Page 51 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2024-2025 8435 Sabal Palm Grove Rd., Brownsville. For information call (956) 541-8034, email gsfinc@gmail.com, or go online to www.sabalpalmsanctuary.org. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, located south of Alamo, has over 2,000 acres of land dedicated to the preservation of native plants and animals of the Rio Grande Valley. Known worldwide as a “birder’s paradise,” many rare birds have been spotted at the refuge including some tropical species that come no farther north in the U.S. Bird watchers have documented over 400 species of birds - the second highest total of any National Wildlife Refuge. Located within the refuge are over 12 miles of walking trails with observation decks and photo blinds for wildlife watchers and nature enthusiasts alike. The refuge hosts lush subtropical vegetation that provides habitat for 300 American butterfly species, an equally exciting number of species of dragonflies, and such rarities as the threatened Texas Tortoise and Texas Indigo Snake. The resacas and wetland of the refuge attract a variety of water birds and other wildlife. The visitor’s center is staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., stop by and inquire about the many programs that are offered at the center. There is a nature tram that takes visitors on a tour through the refuge while trained guides give information about the animals, plants, and history of the area. The tram operates seasonally during fall and winter months, call the refuge for availability. The many walking trails are open from dawn until dusk. Be sure and check out the rope bridge that takes visitors through the canopy. There are special events throughout the year as well, check the events calendar on www.fws.gov/refuge/ santa_ana for more info. Admission is $5 per vehicle. The refuge is located seven miles south of Alamo and one-fourth mile east of the junction of Highway 281 and FM 907 at 3325 Green Jay Rd. For information call (956) 784-7500. Valley Nature Center Our Secret Garden, set in the midst of an urban community, the VNC has an exciting interactive visitor’s center leading into an impressive six-acre nature park. The park has a mile of interpretive trails through a recreated Tamaulipan thorn scrub forest, with an extensive collection of South Texas native plants. Their Mission is to provide educational opportunities, and foster understanding and appreciation of the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s unique natural flora and fauna. The Valley Nature Center offers a variety of fun and educational programs throughout the year for adults and children. The Valley Nature Center is located at 301 S. Border Ave. behind Gibson City Park in Weslaco. Open Tuesdays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed for major holidays. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for Seniors (55 and older), $3 for children (12 and under), and free for all VNC members. For additional details call (956) 969-2475, visit www.valleynaturecenter.org, or email info@valleynaturecenter.org. World Birding Center Not just one, but nine unique locations in the Rio Grande Valley. Each site of the World Birding Center has its own attractions for both the first-time visitor and expert birder. Not one season, but all seasons - as more than 500 bird species make the Birding Centers not-to-be-missed nature destinations. Desert terrain, riverside woodlands, palm-fringed resacas, barrier islands and crashing surf. Together, the nine different sites that make up the World Birding Center paint a colorful backdrop for birdwatching in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. From scenic bluffs high above the Rio Grande to teeming wetlands and coastal prairie, the World Birding Center network offers visitors a dazzling array of birding adventures. Visitors will be treated to nature tours, environmental education programs and state-of-the-art exhibits, all under the umbrella of a world class birding experience: The World Birding Center, where you will truly find “A Whole New Nature Adventure!” The World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park boasts a bilingual exhibit hall, park store, and meeting room surrounded by butterfly gardens. Visitors can discover Bentsen by riding the hourly transportation shuttle, renting bikes, or hiking through the park. Primitive tent camping and fishing are a pop-
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