Brownsville, TX Road Trips

Brownsville sits in the southernmost tip of Texas, is a border town and is also bordered by the Gulf Coast. These qualities make Brownsville a thriving city in the manufacturing industry. For this reason, Brownsville adopted the motto, "On the Border, By the Sea" in 1966. Since the early 1990s, the city has experienced a steel boom, leading to fast population growth. The area had around 98,000 residents in 1990, and has grown to 183,000 as of 2016. Despite being in Texas, Brownsville doesn't live up to the common stereotypes of most Texas cities (western, rural). Instead, it has its own distinct culture. One common thing to notice about Brownsville is that it is influenced by the behavior of South Padre Island residents (laid-back, casual). The presence of an island so near to Brownsville has rubbed off on the locals. Culturally, Brownsville's residents are predominantly Hispanic. It's common to hear people mix Spanish and English in their speech given the presence of Mexico being so close to Brownsville. For this reason, the city holds many festivals and parades celebrating the traditions from Mexico that have been integrated into American culture. As you make the drive from Kingsville, you will start to see an abundance in palm trees. The area is known to tourists as "The Green City" for having more lush, green vegetation and plants than other cities in the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. Sabal palms are dotted all around the city. The city has a strong focus on greener resources.

Brownsville is home to many historic homes, battlefield sites, state parks, museums, art galleries and even a zoo. The presence of SpaceX has pushed the area to focus more on educating the public on the aerospace industry, which has dedicated several sites for locals to use to heighten their knowledge on rockets and space exploration. Battlefield sites are sporadic in the city: you will find some to be in the outskirts and others in the center of highly commercial areas. These locations blend in with its surrounding areas. The state parks are included here because they are preserved by the state of Texas, thereby restricting major developments from occurring in the area. They also resemble sanctuaries for endangered wildlife and marine life that are only common in Brownsville. 1 SpaceX South Texas Launch Site (Starbase), 54298 Boca Chica Blvd (get off ramp on Boca Chica Blvd, drive straight until reaching the end of the street, which meets several feet near the ocean), ☏ +1 310-363-6000. Aerospace facility launching Starship from Boca Chica State Park. Although the launch frequency has been lower than in early 2021, there are a lot of Starships and Super Heavy on display there. Many launch equipments can also be seen, such as the launch tower with steel arms and eight white tanks holding propellants, liquid oxygen and water. (updated Oct 2021) 2 Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission (Acronym is STARGATE), 52448-54298 Boca Chica Blvd, ☏ +1 956 882-5131.

1 Camille Lightner Playhouse, 1 Dean Porter Park (take same route as Children's Museum of Brownsville), ☏ +1 956-542-8900. Popular performing arts venue featuring plays and musicals. Features adaptations of both local and popular acts. Plays: adults $15, students (with school ID) $10, children under 12 $5; Musicals: adults $20, students (with school ID) $12, children under 12 $12; season tickets: $85; Winter Texan tickets: $50. 2 Jacob Brown Auditorium, 600 International Blvd (drive along Highway 77, exit off ramp on International Blvd, drive straight until approaching Texas Southmost College), ☏ +1 956 882-7945. Open-floor auditorium with a 1,500-person capacity. Popular for graduation and theater events. Also features concerts involving musicians playing a range of instruments from the cello to the clarinet. Depends on event. 3 TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave (Take International Blvd, drive until approaching Texas Southmost College. Building is in back of Jacob Brown Auditorium), ☏ +1 956 295-3695. Performing arts venue belonging to Texas Southmost College. Popular for performances in music and theatre. The city is home to many festivals and events with different variety for tourists and locals. Make sure to search the visitor's website for more information on upcoming events, as some events tend to be held at multiple times during the year. 4 AirFiesta, 955 S Minnesota Ave (takes place in the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport), ☏ +1 956 541-8585. February 13-14.

Brownsville's local restaurant scene has become more exciting, with La Southmost in particular receiving statewide and even national media attention for the quality and diversity of its tacos. Most of the eateries mentioned are newly constructed or have operated for a couple of years. Mexican is the most popular, as is Tex-Mex and seafood but different options have been introduced such as Italian and Thai cuisines. Coordinate points are approximate, not exact. The bold names divide each section based on highly commercial areas in Brownsville. For tourists in the mood for authentic Mexican food, it is best to locate a restaurant in the Mitte Cultural District or La Southmost. Since those parts of town are closer to Mexico, there is a stronger chance of finding these kinds of eateries, not to mention the countless number of taquerias (or taco stands) in the city. Just be aware that the restaurant staff may not speak much English, and same for the menus. As Boca Chica is the main road leading to Boca Chica Beach, more seafood restaurants tend to be found here. Ruben M. Torres is a central part of the city, which has built several restaurants along its resacas, giving locals and tourists the option to dine by these water bodies. The northern portion of Brownsville, referred to as Pablo Kisel/Morrison, features more fine-dining restaurants, since it happens to be the wealthier part of town. Good for breakfast before visiting the nearby Sabal Palm Sanctuary, and then lunch afterwards. 1 Vera's Backyard Bar-B-Que, 2404 Southmost Rd, ☏ +1 956 546-4159.

1 The Dive, 600 Springmart Blvd (take Highway 77, use ramp near Morrison, take a right at Pablo Kisel, then turn at Springmart; bar is inside a plaza), ☏ +1 956 338-6815. Some little karaoke and professional sports viewing on TV to go along with refreshments. 2 The Bar, 1900 N Expressway (take Highway 77, get off ramp on Ruben Torres Blvd, look for Boot Jack Plaza), ☏ +1 956 548-2277. Popular barn-style bar with two floors. Very popular for billiards and music events. 3 The Palm Lounge, 757 E Elizabeth St (take same route as El Hueso De Fraile), ☏ +1 956 621-0793. Cozy, modern bar also acting as a lounge. Known as Historic Palm Lounge, adopting the name for being in the Historic Downtown District. 4 Shenanigan's Irish Pub & Grill, 2451 Pablo Kisel Blvd, ☏ +1 956 986-2337. Irish-style pub with a collection of beers. Popular for a weekend hangout. 5 Billiard Room, 2104 Central Blvd (take US Highway 77, then use ramp off Ruben Torres Blvd, turn left on Central Blvd and drive a little further from Rental World), ☏ +1 956 542-4542. Long-standing billiard bar perfect for a weekend hangout. Pool: $7.50/hr, $3.75/hr after 7PM. 6 7th & Park, 1554 E. 7th St. (to the left of the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts), ☏ +1 956 335-5598. Daily 7AM-9PM. Acts as both a coffee and bicycle shop. Great for tourists looking for an active transportation plan. Location is situated next to a bicycle lane as well. 7 Bubbly Brew TeaHouse, 3340 Pablo Kisel Blvd (in Morrison Plaza), ☏ +1 956 621-0211. The only teahouse in the city. Serves bubble tea and smoothies.

1 Americas Best Value Inn, 7364 South Padre Island Hwy, ☏ +1 956 832-0202. Affordable hotel providing an outdoor pool, business center, free Wi-Fi, and free continental breakfast. $55. 2 Magnuson Hotel Brownsville, 715 North Dr #77/83, ☏ +1 956 541-2201. Modest hotel offering Wi-Fi, parking and meeting rooms. $64 (Dec 2021). 3 Motel 6, 2255 North Expressway, ☏ +1 956 546-4699, fax: +1 956 546-8982. Cheap hotel with an outdoor pool, free parking and coffee. $45. 4 Quality Inn, 7051 S Padre Island Hwy, 845 North Expressway 77, ☏ +1 956 621-3299, +1 956 542-5501. Simple hotel providing free continental breakfast and an outdoor pool. Two locations in the city. $93 (Dec 2021). 5 Holiday Inn Brownsville, 651 Sunrise Blvd, ☏ +1 956 541-3332, fax: +1 956 621-2993. 2-star hotel with an outdoor pool, gym and free breakfast. $89. 6 Courtyard Brownsville, 3955 North Expressway 77/83, ☏ +1 956 350-4600, fax: +1 956 350-4678. 3-star hotel providing contemporary rooms, an outdoor pool, a business center and a free local shuttle. $116. 7 Hampton Inn & Suites, 3000 N Expressway, ☏ +1 956 548-0005. 2-star traditional hotel with an outdoor pool, free parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast. $84-93. 8 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 1985 North Expressway 83, ☏ +1 956 550-0666. 2-star hotel offers relaxed lodging, an outdoor pool, a gym and free Wi-Fi plus parking. $80-86. 9 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 3759 N Expressway, ☏ +1 956 574-6900, fax: +1 956 574-6910. 3-star hotel with extended-stay, a pool, a fitness center and free grocery shopping service. $98.

1 Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport (BRO IATA), 700 Emilia Earhart Dr, ☏ +1 956 542-4373. It is served by the following airlines:* American Eagle (non-stop service between Dallas and Brownsville)* Avelo (Burbank, Orlando)* United Express (non-stop passenger service from Houston)The city have already replaced the terminal at the end of 2020. (updated Oct 2020) The next nearest commercial airport in the US with Delta (to Minneapolis St Paul), Southwest Airlines, and Sun Country is Harlingen Valley International Airport, 35 min northwest on I-69E & Loop 499 (S Ed Carey Dr). Both United & American/American Eagle serve the area via Valley International Airport, McAllen International Airport and Brownsville from their respective hubs in Houston and Dallas-Ft Worth. The nearest airports for onward flights into Mexico are in Matamoros or further east from Harlingen in McAllen and Reynosa. The main bus station for local public transportation and intercity buses is at the 2 La Plaza Brownsville Terminal at 755 International Blvd which is along International Blvd & S Adams in downtown: El Expreso, Tornado, 755 International Blvd, ☏ +1 713 325-8010, toll-free: +1 800 601-6559. Connects Matamoros/Brownsville to Houston and Dallas (updated Mar 2018) Greyhound, Autobus Americanos and Valley Transit Co (VTC), 755 International Blvd, ☏ +1 956 546-2264, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. They have an additional location 215 E Monroe St in Harlingen. Goes up towards San Antonio via Harlingen, McAllen and Falfurrias.

The best way to get around Brownsville is by car. If you don't have a car, there are multiple rental car agencies dotted around the city. Brownsville Metro (B-Metro) - Main bus service providing rides within thirteen different routes throughout the city's major arteries. The system operates M-Sa 6AM-8PM. The terminal center, called La Plaza at Brownsville, is at 755 International Blvd close to the Gateway International Bridge. The center was completed in 2013 and also provides several restaurants with both indoor and outdoor seating. There are several taxi services provided right outside of the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport. They are easily accessible once arriving here (by plane). Prices depend on type of cab service. City Taxi, 1135 E Adams St, ☏ +1 956 544-3030. 24 hours. Only accepts cash, no debit cards. Also known as Brownsville Cab. Yellow Express Taxi, 2370 North Expy Ste 1, ☏ +1 956 320-8294. 24 hours. Provides taxi service to Los Fresnos, Rancho Viejo and across the border to Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Accepts payments in Visa, Mastercard. The city is known as the "Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley" so there will be several trails spanning long distances of the city. They connect to major arteries and other commercial areas. There are seven bike trails you can take to explore Brownsville (listed in the Do section of the article). A BikeShare Program by Zagster has six bike stations around Brownsville, including several in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Despite Brownsville's reputation as a border town, the city is relatively safe. According to an FBI report conducted in early 2015, the Brownsville-Harlingen metropolitan area ranked last in a list of most dangerous cities. This makes Brownsville the safest metro area in Texas. As long as you stay in the more commercial side of town and take precautions you will be safe. It is advised not to travel to Downtown around midnight. Most of the area is quiet and lonely around this time, raising the chances of theft or robberies. You should also lock your car when shopping, especially at night. While the city rarely experiences any major crimes, petty crimes like attempted robbery or vandalism are quite common. If you are a victim of a crime or see one, please report it by calling the Brownsville Police Department at ☏ +1 956 548-7000 or 911. Their main building is at 600 E Jackson St.