Written by Amy Smith
When in paradise, do as the ‘Paradisians’ do. Sit back, relax, and enjoy. Or, perhaps, kite boarding, beach running, or jet skiing. Then do dinner. All the while you live in exquisitely decked out digs. Yeah, that’s it, you’ve got it. And, your perfect paradise, where would that be? Eighty-some degrees and sunny does it for most of us. Add some fluffy white clear waters and sandy beaches with great options for recreation and entertainment and we’re pretty close. Grab the ‘fam’, you’re there.
South Padre Island, Texas is one U.S. beach area that’s one of those awesome island destinations in its own right. One of the top cleanest beaches on the gulf with perfectly serene views of sand and sea, it makes Texas one of the coolest places to live and visit. With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Laguna Madre Bay on the other, South Padre Island’s world class fishing and water sports make for an epic vacation paradise.
And serene beach settings on “the island” (as the natives like to call it) are not hard to find. But, with that said, it can be exciting to discover that extra special place all your own, where all your cares melt away, just when you weren’t expecting it. Solare Towers Condominiums is just such a place.
When I toured Solare Condominiums for the first time after the major renovation, I was whole- heartedly impressed. Previously, the property was the Bahia Mar. It was quite ‘vintage’, shall we say, and somewhat screaming for a fabulous architectural and interior design makeover. Upon entering, Solare Towers, it felt like a whole new property with not even a hint of the old. It was like a completely different building and even had ‘new building’ smell. New lumber, new drywall, new plumbing, new electrical, new design configuration, new condo spaces and new common areas, it was completely redone.
The staff of the gated community was extremely gracious and welcoming. We headed up the elevators to a gulf side facing tour. Spacious and immaculately clean hallways, high ceilings and great lighting were common denominators of the light, airy ambiance. It’s also a quiet building with unobstructed views.
Once inside the gulf facing 2 bedroom condominium it felt more like a one level family dwelling than a condo. The open layout and views through large windows were inviting and welcoming. The gulf side condo was impeccably decorated and extremely spacious. Capacious living spaces and bedrooms were ample for activity and relaxing. The master had full en suite and the other bedroom had a full bath as well.
As we rode the elevator to tour the penthouse, it was exciting to be visiting a place where such great planning and care had been taken to restore and elevate a property to such exquisite dimensions. The stunning penthouse was more like a townhouse in the sky with levels of fabulous design to please the eye and aesthetically ingratiate the senses.
Also on the gulf side, the layout of the 2 story penthouse was alluring in its spaciousness. The interior design of the penthouse was show stopping! The art, the furnishings, the soft goods combined well with the architecture of the building and the lighting.
We then toured a bay side 2 bedroom condo. The condos range in size from 2 to 4 bedrooms and multiple baths. Ample square footage shows itself in the living rooms, dining with access to balconies and the master bedrooms with generous baths, double sinks and walk-in closets.
The view from the bay side was breathtaking. However, there’s more. The bayside condos offer an attribute that is usually mutually exclusive in many properties on the island where you can choose the gulf side or the bay side. In the Solare Towers, the angle of the building sets southwest so bay side owners are privy to a unique panoramic view of both bay and gulf.
We were fortunate to tour in the afternoon with the sunset feeling imminent. When you live with large windows and a continual view of the sun over a great body of water, it’s kind of like an all day sunset. For this uniquely angled building, the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, you get the best of both worlds, the glorious morning sunrise on the gulf and gorgeous evening sunset on the bay. It’s enough to make a night owl into a morning person.
The bayside condo was filled with light. The modern décor with was replete with top of the line cabinetry, appliances, kitchen and bath fixtures, flooring and lighting to complement. This condo would have been my choice for the view of both water bodies.
As well as living in such beautiful surroundings, one has access to full resort amenities, a service desk in accommodation mode, and great access to the beach. Need your umbrellas set up for your family down on the beach? Call for service. Need your laundry sent out? Call the desk. Need space for a party at the pool? Just pick up the phone. They also offer food delivery from local restaurants and grocery shopping.
There is an 840 square foot fitness center, a 1260 square foot game and leisure room with large screen television and game tables. Set amongst the high ceilings and windows, the serene ambiance is carried throughout.
The online brochure for Solare described my experience so well. I felt like I could live very well there, like I belonged. I felt at peace. Amongst the luxury and aesthetic elements, the sense I got matched the laid back beach style experience I would want for my family. It was what I would expect my beach home or my second, vacation home, to deliver.
The visit to the property brought serenity to the day. It seemed to spark hope for a lot of great recreation, no matter what type of activity I would choose. Whether lying by the pool with a good book, playing beachside with the kids, or getting out on the island for some active sports, I felt up for it. It provided the inspiration I craved to go enjoy life. It was like nature and the waves of the sea met the desire for excitement. Natural and cared for, loved and stress free-paradise.
