13 WINTER TEXAN TIMES www.wintertexantimes.com MARCH 15, 2023 Great social life and activities during the season Winter Texans are known for having fun. The Valley provides tons of it too. Peruse through the Parks Calendar in any January or February edition of the Winter Texan Times – see it online at www.wintertexantimes.com. By the end of March, the season is coming to a close and the park activities have tapered down – but there is still plenty to do. The list is seemingly never-ending. What’s more impressive is that there are more and more activities and social events being added on a regular basis as activity directors and park managers realize that the hobbies of Winter Texans are different than those of yesterday, so they look to accommodate all – and they’ve done a great job at it. Some of the activities gaining popularity include pickleball, remote-control race car competitions (even some big competitions among parks), the Canadian game pétanque, and cycling. There are still large groups of shuffleboard players – even an association that has weekly games and tournaments – as well as the ageless favorites like cards, bingo, quilt making, woodcarving, aerobics, yoga, and so much more. Golf, of course, is huge with long-standing tournaments played at several courses throughout the Valley. It’s the perfect sport that can be played year-round, especially when the weather is in the 70s. There’s also an annual popular event known as the Golden Age Olympics which offers dozens of active and not so active events that seniors – Winter Texans and locals – can compete in. There’s a smorgasbord of craft shows and craft fairs where people can find all sorts of knick-knacks, souvenirs, and uniquely inexpensive items for themselves or as gifts. Adding to the social aspect of the Winter Texan lifestyle is the park community of friends and neighbors who participate in many activities together. Many parks have ladies groups, supper nights, Red Hatters, luncheons, and other small gatherings where lifetime friendships can be made. None of that even includes the entertainment. Live Entertainment Providing that live entertainment are many excellent performers who come to the Valley during their “off season” in Branson, Nashville, Las Vegas, and other parts of the country to perform their shows in the RV resorts and other local venues. The cost is typically in the $7 to $10 range while the same show in Florida or Arizona will cost $10-$15 and in Branson the cost could be $30-$50 or more for the same show. When you go to 30 or more shows or dances per season, those savings add up. Also, if you are really lucky, you can catch a show with more than one entertainer performing. The Wintertainers™ as we have dubbed them, have developed such camaraderie among themselves, that they enjoy performing together quite often. So, you might find a show where three or more are performing together, still at that great price too. Dancing the Night Away Of course, Winter Texans aren’t kids anymore – but they can certainly handle their own when it comes to dancing. Whether it’s line dancing, square dancing, waltzes, cha-chas, or anything else, these visitors know how to make a dance floor come alive. The events in the Parks Calendar are activities that are open to the outof-park guests, so your buffet of things to do is limitless. And then none of that includes any of the activities that are going on outside the parks. South Texas is known for birding and butterflying and South Padre Island and world-class fishing and professional basketball and …. Just so much more. Oh, the places you have to go While the parks and resorts Winter Texans stay in have plenty of activities to keep them busy during their stay in the Valley, the Rio Grande Valley also has a lot to offer to our winter visitors. If you are into nature, there are several nature centers to visit. Locations are throughout the Valley, so wherever you are, it’s not going to be a long drive. Weslaco and McAllen are just a couple of the cities that have nature centers. There are also a couple of wildlife refuges to visit as well. If you like birding the Rio Grande Valley has the World Birding Centers. The parks span from Roma to South Padre Island. The World Birding Centers consist of nine parks, including its hub, that offer different environments found in the Valley. You have your beach, swamp-like environments down at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, wetlands at Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, to the thorn forest at Estero Llano Grande, the woodlands of Resaca de la Palma, or the tropical landscape of Quinta Mazatlán. At these parks you will not only have the chance to see some of the more than 500 species of birds that call the Valley home (even if for a short time), but some of them have an abundance of history such as the Hidalgo Pumphouse and Quinta Mazatlán. The entire list of World Birding Centers, and what they are all about, can be found in our Visitors Guide online or at their website at www.theworldbirdingcenter.com. The Valley is also home to a worldclass zoo. The Gladys Porter Zoo, located in Brownsville, is one of the nation’s top zoos. They have memberships, Winter Texan Days, and other discount days to encourage visitors to visit the zoo. You won’t be disappointed on any visit you decide to make. They have special events throughout the year as well. If you are into the history, the Valley is rich in it. You can find out about the wars that have been fought in the Valley when you visit Fort Brown or Palo Alto Battlefield. The museums in the area also highlight how the Valley was developed from a dusty subtropical region to what it is today. In Mission, you will find the Mission Historical Museum that shows the history of the citrus industry and what it represents to the Valley’s economy. Also in Mission, you will find the La Lomita Mission where missionaries first visited the area to preach to the locals. The Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg also shows in great detail how the Valley came to life. Besides museums, birding and nature centers, the Valley is full of other places to see. You can find SpaceX or river tours, join a boat ride to see dolphins, fish at the pier in Port Isabel, and so much more. You can find a lot more to do and see in our Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide that is available online at www. wintertexantimes.com. You can also find it at Travel Information Centers (there is one in Harlingen) and chambers near you. Common Pauraque at Estero Llano Grande. Courtesy Photo Festus & Bob Courtney. Photo by Greg Uhrbrock
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