Skip to main content Texas Outside Texas Outside
  • CAMPING CAMPING
    DEALS ON CAMPING
    Coupons & Specials
    FIND A CAMPGROUND OR RV PARK
    Locate Parks by City or Name North East Texas Parks Central Texas Parks South Texas Parks West Texas Parks East Texas Parks Panhandle Parks
    TEXAS STATE PARKS
    Reviews & Ratings Top 20 Texas State Parks Texas State Parks With Cabins & Cottages 10 Best Texas State Parks For Biking Texas State Parks with Paddling State Park Activities State Parks With Horseback Riding State Parks With Swimming Holes State Parks With Fishing Texas State Park Hiking Trails
    UNIQUE CAMPING
    Glamping In Texas LCRA Parks RV Park Cottages & Cabins Lake Campgrounds & RV Parks Campgrounds With Golf Courses
    REVIEWS & RATINGS
    Texas Outside's Park Review & Ratings Texas Outside's Top 25 Parks Best Texas RV Parks Best Texas State Parks Featured Park of the Month Out of State Campground Reviews
    RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
    RVing in Texas Texas RV Rentals Travel Trailer Rentals Pop-up Rentals Rent Your RV Mobile RV Detailing Texas RV Dealers Texas RV Rally Locations RV Travel Articles Blog Travels With Grandma Blog Exploring Texas Cities Weekend Adventures Fun Things To See & Do In Texas
  • GOLFING GOLFING
    FIND A GOLF COURSE BY CITY
    Locate by Course Name or City Austin Golf Courses Amarillo Golf Courses Corpus Christi Golf Courses Dallas Golf Courses El Paso Golf Courses Ft. Worth Golf Courses Houston Golf Courses San Antonio Golf Courses
    FIND A GOLF COURSE BY REGION
    Central Texas Golf Courses South East Texas Golf Courses North Texas Golf Courses Panhandle Golf Courses South Texas Golf Courses West Texas Golf Courses
    BEST PRIVATE GOLF COURSES BY CITY
    Best Private Golf Courses in Austin Best Private Golf Courses in Dallas Best Private Golf Courses in Houston Best Private Golf Courses in San Antonio
    BEST OF THE BEST GOLF COURSES
    Best of the Best in Texas Best 9 Hole Courses in Texas Best Texas Public Golf Courses Best Texas Private Golf Courses Best Texas Resort Golf Courses Best Public Golf Courses by City
    GOLF COURSE REVIEWS AND RATINGS
    Golf Course Reviews & Ratings Featured Golf Course of the Month Out of State Golf Course Reviews
    GOLF RESORTS & REVIEWS
    Texas Golf Resort Reviews Best Texas Golf Resorts Out of State Golf Resort Reviews
    UNIQUE GOLF COURSES
    Jack Nicklaus Texas Courses Best Rio Grande Valley Golf Courses Best Golf Destinations Most Scenic Holes World's Best Golf Courses
    GOLF STAY & PLAY PACKAGES
    Texas Outside's Stay & Play Reviews Featured Stay & Play of the Month Stay & Play Packages Camp & Play Golf
    GOLF TRAILS
    Texas Golf Trails Florida Golf Trails New Mexico Golf Trails Louisiana Golf Trail
    TEXAS GOLF COMMUNITIES
    Featured Golf Community Best Texas Golf Communities Texas Golf Communities
    GOLF GOODIES
    Golf Coupons & Specials FootGolf Golf Vacations Golf Tips, Techniques, & Other Information Fun & Informative Golf Stories
  • DESTINATIONS DESTINATIONS
    MAPS OF FUN STUFF
    City Maps Central Texas Destinations East Texas Destinations Gulf Coast Destinations North Texas Destinations Panhandle Destinations South Texas Destinations West Texas Destinations
    RESORTS & VACATION RENTALS
    Texas Resorts & Rental Information Texas Resort Reviews Texas Outside Favorite Resorts Featured Texas Resorts Lake Resorts and Rentals Vacation & Get Away Lodging Waterfront Rentals Best Lake Resorts Out of State Resort Reviews
    WEEKEND ADVENTURES
    Weekend Getaways Texas Scenic Drives Thank God For Weekends Fun Things To Do In Texas Bavarian Hill Country Road Trip Highland Lakes Road Trip
    TEXAS FESTIVALS & EVENTS
    Texas Music Home Page Texas Outside's Favorite Events Music Festival & Event Reviews Upcoming Festivals & Events Fun Vacations Texas Road Trippin'
    TEXAS VENUES
    Coupons & Specials Cabins, Resorts, Tipis & Lodging Bed & Breakfasts Best New or Improved Hotels Brewpubs & Breweries Cabins & Cottage Rentals Corporate Retreat Venues Dance Halls & Honky Tonks Dude Ranches Family & Social Reunion Health & Wellness Spas Honeymoons Nature Preserves Romantic Getaways Safari Tents, Eco Domes & TiPis Spas Vintage Trailers & Railcars Wedding Venues Wineries & Wine Trails Yurts, Tiny Houses, & Treehouses
    EXPLORING TEXAS
    20 Must Places to See The Best Texas Small Towns Bluebonnet Trails Golfing Vacations Fun Things To See & Do In Texas Travels With Grandma Texas Best Natural Wonders Texas Islands to Visit Texas Scenic Drives Exploring Texas Cities Texas Best Swimming Holes Texas Attractions Texas Hill Country Texas Gulf Coast Kids Activities
  • VACATIONS VACATIONS
    Texas Vacations Golfing Vacations Fun Filled Vacations Kids and Family Vacations Weekend Adventures Thank God For Weekends Fun Things To Do In Texas Vacation Lodging
  • LAKES LAKES
    FIND A TEXAS LAKE
    Interactive Lake & River Maps Map of Texas Lakes Central Texas Lakes South Texas Lakes Highland Lakes North Texas Lakes West Texas Lakes East Texas Lakes Panhandle Lakes Best Texas Rivers
    TEXAS MARINAS
    Gulf Coast Marinas Marinas by Lake
    TEXAS LAKE REVIEWS & RATINGS
    Lake Reviews & Favorite Lakes Highland Lakes Vacation Guide Highland Lakes Things To Do Featured Lake Of The Month Boating The Highland Lakes
    FISHING GUIDES
    Lake Fishing Guides Gulf Coast Fishing Guides Kayak Fishing Guides
    CABINS & LODGING
    Lake & River Resorts, Cabins, & Lodges Best Lake Resorts Fishing Cabins & Lodges
    BOAT RENTALS, SAILING, & HOUSEBOATS
    Coupons & Specials Kayaking & Canoeing Rentals & Lessons Stand Up Paddleboard Rentals Boat Rentals, Excursions, Tours, & Charters Pontoon Boat Rentals Jet Ski Rentals Sailing Rentals, Lessons & Clubs Houseboating & Houseboat Rentals Party Boat Rentals Eco Tours
  • FISHING FISHING
    Fishing Cabins & Lodges Fly Fishing in Texas Lake & River Fishing Guides Coastal & Deep Sea Fishing Guides Kayak Fishing Guides Best Kayak Fishing Spots in Texas Texas Lake Reviews & Maps Fishing Guides Coupons
  • HUNTING HUNTING
    Texas Shooting Ranges Texas Clay Shooting Hunting Guides Hunting Leases Hunting Lodges & Leases Coupons & Specials
  • VENUES VENUES
    Corporate Retreat Venues Family & Social Reunion Venues Golf Course Corporate Retreats Wedding Venues
  • REVIEWS REVIEWS
    TEXAS OUTSIDE REVIEWS
    Campground & RV Park Reviews Golf Course Reviews Golf Resort Reviews Golf Stay & Play Reviews Lake Reviews Music & Festival Reviews Resort Reviews Out of State Resort Reviews
    TEXAS OUTSIDE FAVORITES
    Best Campgrounds & RV Parks Best Golf Courses Best Texas Lakes Best Music Festivals & Events Best Texas Resorts Top 10 Fun Things To Do In Texas
  • FUN STUFF FUN STUFF
    BROWSE A-E
    Adventure Parks Airborne Adventures Airsoft Fields Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Aquariums Attractions ATV & Jeep Rentals & Tours ATV Offroad Parks Biking Bird Watching Bubble Ball Cable & Wakeboard Parks Canyons & Gorges Caving Challenge / Rope Courses Climbing Spots Disc Golf Drive-in Movie Theaters Escape Rooms
    BROWSE F-O
    Famous Texas Film Locations Flyboarding Flying Trapeze FootGolf Golfing Hike, Bike, & Horse Trails Hiking Horseback Riding & Lessons Jet Ski Rentals Kayaking & Canoeing Kids Activities Kids Camps & Summer Camps Kitesurfing Mud Runs Museums Nature Preserves Obstacle Course Races Off-Road Parks Outdoor Activity Clubs
    BROWSE P-T
    Paint Ball Racetracks & Speedways Rafting Rock Climbing Safari & Wildlife Parks Scenic Drives Scuba & Snorkeling Segway Tours Stand Up Paddleboard Rentals Surfing Swimming Holes Tank Driving Team Building Activities & Games Texas Lake Reviews & Maps Texas Outdoor Weddings Train Rides Tubing
    BROWSE V-Z
    Vacations Wakeboarding Wakesurfing Waterfalls Waterparks Windsurfing Zip Line Tours Zoos
    DEALS ON ACTIVITIES
    Coupons & Specials
    OUTDOOR WEDDINGS
    Wedding Venues Wedding Invitaitons Wedding Vendors Unique Ideas Real Texas Weddings
    TEXAS MUSIC EVENTS & RESOURCES
    Texas Music Upcoming Festivals & Events Texas Outside's Music Festival Reviews Texas Outside's Favorite Music Festivals
Coupons
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest Youtube Youtube Email your Friends

High Speed Boat Ride on Laguna Madre Bay

The Thriller zipping across the Laguna Madre Bay

A wickedly fast looking speed boatAs we were crossing the bridge from Port Isabel to South Padre Island for the start of a fun filled winter vacation on South Padre Island, we couldn't help but notice the huge speed boat parked at Pirates Landing pier.

And when we noticed the name of the boat was the "Thriller" we immediately added it to our list of fun things to do on South Padre Island. Turns out that the Thriller is a 55' long and 12' wide catamaran hull designed speedboat that is powered by over 1000 horsepower and will zip you across Laguna Madre Bay at 50 miles per hour - how fun would that be! So we signed up and couldn't wait to go.

After we left the pier, it didn't take long before we were skimming at 50 miles an hour across the bay. And the grin on my grandson's face when he got to take the co pilots seat and take the wheel for a spin was from ear to ear! After having the wind blast us for a while we slowed down, went through the only swing bridge in Texas, and cruised through a portion of the Port Isabel harbor and all the shrimp boats.

Grandson at the helmPort Isabelshrimp boats in Port IsabelHomes along the channel

Dolphin leapingThat route took us back to the shipping channel that leads to the Port of Brownsville. In this channel we spotted our South Padre Island over the bow of the Thriller speed baot first of many dolphin playing in the bay. What an amazing and seemly friendly mammal! And they really seem to enjoy their life in the bay and getting all the uh's and ah's from the tourists - in fact, they could be some of the biggest hams and showoffs around!

From the shipping channel we headed over to the South Padre Island jetty and the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico. What a pretty site with the waves breaking on the shoreline, the towering condos along the beach, and the kites from all the kiteboarders enjoying the surf and wind.

Next was a leisurely cruise by the bay side of South Padre Island and past the marina, dolphin watch and fishing boats, and Pier 19 (a very good restaurant). About this time the sun started to set - unbelievable sunset! Then engines roared to life, the wind parted what little hair I have left, and we had a high speed ride back to the pier just as it got dark. Great experience.

The Thriller 50 miles an hour on the bay

What made this trip really fun was that it was more than just zipping across the water at 50 miles an hour - it was:

  • a scenic tour of Port Isabel and the shrimp boats
  • an opportunity to view one of Port Isabel's most valued treasures - a beautiful sunset
  • a chance to watch dolphin frolicking in the bay
  • a cruise by the South Padre Island jetty to wave at the fisherman
  • a scenic ride along the bay side of South Padre with views of the condos and hotels, restaurants, beautiful boats in the marina, and several kiteboarders enjoying the wind

And all of that for a reasonable price. What are you waiting for, call the Thriller and book a ride. Have fun and leave your hat at home if you value it! But bring your cameras.

Return to our South Padre Vacation Article.

Texas Outside Newsletter

Texas Outside
Texas Outside
Texas Outside
Texas Outside
Texas Outside
social-media-facebook social-media-twitter social-pinterest professional-network-linkedin

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us

Links

  • Coupons & Specials
  • What's New
  • Cool Links
  • Link To Our Site
Privacy Policy | Site Map
arrow-button-up-1
© 1996-2022 Texas Outside