Many visitors to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas often ask five questions:
(1) Where's a good place to eat? We have put together some links that should help you
out. Most visitors seem to ask where they can find the best Mexican food. If you ask a Valley resident, you will
likely be told, "at my Mother's house" or "at my Grandmother's house". The Valley has some very good restaurants,
and like where YOU live, it is hard to recommend just one. Taquerias are everywhere, and provide some of the most
economical breakfasts and lunches you can find, anywhere in this country. Also, don't be afraid to go to Nuevo Progreso
or Matamoras. Take your passports, park on the US side, and walk across the bridge a short distance to some great...and
of course...authentic Mexican restaurants. No, you do not need Pesos to shop or eat in the Mexican border cities..the'll
take your dollars. Be sure to visit our Republic of Mexico Links, above.
(2) Where can we camp out? Unfortunately, there are not many tent camping locations in
the LRGV. Keep in mind, that except for a couple of months out of the year, it is usually way to hot to sleep in a tent;
hence, not very economical for the Valley to be providing a lot of tent camping sites. All of the few available
tent camping sites are listed, below. The Valley has lots of motels and hotels and fantastic Bed and Breakfasts (all
of the ones listed below are great wildlife watching sites, themselves).
(3) Is there anything else to do in the Valley, besides studying the flora and fauna?
The many links below provide a lot of choices for you. Remember, the LRGV is the fourth largest population area in Texas,
and, therefore, has lots of attractions for you to choose from. Our musems, libraries, and art galleries are wonderful.
With the Valley's proximity to the Republic of Mexico, you should get to appreciate the unique culture the LRGV has to offer.
(4) Where can I find out more about the Valley? Just as it would be where you are from,
you need to check out the county and city governments; the radio, tv, and print media; and chambers of commerce, convention
and visitor centers, and the econonmic and development corporations.
(5) Do I have to know how to speak or understand Spanish? Of course not!
You can enjoy a visit to the Valley without ANY knowledge of Spanish. However, part of the fun in coming here is taking
a little Spanish back home with you. Always remember, the LRGV is only a river's width from people that speak little,
if any, English. More than 40% of the retail sales in the Valley come from Mexican vistiors! Bilingual
speaking residents make up +70% of the Valley's population. Don't worry about a language problem!
Esperamos que usted pueda venir al Valle y gozar toda la cultura rica nosotros tenemos que ofrecer.
