The Rio Grande river valley, know worldwide as "The Valley" is generally considered to be the southernmost three counties of Texas. Although called a "valley"  it is actually a broad floodplain of the Rio Grande River.

 

The Valley is very popular with RVers and winter texans. The winter weather is sub tropical and is equivalent to Tampa, FL. The culture is a mixture of western and spanish, with Mexico a short drive away.

 

The wildlife and beauty of the land are creating an "ecotourism" industry here. Because it is a flyway between North and South America, migratory birds practically get bottlenecked in the Valley, making for some of the best birding in the country. Shopping and dining in Mexico are less than an hour away and the mountains of Mexico’s interior are just a half-day’s drive. The emerald surf of South Padre Island, one of the premier resorts on the Gulf of Mexico, is just two hours from the Valley’s western end.

 

There are half a dozen state and federal parks in the area and outdoor activities are endless.