The 40th annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament returns to South Padre Island Aug. 7 with a few changes to this year’s tournament. The tournament kicks off Aug. 6 with check-in and on-site registration from 4-7 p.m. at the SPI Convention Centre. Barbecue, a full-service bar and vendors will be available until 8 p.m. to give attendees time to visit. On Saturday, fishing begins at 6:30 a.m. Sea Ranch Marina II at…
The Palm View Golf Course will once again host the 2021 Frost Bank McAllen Golf Championship June 25-27. Entries close at 7 p.m. June 11. “We always want to bring the most premier, competitive golf tournaments to McAllen and host the best players, in not just our area but the entire state and even the world,” said Carlos Espinosa, director of Palm View Golf Course. “Every year, I really look…
Living in Harlingen these days means having access to as much parkland and hike-and-bike trails as can be found in the Rio Grande Valley. It’s a point that Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell likes to make, as he did recently when the city marked the official opening of the Lon C. Hill Destination Park. The $3.3-million project transformed what was an ordinary green space. It is now over 50 acres of…
The headline atop the easel paper pad was in all caps and featured “SIGNIFICANT SIGHTINGS.” Underneath the big letters there were 23 bird species listed that had been seen across the Rio Grande Valley over the first three weeks of April. Next to that column were another 13 bird species spotted at South Padre Island. “It has been an exceptional year,” said Keith Hackland, who owns and operates the Alamo…
The road back to tourism recovery in McAllen leads through its youth soccer, baseball, softball and football fields in the view of a city official who has spent years cultivating relationships that have brought teams and visitors by the thousands to local parks. Robert Lopez, the vice president of Visit McAllen, is hardly allowing the setbacks of 2020 to temper his ambitions to bring more youth sports events and tournaments…
Texas State Parks have begun a process of expanding capacity statewide, tracking Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest reopening order. The parks encourage masks for visitors, especially when indoors or in areas where it is difficult to socially distance. Also, restrictions affecting group sizes have been lifted. “We’re excited to welcome more visitors to our parks,” said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. “We want Texans to know that the safety…
The historic Port Isabel Lighthouse is now reopen to the public, as well as the park and Keeper’s Cottage Visitors Center. Weather permitting, hours of operation for the lighthouse are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday with the last tickets selling at 3:30 p.m. Patrons may only purchase tickets through at the Keeper’s Cottage Visitors Center with a credit or debit card. Ticket prices are $5 for adults,…
The McAllen Public Library is now allowing borrowers 17 years and older to take home video game titles for PS4, PS5, X-Box One, X-Box Series X and Nintendo Switch. The new circulating games carry ratings of E–For Everyone and T–For Teens. Video game borrowers must reside in the City of McAllen and be 17 years or older. They must also have an MPL card and provide verification of a current…
Hidalgo County Commissioner Eduardo Cantu had modest expectations when he set out to bring a hike-and-bike trail to Pharr and San Juan. It was early 2015 and Cantu was well aware of the health and fitness improvements made in Brownsville, McAllen and Harlingen as those cities have constructed and opened miles of outdoor trails. The same has occurred in Mission and San Benito as hike-and-bike trails have flourished across the…
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging Texans to “start the new year in nature” with a First Day Hike at a Texas state park. Citizens can walk, bike or paddle their way into 2021 on a First Day Hike at 89 Texas state parks. First Day Hikes at Texas’ state parks aim to help visitors commit to their New Year’s resolutions to get healthy. Last year, 5,242 visitors…