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Even if you are on a small budget, there are several things to do on South Padre Island that either cost very little, or are free altogether. Here are 10 activities that are sure to be easy on your wallet, and fun in the process.

1. Visiting the beach.

Most people go to South Padre Island to visit the beaches. Although the island is only about 30 miles long, most of the coastline is filled with white, soft sand that leads to beautiful warm, blue water. Visiting the beach is free and doesn’t cost any money at all. Even if you are on a completely no-frills budget, you can still spend your day at the beach. Taking a picnic lunch can help cut down on costs.

2. Visit the Confederate Air Force/Rio Grande Wing.

If you love to fly, or just like looking at planes, then you might be interested in the airplane museum at the airport. There are quite a few historic airplanes onsite, including some that were used during the Korean War and even WWII.

3. Go to the zoo.

It might only take up 30 acres, but the Gladys Porter Zoo can be a fun way of spending a few hours if you have children. There are more than 1500 different animals at the zoo and you can see amphibians, sub-tropical mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds.

4. Visit the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge.

It is the largest protected area in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Some things that you are able to view here include black bellied whistling ducks, alligators, ocelots, egrets, javelinas, and a variety of flora and fauna.

5. Get to know the turtles at Sea Turtle, Inc.

If you want to get to know more about turtles, then visiting the home of Ila Loetscher can be an eye-opener. She was known to the local residents as the South Padre Turtle Lady. The park now acts as a refuge for the endangered sea turtle.

6. Spend the day at Los Ebanos.

This is an 82 acre, privately owned nature preserve. The plantation house itself, built in the 1930s, is something to see. You can also walk around the beautiful grounds and see an assortment of birds and other forms of wildlife. Don’t forget to visit the butterfly gardens.

7. Go for a hike on the Laguna Madre Nature Trail.

If you need to get away from the beach for awhile, then take a walk on the boardwalk that goes across 4 wetlands. It’s a nice walk and if you’re a devoted bird watcher, then you will be able to see some of the Laguna Madre’s endangered species, too.

8. Spend a day at the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark.

Everyone in the family will love this place. There are activities for the little ones, as well as for the bigger kids, too. Wave pools, sand volleyball, water slides, tubes, and a 5 story sandcastle await.

9. Visit the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site.

This is the site of the first battle that took place during the US-Mexican War in 1846.

10. Ramble around the Port Isabel Historical Museum.

The museum is small, but it focuses in preserving the area’s history. You can see exhibits pertaining to the area’s Native Americans as well as artifacts from the US-Mexican War. The building itself dates back to 1899.

All of these things can help make your stay on South Padre Island interesting. Sometimes, you need a break from the beach, and if you have children, then you know that keeping the activities varied is a great way of staving off boredom.