Brownsville-like every other city in Texas-is so far spread out that it can take half an hour just to walk to the corner store. You'll need a car to drive everywhere, or else get yourself a bicycle to save your feet the agony.
The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art is a great place to see hundreds of beautiful pieces by not only local artists, but also by artists south of the border. Make a point to stop by, the works hung in this museum are historically awesome!
Antonio's Mexican Village is where to head for quality Tex-Mex food-dare I say the finest north of the border? Everything is served with refried beans and salsa, but it's a destination when you want to taste the good life!
Sick and tired of being stuck in gridlock during rush hour? In Brownsville, there is no rush hour. Breeze down the highway at 60 MPH anytime. Plus, Brownsville-and most of Texas-has a speed limit of 75 MPH, far faster than on the West Coast, the East Coast, and most of the Eastern states.
Brownsville borders the Mexican city of Matamoros, a great place to spend the day immersed in Mexican culture and authentic Mexican food. Save yourself a long wait and take the hundred-yard stroll over the "Puente de Tomates" bridge.
The 2004 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, country singer, and actor originally comes from Brownsville. He may have moved to California at a young age, but his heart was always faithful to the wide blue Texas skies.
One of the things that makes Texas such a great state is the massive quantities of wide open space, as well as all of the green life. And as a result, the Brownsville air is as fresh and clean as you could ask for-some of the best Air Quality in the state according to the TCEQ.
Looking to become an entrepreneur? Brownsville has been rated one of the best pro-business climates in the country. The Dallas Federal Reserve reported that the Brownsville-Harlingen Metro Area has outperformed the rest of the state since 2000.
The Mexican culture in this city is nearly as rich as its food-though perhaps not as spicy. Take a stroll around downtown Brownsville to see the Mexican "zarapes" (blankets mixed with ponchos), the handcrafted leather goods (belts, saddles, and even whips), or the silver jewelry for which the country is famous (get your bling on!).
The "Herpetarium"? Sounds kind of dirty, doesn't it? It's not-it's actually an aquatic wing of the Gladys Porter Zoo. The 31-acre zoo is home to 377 animal species, more than 40 of which are endangered. The zoo is also the first to successfully breed a Jentink's Duiker, an antelope-like creature facing extinction, although it sadly passed away in December.
The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park is just a few miles out of town, where you can stand on the same ground where the U.S.-Mexico War began in the 1840s. For history buffs, it's hallowed ground of a sort. Thanks to the U.S. victory here it was possible to invade Mexico over 150 years ago. You might even catch a re-enactment!
Needing a dash of culture in your life? Schlep on down to the Camille Playhouse, the Broadway of Brownsville. Whether you want to see a musical, a play, or even a murder mystery event, there's always something to see!
Obviously Texans follow football religiously, but we don't care about the Dallas Cowboys or the Houston Texans. In Brownsville, college football is the sport of choice-go Longhorns! On game day you'll find every bar, steakhouse and beer-serving restaurant packed with fervent fans wearing the orange and white.
For a real Brownsville tradition, head on down to Rutledge Hamburger Stand-an eatery that's been around for nearly 80 years. You'll get none of the fancy nonsense you'd find at other joints, just delicious hamburgers made from a recipe that has been popular since 1924.
The Civil War didn't actually end once General Lee surrendered on April 9th, 1865. The last significant land battle of the war was actually fought on the banks of the Rio Grande right here in Brownsville at the Palmito Ranch Battlefield, just a few miles away from the city center.
Charro Days Fiesta is a four-day festival held in the city every year to celebrate its mixed cultures. More than 50,000 people from both sides of the border attend the celebrations complete with dancing, music, fireworks and all the delicious Mexican food you can eat. Watch the parades and floats or gawk at the men, women, and children in traditional Mexican dress.
Brownsville is not just the southernmost city in Texas, it's further south than any other city in the entire West and Midwest. Only the cities on the tip of Florida are closer to the equator than Brownsville.
The Air Fiesta is held every year in Brownsville to honor the history of aircraft throughout their 100 years of use by the U.S. Air Force. Vintage aircraft re-create World War II battles, and the sky show is one that everyone loves to see!
Tito Puente-the late "King of Latin Music"-began the Latin Jazz Festival in 1997, and it's become an annual tradition. The best Latin jazz musicians from around the world come to the city, and their smooth Latin sounds make you dance no matter how stiff your hips are. If you love music, you'll love the groovy tones of this festival.
The climate in Brownsville borders dangerously close to scorching hot, particularly during the summer months. It has actually reached highs of 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the past, and never drops below 12 degrees. You'll have to break out the summer shorts, sunglasses and sunscreen, as you're going to get more than 2,700 hours of sun every year.
Harlingen-just 45 minutes to the north of Brownsville-may be the cheapest place to live in the country, but Brownsville isn't too far behind. While it's a hot, dry city with a lower income level than most of Texas, you'll save big on your cost of living. According to the Brownsville Economic Development Council, it costs 10 percent less to live here than the U.S. average.
The annual Sombrero Festival is held in support of the Charro Days Fiesta, and offers citizens from both sides of the border a chance to take part in the do-if-you-dare jalapeno-eating contest-while the rest simply enjoy the other delicious Mexican and Tex-Mex food. Even President Obama knows the value of a good Mexican fiesta-he stopped by the Sombrero Festival during his campaign!
The Market Square was originally built as an open air market in the 1850s, but closed in the 1940s. In 2009, it was turned into one of the largest collections of South Texas photographs in the area, and the collections in the Research Center have been expanded to add historical furniture, costumes, sculptures and fine art. You'll find works by famous artists like Backal, Frederic Remington, Armando Garcia Nunez, and Carlos Romero Orozco.
No matter what you do or where you go, you're going to be surrounded by Spanish speakers. The official language of the area may be English, but it's rare to hear people speaking English the way you know it. Instead it's a mixture of Spanish and English, or even just plain Spanish with a few English words thrown in.
The Resaca de la Palma State Park is one of the best places for outdoor enthusiasts to hike and appreciate nature. The 1,200-acre wildlife preserve is also the largest natural World Birding Center habitat, meaning it's a haven for a number of flighty species. You'll love the views from the trails, but make sure to bring plenty of water to combat that Texas heat!
The Gulf Shrimp Fiesta is held every year in Brownsville just before the shrimping season begins. It's not just about sending off the shrimping boats in style-it's an excuse to devour shrimp tacos, shrimp barbecue, and pretty much every other shrimp dish mentioned in "Forrest Gump." If you're a shrimp lover (or a chef), make a point to be here in July.
Forget all about Taco Bell, you'll get the real deal here! And it's always easy to find. In fact, be prepared to see more taquerias than burger joints in Brownsville. And no, we're not talking hard-shell tacos, but authentic soft corn tortillas! Try El Pato Mexican Food and Taqueria El Taco Loco for a real taste of Mexico.
Those wanting to try something a bit more exotic migrate down to La Pampa, Brownsville's own taste of Argentina. The food may be pricey, but it never disappoints. Hardcore meat eaters can often be seen filling the seats, where they'll get sizzling steak like nowhere else!
Feature Image Source: Camille Playhouse Facebook
