956 Valley

2024

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Table of Contents 4 SPI Fun time 6 La Paza Mall 8 La Sal Del Rey 10 Trapped RGV 12 Mercado District 14 Viva Kandel Bar 16 Top Golf in Pharr 18 Mercadome Flea Market 20 World’s Largest Killer Bee

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Powder-soft beaches line South Padre Island’s sun-soaked shores, and gentle, shallow waves of the Gulf of Mexico tumble onto land. This postcard-perfect setting has helped South Padre gain fame as a prime year-round beach haven for families, couples and the scores of spring breakers who descend here each March. By day, most travelers opt to curl up on the beach and catch serious rays.

As the sun dips below the horizon and darkness falls, South Padres nightlife springs into action, with a number of popular beach haunts rocking ‘til the wee hours.

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With a maximum capacity of 5,000 people, Clayton’s bills itself as the largest beach bar in Texas. It’s not surprising that the venue has become wildly popular among visitors looking for good times and tasty food.

Listen to live music on Clayton’s sprawling beach deck while sipping one of the house specials, a Turbo Pina Colada. Stop by Clayton’s to watch sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, and dig into a burger or fried seafood platter.

Clayton’s also hosts some of the island’s largest events, like the world-famous Sandcastle Days sandsculpting competition.

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La Plaza Mall is the premier shopping destination in the Rio Grande Valley and features over 1,300,000 square feet of upscale and mainstream retail space with retailers that include Zara, H&M, Kendra Scott, Marciano, Michael Kors and Pandora, as well as more traditional retailers like Express, American Eagle Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret and Aéropostale.

Conveniently situated at the intersection of 10th Street and Interstate 2, just 5 miles from the U.S. – Mexico border, La Plaza Mall is home to over 170 specialty retailers. Plus, enjoy our collection of restaurants that include Texas de Brazil, Yard House, Palenque Grill, Mori Japanese Grill and Casa Madre Brunch & Grill. La Plaza Mall is anchored by Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s and Macy’s Backstage. From the entire team at La Plaza Mall we hope you will visit us soon!

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LA SAL DEL REY

For centuries, La Sal del Rey drew the attention of American Indians, Spanish conquistadors, Mexican traders, and purportedly the Aztec Empire. All for one valuable reason - its salt.

The mile-long, 5-mile-wide lake covers 530 acres, is on average 4-feet deep and is estimated to hold at least 4 million tons of salt. The salt was absolutely essential for the natives of that time who would have used it to preserve their meats and animal hides. Stone tools and arrowheads have been found on the lake’s perimeter suggesting that these prehistoric people likely camped on the ground while they obtained the salt they would need for their travels.

There is a peculiar lake in central Hidalgo County.

It tells a story that echoes through time. Pottery shards, shell ornaments, spear lances and other prehistoric artifacts suggest that Paleo-Indians may have camped by the water - more than 1,000 years

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Historic Spanish writings by conquistadors note that the Aztec Empire would send out parties to the north to collect the salt and carry it back home. However, it was to be the Spanish who would turn the salt of the

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What Is An Escape Room?

Trapped RGV Escape Rooms are Live 1 Hour Adventures!

You and your group have 60 minutes to find clues, crack codes, search for keys and answer figure out real life puzzles in order to escape your themed room. Trapped RGV Escape Rooms provide a unique hands-on experience, designed for

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Mercado District at 4400 N. 23rd St. has transformed into a new hangout spot filled with many small businesses and restaurants. Check out the nine spots where you can grab a bite!

Jesus Gonzalez, the owner, is originally from Monterrey and has been living in the Rio Grande Valley for 26 years.

He bought the Bargain Bazaar in October 2019. It included the area where Mercado District now resides. Gonzalez rents different properties, and his wife owns Niu Furniture Living. Because he loves to travel, he had seen markets such as these, which inspired him to mimic the concept.

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Hate trying to find the perfect candle for your home? Now, you can make your ideal scent at Viva Kandle Bar! Whether you want to self-care in the afternoon or reserve a night out with friends and memories! Visit today and smell their fantastic selection of scents.

Viva Kandle Bar is a locally owned, non-toxic, welcoming, and forward-thinking candle shop located in McAllen, Texas. Customers can shop our hand-poured and premade selection of candles, and are also able to enjoy blending and preparing their own candles through our signature scent bar and vessel collections. If personality had a scent, you’d craft it here at Viva Kandle Bar.

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Topgolf features fun and competitive golf games, climate-controlled hitting bays for year-round comfort, a chef-inspired food and drink menu, private spaces for groups of any size, HDTVs to watch the big game and amazing music. There’s no fee to come in and enjoy our restaurant, bar & rooftop terrace. For the game, each player pays a one-time fee of $5 and bay costs starting at $25/

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Flea Market

Anyone can sell here at Mercadome and anything can be sold as long as it does not violate any laws and our company policies. Food and drinks are prohited; only Mercadome sells these items on the premises.

For decades La Pulga de Alamo has stood as a beloved family destination. Nestled in Alamo, TX, this lively flea market has evolved beyond a mere hub for great deals. It now serves as a livelihood for many, a source of entertainment, a platform for business promotion, a spot to relish spiro papa, and a venue for music enthusiasts

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World’s Largest Killer Bee

The Africanized honey bees are far less docile than their much-celebrated European counterparts.

The individual bees themselves aren’t deadly—the venom in their sting is actually slightly less powerful than that of a European honey bee. However, they’re far more aggressive when provoked.

When the Africanized bees sense a disturbance to their hive, they swarm and sting in droves. Even the noise from a passing vehicle or the rumble of a lawnmower can trigger a defensive attack that can be fatal.

IN OCTOBER OF 1990, THE first colony of Africanized “killer bees” was found just outside Hidalgo, Texas. Though their unwelcome arrival into the United States set the media abuzz with panic, the southern Texas city had an unusually sweet reaction.

The escaped bees and their progeny spread northward throughout the Americas, killing hundreds of people and animals along the way. When a swarm of about 3,000 of the “killer bees” was found in a monitoring trap on the outskirts of Hidalgo, it proved the unwelcome immigrants had finally crossed the Mexican border. They weren’t received nearly as warmly as other previous bees.

The Africanized bees entered the United States by way of Brazil. In the 1950s, South American scientists were attempting to cross European honey bees with African stock to bolster local honey production and engineer a bee subspecies that would thrive in the subtropical climate.

Problems arose when a few African queen bees escaped from the Brazilian apiary and began mating with the locals, resulting in a volatile 20 hybrid subspecies.

Hidalgo was the only place that honored their arrival with a bit of fanfare.

Rather than shy away from the sting of all the bad press, the city’s mayor decided to celebrate its connection with the dreaded insects. The city became known as the “killer bee capital of the world” and the Hidalgo Economic Development Department spent $20,000 to erect a 2,000-pound, lifelike statue of a massive Africanized honey bee. The city even sells posters and postcards that feature the feared bug.

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Schedule Your Visit Today

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