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Weslaco is a city of about 41,000 people in Hidalgo County, in the Rio Grande Valley of far South Texas, just a few miles north of the Mexican border. It was founded in 1919 and takes its name from the initials of the W.E. Stewart Land Company. Surrounded by citrus groves and farmland, the city is known for agriculture research, including the famous Texas 1015 sweet onion developed at the local Texas A&M station.
For visitors, Weslaco is best known as a birding destination. Estero Llano Grande State Park, part of the World Birding Center network, and the Frontera Audubon Center protect wetlands and native thorn forest where many species found almost nowhere else in the United States can be seen. The Valley Nature Center in Gibson Park adds trails and exhibits on the Valley's wildlife.
The historic downtown includes the Cortez Hotel and the Weslaco Museum, which tells the town's story. In winter the city welcomes many Winter Texans, and day trips lead to the international bridge at Progreso, the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and McAllen.
A state park and World Birding Center site with ponds, marshes and thorn forest trails where you can see herons, ducks, green jays, chachalacas and, at times, roosting owls and alligators. Rangers lead bird walks in the main season. Arrive early in the morning, bring binoculars and pay the small entry fee.
A nature sanctuary in town with trails through native Tamaulipan thornscrub, ponds and gardens that attract Rio Grande Valley specialty birds and butterflies. A historic house on the grounds serves as the visitor center. It is quiet and shady; walk slowly and watch the feeders for orioles and kiskadees.
A nature center in Gibson Park with a small museum, live animal exhibits and trails through native plants and butterfly gardens, aimed at teaching visitors about Rio Grande Valley wildlife. It is a good first stop for families and new birders. Check the schedule for guided walks and children's programs.
A city history museum downtown with exhibits on Weslaco's founding, citrus and vegetable farming, the railroad, local schools and the people who built the town. It is small and easy to see in under an hour. Admission is usually free or low cost; check opening days before going, as hours are limited.
A historic Spanish-style hotel building in downtown Weslaco from the 1920s, one of the city's best-known landmarks from its boom years as a farming center. It is worth a look on a downtown walk, with its tiled roofline and arched details. View it from the street and pair it with a visit to the Weslaco Museum.
A bridge over the Rio Grande south of Weslaco leading to Nuevo Progreso in Mexico, long popular with Winter Texans for crafts, pharmacies, dental visits and Mexican food within walking distance. Bring a passport or passport card for the return trip, check current travel advisories, and carry small bills for tolls.
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