Padre Island lies off the southern Gulf Coast of Texas and is just about in the Southwest although it is a long way from the deserts and canyons of Arizona. The Seashore is relatively free of rules. Only activities in the dunes and grasslands are restricted, to protect the wildlife that lives there and prevent erosion.
Padre Island has particularly varied bird life.
Most common are laughing gulls, sandpipers, geese and herons but over 300 other species are recorded. Diamondback rattlesnakes, coyotes, deer and rabbits live in the dunes, while ghost crabs inhabit the area just above the high tide mark, and are responsible for the many small holes in the dry sand that mysteriously stay unblocked, even when sand is blown about by the strong sea breezes that affect the island during most summer afternoons. The endangered sea turtle may also occasionally be spotted, and during the egg-laying season park rangers patrol the beaches looking for any signs of activity. Most people visit the beach on day trips, for typical activities of sunbathing, swimming, windsurfing and fishing. The beach shelves quite gently and so is good for paddling though the waves can become quite high in windy conditions.