Love Cancun But Have Stay Home $$? Try This Texas Beach

You don't have to leave the country to get that breezy, Cancun feel. In fact, depending on where in Texas you live and how many vacation days you get, you may not even need a flight.

Texas has a little bit of everything ... beaches, forests, desert, mountains, etc and tons of fun stuff to do in each of them. If a trip to Cancun is on your mind, but not in your budget, you might want to try this place.

Cancun is one of my absolute, most favorite places to go ,,, (PRO TIP: Hit up the Valentine Imperial Maya. Trust me, see some pics here.) ... but sometimes, it's not the easiest place to get to. Hopefully direct flights to Cancun from El Paso will soon be a reality.

Anyway, if Cancun's not in the cards, consider South Padre Island. TheTravel loves this Spring Break hotspot and ranked it pretty high on their list of Cancun stand in's. It's a perfect winter destination thanks to the south Texas climate. It's also not as crazy busy in the winter as it is during spring break season and summer.

Listed at No. 4, TheTravel said South Padre Island is a Gulf Coast gem channeling Cancun's lively beach scene. The publication noted how the pristine beach and endless water activities are a perfect destination for winter travels seeking sun and fun. Sea Turtle, Inc., a conservation of endangered sea turtles, was also highlighted as a place to visit if traveling to South Padre Island. - mysanantonio

If you're looking for a Cancun - like experience but want to be left alone, NORTH Padre Island is perfect for loners.