Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Padre Island windy?
A: The wind in the summer averages between 7 and 30 mph and usually comes from the southeast, east, or south. During winter, the wind shifts direction to the north and the average is well below 30mph. Padre Island's warm, sunny climate and wind is perfect for windsurfers to practice their skills and enjoy the surf.

Q: Where is the best shelling on the beach?
A: Shelling is less a matter of "where", than a matter of "when". Shelling is best after a storm has passed through, producing a large storm surge, pushing large amounts of debris and shells far up onto the beach. Other than that, it would be best to go to an isolated area down island where few people venture, and thus there are fewer shell collectors to pick them up before you. However, be aware that after the five-mile marker a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed because of the frequent pockets of deep, soft sand.

Q: Where can I go to see sea turtles?
A: The best place to go is the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. They have several on display, which have permanent injuries and would not survive in the wild. Although we have an ongoing project to restore the sea turtle populations in the Gulf of Mexico, we do not keep any on display at the Park. Our project consists of finding as many sea turtle nests as we can and taking the eggs to an incubation facility at the ranger station. There the eggs are cared for until they hatch. After hatching, we release them into the Gulf of Mexico. The releases are announced in the media so the public may attend.

Click here for current information on the Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

Q: What environmental awards or recognitions has Padre Island Park Company received?
A: In 2003, Padre Island Park Company was certified to ISO 14001. Forever Resorts is the first U.S. multi-site hospitality, lodging and marina provider to be certified to ISO 14001:1996 for all its domestic operations. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). The benefits of initiating an EMS in accordance with ISO 14001 standards are many: identifying areas for reduction in energy and other resource consumption; reducing environmental liability and risk; helping maintain consistent compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements; benefiting from regulatory incentives that reward companies showing environmental leadership through certified compliance with internationally recognized EMS standards; preventing pollution and reducing waste; improving community good will; profiting in the market for "green" products and demonstrating commitment to high quality.