By Carina A. Brunson
Hello and welcome back to south Texas! We are so happy to see your smiling … eyes. We are so excited about what this year will bring, even if it will be a bit different. The Rio Grande Valley is such a great place to be. Great weather, great people, and great friends. I am with y’all, I would much rather be in Texas than shoveling snow up north.
It looks like activities all around will be a bit different this year. Even with the need to social distance or wear masks, there is still plenty to enjoy in the Valley just by walking out your front door.
I had the opportunity to visit South Padre Island a few weeks ago just after a short cool front visited the area. The wind was a little strong, but it kept the air cool and it was nice to just walk around and let the sun shine on me.
While on the Island, I visited the Sea Turtle Trail. The full story starts right below this. Local artists are given an opportunity to let their talent be seen on a turtle that highlights the island’s colors and scenery. A recent ‘hatchling’ displayed in front of the Island’s Art Incubator depicts the life stages of the sea turtle.
Currently, the island sand sculpturer’s are working on their Christmas themed Sandcastle village. That is always a sight to see each year. I did not get to visit their area while down there. They recently had to start over after some winds took down their tent, but they are back at it again, working hard on their masterpieces.
On The Road With Jo this week highlights walking in your own neighborhood. Whether you live in Brownsville or Rio Grande City, there is something to see. There are sights for just about any type of enthusiast, including birding sites, butterflies, history, and museums.
Some of these places offer tours, have specified open and close hours, and some are a come and go whenever you want.
Don’t forget, Halloween is approaching and that means many cities are celebrating cultural activities such as Dia de los Muertos. In the edition you will find information about events being held in Brownsville and Harlingen.
Let’s also remember some of our entertainment the community provides. While most of the in-person ensembles have been cancelled, a few have gone to the virtual world to share their talent and music. Both UTRGV and the Valley Symphony Orchestra will be hosting virtual series and concerts for all to enjoy in their own home.
We will share others as we get information.
As always, if you have a great story idea, we love new suggestions. Send us your ideas to news@wintertexantimes.com. Some types of stories we may be interested in could be profile pieces, unique activities or events in your community, how your park is involved in local charity work, or any of the myriad of great human interest stories we stumble across all the time in our Winter Texan parks.
We here at the Winter Texan Times hope you found your way safely to your South Texas home and enjoy your stay with us this season.
