82 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Fall 2018 TheCoastalBend.com Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world, and the second largest island in the US, to Long Island, NY. Padre Isles is the largest waterfront development in the US outside the state of Florida, with some 4,000 single and multi-family homes located on the com- munity’s extensive network of canals. Although the vast majority of homes in Padre Isles include boat docks and/or lifts, and many residents own ocean-worthy rec- reational vessels, until 2006 the closest pas- sage into the Gulf of Mexico was through the Port Aransas Ship Channel more than 20 miles, and over an hour north. More beaches, greater beach access than any destination on the entire U.S. Gulf Coast COLLEGE/YOUNG ADULT ZONE FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACH ZONE The official opening of Packery Channel in October 2006 was the culmination of decades of effort by hundreds of Texans at all levels of government. Not only does the channel provide direct access to the gulf in less than five nautical miles of most homes, but contrary to envi- ronmentalists’warnings about negative ecological consequences, water quality in Laguna Madre and in North Padre’s canal system was significantly improved, as was the fishing, with the opening of Packery Channel. Coastal BendTour Guide F all weather in South Texas is thought by many to be the best of the year. Temperatures go down along with the humidity, and southeasterly gusts are replaced with light north and northeasterly breezes. For many Fall visitors to North Padre and Mustang Islands, those lucky enough to get away for the weekends or longer, the combination of fantastic weather, light winds and migrating game fish, along with uncrowded beaches and low season hotel rates, make this their favorite time of year. Migrating birds making their way from Canada and northern reaches of the U.S. stop over on our islands for rest and a tasty meal or two, before continuing on to Mexico and Central America. November and December see the greatest variety of these migrating birds, though they’re not here for long.