5 Things to Love about Schlitterbahn South Padre Island

After a quick (ha! ten hour drive each way) weekend trip to South Padre, we have now completed the trifecta of Texas water parks, and visited each of the three Schlitterbahn properties. Each of the three-New Branfels, Galveston, and South Padre-have a different feel and reason to visit, but South Padre may have just edged out the pack to become my favorite (Shhh!  Don’t tell the others).  New Braunfels Schlitterbahn will always have a special place in my heart, both because of the vintage college memories, and because it is built around the tubing culture of the Guadalupe River.   Schlitterbahn Galveston has a great, year-round water park that is the perfect way to entertain the kids before cruising out of Galveston.   But, Schlitterbahn South Padre Island has its own something special going on that propelled it to the top.

So, what makes Schlitterbahn so special?

1.Transportainment River System.  First of its kind, the slow flowing river allows guests to hop in a tube and float to and from each attraction, with a conveyor belt to lift rafts uphill.  Genius!  That means no schlepping tubes upstairs and through the park, and no standing in lines.  It also means that you don’t need to burn your feet walking from ride to ride.  In fact you don’t have to walk at all!  This system takes everything that rots about going to a water park and just leaves you with the all the splashy fun.

~Riding the Conveyor Belt to the Next Ride~

2. Highest Rating in Safety. While the guests are floating around from one fun attraction to the next, it’s not all fun and games for the park staff.  They take water safety seriously! In an independent evaluation conducted each year for every water park, Schlitterbahn South Padre scores in the top 1%.  They are the top rated Schlitterbahn park and among the top in all water parks across the country. 

3 .Budget minded and family friendly.  Theme parks are just expensive, especially for families.  By the time you buy tickets, pay for parking, and feed crew through the day, you can be out a significant chunk of change.  All the Schlitterbahn parks try to alleviate the expenses by offering free parking and allow guests to bring in outside food and drinks. 

4.Boogie Bahn and Sandcastle Cove.  If the Transportainment system wasn’t enough, Schlitterbahn SPI also has two other note-worthy attractions.   Boogie Bahn is America’s largest surf wave machine and ideal for kids who want to try their board skills and moms who don’t want to paddle out into the ocean to watch them do it.  Sandcastle Cove is the centerpiece of the park.  It offers five stories and six turrets that are connected with ramps, slides, and netclimbs.  Of course, there is a giant bucket that drenches those ready and waiting below, and plenty of water fun splashing and spraying throughout the castle.

5.A Year-Round Attraction.  The indoor portion of Schlitterbahn allows guests to visit any time of year and enjoy water fun regardless of the weather.  Plus, with the attached Schlitterbahn Beach Resort, you can stay where you play and have even more time to enjoy the park.

~Schlitterbahn SPI invited me to stay at the Beach Resort and attend the waterpark, but they did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own.~