FEBRUARY 11, 2026 www.wintertexantimes.com 4 WINTER TEXAN TIMES 27146 McLelland Drive, Harlingen, TX 78552 (956) 423-1446 Lower Valley / 956-664-1446 Upper Valley Visit us at www.gowithjo.com for complete itineraries Go...With Jo! Tours & Travel We Take Care of You! Padre Island & Brownsville (1 Day) April 2, 2026 ���������������������������������������������������������������$95 San Benito – Rio Hondo (1 Day) March 10 & April 6, 2026 ���������������������������������������$105 Harlingen – La Feria (1 Day) April 3, 2026 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������$105 Mercedes – Weslaco (1 Day) Feb. 25, 2026 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������$85 McAllen – Edinburg (1 Day) Feb. 20, 2026 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������$105 King Ranch – Lyford (1 Day) Feb. 13 & March 6, 2026 ����������������������������������������������������$85 Farm Tour (1 Day) March 6, 2026 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$85 (Prices are per person / Lunch Included) ONE DAY TOURS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE www.WinterTexanTimes.com 2024 Park Directory 2025 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Published By: Park Directory RIO GRANDE VALLEY MOBILE HOME & RV 2024-2025 EDITION Page 3 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2025-2026 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide Vol. 28, No. 1 2025-2026 Edition Published by Nexus Publishing, LLC 1217 N. Conway Mission, Texas 78572 (956) 580-7800 www.wintertexantimes.com © Copyright 2025 by Nexus Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher. All rights reserved. WELCOME ABOUT THE COVER Top Photo: South Padre Island is a great place to enjoy flying a kite. This photo was taken at the SPI Kite Fest. (Photo by Anastasia Brunson) Bottom Photos: Spoonbills are just one type of bird you can see in their natural habitat at the SPI Birding, Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary. (Photo by Carina A. Brunson) Los Lagos Golf Course in Edinburg is just one of many golf courses you can find in south Texas, also known as Golfer’s Paradise. (Photo by Anastasia Brunson) The Valley hosts many events throughout the year. A favorite among the Valley’s winter visitors is Mission’s Winter Texan Fiesta that takes place in March. (Photo by William Brunson) Whether you prefer nature and the outdoors, historical sites, parks, fishing, boating, or parasailing over the surf at South Padre Island, the Rio Grande Valley has it all. Visitors can enjoy all the Valley has to offer year-round due to the Valley’s mild winter weather. Over 100,000 Winter Texans stay for the winter season to enjoy our warm, subtropical climate with an average temperature of 65-70 degrees. Winter Texans are not the only ones who have discovered the Rio Grande Valley. Birding, butterfly, and nature enthusiasts from all parts of the country come to the Valley every year, attracted by the 545 species of birds and 330 butterfly species that are either native to the area or that migrate through the Valley each year. Because of its neo-tropical climate, the Rio Grande Valley is home to many tropical birds that can be seen nowhere else in the United States. It is also a major bird migration corridor with two major flyways converging here. The Rio Grande Valley is also a place full of history. From battle sites to the only lighthouse on the gulf shores, to museums with artifacts, to chapels, historic homes, and old stores. Every Valley city has a story to tell. Whether you are a Winter Texan, a family with young children, or just someone that enjoys the outdoors, history and culture, the Rio Grande Valley has something to offer everyone. Inside you will find beautiful maps that pinpoint featured locations throughout the Valley. We have broken up the area into eight regions, so whatever area you are visiting, you have a map to see what is close to you. With all there is to see and do in the Rio Grande Valley, we hope you enjoy your stay! Inside this guide RGV Regional Map & Index ......................4-5 Points of Interest ............................................ 6 Golfers’Paradise ........................................... 47 Valley Birding & Nature Events .................. 48 World Class Birding & Nature Sites .......49-53 Valley Chamber Offices ............................... 54 To The Rio Grande Valley Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Published By: 2025-2026 Edition Page 1 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2025-2026 Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Published By: 2025-2026 Edition Call 956.580.7800 or Email ads@wintertexantimes.com FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES for some comradery, food, fun, entertainment, and raffles. The doors opened just before 11 a.m. so you could get your seating assignment – drawn from a basket so you can hopefully sit with someone you don’t know – and walk around to view the many different tables. Queens take time to come up with a theme and buy and decorate their tables according to that theme. I sat at a Mexican themed table this year. It was decorated with the traditional colors, had baskets of Mexican candy, brightly colored pottery plates and table runners, and a wonderful cookbook full of spicy meal ideas. My hostesses were Luann Goldberg and Carole Langlois. As you walked around the room, you could see a Valentine’s Day table of red and white with hearts; a Winter Wonderland themed table; a lemon themed table with lemonade; Elvis; Bumble Bees; Irish table with greens; a brightly colored Mardi Gras table, a patriotic table with U.S. flags and other red, white, and blue items; a minions table that featured a large yellow minion in his blue overalls; a Frosty themed table featuring pastel colored glass Christmas trees; and even a Nebraska themed table. You can tell the ladies put so much effort into their creations. Many use their own decorations they enjoy at home. As soon as this event is done, planning for the following year begins for the coordinators, and for the participants. Sheila Durham, member of the RGV Queens Council, welcomed everyone and said that it was wonderful to look out and see such beautifully decorated, creative tables and so many smiling faces. Standing on stage to start the event, she added that she was thankful that this wasn’t a competition, because it would be very hard to choose just one table as the best. RED HATS From pg. 1 Many of those in attendance are Winter Texans and try to plan ahead on what they are going to do for their table, so they know if it is something they might want to pack when they come back next year or not. The ladies I sat with talked about their events they attend in the Valley and at their summer home. Two of the ladies were very much into drama and putting on plays. They talked about the events they have in their parks with Langlois saying she comes to the Valley to play. The ladies had cupcakes already at their tables – Afterall dessert should be eaten first. Lunch consisted of a delicious chicken salad croissant, mixed veggies with ranch dressing, and a cup of mixed fruit. After lunch, entertainment was provided by Rick McEwen. He performed many of his Kenny Rogers songs and threw in some extras for the group of ladies. Some special songs were Lady in Red, The Twist, and Elvira. Many ladies got up and danced and did line dances. He ended his show with YMCA which had the room of ladies up on their feet participating. The event ended with the raffle prizes and silent auction winners being announced. There were also special prizes drawn for a nice pencil and pen set, some lounge chairs, VSA tickets, and Dolphin Watch Cruises. Plans are already underway for next year’s event. If you would like to stay up to date with the details, we will start announcing when tickets are available, usually in December. You don’t have to be a Red Hatter to attend the event, although it makes it more fun if you come with a group of your friends. Information about becoming a Red Hatter, or making your own group, can be found online at www.redhatsociety.com or you can get in touch The RGV Red Hat Queen Sandy ‘Finny’ Funk at fur-fin-fun@gmail.com. It’s all about having fun with your friends – and eating dessert first.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTczOTk5Mg==