Cameron’s coastline, waterways and history offer a range of discoveries. Padre Island National Seashore protects 66 miles of wild coastline and one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Elsewhere, resacas, forests and freshwater shape the landscape. Buildings and historic sites also tell the story of different chapters in the region’s past.

Beach, Lagoon and Gulf Coast

At Padre Island National Seashore, fishing is possible from the beach, the lagoon or a boat. The park has two campgrounds, as well as opportunities for primitive beach camping. To get there, take the JFK Causeway and Highway 358; Park Road 22 then runs about 10 miles to the park entrance.

Isla Blanca Park offers another coastal destination: more than a mile of sandy Gulf shoreline, a fully equipped marina and more than 600 RV sites. County Beach No. 6 allows vehicles to drive onto the beach. For your planning, Isla Blanca Park brings together several Gulf Coast highlights: sandy shoreline, a marina and RV sites.

Battlefields and Lighthouse

Palo Alto Battlefield and Resaca de la Palma Battlefield are two units of the park that commemorate the first two battlefields of the Mexican-American War of 1846–1848. Palo Alto Battlefield was the site of the war’s first major battle and preserves much of its 1846 character. The broad coastal prairie is the defining landscape feature of Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. Its open landscape offers another way to appreciate the site’s historical significance.

The Port Isabel Lighthouse was built in 1852. The reconstructed keeper’s house now serves as the visitor center and museum. Climbing the lighthouse involves ascending more than 75 winding steps and three short ladders, with views of the coastal landscape and South Padre Island’s beaches along the way. The specific number of steps and ladders helps you picture the visit, while the view brings your attention back to the coast.

Resacas, Trails and Wildlife

At Resaca de la Palma State Park, Texas ebony and anacua forests line a resaca, or oxbow lake. More than 10 miles of nature trails explore this preserved ecosystem, and tram rides are also available Wednesday through Sunday. The trail details make the differences between routes clear: the 0.2-mile Ebony Trail ends at an observation platform and boardwalk. The Quail Loop is a recommended 1.3-mile mountain biking loop where you can spot ospreys and other birds of prey. The paved Tram Loop is 2.8 miles long and has seven trailheads and several viewing opportunities.

At Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, the 14.2-mile Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive leads to Osprey Overlook above a 3,500-acre freshwater lake. The diversity of species provides another way to appreciate the refuge: it is home to 417 bird species, 45 mammal species, 44 reptile species, 130 butterfly species and 450 plant species. The route, overlook and lake each reveal a different aspect of the same place.

Sabal Palm Sanctuary also brings nature and history together. The 1892 Rabb Plantation House serves as the refuge’s visitor center. More than 3 miles of nature trails pass through the Sabal Palm Forest to the Rio Grande. A visit can take in both a historic building and trails through the palm forest.

More Trails and Discoveries

Pedro Benavides Recreational Park has an approximately 2.5-mile mountain biking trail, with sections for beginners, intermediate riders and experts. A separate nature trail, about a mile long, runs along the resaca and passes two wildlife observation stations.

Olmito Nature Park is a 39-acre natural area on the banks of a resaca. At Gladys Porter Zoo, a visitor route of about three-quarters of a mile passes 377 animal species and 225 plant species. The zoo also includes the Russell Aquatic Ecology Center, a free-flight aviary, a herpetarium and a Komodo dragon exhibit. The options range from outdoor landscapes to animal and plant exhibits along a compact visitor route.

Explore more destinations: Harlingen, South Padre Island, Brownsville, San Benito, Port Isabel, Los Fresnos, Laguna Vista, La Feria, Bayview, Encantada-Ranchito El Calaboz.

For the main travel overview: Texas.