As two of the largest cities in the Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen and Brownsville are popular leisure stops for those on their way to Mexico and final destinations for those simply seeking a warm climate. South Padre Island is renowned for its beaches, spectacular sunsets, and spring break party atmosphere year round. At the crossroads of I-77 and I-83, Harlingen is arguably the most accessible of the trio of cities, but both those highways converge and lead to Brownsville, a place many people make their last stop before entering Mexico. South Padre is not nearly as easy to get to as either of the former, but its seaside locality more than makes up for the extra time it takes to get there. All three cities have local airports.

Harlingen

Five miles from the Mexican border, Harlingen is a town largely characterized by its plentiful parks and golf clubs. Bird watching is a popular activity here, whether at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival or simply feeding the ducks at Pendleton Park. In fact, the local baseball team is named the Harlingen White Wings! The Harlingen Country Club, Tony Butler Golf Course, and Treasure Hills Golf Club surround the city on three sides with the Valley International Airport situated on its fourth. Within these boundaries, you can find numerous public parks, gardens, ponds, and lakes such as Victor Park, McKelvey Park, Windsor Park, and Lake Harlingen, among others. Nightlife in Harlingen centers around family fun, such as karaoke on Sunday nights at the I-69 Sports Bar & Grill, or Texan beer at Flair's Hop Shop.

Brownsville

Located directly on the Mexican border and adjacent to the Mexican city of Matamoros, Brownsville is the home of three international bridges across the Rio Grande. The town began in the 1850s and was an extension of Fort Brown, which was the home of the first battle of the Mexican-American War, at Palo Alto Battlefield. Because of its many well-preserved historical sites, Brownsville offers walking tours of the history of the town and the fort, like the Old City Cemetery Walking Tour. You can also stay put to do your learning at one of Brownsville's museums, like Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, Historic Brownsville Museum, or Costumes of the Americas Museum. Some sites of historical interest in Brownsville are the Chisholm Trail and the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception , built in the 1850s in French Gothic Revival style. Adjacent to the fort itself is the Fort Brown Golf Course, where you can end your historical tour with a round of golf and some refreshments. Of course, this is not the only place in Brownsville to play a round of golf. You could also avail yourself of the Brownsville Golf Center, the Riverbend Country Club, or the Rancho Viejo Resort and Country Club. You can find beautiful outdoor activities just outside Brownsville as well. Five miles northwest of the city center is Resaca de la Palma State Park, which houses a World Birding Center similar to the one in Harlingen, and offers birding tours as well as natural history tours. Loma Alta Lake, a great place for fishing, is located about eight miles northeast of the city center.

South Padre

Together with neighboring Port Isabel, this area has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor delights. Great fishing, a year round party atmosphere, and unparalleled sunsets generally characterize South Padre island. The town of South Padre itself is surrounded by parks. A long, thin strip of land, the town is capped off by Andy Bowie Park in the north and Isla Blanca Park in the south, where you can find the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Farther inland, about two miles west of Port Isabel, you can enjoy the outdoors at Laguna Larga Lake or Laguna Madre Nature Trail. Four miles farther north is the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Reserve. Back in town, there are plenty of less rugged things to do, such as the Port Isabel Historic Museum , the Gladys Porter Zoo , and Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island. There is no shortage of nightlife on the island, and it is especially suited to single vacationers or college kids. Bars like Coconuts, Louie's Local Bar, Padre Island Brewing Company, and Wanna-Wanna Beach Bar & Grill cater to a crowd that likes to have a no-holds-barred good time.