Laguna Vista, Texas.

Laguna Vista is a small, quiet community on the Laguna Madre side of South Padre Island, opposite the Gulf beaches. It is popular with anglers and birders who prefer the calm, shallow waters of the lagoon over the Gulf surf. The town has a residential character, with a few RV parks and waterfront properties that offer direct access to the lagoon. It is a peaceful alternative to the busier resort areas on the Gulf side of the island, and for many visitors that is exactly the appeal.

Locator. Laguna Vista is on the Laguna Madre side of South Padre Island, opposite the Gulf beaches. It is about 15 miles north of Port Isabel.

For day-trippers from the Hill Country, Laguna Vista offers a completely different coastal experience than what most people picture when they think of South Padre Island. Instead of high-rise condos and crowded beaches, you will find quiet waterfront streets, small boat launches, and the gentle lapping of lagoon water against bulkheads. Fishing is the main activity here — the Laguna Madre is one of the most productive estuaries on the Texas coast, with excellent wade fishing and kayak fishing for speckled trout and redfish. Birding is also exceptional, with herons, egrets, and shorebirds feeding along the shallow shoreline year-round.

The community is primarily residential, with a mix of permanent homes and vacation properties. There are no major resorts or large commercial developments within Laguna Vista itself — those are concentrated on the Gulf side of the island, a short drive across the interior. For someone considering a second home or investment property, Laguna Vista offers more affordable prices than the beachfront areas while still providing access to everything South Padre Island has to offer. The trade-off is a longer drive to the Gulf beach, but the quiet, uncrowded character of Laguna Vista is hard to beat.

Drive time from Boerne

Laguna Vista is approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes from Boerne via I-37 South to US-77 South, then through Kingsville to the Queen Isabella Causeway. It is a long drive, but one that rewards with a completely different coastal environment from the upper Texas coast.

What to know before you go

• Best time to visit: Fall through spring offer mild temperatures and excellent fishing conditions. Summer is hot but the lagoon breezes help.
• Fishing: The Laguna Madre is famous for speckled trout and redfish. Wade fishing, kayak fishing, and flats charters are all popular.
• Birding: The lagoon shoreline attracts a wide variety of shorebirds and wading birds. Bring binoculars.
• RV camping: Several RV parks are located along the lagoon, some with direct water access and docks.
• Proximity to South Padre: The Gulf beaches and resort amenities are a 15- to 20-minute drive across the island.