Next winter, at my doctor's suggestion, I'm spending some time in a sunshiny place. Most of the Carribean is beyond my means but South Padre Island is about as far south as I can get without busting the budget. Pertinent to this forum, where does a person go to rent a bike for the week? Not so pertinent, where is a good cheap place to stay, with at least fridge and microwave?

I'm an old fart and prefer to avoid Spring break. When does the Spring break season begin and end? I work at a school where we have a break for Easter and another break during the season; I know schedules vary all over.

I spent 6 summers in a row going to SP with the family and last year we went to Port Aransas....less crowded, drive on the beach, nice places to eat, we won't be going back to Padre Island....Padre was nice, but a bit further to drive and very touristy...crowded most of the summer and always alot of kids cruisin at night....rental places are about the same price, maybe a bit cheaper in Port A...just do a google search for rentals in each town and you will get a TON of ideas....as to renting a bike, I'll bring mine so I don't know about renting....and Spring Break is already mostly over here.

If "sunshine" is the goal, consider the desert, too. It's closer to the Willamette Valley (are you driving?)

I happen to dislike Las Vegas, but it's a cheap town to stay in a hotel and fly in/out of. And it gets sunshine all winter. Or you could hit Phoenix/Tuscon/ ABQ /El Paso etc, lots of sunshine all around.

Marfa TX is a little arts town in the West Texas desert.

But if it's beach you want, and don't want Mexico (which is pretty cheap, airfare included) I'll second the Aransas idea.

Spring Break in TX starts the 1st week in March, and rolls into April as the northern schools come down.

Creak.

Port Aransas is at the north end of Padre Island ,not much difference just more layed back .Lots of "surf shops " etc --condo--motels in area.
Might try contacting:https://www.ccbicycle.org/
I like San Antonio---lots of touris stuff--also great bike path connecting Spanish missions and along San Antonio river.Lots stuff "on the cheep" to do in SA.Missions,Art Museums,Alamo,sometimes mexican Dances,Mexican market,ETC. also lots of BIG BUCK Tourist stuff like Sea World/Festa Texas.
Do some Computer Surfing in these areas and plan your trip---you'll fine there is reall too much to do in a week---you'll just have to keep comming back!

Mexico is not out of the question. I only need about four thousand more miles for an award ticket to Yucatan. Costa Rica is also a candidate.

I need to go not just where it's more likely to be cloudless but where the days are longer and the sun is higher above the horizon. A destination closer to the equator and low in altitude (such as the beach) is what I have in mind. I've been in Las Vegas when enough snow has fallen to leave a slushly mess in the streets for the rest of the day. I have also seen it snow it Tucson. Likewise, it snows in the Oregon desert in winter and the days are no longer there.

When I was on a trip to Corpus Christi a few years ago, I drove through Port Aransas. It might be the place and I already have enough miles for a domestic ticket.