49% off (Sale price $57.00, Reg. Price $113.84) :: Hotel at a Glance: Peninsula Island ResortThe easiest way to get to the Gulf of Mexico from this luxurious resort is to walk outside—the property sits on a private stretch of sun-kissed beachfront along the water. Nearly everything at this resort revolves around the gulf, from the restaurants Mexican-inspired fresh seafood to the sparkling outdoor pool that looks out on the shore. Beachfront dining: At Las Olas Restaurant Grill and Bar, chefs use locally sourced ingredients to craft mouthwatering international dishes. Order a bottle of wine and take in the views of the Gulf of Mexico. Brazilian furnishings and private balconies give a luxe feel to the studios, apartments, and suites. The biggest of suites boasts three bedrooms, a living room, multiple TVs, and a fully equipped kitchen with a dining area for eight. Onsite fitness center with cardio machines and free weights Added perk: All of this Getaways options include a daily breakfast for two at the onsite restaurant.South Padre Island, Texas: Vibrant Marine Life and Educational CentersSouth Padre Island isnt actually an independent island—its the name given to the resort town on the southernmost point of Texas’s much larger Padre Island, which stretches nearly 130 miles along the Gulf of Mexico. The town is linked to mainland Texas by a single bridge, the Queen Isabella Causeway. Because it occupies such a narrow stretch of land—at its broadest point, South Padre Island is only a few blocks wide—getting from the Gulf on the east side to Laguna Madre on the other takes only about 10 minutes on foot. Many visitors spend their vacations laying out on the area’s sandy beaches, which are home to more than 300 types of waterfowl, lofty sand dunes, and the occasional kemps ridley sea turtle. Others set sail on fishing charters to seek out swordfish, redfish, and spotted seatrout.On the northern end of South Padre Island at Sea Turtle, Inc., you can observe endangered kemps ridley sea turtles, which the organization rescues, rehabilitates, and releases at nearb
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