Hidalgo County, TX

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

600-acre area set aside to preserve native flora and fauna of lower Rio Grande Valley. On banks of Rio Grande, park offers picnicking, rest rooms, bird-watching and nature study. New nature trails, boardwalks and a Hawk Preservation Tower. Located off U.S. 83, exit F.M. 2062

Mission, TX State Parks

Mountasia

McAllen, TX Fun Centers

Edinburg Visitor Information Center

Housed in the renovated train depot built in 1927

Edinburg, TX Information Centers

Smitty's Juke Box Museum

Pharr, TX Museums

Edinburg Municipal Waterparks

Family fun at three-pool swimming facility featuring 125-foot figure-eight water slide, water basketball, sand-pit volleyball, barbecue grills, and picnic tables. Also Fountain Water Park at 22

Edinburg, TX Water Parks

Sunderland's Cactus Garden

Five acres of native and exotic cacti and succulents; among thousands of plants is the largest nursery-grown cactus in Texas, a 25

Alamo, TX Gardens

Donna Hooks Fletcher Museum

Memorabilia, photos and artifacts from town's founding; vintage furniture, hand tools, farm and household articles, restored bar from early-day Blue Goose Saloon. Housed in historic American Legion Hall (oldest in nation)

Donna, TX Museums

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

About 2,000 acres of thick, brushy growth, typical of Valley before agricultural development. Preserves and protects abundant wildlife and plant species, many found nowhere else in U.S. Rare birds prominent during winter season. Interpretive wildlife tram operates late Nov. - mid-Apr.;

McAllen, TX Wildlife Refuges

Sheriff's Posse Rodeo

Rodeo cowboys demonstrate calf roping, bull-riding, and Quarter Horse racing every Saturday evening at rodeo arena 2 miles south of Edinburg via U.S. 281; 0.5 mile west on Wisconsin Rd.;

Edinburg, TX Rodeos

Donna Wet Lands

City of Donna started this project in 1999 in an effort to promote the area'

Donna, TX Nature Preserves

Reynosa, Mexico

Reynosa is a charming Mexican city just across the Rio Grande. Several fine restaurants long famed for elaborate wild-game dinners; occasional Sun. afternoon bullfights. Gift shops cater to U.S. visitors with wealth of handicraft items in the Zona Rosa (tourist area)

Hidalgo, TX Day Trips

Valley Nature Center

Is composed of a half-mile nature trail winding its way through five acres of native Valley vegetation and also includes butterfly gardens, ponds and cactus gardens. The indoor Exhibit Hall features interactive children's exhibits of native wildlife and habitat, as well as a Gift Shop. 301

Weslaco, TX Nature Trails