Gulf Coast & South Texas - Texas - page 601

( 956-787-3079; www.fws.gov ; off US 281; per vehicle $3; dawn-dusk, visitor center 8am-4pm) A birder's
heaven, this 2088-acre refuge run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service is one of the val-
ley's most beautiful spots. Lakes, wetlands, thorny bushes and palms combine for a bucol-
ic setting where the only noises come from birds. The refuge is the seasonal home to al-
most 400 avian species. Hundreds of butterfly species have been spotted here as well.
Tram tours (adult/child $4/2; 9am, noon & 2pm Dec-Apr, other times call for schedules) are popular, but
to really experience the place, head out on foot on some of the 12 miles of trails. Short,
looping wooden boardwalks are a breeze for the time-challenged; Spanish moss-draped
ash, cedar and elm trees shade the lovely trail, which leads to Willow Lakes. Don't miss
the rope bridge to an observation tower. Note that bugs here can make vultures seem tame.

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
( www.tpwd.state.tx.us ; 2800 S Bentsen Palm Dr; adult/child $5/free; park 7am-10pm, center 8am-5pm) Spot
some of over 300 bird species in this serene 760-acre park, which is headquarters for the
World Birding Center. Much of the park surrounds several resacas - water-filled former
river channels that support lush foliage. The visitor center offers excellent trail guides and
many bird books. You can rent binoculars and inquire about special programs like bird
walks and tram tours.
The site is good for bikes (per day $5 to $12), which make getting to key attractions,
like the 1.8-mile Rio Grande loop trail, easy.The park's 10 widely spaced tent sites (per site
$12) rarely fill up and have water. Surrounded by thorny brush and shaded by trees, the
pastoral experience is described as 'waking up with the birds.' The neighboring Bentsen
Palm Village RV Resort ( 956-585-5568; www.bentsenpalm.com ; 2500 S Bentsen Palm Dr; RV sites from $40,
cabins from $90; ) is part of a growing retirement village.
To get here, take the Bentsen Palm Dr (FM 2062) off Business US 83, 3 miles west of
Mission. Drive south 5 miles to the park.

PARK

NATURE RESERVE

National Butterfly Center
( 956-583-9009; www.nationalbutterflycenter.org ; adult/child $5/2.50; 8am-5pm Sep-Mar, 9am-4pm Apr-Aug)
Who isn't enchanted by butterflies? This park is both a learning center and a sanctuary for
butterflies and endangered plants. More than 300 species of the little winged jewels have
been spotted amidst its 5 acres laced with walking trails. It is only 1 mile east of Bentsen-
Rio Grande State Park along Military Rd.