This is a non-touristy beach out on the Gulf. It was overcast, a bit chilly and really windy when I visited. Not very good beach weather, but there were a few other folks there too. Some photos. ​Boca Chica Beach ​The road to get here ends rather abruptly ​But you can drive up and down … More Boca Chica Beach

When the fighting broke out in the Mexican-American War in May 1846, US General Zachary Taylor and most of his troops moved south towards the Mexican border. To stop him, Mexican General Mariano Arista placed his own much-larger body of troops across the main road to Matamoros, intending to goad the Americans into attacking him … More Palo Alto Battlefield

SpaceX is constructing their launch facility in southern Texas so it is closer to the equator, which makes it easier to reach orbit. There are no tours or anything of the facility, but the tracking station is right alongside the road, so anyone can stop and snap some photos. The Space Hopper was being readied … More SpaceX Site

The last organized battle of the Civil War was fought after the war was already over. And in a historical irony, the battle ended in a Confederate victory. In the first years of the Civil War, Texas was important to the Union for three reasons. The state’s beef supplies were a major source of rations … More Palmito Ranch Battlefield

  Well, my visit to Brownsville is drawing to a close (I’m leaving at the end of next week), and due to the Orange Child’s temper tantrum, I don’t know when the Mexican War battlefield parks here will re-open. Since those are one of the things I wanted to see while I was here, and … More Resaca de la Palma Battlefield

This is a wildlife preserve right on the banks of the Rio Grande, just outside Brownsville TX. It has one of the state’s largest intact areas of sabal palm habitat. Some photos from an afternoon walk. ​The Visitors Center is located inside an old plantation house ​Sabal Palms. These are a different species from the … More Sabal Palm Sanctuary

When I made plans to stay in Brownsville, I wanted to do a day trip over to Matamoros, in Mexico. But all the travel websites said “don’t go there”, and even the State Department has warnings that it ain’t safe for gringos. But when I asked about it at the border control station, they told me … More A Day in Mexico

I was hoping to visit the Mexican War battlefields at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma and the Civil War battlefield at Palmito Ranch, but alas they are all still closed because of the shutdown. I don’t know if they will reopen before I leave at the end of the month or not. I … More Well ………

There are several historical buildings scattered around Brownsville TX. They are all jointly owned and managed by the Brownsville Historical Association and run as museums. Some photos from a visit. ​The Brownsville Historical Association Museum is in the old railroad depot. ​Inside the museum ​Beer bottles from the Mexican War ​Locomotive Number One ​A pistol … More Historical Association Museums

[NOTE: I’ve blogged all these “how-to” posts before, but am gonna re-run them on occasion, since folks may have missed them, and many of them have been updated or expanded since they were first posted.] Most people can’t live without their TV or DVD. I don’t have a TV set or DVD player in the … More Entertainment in the Van