Monday, April 3-Wednesday, April 5

I was looking forward to spending time on the beach, and believe me, this beach was all I was hoping for and more.  Padre Island National Seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, one of only a few hypersaline lagoons.  The park protects 70 miles of coastline, making it the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world.  It is a nesting ground for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and home to a huge variety of birds.

Campers are allowed to pitch tents right on the beach, but it was quite windy during our stay and we elected to camp on the dunes.

There was a place for our hammock on the beach, and we spent two days relaxing, reading, walking, and swimming in the warm waters of the Gulf.  My idea of heaven. It was hard to tear ourselves away, but we were sunburned, and Texas is a big state with a lot more to see.