Laredo

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 around 68°F (20°C) but sizzling in mid-summer around 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. Non-US nationals are recommended to carry their immigration documents with them even if they do not plan on crossing the border into Neuvo Laredo, Mexico. There are check points on your way back from Laredo where they might be asked to show your immigration documents. Non-US citizen having a valid US visa who decide to cross the border and enter Mexico should be prepared for a long wait at the CBP detention center/check post to get back into US, even with all the necessary documentation. It might not be a pleasant one, but can be minimized by crossing at off hours or by using alternative crossings, such as the Colombia bridge. Get in By car Laredo is accessible by car via Interstate 35, and US Highways 59 and 83. I-35 is the U.S. portion of the Pan American Highway that stretches from Central America to Canada. By air Laredo International Airport (IATA: LRD) (ICAO: KLRD), [2] has scheduled direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth (80 minutes), Houston (80 minutes), and Las Vegas (165 minutes) via American Eagle, Continental Express, and Allegiant Air. 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. 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. Lake Casa Blanca International Park, 5102 Bob Bullock Loop, [4]. 7am-10pm. Activities include picnic areas, fishing, and camping (nightly site fees $15+). $4.  edit Buy Mexican souvenirs and crafts are plentiful in local marts, especially the myriad importers along San Bernardo. For example, visit Marti's [5] for antiques, furnishings, folk art, jewelry, ceramics and local in Nuevo Laredo or San Antonio, Texas, where Marti's is now open at 310 W. Commerce, downtown, San Antonio. Thomas Grocery, 206 Juarez Ave, +1 956-729-7379. Eat Southwestern and Mexican cuisine restaurants abound in Laredo. Here are two examples: El Tesoro Club, 1000 Zaragoza, in La Posada Hotel,[6], 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. Also, beef is a popular item on any menu in this area. Sirloin Stockade5301 San Dario Ave, This is a buffet and steak restaurant in one. Many choices and you will never leave hungry. Drink The drinking age in Texas, as in the rest of the US, is 21, but the drinking age in the state of Tamaulipas, as in the rest 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. Sleep Courtyard Laredo, 2410 Santa Ursula Avenue, ☎ +1 956 725-5555 (fax: +1 956 724-8848), [7].  edit Fairfield Inn & Suites Laredo, 700 W. Hillside Road, ☎ +1 956 722-4533 (toll free: +1 866 722-4501, fax: +1 956 722-5133), [8].  edit Holiday Inn, 800 Garden St., ☎ +1 956 727-5800, [9].  edit Motel 6 Laredo North, 5920 San Bernardo Avenue, ☎ +1 956 722-8133 (fax: +1 956 725-8212), [10].  edit Motel 6 Laredo South, 5310 San Bernardo Avenue, ☎ +1 956 725-8187 (fax: +1 956 725-0424), [11].  edit Residence Inn Laredo Del Mar, 310 Lost Oaks Blvd, ☎ +1 956 753-9700 (fax: +1 956 753-9702), [12].  edit SpringHill Suites Laredo, 5940 San Bernardo Ave., ☎ +1 956 717-0800 (fax: +1 956 717-0822), [13].  edit La Posada Hotel, 1000 Zaragoza St. (at International Bridge #1), ☎ (956) 722-1701, [14]. checkin: 3pm; checkout: noon. Historic hotel built in 1916. Spanish colonial style.  edit Staybridge Suites, 7010 Bob Bullock Loop, ☎ 956-722-0444. All Suite hotel  edit Stay safe As in all other border towns, always be aware of your surroundings. 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. Routes through Laredo San Antonio ← Pearsall ←  N  S  → END END ←  SW  NE  → George West → Houston This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!