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Eyelash vipers from the tropical forests of Central and northern
South America come in a bewildering array of spectacular colors,
including pink, green, and gold.
Our
parks and outdoor attractions are only the beginning of what the
Rio Grande Valley has to offer. South Texas is rife with an incredible
array of interesting and unusual places to enjoy . . . from museums,
missions and memorials to zoos, waterparks, sports events and more.
Basilica
of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle National Shrine
The original incarnation of this now-famous shrine was a small wooden
shrine. The second shrine, built in 1954, was destroyed by fire
in 1970 when a suicidal pilot crashed into the tower, radioing ahead
for children to get out. The current 3,500-seat shrine draws thousands
of pilgrims each year from across Latin America. Open daily, San
Juan. (956) 787-0033.
Brownsville
Battlefields
The final battle of the Civil War, fought at Palmito Ranch near
Brownsville, occurred several weeks after the Confederacy’s surrender.
Brownsville was also caught in the crossfire of the Mexican-American
War at the Battle of Palo Alto. Both battlefields have been designated
as National Historic Sites. Palo Alto Battlefield Visitor Center.
(956) 541-2785.
Historic
Brownsville Museum
Chronicling Brownsville’s history through photo exhibits and other
permanent and rotating exhibits, it is housed in the historic Southern
Pacific Railroad passenger depot. Slide shows, lectures and other
special events. (956) 548- 1313.
Coastal
Studies Lab
A satellite of the University of Texas-Pan American, this lab studies
and exhibits marine life such as crustaceans and marine vertebrates
as well as plant life. Isla Blanca County Park, South Padre Island.
(956) 761-2644.
Commemorative
Air Force-Rio Grande Valley Wing
This facility houses 15 vintage airplanes in flying condition. Other
exhibits include antique military vehicles, weapons and uniforms.
An air show is held in March. Adjacent to the Brownsville-South
Padre Island International Airport. (956) 541-8585.
Dodge
Arena at Hidalgo
A recent addition to Valley attractions is the Dodge Arena on 10th
St. (Highway 366) in Hidalgo. This $20 million multipurpose complex
with a 6,800-seat arena is home to the Killer Bees Ice Hockey team,
the El Dorado Arena Football team, and a wide range of shows and
concerts. For current events, see Website
(956) 843-6688.
Donna
Hooks Fletcher Historical Museum
Named after the daughter of T. J. Hooks, one of the founders of
Donna, the museum is presently housed in American Legion Hall Post
No. 107, built in 1920. It has many historic military displays as
well as early Donna mementos and photos, Its active schedule includes
art workshops and tours to Mexico. (956) 464-9989.
Edinburg
Roadrunners
Edinburg has built a $7 million stadium for the Edinburg Roadrunners
of the Texas Louisiana Professional Baseball League. The League
plays a total of 96 games per season. (956) 289-8800.
 Gladys
Porter Zoo
With more than 1,500 animal specimens, Brownsville’s Gladys Porter
Zoo specializes in collecting and breeding endangered species. The
31-acre park has such zoo favorites as gorillas, giraffes, lions
and rhinos as well as many other exotic animals. Virtually all animals
live in open exhibits and can be viewed in their natural surroundings.
Open daily. (956) 546-7187.
Hidalgo
Pumphouse Heritage and Discovery Center
Irrigation transformed the Valley from brushland to lush farmland.
This first class Hidalgo museum shows how the change occurred. Its
modern Visitors Center has the original machinery (pumps and steam
engines) among its exhibits. (956) 843-8686.
International
Museum of Art and Science
From Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe to Mysteries
of the Sea to Mexican folk art, the IMAS at McAllen is a feast of
the mind and the senses. The museum has a lecture hall, gift shop
and Rioscape, an interactive learning park focusing on the history
of the Rio Grande Valley. Its new addition includes a cafe, a classroom,
a 100-seat movie theater, and a computer science lab. (956) 682-1564.
Iwo
Jima Memorial
Fashioned from a photo of U.S. Marines planting the flag on Iwo
Jima, this was the original statue used to cast the better known
monument in Arlington, VA. It is located on the campus of Harlingen’s
Marine Military Academy. A Visitors Center includes a museum focusing
on the battle with a 30-minute film and a gift shop. (956) 412-2207.
La
Lomita Mission
Built in 1865 by the Oblate Fathers, the little adobe chapel still
stands next to the Rio Grande, south of the city of Mission that
was named for it.
La
Lomita Plaza
Located in downtown Mission, this town square features cascading
waters and a sunken amphitheater in which visitors can enjoy plays,
arts and crafts, shows and musicals. (956) 585-2727.
Los
Caminos del Rio
Los Caminos del Rio (the Roads of the River) features more than
45 sites along both sides of the Rio Grande that have contributed
to the area’s heritage. Pick up the Los Caminos del Rio brochure,
which includes site descriptions and a detailed map, at your closest
Chamber of Commerce and explore Indian trails, Spanish colonial
villages and vast ranching empires.
 Los
Ebanos Ferry
The sole remaining hand-drawn ferry in the U.S. connects the U.S.
with Diaz Ordaz, Mexico. The ferry will hold three cars and several
people. Visitors may park on the U.S. side and ride across and back
for a small fee.
Photo:
The Los Ebanos Ferry that connects Los Ebanos, Texas to the border
town of Diaz Ordaz, Mexico is the only hand-drawn international
ferry in the United States. It provides unique insight to simpler
times any day of the week.
Mission
Historical Museum
Displays include items from the Texas Citrus Fiesta and Product
Costume Show, with costumes made from dried citrus, flowers and
vegetables. (956) 580-8646.
Museum
of South Texas History
Museum of South Texas History, Edinburg, presents history and heritage
of South Texas. Visitors “walk through time,” exploring geological
past, ancient cultures, Spanish exploration, Mexican War, Rio Grande
Steamboats, Cattle Kingdom, etc. Exhibits include life-size mammoth
skeleton, Coahuiltecan Indian camp, walk-on steamboat with film
program. Many interesting programs and events are scheduled throughout
the year. Closed Mondays, major holidays. (956) 383-6911.
Narciso
Martinez Cultural Arts Center
This Latino cultural arts center is named for the renowned Mexican
accordion player known as the Father of Conjunto — a popular form
of Tex-Mex music. The San Benito center promotes Latino heritage
through art, music, theater, film, dance and literary programs.
(956) 361-0110.
Old
Clock Museum
It’s high time you visited the incredible private collection of
more than 1,000 clocks owned by the Jim Shawn family, including
rare antiques. Pharr, (956) 787-1923.
Port
Isabel Historical Museums
The museums include the Port Isabel Historical Museum and the Treasures
of the Gulf Museum. The historical museum is housed in the historic
Champion Building, built in 1899 by the pioneer Champion family.
It features numerous hands-on exhibits, videos and audio presentations.
The museum has two exhibit levels, a theater, a gift shop and one
of the largest collections of Mexican artifacts from the U.S.- Mexican
War. The Treasures of the Gulf Museum tells the story of three ill-fated
Spanish ships shipwrecked off the northern end of South Padre Island
near present-day Port Mansfield. Exhibits include murals, artifacts
and hands-on activities. The Children’s Discovery Lab teaches visitors
about marine archeology and includes a small-scale ship for kids
to board as they imagine themselves sailing the Gulf waters. (956)
943-7602.
 Port
Isabel Lighthouse
One of the oldest lighthouses in the state, the Port Isabel Lighthouse
was built in 1853 to guide ships through Brazos Santiago and the
barrier islands. Recently restored to its 1880s appearance, it is
the only lighthouse on the Texas coast open to the public. (956)
943-7602. A replica of the Keeper’s Cottage houses the Port Isabel
Chamber of Commerce, historic displays and tourist information.
(956) 943-2262.
Raymondville
Historical and Community Center
Dioramas portraying early ranch life in the Valley are displayed
along with old ranching equipment and furnishings from Spanish land
grant days up to the turn of the century. (956) 689-3171 The adjacent
Farm and Ranch Museum has collections from pioneer ranching families.(956)
689-3171.
Rio
Grande Valley Museum Complex
Exhibits show off the heritage of the Valley in this Harlingen five-building
complex. Visit the New Museum, the Historical Museum, the Lon C.
Hill Home (restored 1905 residence of Harlingen’s founder), the
Paso Real Stagecoach Inn and Harlingen’s Hospital Museum. (956)
430-8500.
Rio
Grande City/Roma
At Rio Grande City, visit the beautifully restored La Borde House;
the former Fort Ringgold, now home to the Rio Grande City Independent
School District; a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes in France. Roma’s
National Historic Landmark District by the plaza features many restored
historic buildings. Walk across the 770-foot long pedestrian-only
Roma-Cd. Miguel Aleman steel suspension bridge built in the late
1920s.
 Schlitterbahn
Beach Waterpark
This 26-acre park is the first Schlitterbahn venture outside of
New Braunfels, TX. The South Padre Island park features many of
the same attractions that made Schlitterbahn the number-one rated
waterpark in the United States.
The
park recreates a Brazilian beach atmosphere complete with thatched-roof
buildings, hundreds of transplanted palm trees, Latin music and
Brazilian food specialties. The centerpiece is a five story Sandcastle
with animated characters mounted on six turrets connected by ramps,
stairs and net climbs.
There
are a triple-wave bodyboarding ride where guests ride manmade waves,
a wave pool, five beaches, an activity pool and wave river and sand
volleyball courts. The Transportainment river system transports
guests around the park on water. It varies from slow moving water
to white water rapids. (956) 772-7873.
Photo
Above: The most exciting new attraction to hit South Padre Island
is the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark. It provides a full day of
family fun in a tropical resort setting. You can cruise around from
ride to ride on tubes or scream with delight on one of the four
water coasters.
Sea
Turtle, Inc.
Come see the sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Refuge and Museum established
by Ila Loetscher, the legendary “Turtle Lady.” South Padre Island,
(956) 761-1720.
Stillman
House
The Brownsville Historical Society has beautifully restored the
house of Brownsville’s founder, Charles Stillman, with the family’s
original furnishings. A popular annual attraction during the Christmas
holidays is the teddy bear display. The brick house, built in 1850,
is Greek Revival-style. (956) 542-3929.
Super
Splash Water Park
At Edinburg, Super Splash Water Park is one part water, three parts
splash. Fun in the sun with splishing and sliding, slipping and
splashing. Off U.S. 281 between Edinburg and McAllen. Open daily
in season. Website(956)
318-3286.
Tejano
Walk of Fame
This Edinburg attraction honors Tejano music stars. At its unveiling
in 1999, the Tejano Walk of Fame inducted five musicians whose names
were engraved in a marble star and placed in the walkway. Five additional
musicians are inducted every year during Hispanic Heritage Month.
(956) 383-5661.
Texas
Air Museum
More than 50 historic aircraft from both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam
are on display. View restoration work underway on German fighters,
Russian transport planes and the U.S.S. Iwo Jima. The museum is
located one mile east of Rio Hondo on FM 106. Admission. For more
information, call (956) 748-2112 or visit them online.
Texas
Travel Information Center
Travel counselors offer free maps, calendars and literature as well
as help chart routes at this center operated by the Texas Department
of Highways and Public Transportation. There are free tourism audio/visual
shows. Junction U.S. 77 and U.S. 83 in Harlingen. (956) 428-4477.
Valley
Race Park
Valley Race Park in Harlingen offers greyhound and horse racing
with year ’round full card simulcast racing from racetracks throughout
the U.S. Seasonal live greyhound racing November 19 - April 1. The
80,000 square foot air-conditioned facility has three dining areas
to entertain family, friends and business associates plus two banquet
rooms that are ideal for special group functions. Website
(956) 412-7223.
Weslaco
Museum
The museum highlights the town’s heritage with permanent and changing
exhibits and has a large collection of photos and area artifacts.
Presents programs from Oct.-April. Adjacent to Weslaco Library until
it opens in its new location at 500 S. Texas, Weslaco, in 2005.
(956) 968-9142.
Weslaco
City Hall
Designed in the Spanish Moorish style, this ornate building is now
a Texas Historical Site. (956) 968-3181.
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