Mel's Moments - North Padre Island

31/03/2024

Happy Easter!

07/03/2024

Spring Cleaning 🌴☀️🌊 getting condos ready for Summer Guest! Deep Cleaning, Touching Up Paint, & Replenishing a few items. (Sorry Pets are still NOT allowed) Piper got to be a VIP guest, however she did not feel like it was VIP treatment 🤣.

🏝️🏝️🏝️Book your stay today!!!!
www.MelsMomentsVacationRentals.com

15/02/2024

Are you looking for a turtle-y awesome internship experience? Are you looking to gain experience working with sea turtles and learn invaluable skills in the biological sciences? If so, then you should apply for our Sea Turtle Internships through the Student Conservation Association (SCA)!

Interns will work with our Sea Turtle Science and Recovery team to gain field experience by conducting daytime patrols on beaches to detect nesting sea turtles, stranded sea turtles and hatchlings. Interns will also directly aid with sea turtle conservation efforts by retrieving, transporting, and caring for sea turtle eggs, and transporting and releasing sea turtle hatchlings. They will also gain lab experience by assisting specimen collection and analysis of unhatched sea turtle eggs.

This position is from April 15, 2024 - October 13, 2024, and includes housing and a stipend. For more information or to apply visit https://myjobs.adp.com/scacareers/cx/job-details?reqId=5001020230306

16/01/2024

Reports of cold stunned sea turtles in our area are starting to come in. Be on the lookout for stranded sea turtles in Corpus Christi Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Upper/Lower Laguna Madre. 👀 If you're in Texas bays, channels, or passes, stay alert for these turtles.
🚫🌊 If you find a sea turtle on the beach, DO NOT put it back in the water! Cold water can be fatal for these endangered sea turtles.
📞 See one? Call the Texas Sea Turtle Info Line: 1-866-TURTLE-5 (887-8535) for guidance. For more cold stunned information, please visit the link in our bio.

Spread the word to protect our sea turtles! 🌊🐢

The Aquarium is working with our area partners to prepare for the upcoming sea turtle cold-stunning event that is predicted this week. Padre Island National Seashore Texas Sealife Center Amos Rehabilitation Keep - ARK at UT Marine Science Institute

15/01/2024

Feeling COLD??? Being stuck at home with Freezing Temps is the perfect time to book your Beach Vacation!!! We currently have Dates Available at all of our North Padre Island and Mel's Moments - Rockport, TX locations!
Book Today: www.melsmomentsvacationrentals.com

28/10/2023

That’s a wrap for the 2023 Texas sea turtle nesting and hatching seasons!

The national seashore saw another successful sea turtle nesting season with a total of 174 nests documented. Nests included Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtle species. In total 19,500 sea turtle hatchlings were released into the Gulf of Mexico.

These hatchlings are now on a multi-year journey out to deeper water where they will find refuge in places like the Sargasso Sea. Once there, they will continue to grow before returning to near shore waters. For those turtles who beat the survival odds, they will return to their nesting beach when they were born to lay eggs and start the next generation. Depending on the species, this process can take 15-30 years.

As we reflect on the end of another season, we want to thank our partners, volunteers, and park visitors who aided with reporting nesting and stranded turtles this season.

To learn more about sea turtles at Padre Island National Seashore, visit: https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/seaturtles.htm

09/09/2023

Good morning from North Padre Island! We have September bookings available, waiting for you! Book Now: www.mybeachretreat.net
(Photo: Michelle Watters)

29/08/2023

Have you ever found the perfect shell when walking on the beach? And then you realize it has a hole, so you put it back and start searching again. These holes indicate that the organism that once called that shell home, was a victim of a hungry moon snail.

The shark eye (Neverita duplicata) is a type of moon snail, and a predatory gastropod that lives in the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. It can be found on sandy shores just below the low tide line.

Moon snails use a radula to drill into shells. A radula is a chitinous structure, like a tongue, containing small teeth used for drilling or scraping. Drilling rate is about 0.5mm per day and the process of eating the prey can take up to a day! Moon snails favor soft or thin shelled bivalves but will attack almost any other shelled mollusk they encounter in the sand — including other moon snails!

🐚 Pictured are several shells with small round holes in them. The shark eye shell (moon snail) is the large spiral shell in the center.

NPS Photo/ Sarah Laughlin

24/08/2023

Texas parks, beaches with the best views for the 2023, 2024 solar eclipses
Two eclipses are coming to Texas, so you'll want to reserve your viewing spot now.
➡️www.melsmomentsvacationrentals.com

Two eclipses are coming to Texas. This is a rare and exceptional circumstance for any particular spot on Earth. San Antonio will see both eclipses — an annular eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023 and a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Cities across Central Texas have been preparing for months for the major celestial events.

14/08/2023

☀️ Save the date and watch the sun and moon align on October 14, 2023!

An annular solar eclipse will be heading across North America and the national seashore is in the path. During the annular solar eclipse around 90% of the sun will be blocked out, leaving a “ring of fire” in the sky. A partial eclipse will be visible for several hours beginning around 10 am, while the maximum eclipse will last for 4 minutes and 55 seconds beginning at 11:56 am at the Malaquite Visitor Center.

Padre Island National Seashore will be the last place in the US to see the maximum eclipse.

Our friends at Western National Parks Association will have eclipse viewing glasses and other eclipse memorabilia available for purchase in the park store all summer long, so you can be ready for the big day. Now let’s hope the weather cooperates with us. 🤞

Learn more about how to view solar eclipses safely at https://www.nps.gov/articles/eclipsesafety.htm



Eclipse poster designed by Tyler Nordgren.

05/08/2023

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!” —Wimpy

Well, Wimpy, we don’t think you really want to eat this hamburger! This is a hamburger bean, genus Mucuna, also known as the true sea bean, horse eye bean, or burning bean. We like hamburger bean because… it looks like a hamburger! Hamburger beans are easily identified by their brown, reddish, or black color and thick dark hilum around the middle, hence the name “hamburger bean.” The hilum is the spot on a seed where it was attached to the seed pod. Think of how a pea is attached in a pea pod.

The hamburger bean is a seed that has washed in from the South America, Central America, or the Caribbean. Hamburger beans can float for up to 5 years and have been found across the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland, Scotland, England, and even Norway!

Here at the national seashore, you can find hamburger beans and other sea beans washing in all year long. And after all this talk about hamburgers, peas, and beans, maybe it’s time to go get a real hamburger!

NPS Photo/ Sarah Laughlin

28/07/2023

We installed a brand NEW stackable washer & dryer today at Leeward. We want to ”Thank” our guest for being patient during the installation while they were on vacation.

21/07/2023

A Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchling release is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 6:45am on Malaquite Beach. Here are a few things to consider!

⚠️ IF THERE IS NO UPDATE TO THIS POST, THAT MEANS THAT THE HATCHLING RELEASE IS HAPPENING AS PLANNED. ⚠️

📞 Call the Hatchling Hotline at (361) 949-7163 before you drive out to the seashore to make sure the release is happening. The hotline is a recorded message you can call anytime day or night.

🌩️ Hatchling releases may be cancelled if the turtles have not hatched on the expected date, due to bad weather (ex. pouring rain, lightning on the beach, high winds), extreme high tides, or flooding over roadways, etc.

💲 Park entrance fees are required to enter the park year-round. To save time, purchase your entrance pass online BEFORE coming to the park.

🎟️ The $10 per vehicle one-day pass expires at midnight on the date of purchase. Do not purchase this pass the night before the hatchling release as it will be expired in the morning. Purchase your $10 per vehicle one-day pass the morning of the hatchling release only AFTER calling the calling the Hatchling Hotline to verify the release is happening.

🪪 Annual and lifetime pass holders do not need to pay the park entrance fee but must present their pass and ID at the entrance station.

🚗 Expect delays of up to 30-minutes entering the park. Hatchling releases take place on Malaquite Beach in front of the Malaquite Visitor Center. The visitor center is located 15-minutes south of the park entrance station. Once you arrive at the release site, you must park in a parking lot, walk across the visitor center deck (where the restrooms are located), down the ramp and out to the beach. Driving on Malaquite Beach to the hatchling release site is not permitted. If you have not been to the park before, take some time to look at a map of the park, and look over driving directions.

🐕‍🦺 Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals, authorized under the ADA are allowed.

❓ For more information about how to prepare to attend a release, please visit go.nps.gov/HatchlingRelease

22/04/2023

LOVE THIS WEATHER!! We still have May bookings left!! Whitecap Beach is amazing! Book Here: www.mybeachretreat.net

02/01/2023

Vacation planning? Make sure you add the USS Lexington to your list.

We here at the USS Lexington Museum are honored to represent the history of Naval Aviation, and we thank all those serving within U.S. Naval Air Forces and leading carrier aviation into the future. This past year celebrating the Centennial of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers has been a great one!

As a reminder, the USS Lexington Museum will be open this New Years weekend at its regular hours from 9:00AM - 5:00PM.

We hope to see you all aboard the LEX in 2023. Happy New Year!

10/12/2022

Our Leeward Isles location has available Dates for 2023!! Ring in the New Year on the Beach! This time of year is the best time to come to the Island! this condo is 1 BLOCK from Whitecap Beach! Book Here: www.MyPadreVacation.com

Cheerful Condo w/ Shared Pool, WiFi, and Central AC - One Block From the Beach

07/11/2022

My favorite time of year to visit the Island 🌴🌴🌴🌴

22/09/2022

Hungry? After a long day of fishing, surfing, or lounging by the pool. This lil dive hits the spot! Guaranteed that everyone will find something to eat bonus they also have a full bar. Hello! Who doesn’t love an island drink 🍹

02/09/2022

We are excited to announce that we now have a site for all of our guests and future guests to go to, that has ALL of our locations, including our Mel's Moments - Rockport, TX location!! You can take virtual tours and book directly from here(Click on White Button):

Take a Virtual Tour of all of our Locations or Book your stay directly! All in one convenient location to better serve our guests!

31/08/2022

Did you know we have 3 locations.
Click Below to view our locations

www.MyFishingRetreat.com - Rockport

www.MyBeachRetreat.net - Palm Bay

www.MyPadreVacation.com - Leeward

08/08/2022

Oh! Coconuts🌴 🥥 love finding treasures on the Island. Did this float on to land from another country or H.E.B tourist toss. Either way it’s fun to find!

12/07/2022

10/07/2022

The Longest Stretch of Undeveloped Barrier Island in the World

Padre Island National Seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, one of a few hypersaline lagoons in the world. The park protects 66 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal flats teeming with life. It is a safe nesting ground for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and a haven for over 380 bird species. It also has a rich history, including the Spanish shipwrecks of 1554.

08/07/2022

In anticipation of the hatchling release on Saturday (7/9/2022) morning at 6:45am at Malaquite Beach behind the visitor center, here are a few things to consider!

‼️ IF THERE IS NO UPDATE TO THIS POST, THAT MEANS THAT THE HATCHLING RELEASE IS HAPPENING AS PLANNED. ‼️

📞 Call the Hatchling Hotline at (361)-949-7163 BEFORE you drive out to the seashore to make sure the release is happening. The hotline is a recorded message you can call anytime day or night!

🐢 Please understand that the release may be cancelled if the turtles have not hatched. Remember, just like human births, sometimes the turtles hatch early and sometimes they may hatch late. The release dates are chosen when there is the greatest probability of hatchlings ready for release, but nature makes no guarantees.

⚡ The release may be cancelled due to bad weather (ex. pouring rain, lightning on the beach, high winds), extreme high tides, flooding over roadways, etc. for the safety of all involved.

💲 Entrance fees will be charged the morning of the hatchling release. To expedite the entry process, we are strongly encouraging visitors to purchase their entry pass online at www.Recreation.gov BEFORE coming to the park. (Cell reception is spotty on the way to and at the national seashore, so don't plan on getting your pass on the way!) Have a printed copy or a digital QR code of your receipt ready on your phone to show the rangers at the entrance station, and you’ll be on your way!

A few notes about entrance fees:
📝 Do not purchase the $10 per vehicle, per day pass the night before the release because 1.) it expires at midnight the day of purchase, so it won’t be valid the morning you come in and 2.) the release might not happen for one or more of the reasons listed above. Purchase your $10 per vehicle, per day pass AFTER calling the Hatchling Hotline to verify that a release is happening!

📝 If you have any of the annual or lifetime passes listed here
https://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/fees.htm you do NOT need to pay the entry fee for the day but you MUST present your pass and ID at the entrance station.

🚗 Driving the posted speed limit of 45 mph, the release site is located about 15 minutes from the entrance station. Once you arrive at the release site, you must park in a parking lot, walk across the visitor center deck (where the restrooms are located), down the ramp and out to the beach.

❓ For additional information about how to prepare to attend a release, please visit https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/hatchlingreleases.htm

23/06/2022

Heal up

You tried your best, and you still got sunburned. Don’t fret. Fortunately, there are plenty of readily available balms that can provide relief. The downside? Again, the potential chemicals, whether you use a cream or spray. So before you purchase one, make sure to read the ingredient list.

Better yet, you can whip together your very own soothing aloe vera salves at home using natural ingredients, which can provide instant relief and promote skin healing.

Aloe Vera Cubes

Simply fill an ice-cube tray with aloe vera gel, and pop it into the freezer. They will not only bring you quick at-home relief but also ensure that you’ll be more conscientious about sunscreen the next time around!

16/06/2022

In anticipation of the first public hatchling release on Saturday (6/18/2022) morning at 6:45am at Malaquite Beach behind the visitor center, we want to help you !

📞Call the Hatchling Hotline at (361)-949-7163 BEFORE you drive out to the seashore to make sure the release is happening. The hotline is a recorded message you can call anytime day or night!

🕠 Please understand that the release may be cancelled if the turtles have not hatched. Remember, just like human births, sometimes the turtles hatch early and sometimes they may hatch late. The release dates are chosen when there is the greatest probability of hatchlings ready for release, but nature makes no guarantees.

⚡ The release may be cancelled due to bad weather (ex. pouring rain, lightning on the beach, high winds), extreme high tides, flooding over roadways, etc. for the safety of all involved.

💲 Entrance fees will be charged the morning of the hatchling release. To expedite the entry process, we are strongly encouraging visitors to purchase their entry pass online at www.Recreation.gov BEFORE coming to the park. (Cell reception is spotty on the way to and at the national seashore, so don't plan on getting your pass on the way!) Have a printed copy or a digital QR code of your receipt ready on your phone to show the rangers at the entrance station, and you’ll be on your way!

A few notes about entrance fees:

📝Do not purchase the $10 per vehicle, per day pass the night before the release because 1.) it expires at midnight the day of purchase, so it won’t be valid the morning you come in and 2.) the release might not happen for one or more of the reasons listed above. Purchase your $10 per vehicle, per day pass AFTER calling the Hatchling Hotline to verify that a release is happening!

📝If you have any of the annual or lifetime passes listed here
https://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/fees.htm you do NOT need to pay the entry fee for the day but you MUST present your pass and ID at the entrance station.

❓ For additional information about how to prepare to attend a release, please visit https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/hatchlingreleases.htm