Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center is a separate place than the Edinburg Municipal…read morePark, but they are next to each other and trails lead from in to the other. The World Birding Center portion has it's own parking lot and there is a modest fee to enter. The walking trail around the pond is free. You can park at the municipal park and use the trails around the pond and/or the multiple trails that go through the park. Both places are well developed and beautifully designed. The trail around the pond in the Scenic Wetlands area has some beautiful views. There are many native plants such as mesquite, palo verde, Nepal, and other cacti for which I don't know the names. The morning I went to walk, I was admiring the nopal which was blooming profusely, as well as the ducks, herons, and other birds enjoying the water. The walking trail is pleasant, "paved" with a gravel type material, much is shaded by trees which have branches arching over the trail (that is a big plus if you go in the daytime). I didn't see a sign to indicate the length of the trail that goes around the pond, but it took only about 20 minutes to circle it. It took me longer because I kept stopping to take pictures. Once I circled the pond, I went through a portion of the municipal park where there are also some ponds, trees, playgrounds, picnic areas, ball fields, restrooms, etc. My wife and I used to take our children (when they were small) along with a loaf of bread to feed the ducks in the largest of the ponds at the park. I have not gone into the World Birding Center portion, but intend to do so in the near future.

This is the second time that I have come from out of town and tried to visit and they had a…read more"private event" so the entire place was closed, but it wasn't posted on their website nor did they answer the phone so that you could check.

Most reviews of the park are several years old but they were spot on…read more I enjoyed the park and due to its location and the fact they have primitive camp site there it would be a great place to camp overnight since there is no light pollution there. There is a camp ground next to the entrance for anyone with a camper. (Looked very nice and well kept) I rented a bike ($5.00 for 4 hours )

We visited the park yesterday to join a birding tour. John was fabulous and made everyone in the…read moregroup feel welcome. We saw and learned about many beautiful birds as well as plants. Plus our 2 hour tour ended up being nearly 4. The park was much prettier than I expected. The visitor center which had great items for sale was surrounded by beautiful foliage and benches. There were people hiking, camping, biking, and birding there. The energy in the park was so positive and friendly.

Absolutely a must see when you're in the RGV. This is one of the most beautiful parks I've ever…read morebeen in! I was initially drawn to check out the cool suspension bridge amongst the trees (costa rica vibes) and there was even more the park offered! We were greeted by two very friendly and knowledgeable workers at the visitors center, they were able to show us some recommended routes and things to look out for. The visitor center itself was so enjoyable to look around since it was like a mini museum with a bunch of history and information about the nature and wildlife. We took the Chachalaca Trail to the Tower Trail as recommended to get to the suspension bridge. Along the way you pass by a beautiful lake with many bird species and find a bunch of Spanish moss trees. When you get to the suspension bridge you take a tall spiral staircase and it's literally the coolest thing walking on the bridge. It was wobbly but very sturdy even when my friends were jumping on it! There was a lookout tower next to the bridge you take a separate staircase for and see a gorgeous overlook above all the trees. We later took the Pintail Lakes Trail to see the Rio Grande River outlook where you see the river and Mexico on the other side! After that we went up towards all the Pintail Lakes and took in all the gorgeous flora, birds, and scenery. The coolest thing we saw was a hawk carrying a snake!! We finished walking through it all in about 2ish hours. Can't recommend this place enough!

Beautiful hike and lots of cool wildlife and nature in the area. We saw a lot of very colorful…read morebirds also. The rope bridge was a fun addition as well

La Sal del Rey (The King's Salt) is a unique hidden gem in the Rio Grande Valley! It's a massive…read morehypersaline lake which Native Americans and Spanish settlers used to harvest salt from. Unfortunately when I visited there was very little water so I couldn't witness the famous reflexive water views. The salt lake has no outlet so the water levels are dependent on rain. But, I loved my visit regardless. I especially loved how quiet and untouched the area feels. I even saw several javelina along the tree lines! This is the perfect spot for nature lovers, birdwatching, or just getting away from the city for a while. Just make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes because the South Texas heat can be intense!

Please come here if you not only want to feel like you're out of the valley, but out of the planet!…read more It's a short, flat walk to the salt lake from the parking lot. Do not come here during peak sunlight hours in the summer unless you want a heatstroke lol because you will not find shade anywhere. Once you get to the opening it's kind of muddy but fun to try identifying various animal footprints on it (might have seen some from big cats!). When you reach the salt lake itself it's so fascinating seeing the reflections on the water. Perfect for photos! You can walk far inside it since it's quite shallow but I'd still try to wear shoes that can withstand some water. While it's cool to see the reflections of fluffy clouds it's still gorgeous in a more gray and cloudy day too! Definitely recommend everyone to take the time to check out this salt flat!

This was a great surprise, congrats to whoever put this fun system together. Every level rider can…read morehave fun here!

My go-to nature trail in Harlingen! Honestly such a hidden gem in the valley and it rivals so many…read moreparks I've been at in bigger cities. The trail goes on and on (I believe recently it was extended all the way to Dixieland Lake) so I've easily walked like 4-5 miles round trip without even going to the end! And the views in each part are beautiful with plenty of cool bridges, some off-beaten paths, and lots of plant life. There are parts with sunflowers too when they're in season and it's gorgeous! I especially find the giant red bridge to be a fun landmark since you can hike to it (there's a trail up the hill next to it, not very hard to climb) and take some cool photos on the abandoned rail road track. Rain or shine this is my favorite way to get a workout in!

Lovely place to run with an abundance of wildlife (Cardinals, goldfinches, roadrunners, boars,…read morelizards, etc). Has off-road bike paths, running path and bathrooms. Plenty of parking but gets packed on Sundays. Extremely hot when the sun is at high rise due to lack of shade. Totally worth checking out if your up for a good sweat!

Wonderful representation of the battle at Palo Alto. We went twice in two weeks because we loved…read morethe walk and lesson in history. Free, and very interesting and eye opening about our history. Highly recommended

What a great trail! If I lived in the area I would be here every single day! Super nice!…read more Great for biking, hiking and or walking. Great place to be if you want to get some fresh air outdoors! Absolutely amazing scenery at night. Took some great pictures at sunset. I really like the paved roads. I wish I had my toad bike. Would make for some great road biking. I also saw some signs that said watch out for alligators . I didn't bump into any. Really relaxing trail. If you are in town for business and want to get in some cardio before you head back to your hotel I suggest checking out Thai trail. Not sure how this only has six review. Maybe no one knows about it. Definitely a hidden gem in my opinion. I really enjoyed the trail and will be back for sure.

We spent a week in south Padre We soon Got bored I found this place by accident. It was the BEST…read morepart of our vacation BEAUTIFUL and wild We set and looked at Mexico under a covered overlook that was So remote we were the only guests at that spot for a long time The Desk clerk Pablo Was Great in every way GO THERE!! you'll be amazed

THICK WITH THE REGIONS FLORA AND FAUNA! This place is simply jaw-dropping beautiful! I took the…read morefamily out to this phenomenal place for a day hike and we discovered a lot more than we thought we would! We were received right away by the all too friendly staff and volunteers at the Beautiful Historic Rabb Plantation House. It's such a marvel of how well this 1892 Plantation Home has been restored and preserved. Walking through those doors you truly step back into time. The location: right on the most Southern Point in all the country. Sabal Palm Sanctuary literally lies against the southernmost point of the US-Mexico Border, along the Rio Grande. It was established to preserve one of the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest in the U.S. In this endeavor, over the years, it now showcases what the land of this sub-tropical area would look like as if untouched by the hands of man and left to mother natures own devices. The result is ASTOUNDING!!! This Sub-Tropical Forest now attracts... hundreds of bird species which makes this a not-to-be-missed destination. Sabal Palms Sanctuary is by far one of the country's premiere birding hot-spot with hundreds of species that migrate through this region every year. "The Sanctuary sits on a 527-acre tract of land on the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Texas and is one of the most uniquely biodiverse habitats in the country, containing one of the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest in the U.S. The Sanctuary provides breeding habitat for many endangered or high-priority birds and is a critical source of shelter and food for migrating and wintering species." --SabalPalmSanctuary.org

Nice state park! Loved seeing all the green jays and chácalas! It's also cool to get the birding…read moreapp and see what bird it identified from the sounds. We liked renting the bikes to ride around the park. But you can't go off on the trails and the bikes are in need of some tlc but still worth it! My kids loved the coloring tables inside the visitor center.

Rio Grande Valley State Park! This place is in sort of…read morethese marshes, low lying fields in the RGV outside of Brownsville. We came in for a hike along their shortest trail, which wound through scrub brush, mesquite trees and the overwhelming sound of cicadas. We saw lots of armadillos on our hike, and several strange, menacing looking birds. The park has a nice ranger station with a gift shop where you can rent binoculars and get patches and other gear that you'll need to camp and hike along the park's many trails. Be sure to reserve ahead of time on the website. The park is quiet, other than the insects. When we went, it has hot as heck, and nobody else was on the trails. They do offer a few bird blinds, or places to relax in some shade and observe the birds. There seemed to be a planetarium or telescope or something, but the armadillos were preventing us from investigating this.

Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park is a gated recreational area located within and surrounded by huge…read moreLaguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Boasting lighted fishing piers, picnic areas and a playground, boat ramp with fish cleaning stations, and nature trail, there are also 35 full-hookup RV sites. These waterfront spots attract many "Winter Texans" a.k.a. "Snowbirds who drive their RV's down to Texas during the cold months and hang out. The park was created by Cameron County, Texas to enhance boating and fishing on the river, which it has done. When I came by on a boat touring the Arroyo River area, the parking lot was full of big trucks who had towed in some boats to launch. My tour guide told me the trout was biting like crazy this time of year. Also the area hunting is pretty good too: wild turkey and pigs, deer, and the exotically tasty nilgai, among others. Despite the ideal location for all kinds of outdoor activities, the Adolph Thomas Park is a little on the small side. This is a multi-use park and there's the rub: on weekends the place is heavily used by anglers, boaters, and locals for picnics and hiking. During the week, it can be quiet. The RV park is nice but I have heard that some RV-ers complain it is smallish- and cramped. Also, when I used the restrooms, I noticed RED ANTS all around! Yikes! For those reasons, I deducted 1 YELP STAR. But the mesquite growing along the river give the Adolph Thomae Park a scenic feel and the staff keeps a pretty good eye on the area. Looks like a perfect place to come recreate in the great outdoors to me.

I LOVE THIS PLACE and its my secret weekday hideaway. You won't get much of a cell signal so don't…read morebe surprised. The fishing is awesome with plenty of places either on the 2 small piers or along the banks.... and please PICK OF YOUR DANGED TRASH! These folks really try to keep the place clean, but there are always a few dirtbags that litter. I've also camped out here and love love love it. Every so often late at night you might even get to hear the donkey that is kept across the arroyo. It cracked us up. DO keep the lid on your icechest bungeed down or you will wake to an enterprising racoon or two helping themselves. I love this place, Its beautiful and whether you want to fish in the day or under the lighted piers at night, you can't go wrong. There is a charge for pitching a tent, but pay it... you get the code for the showers and save the park ranger from hassling you if you have pitched a tent.