The Most Beautiful Islands In Texas

Though coastal, Texas is not known for its islands. We will take that a step further by guessing that many people do not know that Texas has any islands at all. Let us blow some minds, then, by detailing seven significant Texas isles, including one that hosts a university, one that hosts an entire city, and one that is the longest island of its kind in the world. Behold these coral-lined constellations in the Lone Star State.

North Padre Island

North Padre Island is the top part of Padre Island, which, with a length of 113 miles, is the longest barrier island in the world. It is separated from the southern portion by the manmade Port Mansfield Channel. Thus, Padre Island is technically two islands. North Padre is larger in both area and population. In fact, it encompasses part of the big city of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christians and tourists enjoy waterfront businesses like Merida's Tapas & Cantina and the Boathouse Bar & Grill before heading down to the Padre Island National Seashore. This preserve protects 66 miles of coastline and all the life it sustains, including fish, crustaceans, over 380 species of birds, and, depending on the season, hundreds of baby sea turtles. You can watch the hatchlings make a mad and cute dash to the ocean during designated turtle release parties.

South Padre Island

South Padre Island is the southern counterpart to North Padre Island. It contains a town of the same name, which has just over 2,000 residents and idyllic haunts that attract many thousands of vacationers, especially during Spring Break. They include Cafe On The Beach, Blackbeards' Restaurant, Padre Island Brewing Company, Ocean Motion, Sea Ranch Restaurant, and Gravity Park. Like its northern neighbor, South Padre mixes commercial charm with rustic beauty. Arguably, its most scenic preserve is the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary. Yes, it is a sanctuary for a scarier but no less deserving reptile. Do not worry: South Padre is also a compadre to sea turtles courtesy of Sea Turtle Inc., which protects them through conservation, research, education, and medical care.

Galveston Island

Galveston Island is more populous than North and South Padre Island combined. This 30ish-mile barrier isle has over 50,000 residents, most of whom belong to the city of Galveston. A legendary Mexican port turned American vacation destination, Galveston is a cocktail of historic sites like Bishop’s Palace and theme parks like Moody Gardens. Around 1,000 of the island's residents live in Jamaica Beach, which is a mostly rectangular community in the middle of Galveston. Jamaica Beachgoers have access to such highly rated eateries as the Way West Grill & Pizzeria and the Shrimp 'N Stuff Food Truck.

Although Galveston's beaches get a bad rap for being muddy (thank the Mississippi River), they vary in clarity and brown water can turn blue overnight. If you are disappointed with, say, Stewart Beach, check out East Beach or San Luis Beach or any of the other diverse beaches. What you expect to be a punchline might knock you out with its beauty.

Pelican Island

Pelican Island is part of Galveston and is connected to Galveston Island via the Pelican Island Causeway. This small, roundish isle was originally a sand dune and shell reef. Now, it is a natural, historic, artistic, and academic wonderland. Not only does Pelican Island have stunning scenery and two museum ships (the USS Cavalla and USS Stewart), but it is also home to Texas A&M University at Galveston. One can tour the university before seeing the ships and other exhibits at the Galveston Naval Museum in Seawolf Park. Both the university and park have Kemp's Ridley sea turtle statues as part of the Turtles About Town community art project. The other 59 turtles are spread throughout Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.

Mustang Island

Mustang Island is as wild as its namesake horse. Sure, it encompasses part of Corpus Christi in the south and the tiny city of Port Aransas in the north. But between those slivers of civilization are many miles of untamed land, including more than 3,950 acres and five miles of coastline in Mustang Island State Park. Visitors can hike, bike, swim, fish, surf, kayak, sunbathe, picnic, camp (both primitively and luxuriously), and watch wildlife. As you may now expect from any Texas isle, Mustang Island is a sea turtle hotspot. If you are lucky, you can see Kemp’s ridley turtles nesting from April through late July, but you are encouraged to notify park staff if you do.

San José Island

San José Island sits northeast of Mustang Island and is separated by the Aransas Pass. It is even wilder than its southern neighbor. Although it stretches for 21 miles, San José Island has, according to Lonely Planet, "absolutely no services." It is privately owned but operated for the sake of wildlife, which includes human adventurers. Tourists are permitted to explore the island as long as they remain on the beach below the mean high tide line. There are no roads going in and no vehicles allowed, so you must take the Jetty Boat from Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas. Upon arrival, you can watch for birds like pelicans and whooping cranes, hunt for shells like shark eyes and angel wings, and angle for fish like redfish and flounder.

Matagorda Island

Matagorda Island is another pseudo-private isle on Texas's coast. Unlike San José Island, however, Matagorda has a designated nature preserve. The Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area protects around 56,000 acres of this 38-mile island. Visitors can access the island by boat and are allowed to hike, bike, fish, hunt (during certain times), picnic, beach comb, bird watch, and camp, but they cannot bring private motorized vehicles. In addition to precious plants and animals, many of which are endangered, the MIWMA preserves the Matagorda Island Light, a 79-foot lighthouse that dates to the mid-19th century. Matagorda has historically been separated from San José Island by the Cedar Bayou, but whether it still serves that purpose is up to interpretation.

Everything is bigger in Texas . . . except its islands. What those thin barrier islands lack in mass, they make up for in beauty. Explore the national seashore on North Padre Island, alligator sanctuary on South Padre Island, theme parks on Galveston Island, naval museum on Pelican Island, state park on Mustang Island, undeveloped beach on San José Island, and wildlife management area on Matagorda Island for a complete tour of wonderful waterlogged Texas.