Escape to the Great Outdoors in Harlingen

Harlingen, Texas. Population about 75,000. A south Texas city with a rich military history dating back to World War II. Originally settled in 1903. About 30 miles from both South Padre Island and the US/Mexico border. Home to world-class bird watching. Birthplace of famous actors Thomas Haden Church and Nick Stahl. Harlingen is certainly a city with a lot to offer!

Best of all, Harlingen is an affordable spot where you can connect with nature. The city is rich with wildlife and birds and features lots of natural areas where visitors can observe them. From the zoo to wildlife refuges, Harlingen has it all. It even offers an easy drive to South Padre Island, where visitors can discover marine and sea life from the Gulf. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway to the south of Texas, look no further than Harlingen.

Six activities to connect you with nature in Harlingen in 2025

• Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Described as a birder’s paradise, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is a great spot to observe birds, butterflies, wildlife and more. Even better, this state park offers a daily tram for visitors to easily explore this beautiful natural space. 

• National Butterfly Center. Learn all about why it is vitally important to protect butterflies on behalf of Mother Nature at the national Butterfly Center in Mission, TX. The center showcases live plants and animals in natural settings for educational and conservation purposes. 

• Gladys Porter Zoo. Located on South Padre Island, the Gladys Porter Zoo is a fun spot for all ages and anyone who loves animals. With 377 species of animals and 225 species of plants, guests will love spending the day at this world class facility, learning about some of Mother Nature’s greatest gifts. 

• Bass Pro Shop. Okay, so Bass Pro Shop isn’t an obvious place to go to observe wildlife. However, they do have an amazing aquarium with live fish feedings Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 pm. This is a great spot to visit when it’s too hot or too rainy to enjoy the outdoors and still feel as if you are connecting with nature. 

• Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. With more than 60 miles of hiking and biking trails in this natural area, guests can really unplug and enjoy the outdoors. There are five birding stations and four water features at the onsite visitors center and plenty of spaces to enjoy the great outdoors. 
• Frontera Audubon. Head west to Weslaco, Texas, and you’ll stumble about the Frontera Audubon, a 15-acre nature preserve in the heart of the city. There you’ll find birds, butterflies and other wildlife in addition to historic buildings important to the area. 

Harlingen lodging

Pull up your RV and stay awhile in Harlingen at the Palm Gardens Home & RV Park. Affordable and gated, this community spot offers loads of superior amenities to guests. From the pool and spa to the planned community activities, you’ll have so much fun in Harlingen you won’t want to leave. Book your stay today at one of the most established RV Parks in the Rio Grande Valley, Palm Gardens RV Park.