Travel in Laredo
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The twin cities of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, which celebrate their 250th anniversary in 2005, are situated on the banks of the Rio Grande. Laredo, which has a population of 190,000, has been governed under seven national flags. Nuevo Laredo has a burgeoning population that exceeds 300,000. The twin cities are collectively referred to as Dos Laredos. The weather is moderate in winter months (average temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, 20 degrees Celsius) but sizzling in mid-summer (100F/39C). This city is the commercial hub of the South Texas Plains, which is primarily an agricultural region. It offers entertainment, education, and cultural resources that fit well with its Hispanic heritage. Laredo is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.
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Get in
Laredo is accessible by car via Interstate highway I-35, and highways US 59 and US 83. I-35 is the US portion of the Pan American Highway that stretches from Central America to Canada. Laredo International Airport (http://www.laredointernationalairport.com/) has scheduled air connections to Dallas/Fort Worth (50 minutes), Houston (Texas) (50 Minutes) and Mexico City (90 minutes) via American Eagle, Continental Express and Azteca airlines.
Get around
- El Metro (http://www.ci.laredo.tx.us/Metro/elmetroinfo.html/) is the city's municipal bus service, offering scheduled routes as well as paratransit services. Laredo is quite spread out, so car rental is an attractive local transportation alternative.
See
Historic attractions in old Laredo include Plaza San Augustin (where various dance, music and crafts festivals take place throughout the year), the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, and El Mercado, the old city hall.
Do
Wildlife game abound in south Texas, so Laredo is a popular destination for hunters and fishermen. Birders can spot the Great Kiskadee, White-tipped Dove, Green Jay, Scrub Jay, Red-billed Pigeon, Audubon's Oriole and possibly the White-Collared Seedeater in the region.
Buy
Mexican souvenirs and crafts are plentiful in local marts. For example, visit Marti's (http://www.martis.com/) for antiques, furnishings, folk art, jewelry, ceramics and local art
Eat
Southwestern and Mexican cuisine restaurants abound in Laredo. Here are two examples:
- La Barranca, 107 Calle del Norte at Fountain Center, Tel. 956-718-9955, closed Sundays
- El Tesoro Club, 1000 Zaragoza, in La Posada Hotel (http://www.laposadahotel.com/), Tel. 956-722-1701, is famous for its Sunday brunch.
- El Pescador, 207 Shiloh Drive, Tel. 956-725-8207, and 3919 San Dario, Tel. 956-724-8958 specializes in Mexican seafood
Drink
Sleep
Numerous national hotel chains have Laredo properties, including Courtyard by Marriott, Days Inn, Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inns, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, LaQuinta, Motel Six and Red Roof.
Stay safe
Get out
Day trips by car can take you to Zapata TX (less than 1 hour to the south) for hunting, fishing and nature observation/birding; and to Kingville TX (less than two hours to the east) a ranching heritage town, and home of the King Ranch Museum (http://www.king-ranch/). Cross over the bridge to Nuevo Laredo and visit nearby San Ygnacio, Camargo City, Ciudad Mier, Ciudad Miguel Aleman and Ciudad Diaz Ordaz for a taste of Mexican history, environment and lifestyles
External links
Official city link: Laredo, TX (http://www.ci.laredo.tx.us/)