Geography:

The Rio Grande Valley is a land like no other, offering unparalleled opportunities for travel and tourism, business and development, and more. Whether you plan to stay for a day, a week, or a lifetime, you'll find much to enjoy in the Valley.

While many downtowns across America have become sleepy, boarded-up relics of their former selves, Valley downtowns teem with shoppers from the North and the South. The bustling newness of our rapidly growing economy is tempered by the Old World charm engendered by our nearness to Mexico with its rich history and laid back attitude.

Our subtropical climate with its mild winters entices "Winter Texans" from all over North America. Tourists and day trippers find dozens of points of interest from Laredo to South Padre Island. Shopping and dining in Mexico are less than an hour away, and the mountains of Mexico's interior are only a half-day's drive.

Beachgoers will enjoy the emerald surf and glistening sands of South Padre Island. One of the premier resorts on the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island is just two hours from the Valley's western end. Ecotourists will delight in the beauty of the land and the diversity of wildlife to be found here. The Valley is a flyway between North and South America, creating some of the best birding and butterflying opportunities in the country.

A fresh breeze is blowing through South Texas, bringing with it a wealth of opportunities. Come and visit or come and stay; you're bound to find just what you're looking for in the Rio Grande Valley.