One day, midday heat made us lazy. We decided to drive to South Padre Island for some beach time. We packed coolers with sandwiches, fresh fruit, and cold drinks, and hit the road. The drive across the valley into the coastal zone felt like transitioning worlds.
At the beach, we lounged on towels, waded in the Gulf, watched dolphins break the surface offshore, and collected shells at the tide’s edge. Lunch was easy — cold turkey wraps and watermelon. In the late afternoon, we drove back inland, through fields of citrus and brushland, making a stop at a roadside stand for fresh salsas and jalapeños.
That evening, back at Bentsen Palm, we kept the beach vibe going: grilled fish fillets and cilantro-lime rice, a bright mango salsa, and margaritas. The resort pool felt like a mirror of the sky.
I realized: this region offers both wet coastal shores and dry brushlands, all within reach. Staying in one basecamp (Bentsen Palm) gives you access to many varied ecosystems — and that variety keeps every day fresh.