Snowbirds & RV Travelers

Tropical Weather

At Tropic Winds RV Resort in South Texas

- BY DARCY NYBO

You don’t have to fly to an island to enjoy tropical weather. Instead make a visit to Harlingen, Texas where you can still find tropical breezes and warm sun. Tropic Winds RV Resort is just 48 km (30 mi) from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the friendly staff and dozens of Winter Texans will make your stay here one to remember. Located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, the resort offers a wide variety of fun-filled activities. Home Away from Home Melissa Cortez, the Tropic Winds RV Resort manager, makes sure there are plenty of things for her guests to do. “Here at Tropic Winds we have a variety of activities for our Winter Texans. The activities they like the most are pickleball, our remote-control race track, arts and crafts, and the entertainm­ent we provide.” Other activities include shuffleboa­rd, horseshoes, bocce ball and the ever-popular line, square and ballroom dancing.

Most Winter Texans think of Tropic Winds as their home away from home. It’s the perfect place to sit back, relax, pour yourself a cold drink, read a book, or have a friendly chat with your neighbour. Then when the mood strikes, there are plenty of adventures just outside the RV resort to fill you with wonder and get your heart pumping. Water Fun, Golf and Birding When you’re ready to explore the area, the warm, sandy beaches of South Padre Island await. Nestled between Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico, the warm embrace of the water entices you to come and swim or sail.

The area surroundin­g the resort also offers world- class golf at various local public golf courses. There are over a dozen golf courses near Harlingen. Just a golf swing away you’ll find two 18-hole championsh­ip courses at Rancho Viejo Resort and a scenic 18-hole course at the South Padre Island Golf Club.

If exploring nature and wildlife captivates your interests more, Harlingen is home to the World Birding Center and two of the most unique wildlife refuges in the country. The city is also home to Bass Pro Shops, a new and exciting attraction. Hunting and Fishing This area is akin to a hunter’s paradise. Texas is home to a variety of wildlife, including whitetaile­d deer, Nilgai (antelope), javelin (similar to a wild boar), wild pig, dove, quail, ducks, wild turkey and more. The landscape and year-round greenery gives the area a unique advantage, as it encourages the growth and developmen­t of some of the largest animals found in the state.

Excellent fishing opportunit­ies abound, whether you want to try and catch a big one off the pier or do some deep-sea exploratio­n. Harlingen offers excellent fishing opportunit­ies because of its location at the southernmo­st tip of Texas. Anglers can enjoy some of the best sport fish available year-round. Some fish species you may find include redfish, speckled trout, flounder, tarpon and many more. Offshore anglers can target marlin, sailfish, Dorado, snapper, grouper, amberjack, and others. Museums, Theatre, and Shopping There are several local museums that provide an excellent opportunit­y to explore the history of Harlingen. Be sure to plan a visit to the Iwo Jima Monument, Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, and historic Jackson Street.

There’s great live entertainm­ent here, too. You can take in a variety of events such as community theatre, sporting events, and world famous musical acts. If retail therapy is on your mind, the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets are a short drive away and feature over 140 name brand stores.

Family Fun

For family-friendly fun, schedule some time to discover the 1,600 exotic and native animals at Gladys Porter Zoo. This dynamic zoo is organized into four distinct zones: Africa, Asia, Tropical America, and Indo-Australia. Within these zones, you will see such creatures as Galapagos Tortoises, Caribbean flamingos, tree kangaroos, kookaburra­s, and Bactrian camels.

And Relax

Once you get back to Tropic Winds, make sure you check the activity board. There could be a card tournament, live entertainm­ent or a dance to close out the day.

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