Laredo

From eTripTips Wiki

The twin cities of Laredo [1], Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, which celebrated their 250th anniversary in 2005, are situated on the banks of the Rio Grande. Laredo, which has a population of 207,787, has been governed under seven national flags. Nuevo Laredo has a burgeoning population of 355,827. The twin cities are collectively referred to as Los Dos Laredos. The weather is moderate in winter months 68°F (20°C) but sizzling in mid-summer 100°F (39°C). 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.

[edit] Get in

• Laredo is accessible by car via Interstate highway I-35, and highways US 59 and US 83. I-35 is the U.S. portion of the Pan American Highway that stretches from Central America to Canada.
• Laredo International Airport (IATA: LRD) (ICAO: KLRD), [2] has scheduled direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth (80 minutes) and Houston (80 minutes) and Las Vegas (165 minutes) via American Eagle, Continental Express, Allegiant.

[edit] Get around

• El Metro, [3] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Buy

Mexican souvenirs and crafts are plentiful in local marts. For example, visit Marti's [4] for antiques, furnishings, folk art, jewelry, ceramics and local art

• Thomas Grocery, 206 Juarez Ave, +1 956-729-7379.

[edit] 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,[5], Tel: (956) 722-1701. 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.

[edit] Drink

The drinking age in Texas, as in all of the U.S., is 21, the drinking age in the state of Tamaulipas, as in all of Mexico, is 18. Many Texan high school seniors and college students from San Antonio and Austin make their way to Nuevo Laredo to drink. Jenna and Barbara Bush were spotted just across the bridge several times at a bar called La Mina.

[edit] Sleep

• Courtyard Laredo, : 2410 Santa Ursula Avenue, : +1 956 725-5555, Website: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/LRDCY
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Laredo, : 700 W. Hillside Road, : +1 956 722-4533, TollFree: +1 866 722-4501, Website: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/LRDFI
• Holiday Inn, : 800 Garden St., : +1 956 727-5800, Website: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/lrdcc
• Motel 6 Laredo North, : 5920 San Bernardo Avenue, : +1 956 722-8133, Website: http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=1107
• Motel 6 Laredo South, : 5310 San Bernardo Avenue, : +1 956 725-8187, Website: http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=0142
• Residence Inn Laredo Del Mar, : 310 Lost Oaks Blvd, : +1 956 753-9700, Website: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/LRDRI
• SpringHill Suites Laredo, : 5940 San Bernardo Ave., : +1 956 717-0800, Website: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/LRDSH

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] 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 Kingsville (less than two hours to the east) a ranching heritage town, and home of the King Ranch Museum. 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.

WikiPedia:Laredo, Texas Dmoz:North_America/United_States/Texas/Localities/L/Laredo