Happy Friday, friends! Thank you so much for the incredible output and sweet messages from y’all about our wedding photos! I felt like 3 years of weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can’t believe our our anniversary has come and gone. We did a mini staycation at South Padre Island to celebrate. We spent one night and two days on the island and even though it was short, it was so nice to get away together. I’m going to give you some quick details about where we stayed and what we did because as the days get longer and hotter, I think we will all be in need of a staycation!
Where we stayed
I never really stay in hotels when I go to the island because we usually stay in my Dad’s trailer. As soon as we decided we were beach bound, we took to the inter webs to search. My husband loves a Marriott hotel and quickly came across the newest Courtyard Marriott (only?) on South Padre Island. We were only able to get a bayside view (great for sunsets, not for views overall) room that had two queen beds, but it was really wonderful.
I am SO sorry to say that we didn’t explore much of the hotel because it was such a quick trip, but from what I could tell the hotel’s private beach, pool, and restaurant (bar Louie) look like they are worth a return. What do you think- should we head back and do a staycation series extension?
what we did
We left on Saturday Morning to arrive on time for Brunch, checked into our hotel and then had the rest of Saturday for activities. We did two things:
Sea Turtle Inc.– This was such a wonderful experience. In case you (live under a rock) didn’t know about the polar vortex that rocked half the US, Texas was greatly affected. Additionally, so many turtles in the gulf were stunned by the cold water. This center works to rehabilitate turtles like the cold stunned turtles and other turtles who have been injured in the wild or caught in fishing nets.
We had never visited this center and it was so heart warming to see these beautiful creatures. 10/10 would recommend if you’re making a short trip. You’d also probably like the SPI Birding and Nature Center.
The second thing we did was just drive on the beach. I don’t remember doing this often as a child, but I do have memories of doing this same thing and it’s just so relaxing. We were in my husband’s truck so we didn’t worry too much about getting stuck. I don’t recommend trying this if you’re in a car or a vehicle that doesn’t have 4WD. We didn’t go as far as we could have because we didn’t want to risk getting stuck and having to call for help (aka ruining our SHORT staycation, haha!), so we eventually stopped and spent some time enjoying the waves and climbing sand dunes. My husband has no fear and had me on the highest one we could find!
I know these ideas are very simple, but they were exactly what we needed. I came back from the weekend so relaxed and happy about the way we spent our time away!
where we ate
Is it wrong for me to say that this is what I loved the most about the trip. Aside from spending time with my husband, haha! I’ve mentioned that I’m a secret foodie before. Food is always my favorite part of our trips and the places we visited for this trip did not disappoint. Not only did it not disappoint- it exceeded expectations. I wasn’t ready and you need to head to these spots as soon as you hit the island!
Yummies Bistro– This is my go-to spot on the island. We go here on every beach trip we make because it is so delicious. I always get the Rancheros Santa Cruz (with egg whites, of course!), but this time I got the Cafe Padre. OMG that coffee was delicious. It does have stronger coffee flavor. If that’s not your thing, they have a FULL MENU dedicated to coffee creations. They’ll have a to-go coffee bar opening up soon- You know I’ll be headed there before my drives home!
Side note: I know this isn’t food, but Yummies can have a bit of a wait. We always stop by Renee’s of SPI to shop for goodies!
F & B– We’re big on Beachside Barbecues in the summer. Again, this trip was very different than what I usually do on the island because we’re usually enjoying some barbecue or burgers and dogs. As much as I love that- we have been missing out. I don’t know how long F&B has been around, but the food is incredible. My husband ordered and incredible (and incredibly priced) burger. He’s a tough critic when it comes to chef-made foods…he enjoys the simpler things in life, if ya know what I mean…He loved this meal. I ordered a lobster pasta that had HUGE pieces of lobster in it! I hate ordering designer meals and feeling like I didn’t get to taste much of what I ordered. This was not the case here. The star of the show for us though? The Caesar salad. I wish I was kidding, but it was just so well done and they even split it for us while we were there. Overall, we had a great experience. MAKE A RESERVATION. Luckily, I thought to because several parties got turned away and it was so sad.
Josephine’s Kitchen– Let me just preface this paragraph with the statement: “I didn’t know.” I didn’t know about all of this goodness, y’all. I think what made this spot a must-do location for me is the waffles. They’re sweet and taste like cinnamon goodness. This was also my first time here and we got there at around 10:00 without having to make a reservation. With that being said, the rush was right behind us. Miguel loved the chilaquiles and I loved the Popeye omelette. It was so filling, I couldn’t finish it!
what i packed
I am an over packer. Always have been, always will be. Since we were onl staying for one evening and the weather was a little chilly. Normally, I’d pack a bathing suit and several “just in case outfits.”
I’ve been wanting a sweater tank since last summer, so I picked one up at Forever 21. I paired this with my favorite denim shorts. These shorts are still available after 2 years (this is year 3!) and I love them. They’re long enough that you feel covered, but short enough that you feel cute! 10/10 recommend. These were the key pieces of my wardrobe and I kind of built off that for the rest of the weekend with these sandals.
Y’all asked about this yellow gingham dress and I FOUND IT FOR YOU! It’s from amazon so it may be a smidge different, but the pictures are the same so I’m very hopeful! I’m not sure which shoes I paired these with (oops), but these heels from target are flawless, affordable and on trend!
I wore my favorite eyelet top from target for our last day, which is unavailable but there is an updated one that I (of course) already purchased and wore like 500 times!
Moral of the story here: Invest in great nude sandals/heels, a good pair of denim shorts, and great tops you love for spring/summer. They make packing for quick getaways so much easier!
I haven’t traveled anywhere in a hot minute, so I am so happy that I got to share this little South Texas Staycation with y’all! Have you spent a weekend at the island lately? What are your favorite things to do?
Love & Adventure,
Aly