The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is located in Los Fresnos,…read moreTX. My daughters and I drove around this refuge back on May 28, 2025. It was raining off and on, so hiking was a no-go since we had no rain gear. This amazing section of diverse landscape is comprised of 110,000 acres. "The refuge is home to an incredible biodiversity with more than 450 plant varieties, 417 species of birds documented, 130 types of butterflies, 45 mammal species, 44 reptile and amphibian varieties and approximately 40 fish species." Because it is a "national" refuge (part of the title was left out of the Yelp business page), fishing is allowed and there are public hunts offered here as part of conservation. This includes for alligator (hook & line only), archery deer, exotics (e.g. nilgai antelope), and white-tailed deer. Feral hog hunting is unlimited. Of high importance to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is refuge management of "the two remaining breeding populations of ocelots." We never saw any, but just watch NBC's "The Americas." They have footage of those beautiful little endangered cats. Annual passes were $9 while day passes were $2.50. Works Cited https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa

Can I give it 10 stars? The wildlife, birds, calm atmosphere, all add up to a wonderful experience.read more

I really like this park. It's brand new in a developing community. There is plenty of parking on…read moreone end and you have to cross a long bridge to get to the park. It has many gazebos to picnic in in private and two large one for big party's next to the water. It's clean and spacious. It has a huge waterfall next to a another water feature for the kids to cool off in the valley heat. At night they light up the waterfall and looks beautiful. Has clean restrooms and security guard in the evenings. You can bring bicycles as they is a track all around the park.

Love this place! Our grandchildren could be here all day! Just wish they would leave the splash…read morepark on, the children are always disappointed when it is not functioning.

Okay this is less of a Boca Chica review and more of a SpaceX Starbase review. We went on the long…read moredrive from South Padre Island to visit Boca Chica to see where the gulf meets the Rio grande but ended up arriving just as Elon was rolling a rocket out to his launch site so we were in a unique traffic jam and then Boca Chica was shut down for the day so we didn't get to visit it but seeing the big rocket and all the pics and video we got were still an awesome thing! Visit out here for Starbase alone and if Boca Chica is open see it too

OMG, Yes! If only it was true!!!…read more There Is No Boca Chica State Park! Evidently someone assumed it was and posted this site. I've asked Yelp to remove and they wouldn't. I even referred them to the Texas State Parks Web site which list All Texas State Parks. So just be aware this area is part of the lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge! I think since Yelps not taking it down I'll go ahead and post some photos from the area!!! All of these photos came from the same area other Yelpers have been mistakenly adding reviews to.

I am absolutely impressed with this park in my hometown Brownsville, Texas! When it comes to the…read morevalley most things are a *shrug* and "ehh". Brownsville can definitely be proud of this park. Especially during the Holidays the Christmas Village was on point. They have everything here: Art Work Play grounds (several) Large Open GREEN space Pavilions Picnic tables with grills Fishing Museum within the park Zoo across the way Plentiful parking (not crowded like Houston) Mommy and kiddos enjoyed. That is a rarity!

Situated right across the Gladys Porter Zoo it is easily one of the most visited parks in…read moreBrownsville. Its hugged by a resaca one can fish out of, not to mention attracts plenty of local birds. The park is filled with plenty of designated grills, picnic areas, play pens, a children's museum, a play theater, a main pool, a small water park for tots, a large pavilion, a civic hall.

Isla Blanca Park $10 fee $2 for trash deposit. Save your receipt to enter beach access #6…read more Beach Access #5 is FREE. Has parking and you walk to the beach. Beach Access #6 is $10. This access allows you to drive on the beach. You must be aware of tide times not to get stuck. You can also camp there for free. No fee. But you camp at your own risk of course. It is currently being renovated so no bathroom facilities as of now. Theres another beach access with FREE access to drive on the beach. But, sand is very soft in that section and you may get stuck if you are not driving a truck high enough to not hit the sand underneath. Be safe, theres no reception out there at times and if no one helps you if your stuck. Price to get pulled out ranges up to 3k depending on difficulty. The further you drive keep in mind that ACCESS 6 and Andy bowie have the last restroom stops. Its a beautiful place. And, its been abused by litter so the $2 you pay for trash awareness is a SMALL price to spread the word of keeping the area clean. Plastics are being eaten by the flock of birds that make the beach majestic and is killing them day to day. Isla Blanca Park: This is the only State Park that has tent sites for camping. Beside KOA but they are private. There is over a mile of pristine beach along the Gulf of Mexico that offers an abundance of water-front recreational facilities. Beachfront facilities make the clear gulf waters accessible to all.  Isla Blanca Park offers two large beachfront pavilions with onsite food and beach rental concessions, ample parking, walking trail, jetties and surf fishing, a jetties bait stand, over 600 full hook-up R.V. sites, cabana rentals, tent sites, a boat ramp, numerous restroom/shower facilities and shaded picnic areas.  The park also offers a number of concessions that provide an array of recreational amenities.  Some of these amenities include an assortment of restaurants, bay and offshore fishing trips, water sports (e.g. snorkeling, diving, jet skis, parasailing, etc.) and a full service marina.

I was taken aback when the attendant told me $12 when we go to the Cameron County Parks and…read moreRecreation entrance. It was 7:55 pm on May 28, 2025, and we just wanted to look around, particularly at the Jesus statue. But no, we had to pay the full price! Scattered all across the loop we drove was litter. It was sad. Tons of RVs were at the campground. Several folks in single vehicles still enjoying the sunset. But those single day use areas weren't crowded by that point. Be very careful driving. I encountered many dog walkers who just didn't care or didn't know I was approaching, me in the right of way, but I digress. Also, watch out for kids just playing in the middle of the parking lot. Their parents oblivious to me trying to exit. That also happen... but there was a perfectly good beach area for them to play on just a few yards away. *sigh* Never again unless I am here much earlier in the day. I would never see myself camping here.

Isla Blanca Park in South Padre Island, TX, is home to El Cristo de los Pescadores or "Christ of…read morethe Fishermen" statue. My first thought was how huge the statue was. This depiction of Jesus Christ was created in the late '90s in memory of Gustavo De La Lastra and Jose Edwardo De La Lastra. Their June 1988 deaths by asphyxiation aboard a shrimp boat occurred "after using a chemical preservative on their catch." A lawsuit by the parents against chemical's manufacturer, General Chemical Corporation, ensued. I didn't know about this tragedy beforehand, however, the statue remained absolutely beautiful. I wish that the island wasn't so trashy on May 28, 2025 when my daughters and I visited. If that wasn't enough, daily vehicle passes were $12. I'd probably go here to view SpaceX launches from afar, but not to RV camp. It looked so crowded! Works Cited https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/general-chemical-corp-v-891520387 https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/how-the-statue-of-the-christ-of-the-fishermen-got-to-south-padre-island/

Fantastic way to spend an afternoon. There are public bathrooms, outdoor showers and parking. I…read morelove the area with tables and umbrellas which make it a great family friendly place.

Great little area to spend 30-40 minutes looking around. A lot of interesting stuffed animals to…read moresee on their show grounds. Nice walk platform to look out at the wildlife unfortunately there weren't any wildlife the day we stopped but I'm sure at times people see a nice amount of them. They had good description boards as you walked through the path and up the boardwalk, letting you know what was in the area and what to look out for. Clean bathrooms as well. Also had a little souvenir shop.

Worth a visit when you're passing by, but it is a little small, and doesn't take very long to walk…read morethrough.

Very nice "nature walk" ... free boardwalk, not too long, out into the marshes of Laguna Madre (the…read moreinterior side of SPI). Lots of wildlife to see, great signage along the trail with photos of the wildlife there. The highlight is the end of the trail, a small observation pavilion over the water, a great place to watch the many dozens of aquatic birds splashing, catching fish, just hanging out... GREAT place to catch a sunset amid the "buzz" of the wildlife. Highly recommend!

Next to the south Padre island convention center. Really nice views. Unfortunately I got there a…read moretad bit too late. Forgot to take pictures before the sun set, still beautiful though.

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.

We went on a horseback ride at 430pm. Everything went great! The people working there seemed like…read morethey loved what they do. We had Tarzan and Comanche for our horses. The guides were knowledgeable and very welcoming. The longhorn on the way to the stable was an added bonus to see before hand!

Great experience riding with the horses! Lindsey & Landon made the horse riding enjoyable and…read moreinstructions were clear and precise when mounting and riding the horses. Would recommend!