Kick Off the Season on South Padre Island

Two days of sightseeing, dining, live music and outdoor adventure gave Rio Grande Valley Activity Directors a firsthand look at some of South Padre Island’s best group experiences.

Each year, our Activity Director Boot Camp gives Rio Grande Valley RV park activity directors a firsthand look at attractions they can share with their residents. This year’s first stop took us to South Padre Island, Laguna Vista and Port Isabel.

Designed to familiarize RV park activity directors with some of the Rio Grande Valley’s many attractions, Boot Camp also provides a wonderful opportunity for directors to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another.

Exploring Laguna Vista and Port Isabel

The first leg of this year’s Boot Camp took us to South Padre Island, where our adventure began with a guided tour of the South Texas Ecotourism Center in Laguna Vista. From there, we made our way to downtown Port Isabel for a little shopping, lunch, and stunning views of the iconic Lighthouse.

South Padre Island Attractions and Entertainment

In the afternoon, we crossed the causeway to visit the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center, taking in the beauty of the island’s natural landscape. We capped off the evening with a delicious buffet dinner at Louie’s Backyard, complete with a spectacular sunset over the Laguna Madre and live music by J. Michael Lafferty.

Our host hotel, Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island, provided a perfect home base for the event. The next morning, we gathered for a two-hour workshop before enjoying a relaxing patio lunch hosted by Margaritaville, featuring live music by Curt James.

Dolphin Watching with Breakaway Cruises

To wrap up our two-day adventure, we boarded a complimentary dolphin watch cruise with Breakaway Cruises, the perfect ending to an unforgettable Boot Camp experience.

We’re already looking forward to our next Boot Camp stop — and to another great season of connecting the dots across the Rio Grande Valley!