Too much traffic on National Seashore

We spent the first day of our Texas vacation on Padre Island National Seashore. After reading the description of the National park on the Internet, we expected the barrier island to be a bit like Assateague National Seashore in Virginia/Maryland. Abundance of wildlife, nature, endless beach, crashing waves, and not many signs of human presence.

"Padre Island National Seashore is the longest section of undeveloped barrier island in the world, protecting rare coastal prairie; a complex, dynamic dune system; and the Laguna Madre, one of the few hypersaline lagoon environments left in the world…. Situated along the Central Flyway, Padre Island is a globally important area for over 350 migratory, overwintering, and resident bird species… Padre Island National Seashore is the most important nesting beach in the U.S. for the Kemp's ridley, the most endangered sea turtle in the world.” (http://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm)

Well, we did see many birds, but we also had to put up with traffic and the trash left behind from hundreds of beach campers over the 4th of July weekend. From soiled diapers, empty beer cans to leftover catch.







I'm wondering why the entire Padre Island National Seashore is open to car traffic? Why not only a limited area, so that the rest can be unspoiled nature?

Texas roadtrip

We are back from our two week long Texas roadtrip. We really had a good time and I'm surprised that Texas is not more popular as travel destination. In Big Bend National Park we met just a handful of visitors. In Big Bend Ranch State Park, our car appeared to be the only one and though we had no hotel reservations, it was easy to find rooms and get big discounts - even in prime locations directly at the beach on South Padre Island (I hope everyone there is fine after Dolly, particularly the nice folks at La Quinta where we stayed for two nights in a suite with a balcony toward the ocean.

Here are a few pictures , more detailed travel stories later:

Padre Island National Park


Big Bend National Park




Sonora Cavern

Rising Happiness

Good news: the level of happiness is rising around the world. People are happier these days than 25 years ago. This is the result of a study published by the University of Michigan. The United States ranks 16th on the list of 97 countries.
More: http://www.coach4u.net/blog/rising-happiness-around-world.html

North or South Padre Island?

Our Texas vacation will start on Saturday, and thanks to readers, we got a few great tips: For example to go to Schlitterbahn with the world's longest water slide. My boys can't wait until we get there.

We are planning to spend a few days on Padre island, and we found a nice hotel on the north part. My question now is: Is it worth to visit South Padre island and stay there another few days?

Has anyone visited King's ranch in Kingsville? Which of the "dude" ranches might offer more fun for teenagers?

Thanks!