The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a beautiful place to visit, and Brownsville is my favorite. My first memories were formed in Brownsville, where I lived as an infant, and my mother’s side of the family has deep roots there. I still call Brownsville home, though I live in San Antonio.
Resacas, palmeras, and chachalacas abound in this City and are ingrained in its image. Resacas are former channels of the Rio Grande River, and you can find them all over Cameron County. They offer a place for kayaking and platoon riders or sitting by their banks and enjoying the wildlife – especially the migratory birds that stop by on their journeys. Watching a sunset with a resaca as a backdrop is one of my favorite things to experience.
The palmera, or palm tree, is another iconic RGV image. The Sabal Mexicana is native to the Valley – they’ve been around since the 1500s. You see palm trees everywhere, and driving down Palm Boulevard with an open sunroof is fun. Sunset Blvd, eat your heart out!
Chachalacas are noisy birds that look like a cross between a pheasant and a sleek chicken. They fly and run around in groups, making a ruckus. You can hear their distinct call early in the morning and at dusk. Because they are gray or brown, it’s hard to see them up in the trees, but because they scurry so much, you’ll likely catch a glimpse of one. Their call is synonymous with Brownsville. While you’re exploring, keep track of how many of these three uniquely Brownsville elements you’ll see.
This historic town boasts several cultural museums – the Costumes of the Americas is a personal favorite. Other interesting places include:
The Gladys Porter Zoo and the Old City Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and where you can find folks who fought in the Civil War and past notable community leaders, including my grandparents and mom.
You can find great food, produce, and gifts at the Farmer's Market every Saturday from 9:00 am to Noon at Linear Park.
Downtown Brownsville is being revitalized and was recently designated a National Historic District by the National Park Service. You can find some excellent old-timey restaurants like The Oyster Bar (best-fried shrimp) and Rutledge Hamburgers. Another established eatery is the Vermillion, where you can find some of the best enchiladas in town. Some of the new downtown restaurants I recommend include:
Boquerón (great Tapas and unique wines)
Morning Glory (good breakfast)
Venturing out of downtown, other eateries I frequent include:
If you want a healthy option, Lettuce Eat Salad
Brownsville is a birder’s paradise with several beautiful, tranquil places to enjoy nature and bird watching. These include:
There are more I haven’t visited, and I will update the list as I discover them.
If you feel like driving a short distance to Harlingen, have lunch at Antigua Bakery and Café. Their Poblano quiche, nutty spring salad, and lemon lush bars are drool-worthy! When I’m in Brownsville, I will make the 20-minute drive just to have lunch there.
Because of its strategic location and proximity to the Rio Grande River and Gulf Coast, Brownsville is steeped in history. This is an area where notable military scrimmages and battles were fought, including the opening salvo for the Mexican-American War, and it was an important Confederate post during the Civil War. An interesting place to visit to find out more about military history is the Palo Alto Battlefield.
I hope this gives you a good idea of things to do in this great town. As I keep discovering new places, I’ll write about them to share with you.
Up Next: Forty-five minutes from downtown Brownsville, you will find one of the top 10 best beaches in the US and a Mecca for Spring Breakers: South Padre Island. There’s so much to experience, explore, and enjoy! Let me tell you all about it.
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