South Texas Region
RETURN TO GOSH2022
Chynna Clugston Flores
Quinta Mazatlan
HISTORY | South Texas
When writer, adventurer and composer Jason Chilton Matthews and his wife, Marcia Jamieson, settled in South Texas in the 1930s, they built a large adobe estate on the highest knoll in McAllen, dubbing their home Quinta Mazatlan. One of the largest adobe structures in Texas, the home sits among the remains of the Tamaulipan thornforest, a mix of mesquite, cactus, thorny underbrush and river-bound wetlands that once covered the Rio Grande Valley. The house now serves as the McAllen wing of the World Birding Center, where staff encourage visitors to restore native habitat “one backyard at a time.”
Snap a selfie in front of Quinta Mazatlan’s front doors, which feature gargoyles and cherubs carved in the likeness of the Matthews’ two children.
Chynna Clugston Flores
Laguna Madre Nature Trail
PARKS | South Texas
There may be no better way to experience the wildlife of South Padre than walking along the 1,500-foot boardwalk of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail. More than 300 species of coastal and migratory birds fly through the area each year, soaring over beautiful wildflowers, fiddlewood bushes and acres of marshland.
Snap a selfie anywhere along the nature trail.
Chynna Clugston Flores
Padre Island National Seashore
SPLASH | South Texas
Located just outside Corpus Christi, Padre Island National Seashore protects almost 70 miles of natural habitat and undeveloped beaches. Enjoy beachcombing along the Gulf of Mexico on the east side, or kayak the 3-foot-deep, hypersaline (saltier than the ocean) Laguna Madre on the west. While 60 miles of the beach are open to driving, a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for most of the beach.
Snap a selfie wading into either the Gulf or Laguna Madre.
Chynna Clugston Flores
Sea Turtle Inc.
WILD TEXAS | South Texas
No residents of the Lone Star State are more adorable than the sea turtles that call South Texas home. Sea Turtle Inc. is dedicated to promoting conservation efforts for all marine turtle species, and to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured sea turtles. The facility is open year-round and offers self-guided tours.
Snap a selfie with a sea turtle or at a feeding! Arrive midmorning for breakfast (10:30 a.m. daily) or come midafternoon for enrichment feedings (3:30 p.m. daily).
Chynna Clugston Flores
World’s Largest Killer Bee
QUIRKY | South Texas
Africanized “killer bees” first entered the United States in October 1990, appearing just outside Hidalgo. While the media at the time portrayed the event as a panic-worthy invasion, Hidalgo’s mayor saw an opportunity. The city proclaimed itself the “Killer Bee Capital of the World” and commissioned a giant, 2,000-pound lifelike statue of the apian invader — the world’s largest killer bee — which now sits outside city hall.
Snap a selfie in front of the killer bee statue.
Chynna Clugston Flores
Selena Memorial statue
MUSIC | South Texas
The Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla-Perez is honored with a life-size bronze statue and memorial, Mirador de la Flor, along the Corpus Christi Bayfront Seawall. Below the memorial, the Paseo de la Flor walkway features hand-painted tiles of flowers and music notes from South Texas schoolchildren and senior citizens.
Snap a selfie with the Selena statue.
Delia's
GOOD EATS | South Texas
Considered to be one the best tamale makers in Texas, Delia’s entices locals and visitors with 18 different types of tamales. Unwrap a delicious meal at any of the six locations across the Rio Grande Valley.
Snap a selfie with any variety of Delia’s tamales (try the cream cheese and jalapeño!).