also within walking distance of the hotel is San Antonio’s other famous landmark, the Alamo.

For dinner you have to stop by Casa Rio and try and get a table on the patio, you will be able to wave at all the people taking river cruises. One way to know you are at the right place is all the colorful umbrellas on the patio. This is some of the best Tex Mex food I've ever had. We had to go back a second night before we headed out.


For your last supper in San Antonio, reserve a spot at The Chart House located at the top of the Tower of the Americas, ride an elevator up 750 feet to the observation deck for a jaw-dropping view of the city. If the restaurant is not your thing you can also just take the elevator up and see the view. Dinner was delicious but my favorite part was the rich chocolate cake with molten center, made with  Godiva liqueur.  Served warm, topped with chocolate sauce,  Heath bar crunch and vanilla ice cream. Melts in you mouth, perfect combination of ingredients. In a way San Antonio appears to be a plain town of cowboy hats and sombreros until you come in for a better look.

Have you been to San Antonio? What would you add to our route?