Places of interest and things to do near Aladdin Villas
Bentsen State Park and World Birding Center Headquarters
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 8 miles
This riparian woodland of 764 acres is home to green jays, plain chachalacas, altamira orioles, and many more species rarely seen elsewhere in the United States. The park is accessible only by foot, bicycle or a tram that makes regular runs for viewing the park. With 3 miles of nature trails and 4 miles of paved roads, this park is one of the top birding destinations in the United States.
www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Bentsen.html
2800 S. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission, TX 78572 956-585-1107
Falcon State Park and Dam
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 65 miles
This dam, completed in 1953, impounds a 60 mile long reservoir. It was built for conservation, irrigation, power, flood control, and recreation purposes. The flood control it provided made much of the valley safe for serious construction of homes and businesses. The 572 acre park has facilities for camping, picnicking, bird watching, and fishing.
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/falcon
146 Park Road 46, Roma, TX 78544 956-848-5327
Hidalgo Pumphouse and Birding Center
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 12 miles
Tour the museum that explains how the steam driven irrigation pumps, making year-round farming possible, converted the Valley into an agricultural powerhouse in the early 20th century. The beautiful grounds with a picnic area are being replanted with native plants and the area is home and flyway for many hummingbird and bird species. On the 5-mile bike and walking path you can get a close-up view of the border fence and border crossing.
900 S 2nd St. Hidalgo, TX 78557 956-843-8686
Los Ebanos Ferry – last hand pulled ferry on Mexican border
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 20 miles
Just west of Mission, is a one-of-a-kind sight seeing opportunity–the last hand-operated ferry on either border and the only vehicle ferry in the entire state of Texas. In fact it is the only government licensed hand-pulled ferry on any boundary of the United States. Bring your car or leave your car in the U.S. and get hand-pulled across the Rio Grande into Mexico, then turn around and get pulled right back. Getting through customs is fast and easy, but make sure to bring your passport – you will be going into Mexico after all.
At the end of Flores St., Los Ebanos TX 78565 (2 miles south of Hwy 83) 956-485-1084
McAllen Convention Center
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 5 miles
This beautiful convention center hosts tradeshows, sporting events, and concerts and features an exhibition hall, meeting space and four ballrooms—a “go to” place for quality entertainment.
https://experiencemcallen.com
700 Convention Center Blvd., McAllen, TX 78501 956-681-3800
Nuevo Progreso, Mexico
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 31 miles
This Mexican city is located just across the Rio Grande River from Progreso and the walking bridge crossing is the safest border crossing in south Texas. The city is a mecca for less expensive dental work, medications, hair care, pedicures and manicures and features many shops, as well as restaurants with Mexican fare and margaritas.
Quinta Mazatlan
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 8 miles
A primary tourist location in the area, this urban sanctuary features nature speakers, bird walks, hummingbird and butterfly gardens and a native thorn forest. On a tour, you can learn the rich history of the luxurious mansion built on the property in 1935, decades before the Rio Grande Valley began serious development. Quinta Mazatlan, a part of the World Birding Center, was initially a private residence, but now is operated by the City of McAllen with a mission of connecting people to the history, beauty and wonder of the natural world.
600 Sunset Dr., McAllen, TX 78503 956-681-3370
South Padre Island
Approximate distance from Aladdin Villas – 79 miles
This coastal tip getaway for a day’s excursion or much longer offers beautiful beaches, warm gulf waters, fishing, shell collection, bird watching, water surfing, parasailing and much more. Not far from Brownsville, TX, it is a tropical paradise complete with grand hotels, plenty of bars, restaurants, shopping places and nightlife.
Country Clubs and golfing
While the majority of golfers at Aladdin Villas frequent the Shary Municipal golf course, additional courses within several miles of Aladdin provide plenty of options for the golfing enthusiast, the rookie, or golfers of any skill level.
Shary Municipal Golf Course
This 27-hole golf course also offers a full service driving range. Daily play can be by tee time reservation or on a walk-in basis. Daily green fees are competitively priced, as are annual green fees. The golf course is the number one tourist attraction for the City of Mission during the winter months. The clubhouse also has a full service snack bar for the patrons.
www.missiontexas.us/golf-course
2201 Mayberry, Mission, TX 78572 956-580-8770
Martin Valley Ranch
Here you can golf under an abundance of live oak, mesquite and palm trees while enjoying native plants and wildlife. With lush bermuda tees, fairways and greens, Martin Valley boasts 27 holes with a par 72 on the first 18 holes and a par 36 on the back nine.
7400 W. Expressway 83, Mission, TX 956-585-2131
Champion Lakes Golf Course
Since reopening in 2000, this course has established itself as one of the premier golf facilities in south Texas. Fourteen man-made lakes provide the golfer with pleasant thrills and panoramic views. The newly remodeled clubhouse overlooks the entire golf course. The driving range is lighted for nighttime operation.
https://championlakesgolf.com
2701 S. Ware Road, McAllen, TX 78503 956-681-3444
Additional web sites of interest:
Source for dances, jams, other entertainment and activities:
Winter Texan Connection in the Rio Grand Valley
Sources for additional places of interest, events and dining: