Gulf Coast/South Texas
Maegan Lanham | TPWD
Zaragoza Birthplace
Adults $5 • Special rates for seniors, veterans, children/families, first responders, teachers
Tip your hat to Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza, who, along with his soldiers, defeated the French to solidify Mexican independence on May 5, 1862. If you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it’s thanks to Zaragoza.
Selfie Instructions
Snap a selfie in front of the statue of General Zaragoza, the man responsible for Cinco de Mayo.
Maegan Lanham | TPWD
Estero Llano Grande State Park
3301 S. International Blvd. (FM 1015) | WESLACO
Adults $5 • Children 12 and under free
Nature takes center stage at Estero Llano Grande. Look for the more than 300 species of birds that have been documented here, check out Alligator Lake, and if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of one of the park’s resident bobcats!
Selfie Instructions
Snap a selfie from inside the ADA-accessible Indigo Blind, tucked away in the park’s Tropical Zone.
Courtesy Cameron County
South Texas Ecotourism Center
We had so much fun looking for birds here last year, we couldn’t wait to go back! The South Texas Ecotourism center features 10 acres of trails, bird blinds, an educational lab, an outdoor classroom and a 25-foot-tall viewing pavilion that looks out into the Bahia Grande Unit of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.
Selfie Instructions
Come early and enjoy coffee with the birds between 9–11 a.m. Snap a selfie with your binoculars or coffee cup. If you arrive after 11, snap a selfie inside any of the bird blinds.
Maegan Lanham | TPWD
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
5102 Bob Bullock Loop | LAREDO
Adults $4 • Children 12 and under free
Although Lake Casa Blanca is a great place for sports (the park features a baseball field, and tennis, volleyball and basketball courts), it’s best known for water recreation. Come and enjoy swimming, boating, fishing or water skiing. The park often reaches capacity in the summer; reservations are recommended.
Selfie Instructions
Check out free loaner tackle at park headquarters, then snap a selfie at the fishing pier.
Sonja Sommerfeld | TPWD
Art Museum of South Texas
1902 N. Shoreline Blvd. | CORPUS CHRISTI
Adults $10 • Children 12 and under free
Explore art, architecture and Corpus Christi Bay at the Art Museum of South Texas. The museum includes more than 2,000 works, primarily focused on American art, especially from Texas and the surrounding region.
Selfie Instructions
Snap a selfie looking over the bay while sitting on the “Laps and Layers” limestone and mosaic tile divan sculpture by artist Danny O’Dowdy.
courtesy RCAD
Rockport Murals
If you visit Rockport and never leave the beach, you’re missing out on some great public art. The Rockport Cultural Arts District has commissioned eight gorgeous murals (and counting!) across the city, each promoting #rockportculture. Long live public art!
Selfie Instructions
Snap a selfie in front of the “Greetings from Rockport” mural along the Austin Street Corridor, or any of the other Rockport murals.
Regional Sponsors
Texas Historical Commission, South Texas Ecotourism Center, The City of Laredo, Art Museum of South Texas, Visit Rockport Fulton
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