Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most motels are along US 77/83. Unless you are getting an early start for bird-watching,
you might want to stay amid the beachy charms of South Padre Island, an easy 28 miles
northeast.
MOTEL
$
University Inn
( 956-546-0381; 55 Sam Perl Blvd; r $40-60; )
An older two-story motel built around a
large parking lot and pool, it is close to downtown and the border. Service, decor and frills
are dead simple but it's well located for soaking up the town's atmosphere.
Holiday Inn Express
( 956-550-0666;
www.hiexpress.com
;
1985 N Expwy, exit US 77/83 at Ruben Torres Sr Blvd; r $120-200;
)
Fairly comfortable but also generic, the HI has 74 rooms across three floors with
inside corridors. The pool is outside near nascent palms. Guests enjoy a large breakfast
buffet.
MOTEL
$$
Eating
Fans of Mexican food will need a week to sample just some of the excellent local eateries.
Taco Palenque
( 956-546-8172; 1803 Boca Chica Blvd; mains from $4; 7am-10pm)
This is the flagship restaurant
of a small Rio Grande Valley chain run by a famous local family; you may find yourself
here more than once. Order tacos at the counter and then start drooling over the best salsa
bar ever. Ten kinds of salsas, cilantro, cabbage, chilies and much more await.
MEXICAN
$
Vermillion
( 956-542-9893; 115 Paredes Line Rd; mains from $8; 11am-10pm)
It may seem to be as old as
Brownsville, but actually this venerable family-run restaurant dates back to 1934. Both
the Tex (sublime chicken-fried steak) and the Mex (amazing fajita nachos) are good.
TEX-MEX
$
Information
Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau
( 956-546-3721;
www.brownsville.org
; 650 Ruben M Torres Sr Blvd,
at FM 802 exit; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm Sat & Sun)
On the west side of US 77/83 is this excel-
lent source of information on the entire area.
