At the mouth of the Rio Grande delta located at the southernmost end of Texas, Brownsville savours the perfect blend of the relaxed southwestern appeal and the biocultural diversity. Its convenient positioning- just across the international pedestrian bridge from Matamoros makes it a good base for day trips to Mexico, or for just experiencing the Tex-Mex culture of south Texas. Pleasant Gulf breezes, blooming bougainvillaeas, gently waving palms, soft white sands and welcoming, diverse locals make this city a semi-tropical paradise.
Here are a few things that come in handy while planning your trip to this beautiful city:
- The Winter Months Last through Dec to March with an average high of 21.1°C and an average low of 11.1°C.
- An Average meal for one person costs about 16.06$ in a non-expensive restaurant.
- A Pint of Domestic Drought Beer costs about 4.01$ on an average.
- A Litre of gas Costs 0.87$.
- The monthly rent of a 1BHK a little off the City Centre is about 535.27$.
Main Attractions:
- Sabal Palm Sanctuary= The only palm tree native to Texas grows at this 557-acre sanctuary, operated by a foundation for the National Audubon Society. It sits in a bend of the Rio Grande River with one of the few groves never to have been plowed up. It’s a lush, beautiful and peaceful place with excellent nature hikes.
- Fort Brown= This former US army outpost, dating from 1846, is named for Jacob Brown, who died here that year fighting the Mexicans. Flooding forced an 1868 relocation to the site, where several buildings still stand. They have been restored and are now used by the shared campus of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. It’s still possible to see the 1868 post hospital (now Gorgas Hall), 1882 chapel, 1904 commissary, and the 1850 Neale Home. Historical markers detail the background of each.
- Brownsville City Cemetery= Though only officially the city’s cemetery since 1868, graves here date back as far as the 1850s. A walk through the well-kept grounds is a virtual tour through Brownsville’s past, detailing gunfights and cholera outbreaks and depicting settlers from diverse cultural backgrounds. It’s one block west of the Historic Brownsville Museum.
- Brownsville Heritage Complex= The 1851 home of Brownsville founder Charles Stillman, and later the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville, is part of the Brownsville Heritage Complex. Next door, in the main museum building, a reconstruction of the historic Crixell Saloon is the centerpiece of displays that recount the history of Brownsville. This is a good place to learn about the downtown area.
- Gladys Porter Zoo= This 28-acre zoo displays more than 1500 animals in large areas that replicate their natural habitats. Among the kid-pleasing exhibits are a free-flight South American aviary, Komodo dragons and other Indo-Australian favorites, and a petting zoo of miniature and baby animals. Parking is an additional $5 per vehicle.
- Historic Brownsville Museum= Housed in the grand Spanish Colonial–style 1928 Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, this small museum houses historical artifacts and photography. In the annex is an 1872 steam locomotive that once ran the route between Brownsville and Port Isabel. The museum is part of the Mitte Cultural District.