Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

Are you ready for this? Padre Island National Seashore is the “longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world.” Mic drop. What that means is that with urban sprawl, pollution, and other detrimental factors that continue to threaten wildlife, Padre Island remains a place where nature can balance itself, where visiting is like being transported to the past. The park protects 70 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies, is a haven for 380 bird species, and is a safe nesting ground for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle--one of the most endangered sea turtle species in the world. Plan your trip from late April through mid-July and you just might be fortunate enough to see newly hatched baby turtles released into the wild! Also, if you have more than a weekend on your hands, access is $10 per car, and is good for 7 days. What a deal, right?