Radically Retired

Tag: South Padre Island

  • Spring Weekend 2026 – Day 3: The Best Laid Plans …

    Spring Weekend 2026 – Day 3: The Best Laid Plans …

    Neither hubs nor I have ever been involved in a spring break celebration, so we thought that a Sunday visit to South Padre Island during spring break might be a good way to wrap up our weekend of welcoming spring 2026.

    Out of curiosity, the morning that we planned on leaving, I decided to consult professor Google as to what we might expect in terms of crowds. I’m so happy I did that.

    Sunday, March 24 this year just happened to be the apex of the Texas Spring Break and this is what we should expect: possibly fifty thousand high school and college students in full and noisy party mode, heavy traffic (including complete jams) for both South Padre Island and the causeway going to and from the island, two hours or more waits for food, and zero parking at the main venues.

    We decided to nix the trip and spend our last day of celebrating spring by watching nature programs on TV in the comfort our A/C’d living room, with snacks available immediately, and silence on demand as soon as we decided to mute the TV and have a nap.

    The header photo for this post came up in Google Images when I looked for Claytons Spring Break Celebrations 2026. Claytons is one of our favourite stops for food and entertainment.

    This photo was all that either of us needed for a “hard no!”

    I guess we’ll complete life with never experiencing spring break.

    I’m perfectly OK with that.

  • “I Can’t Believe You Just Did That!”

    “I Can’t Believe You Just Did That!”

    Some photos just beg to be captioned.

    What would yours be for this one?

  • Sand Sculpture Paradise

    Sand Sculpture Paradise

    Every year, before Christmas, we make the hour drive over to South Padre Island, TX to take in the new sand sculptures.

    These amazing works of art are sculpted by sand artists from all over the world.

    The only sculpture you’re allowed to touch is Santa’s chair, and I once again tried it out.

    “I’ve been a very good girl, Santa!”
  • A Lucky Catch

    A Lucky Catch

    A few days ago, as a part of our usual pre-Christmas activities, hubs and I headed to South Padre Island.

    One of our favourite activities while there, is to sit and watch the seagulls and pelicans as they scavenge and fish over the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

    The seagulls were especially plentiful, the day was windy, and I was trying to catch a shot of even one gull soaring on the wind current above us.

    I had no luck with my plan, but was completely shocked and amazed when we arrived home and I reviewed my photos to see this.

    The direction of the wings is something I’d never seen before, so to say I’m well-pleased with this accidental shot is an understatement.

  • Oh to Have 8 Hands …

    Oh to Have 8 Hands …

    … Not just for the many flavours of ice cream, like the fellow in the mural, but to get everything done that I want to in a day.

    This time of year is usually busy for me, as I prepare for Christmas.

    Either this year is busier than usual, or another year added to my age has slowed me down a bit. Hmmm – I wonder which is true.

    My goal for tonight and tomorrow morning, is to try to get caught up with the bloggers I follow.

  • Homesick

    Homesick

    Do you ever get homesick for places that aren’t home?

    I sure do.

    Since we’ve been wintering in South Texas, I’ve come to love the area around Port Isabel and South Padre Island. I think of it often when we’re back home for the summers in our landlocked Canadian province. Our summers here at home are great, weather wise. There’s just something about our winters, living so close to the Gulf of Mexico, that makes me “homesick” for the water.