South Padre Island: A tropical island where turtles are rescued, rockets are launched, and dolphins swim

South Padre Island is a true resort oasis in Texas and the state's only tropical island. Emerald ocean waters, a wonderful climate: more than 300 sunny days a year, a resort atmosphere and colorful houses – it's all here. But the island has much more to offer than snow-white sand and warm water.

There is a huge turtle rescue center here, images and figures of turtles are everywhere: on murals and on souvenirs. The island attracts fans of ecotourism – there are many dolphins and hundreds of migratory birds, you can watch real alligators up close in a special center and see the launch of SpaceX space rockets. And it is also one of the best places in the USA for water sports: kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Why is South Padre Island so popular?