TEXAS TRAIL OF BEACHES PAGE TWO
SAN BENITO
General.. the population is 20,695 and the Alt. is 33. Cameron County
San Benito calls itself "the Resaca City." Resaca is a good word for newcomers to learn. It's a former channel for the Rio Grande. Unlike those near Raymondville, many resacas here still contain water---small, placid lakes now far separated from the wandering Rio Grande. One in particular, Resaca de los Fresnos, provides some of the Valley's most picturesque scenery as it loops through this quiet residential community.
Firsthand visitor information s available at the chamber of commerce, 210 E. Heywood Street.
Note highway traffic signs in both English and Spanish, a practical safety consideration in this bilingual region. Wildflowers like Mexican hat, coreopsis, and black-eyed Susan are abundant in spring and summer. One doesn't expect to find cactus on the beach, but in this area many varieties of cacti grow right on the edge of the seashore, blooming at almost any time, while bougainvillea's produce year-round color (and you ought to see them in April!).
Near Port Isabel, the Tropical Trail changes directions at the intersection of Texas 100 and Texas 48, but don't miss this side-trip opportunity to visit Port Isabel and adjacent South Padre Island. (6) They are Tropical Trail highlights!
General.. the population is 4,243 and the Alt. is 15. Cameron County
Here's the kind of seaside village that vacations are made of. It's quaint, historic, and leisurely paced--lots of opportunities for snapshots here. Check out the charming Port Isabel Yacht Club that dates from the 1930's. Browse the shell shops and shrimp boat docks. Dine on delicious fresh seafood. Join a group boat for bay fishing, or charter an offshore cruiser. There's even a cruise ship departing almost daily and offering a variety of activities, including a casino.
The town's most-visited spot is the Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Structure. Built in 1853, it's now a public visitor site at the foot of the Queen Isabella Causeway to South Padre Island. Climb a spiral stairway to the top of the lighthouse for a view across Laguna Madre to South Padre Island.
General.. The population is 1,012 and the Alt. is 5. Cameron County
The name is both a geographical description and the corporate title of the town on Padre's southern tip. Across Queen Isabella Causeway, which arches over Laguna Madre, visitors to the island will be greeted by a statue of Father Nicholas Balli, the Spanish padre for whom the island is named.
Miles and miles of sandy beaches edge the Gulf of Mexico. Sand dollar, sun dial, lions paw and angel-wing shells make beachcombing irresistible. Hotels, motels, and condominiums overlook the Gulf side, while marina/hotels are situated on Laguna Madre, complete with individual docks for sailboats or cabin cruisers.
Refer to South Padre Island in the state travelguide, and visit the city tourist bureau, a half mile north of the causeway entrance, next to the Radisson Hotel.
The Trail route between Port Isabel and Brownsville crosses some low-lying lands---part salt marsh, part freshwater ponds. Dunes visible here are mostly clay, instead of sand structures. Because clay particles are much finer, these dunes, once formed, are more stable than their sand counterparts. Almost invariably, the clay dunes are formed on the leeward (northwest) side of the area's shallow marshes and ponds.
The waterway that parallels much of this highway on the south is the Brownsville Ship Channel. (7) which marks the terminus of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the waterway girdles the Gulf for 1,300 miles from Brownsville to Florida, providing sheltered passage for barge and pleasure-boat traffic. Although the waterway is seen by the public at only a few spots, its annual transportation volume is enormous, totaling more tonnage than either the Panama Canal or the St. Lawrence Seaway.
At the Port of Brownsville, travelers see oceangoing freighters, husky tow boats and barges, and fleets of shrimp trawlers.
General.. The population is 94,677 and the Alt. is 57
The Trail has now reached Texas' southernmost city, whose settlement dates from Spanish colonial days, although the town's modern nucleus took shape around Fort Brown, established n 1846. When Texas elected to join the United States (1845) after nearly a decade of independence, the Rio Grande thereby became the new U.S. boundary with Mexico. Unfortunately, Mexico had not fully accepted the loss of Texas 10 years earlier. The appearance of U.S. troops on the north bank of the Rio Grande precipitated the Mexican War.
Today, those hostilities are forgotten in an atmosphere of thriving international trade on both sides of the river. Visitors find an abundance of shopping, dining, and recreational options in this colorful, bicultural area. Feature attractions include museums, historic sites, the superb Gladys Porter Zoo, and convenient access to Mexico---as easy as driving across a bridge.
The state travel guide capsules local sites, festival events, and basic regulations for visiting the border cities of Mexico. The well-staffed Brownsville Information Center offers details, local maps, and literature. The center is beside US 88/83 (FM 802 exit) in north Brownsville; it is open daily.
West of Brownsville, the Trail explores typical Valley agricultural lands and small towns dotted among the fields and groves. The names are musical with Spanish accents---LaPaloma, Santa Maria, La Feria, and Mercedes.
With today's extensive cultivation of the far-reaching croplands it's difficult to envision this land as it was before development. Thick, tangled brush covered virtually every square mile, but the richness of the soil spurred rapid clearing and conversion into productive farms and citrus groves. The importance of agriculture is evident in the number of firms along the highway that cater to and support this industry.
The transforming also is responsible for much of the Valley's modern appearance and prosperity. Mercedes led the way when, in 1904, a group of St.Louis financiers built what was then the largest private irrigation system in the world and invited settlement there.
On the Trail route between Mercedes and Weslaco, watch for the intersection with FM 1015. On that road just a half mile north, adjacent to the US 83 Expressway, is the Valley Tourist Information Center, an operation of the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce, which represents the four counties of this popular visitor region. The center offers free travel brochures, maps, and information about attractions, events, and accommodations throughout the Valley; open Monday thru Friday.
WESLACO
General.. the population is 22,683 and the Alt. is 70 Hidalgo County
The name Weslaco is an acronym from the initials of the W.E. Stewart Land Company, which established and promoted the townsite in 1919. This is the very heart of the Valley's enormous agricultural region..citrus fruits, vegetables, cotton, and sugarcane. Among the food-processing industries is the world's largest cannery of grapefruit juice.
The Weslaco Tourist Information Center is at US 83 Expressway at Airport Drive. Visit it for information on the city's attractions, including Weslaco's small Bicultural Museum, which showcases this area's blend of Spanish-Mexican Anglos cultures.
Trail highways were selected to introduce a smorgasbord of Valley landscapes. To stay with the route as it loops us, down, and across, pay close attention to the Trail map and watch carefully for Trail signs and arrows on the highways.
Most travelers are astonished at the diversity of Valley farm products. Fields of peas cabbage, spinach, onions, and carrots are easily recognized, but there are less common vegetables too--daikon, kohlrabi, and aloe vera. This is the origin area of aloe vera, whose marvelous natural cream has recently become popular in sunburn and beauty lotions. It is not new to Valley residents or to Mexicans, who have used it for centuries.
On the US 281 leg of the Trail between Weslaco and Hidalgo is the opportunity to visit what's called "the gem of the federal refuge system," Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge. (8) Naturalists and birders from throughout the nation journey here to view birds and animals seldom seen anywhere else in the United States. Among more than 300 bird species are colorful, raucous green jays, spectacular orioles, and the pheasant-size Mexican game bird with the intriguing name chachalaca. A fuller summary of the refuge's visitor facilities and operating hours will be found in the state travel guide under the city of Alamo.
At Hidalgo an international bridge provides access to the rigorous Mexican city of Reynosa. It is a favorite south-of-the-border spot for shopping, dining, and supper club entertainment.
General.. the population is 77,062 and the Alt. is 122. Hidalgo County
Like many Valley cities, McAllen hosts a multitude of visitors. Tourists are "in" in McAllen, and visitor amenities are high priorities.. lodging facilities accented by exotic tropical landscaping, superbly dining opportunities, organized shopping excursions, golf on palm-edged fairways, and a calendar full of festival events.
In winter, there are many visitors from the north. Residents of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and other Midwestern states gather for a series of "state" parties of picnicking, sports, and games.
Refer to McAllen's entry in the state travel guide for visitor attractions, and on weekdays pay a personal visit to the macron Chamber of Commerce at 10 N. Broadway. You will find lots of information to enrich your stay.
Between McAllen and Mission, the Trail route loops south past several pleasant features. Anzalduas (municipal) Park (9) offers picnic sites, fishing, and boating access to the Rio Grande. Nearby is the charming La Lomita Chapel, (10) sometimes called "Mission." The tiny structure, circa 1865, was built as an overnight way station for Oblate padres who regularly traveled this route by horseback. A half-mile farther is Chimney Park, a commercial RV resort. A marker tells about the 106 foot chimney (11) from the first steam-powered pump on the Rio Grande.
General.. the population is 28,618 and the Alt. is 134 Hidalgo County
Legends say the Oblate priests planted the Valley's first orange groves in this area. The town's name derives from La Lomita Chapel, just visited on the Trail route.
Mission calls itself "Home of the Grapefruit", especially the highly prized Ruby Red. Despite the devastating freezes in 1989 that virtually destroyed the Valley citrus groves. The Texas Citrus Fiesta each January highlights not only the most luscious specimens of fruit but also a style show featuring elaborate costumes made from citrus and vegetable products.
Nowhere does the Christmas season blossom more colorfully than in Mission during its annual Poinsettia Show in December. Poinsettias, nurtured in city parks and residential gardens, grow as tall as 8 feet.
Again, refer to the state travel guide for Mission highlights, and stop at the chamber of commerce, 220 East Ninth Street.
West of Mission is the opportunity for a short side trip to Bensen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, (12) situated on the Rio Grande. The park's wildlife is very similar to that of the previously mentioned Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, with added camping and recreational facilities.
On the Trail route between Mission and Rio Grande City, travelers will notice a gradual transition in landscape appearance, the Valley's intensive agricultural giving way to rolling native pasturelands. The Rio Grande is occasionally visible to the south.
General.. the population is 5,720 and the Alt. is 190 Starr County
Review the city's listing in the state travel guide, especially the story of historic Fort Ringgold. When the post was deactivated in 1944, much of it was taken over by the local school district. The buildings are immaculately maintained, and a historical marker just inside the entrance provides details.
ROMA-LOS SAENZ
General.. the population is 3,955 and the Alt. is 200 Starr County
History buffs will enjoy exploring the twin towns of Roma and Los Saenz. Here you'll find scenes that resemble Old Mexico and offer abundant picture-taking opportunities. Before the railroad came, Roma was the deepest inland port for small steamboats on the Rio Grande. The boats brought army supplies during the Mexican War of the 1840s. Rich King ( the King Ranch) and Mifflin Kennedy (Kennedy County) were both steamboat captains here before launching their giant ranching enterprises.
Inquire locally about historical markers, especially one devoted to the Mier Expedition of 1842, an ill-advised attempt to raid Mexico. Captured by Mexican forces, expedition members were blindfolded and forced to participate in a macabre "death lottery" by drawing black (execution) or white (imprisonment) beans.
The closest Texas mountains are hundreds of miles northwest, but Trail travelers here can look south into Mexico, where the Sierra Madre Mountains (13) etch the distant horizon.
Facilities at Falcon State Park (14) are among the most complete in the entire Texas parks system, including utility equipped tent and RV sites, cabins, boat ramps, docks, and even an airstrip. Falcon Lake, jointly owned by the U.S. and Mexico, spreads over 78,000 acres and is very popular for fishing, boating, and water sports. Travelers may drive across the dam (15) for a visit to the Mexican town of Nuevo Guerrero. (16)
Continuing through brush rangeland, drivers should watch for several roadside picnic areas that offer excellent views of the lake and broad landscapes in this sparsely populated region.
If you turn into the village of San Ygnazio on US Business 83, it is almost like driving through a time warp. The town was founded in 1790. Jesus Trevino built a stone house here in 1830. It still stands, adjacent to a stone fort built a few years later. The structures have been owned by the same family line for a century and a half.
The atmosphere of Old Mexico pervades the dusty plaza and narrow streets. Descendants of U.S. cavalrymen once stationed here still live in the area, as do descendants of Mexican bandits who raided the village in the early 1900s.
After miles of brushy pastures, neat truck farms and row crops reappear as the Trail nears Laredo.