This day has finally arrived! So excited – our beach bag is packed, cameras are ready, wallet/purse are downsized – towels moved to the front of the car! We are off to Schlitterbahn!
Because it is Bike Week in South Padre Island – most of the resorts are fully booked. The parking lot for Schlitterbahn is reserved for Resort Guests only so we have to park a block away on a dirt road with lots of pot holes (deep pot holes – perhaps better named as ravines).
The gate attendant explains the layout of the park and the best times to visit – NOT Spring Break!
There is a week in April (the first week or so) and then in September (the first week or so). You will have full access to the park and few lines. Because this is President’s Weekend we expect the park to be full.
So excited – we are off to purchase our tickets!
Not sure if we are children or seniors – we prefer to think we are Senior Children!
Off to our locker to secure our valuables (car keys etc). 
This looks like a good place to start!
We use the Nikon waterproof camera for this next clip.
See it
We do these rides three more times – 75 steps up to the top of the platform to begin our water descent. Great fun!
Let’s try the river ride – can’t be too bad – so we try it in a double raft.
Not as easy as it may appear to get into this contraption! And the beginning of the ride is deceivingly simple. They add rapids!
This kid resembled a river otter, staying underwater most of the time and occasionally surfacing for air.
Didn’t see the sign until the first time though! Now you tell us. We try this ride again in single tubes.
Nancy gets completely dumped upside down trying to get into her raft. Dale, after minutes of laughter, easily gets into his tube. Off we go – except Nancy isn’t out far enough to catch the current and the life guard has to tow her out to catch the rapidly moving water. We go through the complete ride again and even though we try to get out at the “beach” area the current is so strong we are swept through again. Of course we could always just stand up as it is only slightly over 3 feet deep.
Time now for a brief rest and a quick tour of the indoor park and resort area.
Beautiful cypress tables and benches throughout the property.
A grill that offers burgers, pizza, wings, and hotdogs. Plus changing rooms!
Tired, but happy, we decide to call it a day here and ask about a local place for a late lunch. The gate attendant (nice lady) is passionate about a place called “Yummies” so we go in search of this restaurant.
Yummy indeed. Dale has the burger – cute presentation. Nancy has the mufeletta. This place is so close to our hotel we could have walked. We ask the waitress about a local spot for dinner and she suggests “Garbriella’s” which is right next door! We can walk there tonight if we wish.
We notice some mermaids at the store next to Yummy’s but did not find any we liked. We did end up buying a South Padre charm for Nancy’s Pandora bracelet though! Time to go back and get some rest!
The best place for rest – the beach! Not many people here – the sun is warm. They say South Padre Island is the same latitude as Fort Lauderdale. Nice!
We decide to walk to Gabriella’s for dinner. 
After a short wait we get a great table with a terrific waiter and start with mussels. Superb! Salads and bread arrive next – and because we are no longer all that hungry we order the house specialty pizza – again – superb. Sadly we do not have many photos of this experience – not sure why – maybe that Torrent River ride? We walk back to the hotel in the Texas starlight and call it a night!