Tag: South Padre Island

5 Things to Do in/around Weslaco, Texas

Have you heard of the 1015 onion? If you haven’t, then most likely you did not know that this  sweet, non-tearing variety was developed by a professor at Texas A&M and then cultivated in Weslaco. Of course, there’s now an annual Onion Fest held each spring here, but there’s so much more to do in Weslaco as well. First off, the winter climate is spectacular with daytime highs in the upper 70s, so outdoor activity is definitely on the to-do list. What else is there to do, you ask? Take a look at our five ideas and before you go, book a stay at Victoria Palms RV Resort or Encore Country Sunshine. 

Aerial View of Victoria Palms RV Resort
Aerial View of Victoria Palms RV Resort

1. Whether you’ve always been a bird watcher or are jumping on the bandwagon of this fast-growing pastime among the Millennial and Gen Z generation, this part of Texas is the place to be for watching our avian friends. The Estero Llano Grande State Park is home to more than 325 species of birds and there are plenty of trails to walk while checking off the birds on your list (which you can download from https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/publications/bird-checklists.) 

2. Take a day trip to nearby South Padre Island and enjoy a day at the beach or some water sport fun like swimming, fishing and surfing. Don’t miss the Sandcastle Trail, which has 30 sand sculptures, or the unique Sea Turtle Art Trail which has a variety of art formations dedicated to the sea turtle. Speaking of sea turtles, visit Sea Turtle Inc., the world’s largest enclosed sea turtle hospital, which is dedicated to rescuing, rehabbing and then releasing the turtles back to the sea.  

Vacation Cottages at Encore Country Sunshine
Vacation Cottages at Encore Country Sunshine

3. Head over to the town of McAllen (less than 15 miles) for some history, culture and a fabulous farmer’s market (held every Saturday). Learn the history of the area at the McAllen Heritage Center, explore the arts district which has more than 20 galleries and the historic Archer Park, which is home to a still-standing gazebo that dates to 1918, or enjoy the booming food scene here that includes such interesting foodie delights as Korean corn dogs, seafood tacos, wood-fired pizza and authentic chilaquiles.  

4. A great way to get to know Weslaco is to partake in the Weslaco Scavenger Hunt where you’ll see town landmarks, learn about the town’s history and get in some exercise on this great walking tour/interactive game.  Details can be found at letsroam.com/scavenger-hunt/weslaco-tx. The Weslaco Museum is also another great place to learn about this little Texas town. 

Vacation Cottage at Victoria PalmsRV Resort
Vacation Cottage at Victoria Palms RV Resort

5. The Frontera Audubon Society is a 15-acre nature preserve located in Weslaco that is home to birds, butterflies and native plants as well as the historic landmark, the Skaggs House, a Spanish Mediterranean-style home built in 1927.  To plan your visit, head to https://fronteraaudubon.org/. 

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5 Things to Do in the Rio Grande Valley

The Rio Grande Valley in Texas is for the birds, literally. It is home to the World Birding Center, which is a network of nine different birding sites. But there is so much more to this area of South Texas and we’ll give you just five reasons why people flock here come winter. 

1.  The Nature: With winter weather temps averaging daytime highs between 70 and 80 degrees, it makes sense to be outdoors as much as possible. Some outdoor highlights include The Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, which has more than 1500 species of animals in mostly open-air exhibits, or the National Butterfly Center in Mission, which is set on 31-acres and is great for a butterfly experience among the lush plants of the Valley. 

2.  The History: Plenty of museums in the area detail the rich history of the Valley. Check out the Museum of South Texas in Edinburg, with exhibits and collections that detail the history of the land from the prehistoric age to the cattle ranches, or the Heritage Museum in Brownsville. Also in Brownsville is the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, which was the site of the first conflict of the Mexican-American War. Harlingen has the Iowa Jima Monument and Memorial Museum honoring the WWII battle.  

South Padre Island
South Padre Island

3. SPI: If you’re not familiar with SPI, then you will definitely want to check out what South Padre Island, aka SPI, has to offer when you’re visiting South Texas. Hit the beautiful beaches and dip your toes in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Or see how injured sea turtles are rehabbed at Sea Turtle, Inc. Enjoy amazing seafood, or take a sunset dinner cruise. For more ideas on how to enjoy South Padre Island, visit sopadre.com.

4. Outdoor Fun: Take a hike on one of the four hiking trails located in the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, all of which are considered easy treks. This 2008-acre wildlife park is great for glimpsing birds as well as butterflies and other wildlife. Head to South Padre for water sport fun including parasailing, scuba-diving, and fishing. Plenty of top-rated bike trails can be found in the Rio Grande Valley, too. The Bicentennial Hike and Bike Trail in McAllen is one option and the bike trails in Resaca de la Palma in Brownsville are also great option (these trails are part of the World Birding Center).

5. The World Birding Center: We just couldn’t highlight the great things to see and do in the Rio Grande Valley without mentioning the jewel in the crown here, which is of course, the World Birding Center. Within the nine unique birding sites there’s plenty to see and do here. There is a five-story tower for viewing, plenty of walking trails, a 3300-plus foot boardwalk, bird blinds and of course plenty of birds to view including peregrine falcons, hawks, orioles, and warblers. Visit theworldbirdingcenter.com for all the details.

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