Rio Grande Valley Tour

Come with us and discover that the Rio Grande Valley is much more than dry land and oil derricks. Our trip will be filled with music, history, and a taste of good old Mexico. The tour is designed for easy adaptation and addition to your own preferred Itinerary. Regardless were your starting point is, just adapt the Itinerary accordingly. You prefer one day tours? No problems, cut out what you don't want, and voila....

Day 1 We'll start our morning in Brownsville by talking with the animals at one of the nation's premier zoos, the Gladys Porter Zoo (10 minute drive). If the miniature train is running, a 30-minute narrated trip through the park can be a real treat. If you have an interest in aviation, we ought to visit the Confederate Air Force Rio Grande Valley Wing Museum, where vintage WWII planes are still flown regularly. (Lunch in Brownsville) After the museum we continue our tour to San Benito for a scenic resaca sightseeing drive (15 minute drive) and continue to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge ( 20 minute drive - 29 miles east of Harlingen) where we find a treasure trove of bird species, such as scissor-tailed flycatchers, groove-billed anis, white-tailed hawks, painted buntings, and altamira orioles. Overnight in Harlingen.

Day 2 After a delicious breakfast we depart for San Juan, passing through Los Fresnos, Weslaco, Donna and Alamo, to visit the Gardens of St. Jude's Catholic Church. (40 minute drive). After an hour stop we continue to Edinburg's Historical Museum. (15 minute drive). After touring the museum we continue to McAllen for a short stop at McAllen's International Museum (10 minute drive). Next on the program is a real treasure - La Lomita Mission - one of the most important historical sites in the Valley (15 minute drive). Lunch in Mission.

We continue our drive down Conway to Reynosa, (Mexico - 15 minute drive), visiting the local market. Continuing our drive through Progresso (Mexico - 45 minute drive) we arrive Matamoros in the late afternoon (1 1/2 hour drive from Reynosa). After a drive by tour of the residential area, including the American Embassy we stop at Garcia's Restaurant for some entertainment and dinner.