Editor’s Note: The Texas Historic Commission highlights 12 Texas regions of interest in its Texas Heritage Trails program. The following is a look at the Texas Tropical Trail, the second part in a series about these trails. For more information on this region, visit www.texastropicaltrail.com.

Cruising southbound on Texas 77 through the Rio Grande Valley, it doesn’t take long to confirm that, yes, Texas really is like a whole other country. The Texas Tropical Trail region encompasses 23,000 square miles of prime vacationing frontier. Its 20 counties are home to 1.7 million residents, from students and professionals, to ranchers, fishermen and members of a robust tourism industry.
Sunny skies give way to produce stands of remarkable color, and a historical landmark is always a coconut’s throw away. When you’ve had your fill of land-based wonders, it’s time to hit the beach for adventure, culinary delights and retreats with nature. If you can fight the urge to stop along the highway every time you see an interesting pottery craftsman or cowskin chair maker, you’ll find plenty of splendor on the Texas Tropical Trail.

Who’s Your Padre?
South Padre Island’s white sands and tides that could rock you to sleep are the crowning jewel of the Texas Tropical Trail. From college co-eds to winter Texans, there’s something for everyone at the southern coastal tip of the Lone Star State. With T-shirts bearing the slogan “Who’s your Padre?” and the outlawing of neckties, South Padre Island is where you go to have the quintessential beach experience.
“It truly is an island, with the Laguna Madre on the west and the Gulf of Mexico on the east,” says Dan Quandt, executive director of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are the same latitude as Ft. Lauderdale. [And] we’re laid back…just a spot where you can relax and be yourself.”
A paradise for the fisherman, most restaurants offer a “you catch it, we’ll cook it” service. Dolphin lovers will be happy to know that the bottlenose is easy to spot playing near boats. Beach combing, beach lounging, water sports and parasailing are other favorite things to do at South Padre Island.
“One of our newest activities is allowing people to scuba dive down to an over 400-foot former cruise liner that was sunk about 12 miles off the coast to create an artificial reef,” Quandt says. “The ocean life is incredible.”
Luanne James, an information counselor at South Padre Island’s Visitors Center, says the time of year governs what kind of questions she gets. “During Spring Break, the college students want to know the hot places to be and where certain bars are located. In the summertime, it’s the beach.”
There’s a common misconception that beaches are private, she explains. However, on the island, free, public access is available for all. If you drive down Texas 100 eastbound through the island, you’ll see signs for beach access signs on your right. Keep going and you’ll hit the sand dunes, the perfect spot for beachcombing.
For James, the best part of South Padre Island is simple. “The sunset. Not the sunrise; I’m not a morning person.”
Other destinations: Corpus Christi, Port Isabel. Upcoming events: Taylor Swift at American Bank Center Arena (Corpus Christi, March 12); Spring Break (South Padre Island, March 14-20); CEO No Excuses BBQ Challenge & Music Festival (Corpus Christi, March 27-28); Texas State Surfing Championship (South Padre Island, March 27-28); Beach-N-Biker Fest (South Padre Island, April 16-18).

Storytelling Structures
From Victorian to Classic and Colonial revival, Corpus Christi’s 11 structures of Heritage Park on Chaparral Street offer an eye-opening tour of the oldest homes in the city, which have survived the tests of time and storm.
Gingerbread detailing on the Simon Gugenheim House and the Sidbury House are a marvel for architecture and history enthusiasts alike. These homes hold the stories of this coastal city, founded in 1839 as a trading post for the nearby Mexican revolutionary army.
The Littles-Martin House sheltered one of the city’s first black families. The Jalufka-Govatos House is important to those of Czech descent and was restored by the Czech Heritage Society of South Texas for offices and meeting rooms. The four-bedroom Merriman-Bobys House, representing distinctive Texas architecture, was built with native wood and square nails. It now operates as a restaurant.
War buffs would be remiss to pass up the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, a National Historic Landmark that provides the real World War II experience with simulations, atmospheric sights and sounds, and an IMAX viewing.
For more World War II history, swing by Harlingen for the Iwo Jima Memorial and Museum to see the original sculpture used to cast the Iwo Jima statue standing at Arlington Cemetery. Head on to Brownsville for both the Commemorative Air Force Rio Grande Valley Wing Museum and the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site.

Back to Nature
The Texas Tropical Trail is internationally renowned for its variety of exotic birds, all of which can be viewed at World Birding Center destinations (part of an ecosystem extending into the Taumalipan region of Mexico.)
Rob McCorkle, a Texas Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, explains that the project brings together “nine unique sites from nine cities across the Lower Rio Grande Valley. They provide high-quality, meaningful, nature-based experiences fostering awareness and stewardship for the Taumalipan Thorn Scrub habitat.” (Logon to www.worldbirdingcenter.org.)
The most dedicated eco-tourist will want to check out Bentsen State Park, the location of our country’s first sightings of the Bare-Throated Tiger Heron, the Social Flycatcher, the Stygian Owl, the Collared Forest Falcon, and the Masked Tityra.
There are two enterprises for those interested more in marine life preservation. Sea Turtle, Inc. on South Padre Island is a rescue and educational center for the endangered sea turtle founded in 1977 by Ila Fox Loetscher (the “Turtle Lady of South Padre”). The Dolphin Research & Sea Life Nature Center at Port Isabel, run by husband-and-wife team George and Scarlet Colley, has been following the tribe of the Laguna Madre Bottlenose Dolphins for more than 14 years.
Others destinations: mammoth replica at Museum of South Texas History (Edinburg); horses on the beach (South Padre Island and Corpus Christi); shells at Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. Upcoming events: 15th Annual Big Shell Beach Cleanup (South Padre Island, March 20); bird and butterfly walks, hawk watches (World Birding Center, ongoing).

Where Ranching Was Born
The Texas Tropical Trail boasts of two destinations that have defined Lone Star culture:  Kingsville, home of the ranch; and Pleasanton, birthplace of the cowboy. In Raymondville, check out a family of bootmakers who have survived on word-of-mouth advertising alone, but have outfitted Texas ranchers, cowboys and royalty for years. To learn about ranching firsthand, stop by King Ranch in Kingsville. There you’ll find a saddle shop, museum and trail rides as well as historic and natural tours.  
Other destinations: Kenedy Ranch Museum; Hunting in Cotulla. Upcoming events: Buc Days Pro Rodeo (Corpus Christi, April 22-25)

The Good, the Really Good, and the Offbeat
With museums dedicated to surfing and the late Tejano star Selena (both in Corpus Christi), the Texas Tropical Trail isn’t short of cultural gems.
The epicenter of this region’s cultural roots can be found in Sam Benito, where “conjunto” music, known for its accordion-infused Latin sounds, got its start. “The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum showcases conjunto music and those who created, promoted and recorded the highly danceable music with its solid, bright, snappy and rhythmic sounds,” explains Martha McClain, a spokeswoman for the City of San Benito. Nearby is the Freddy Fender Museum. It gives those who love this multi-Grammy Award winner’s music “a rare glimpse at his roots and what made him such a significant entertainer,” she adds.
Before leaving San Benito, visit the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, situated directly behind those two museums.
Another stop that can’t be missed is Bobz World and the Seven Seas Souvenir Shop in Los Fresnos, marked by life-sized dinosaurs and five-story conch shells outside its doors. Founded in 1950 by Captain Bud Harris of Port Isabel, Seven Seas is a breathtaking expanse of seashells and handmade beachcombing wares. In the same complex, Bobz World offers 45-minute tours of animatronics and handcrafted exhibits, featuring everything from aliens and movie stars to medieval knights.
Other destinations: Jackson Street (Harlingen); Native American artifacts at Dimmit County Public Library; Smitty’s Jukebox Museum (Pharr); and Little Graceland Museum (Los Fresnos). Upcoming events: Corpus Christi Festival of the Arts (March 26-28); SalsaFest (Three Rivers, April 10).