Texas Roadtrip QAL - Rio Grande Valley

Welcome to the final stop on this amazing roadtrip through the great state of Texas! I was born and raised in Texas and have been to almost every one of these stops, so it was such a great experience to re-live my childhood roadtrips and learn new things about so many cities. I want to thank everyone that has participated from designing a block, to making a quilt, or just reading along!


The last stop in our Roadtrip takes us down to South (very) Texas in a region known as the Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen, McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, South Padre Island  and many more). I'm sure the name is obvious to most, but just in case, it's the very tip of texas where Mexico, Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico meet and a little river known as the Rio Grande provides a natural border. This area has historically thrived on it's large agribusiness (and still does) with one of the biggest crops being citrus. It wasn't until I met my husband, that I had ever had any interest in visiting this little part of Texas. See, he was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley (aka The Valley). He's actually a farmers son and grandson.

Now, I bet you are wondering what the heck is there to do in the Rio Grande Valley? Lots! Check out my list of favorite things to do when visiting!

Harlingen:
Once a month, downtown Harlingen hosts an open-air street market with lots of handmade items, antiques, produce, yummy food and live music. If you are in the market for some antique quilts, there are several vendors that sell some! You can find out more here, Jackson Street Trade Days. While you are visiting the nostalgic downtown area, be sure to check out these little gems! Oh, and how can I forget the amazing Mexican Food! Our favorite restaurants to grab some authentic Mexican food are: Las Vegas, La Playa, and Pepe's!

          Local Quilt Shop: Picket Fence Quilt & Fabric


(source: www.myharlingen.us)

Brownsville:
I am always up for a trip to the zoo and even though the Gladys Porter Zoo isn't as large as most, it still has lots to boast about. My favorite parts about this zoo are the mature trees that create so much shade, the amazing and close encounter Gorilla exhibit, and the butterfly garden. It is just the right size to spend a morning with little ones!
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McAllen:
When we visit the Rio Grande Valley, we enjoy heading over to McAllen for some shopping and eating. McAllen has almost all the big name stores and restaurants. In addition, McAllan has one of the largest bird watching facilities in Texas, Quinta Mazatlan, where you can step back in time and tour one of the last Adobe homes left standing and take a nice stroll on their trails looking at birds and the lush landscape. I have yet to visit Quinta Mazatlan, but hope to the next time we visit and the weather is a bit cooler.


(Source: www.quintamazatlan.com)

           Local Quilt Shop: Life's a Stitch

South Padre Island:
Aside from spending some relaxing time on the beach, South Padre has many other things to offer including deep sea fishing, parasailing, and horse back riding on the beach. At least once a year, my family stays "on the island" for a few nights and enjoy beach life. There are some yummy seafood restaurants that we enjoy eating at including, Blackbeard's and Black Jack's (our two favorites).

If you are getting tired of the beach, you can spend the day at Schlitterbahn located right on the island. Then, when you get tired of the sun and water, take some time to enjoy the nature and wildlife that South Padre has to offer, including some more bird watching at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center and my personal favorite, the Sea Turtle, Inc. facility.

Sea Turtle, Inc. is a sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation facility located on the island. Their mission is " to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured sea turtles, educate the public, and assist with conservation efforts for all marine turtle species." We truly enjoy visiting Sea Turtle, Inc, and viewing all the rehabilitating turtles, but they have definitely outgrown their facility. They are currently planning for a much larger facility and if you like to learn more or even donate to this wonderful organization, you can check that out here. Oh, and if you are lucky enough to be on the island during hatching season, you can witness this phenomenal experience! I recommend following their Facebook page, Sea Turtle, Inc., to get the most current hatchling details.

So, without further ado, I decided to make my block for the Rio Grande Valley representative of the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle.


RGV bLock

You can download the foundation paper piecing pattern  here.

I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit to the Rio Grande Valley! Giveaway Closed! Now it's time to win some thread! Just simply comment with your favorite beach to visit! If you would like a second entry, just let me know that you follow me (via email, bloglovin, Instagram, etc.)! I'll pick a winner on Thursday!

Photo 20140723221424We are in Tyler today and @sewthreadink put together a wonderful guest post over at @prettylittlequilts blog. Go check out her Tyler Rose block and enter to win some Aurifil thread!! #aurifil @alexveronelli #texasroadtripqal

Have a great week and check back soon to find out all the details on the final link up party and giveaways!

Melissa

8/1/14 Update: Winner of the thread is: Texas Quilting Gal - Congrats! I've sent you an email!


Comments

  1. Melissa: Great post. I've been to the Valley several times, and Padre. Years ago we went several times to see the whooping cranes in winter, but I had no idea about the sea turtles. That is really interesting! I've always thought Padre would make a great get away trip for those visiting during the Houston International Quilt Festival. (please don't include me in the drawing.)

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  2. Hollywood, Florida is my favorite local beach, love biking on the broadwalk.

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  3. I live in Greece now and we have to many beaches to call just one a favorite, but I do love the beaches in San Diego too!

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  4. Any beach in Hawaii is my favorite! :)

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  5. I have only been to one beach...Daytona Beach. Love your sea turtle.

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  6. I have been to many beaches but my favorite will always be Pensacola Beach in Florida.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  7. I follow on GFC as Mrs. Kathy Davis.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  8. FOLLOW >BLOG LOVIN'!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  9. HI, love St. Augustine, Fl. Beaches!
    Thanks for your Post!
    Great giveaway>Thanks!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  10. I'm not a big beach person, but the beaches in Hawaii are some of the nicest I've seen.

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  11. Not a great beach lover, but I'd love to revisit my childhood haunt, Milford beach, Auckland, New Zealand valerie.bouduier@ntlworld.com

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  12. Love your sea turtle block! I'm not really a beach person, but my favorite beach to visit is the one at Aransas Pass.

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  13. My favorite beach to visit is my own! I live in a small summer village on a lake, and I love it! Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  14. I follow you by email.

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  15. I love the cute turtle block! Thanks so much for sharing. My granddaughter loves turtles, so I definitely want to incorporate it into something for her. Living in the Midwest, I don't get to many beaches, but I did visit Padre Island many years ago, and I loved it! So that would be my favorite!

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  16. I follow you via Bloglovin. Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  17. I really enjoy Fernandina beach in FL as it is near my parents!

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  18. I really like to head to the Western coast of Michigan and go to the Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan. Not exotic or tropical but so lovely and super family friendly!

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  19. I follow with bloglovin. Thanks for a fun road trip through Texas.

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  20. Longbeach in Washington. Last time I was there I went for an early morning walk and I got to see sun make the frosted sand glisten.

    I'm not doing the quilt-a-long, but I saved the turtle pattern because it is cute by itself. :)

    I don't think I'm a no-reply, but just in case: jhunsberger (at) gmail (d0t) c0m

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  21. my fave beach is galveston, it isn't all that pretty but is was born on galveston island and lived there until i was 5 so it is stil home. lots of sweet memories.

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  22. There's a few lake beaches in the Adirondacks that I really like. Lakes with sandy bottoms that are nice to wade in and crazy diving platforms for my fish of a husband! :)

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  23. My mom is from the Valley and I always loved going down to Padre Island when we would go visit relatives. The block is super cute!

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  24. I live in Oregon where the ENTIRE coast is free and open to everyone - only state in the union like this. So any of our beaches are my favorite. But I usually go to Manhattan Wayside in Tillamook county ( the famous cheese county!) Oregon.

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  25. Have only been to one beach...went to visit Daughter in NC...and saw ocean for first time too...at Emerald Isle beach. Beautiful!! So is my Favorite of course! giggle....

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  26. I'm a new Follower, thru Email :)

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  27. I just found you blog so now I follow by email. I lived in Texas when I was very young for about seven years, in both Lubbock and Amarillo. Now I live in Oregon.

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  28. My favorite beach would have to be the pink-sand beaches in Bermuda! I also love the beaches on Lake Michigan, in Michigan. Oh, and I live in Texas (Dallas area.)
    tstanulis@verizon.net

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  29. I'm a new follower via Bloglovin!
    tstanulis@verizon.net

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  30. My favourite beach is Hyams beach on the south coast of NSW - whitest sand in the world!

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  31. I follow via bloglovin. Ps: nice to read about someone who loves where they live

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  32. My favorite beach is North Litchfield Beach in South Carolina. Love the lowcountry feel!

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  33. My favorite beach is Crash Boat on Puerto Rico :D

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  34. I follow via Bloglovin as Jessibeth Vicenty :D

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  35. My favorite beach is Grand Beach in Manitoba -- now everyone thinks that Canada is mostly bald-headed prairie...but Grand Beach is one of the BEST beaches in Canada! Beautiful sand, warm water and you can walk out for a long-long ways..(and no icky bugs or sharks or the like! ha ha)

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  36. ...and I followed up to follow you by email! thanks for the chance to win!

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  37. My favorite is Holden Beach in North Carolina

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  38. I follow on pinterest. sarah@forrussia.org

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  39. I haven't traveled to many beaches - I'm a lake person. My favorite is any beach at Lake Wilson in Kansas.

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  40. The most beautiful beach I have ever visited was in virgin gorda

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  41. Love the beaches in Hawaii! It is a favorite place for me and my husband. Thanks for the giveaway and love the turtle block. :)

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  42. I follow you at BlogLovin. :)

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  43. My favorite beach has to be Cozumel Mexico. The water is so pretty. Love this block by the way. Can't wait to stitch him up :)

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  44. I have been to the beach in Rockport, TX. I have a friend who lives there and it is the only time I have been in that area. We are not much of beach goers, more of the play in the creek type people - LOL Although I have a friend who taught me how to go boogey boarding in San Diego at the beach, that was fun!
    missysaprons@gmail.com

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  45. I love to swim, but my skin doesn't like the sun so I stay away from beaches. I do love to enjoy looking the I ocean while I'm safe in the shade. I enjoyed looking at the beaches in Bermuda the most.

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  46. When I had children at home it was Ocean City,MD. Love the Boardwalk.

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  47. I love the beach on the Oregon Coast near Depoe Bay.

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  48. For me, it's been the beach at Catalina Island, love that place! Your block is so cute!

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  49. I love Grand Beach in Traverse City Michigan! thanks!

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  50. Favourite beach is unamed on a tiny island called Omey off the West coast of Ireland

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  51. I follow on Bloglovin' and Pinterest. Thanks! notwendy gmail

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  52. My favorite beach is Folly Beach or Sullivan's Island - both near Charleston SC. Thanks for the nice tour of Texas! notwendy gmail

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  53. I live in Seattle, WA, and right now my favorite beach is Newcastle beach. It has grassy areas to run around, a great playground, and a nice big beach area. :)

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  54. I live in Texas, so Galveston is my most accessible beach and it does have it charms. The most amazing,beautiful beach I have ever been to was in Arcata, CA

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  55. My favourite beach is in Toscana, Italy. The Pineta di Cecina: the beach is still so natural! Texas has always been on my wishlist. It must have been all the Dallas episodes my parents made me watch as a child when I lived in the UK

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  56. I'm a proud and old Bloglovin' follower!

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  57. Hmm, well I grew up on a beach and so I guess since my family still lives there, I'd say that ones my favorite :) Lauderdale in Tasmania Australia :).

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  59. Great post! I enjoy Galveston due to its proximity. Not the most beautiful, but a great place to spend a weekend.

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  61. Bloglovin follower right here! And my favorite beach is Blind Pass in Sanibel Island, Florida. It's great for shelling.

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  62. I am from Surfside Texas its always great to go HOME.

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  63. I love Cannon Beach, Oregon. Beautiful, sandy beaches to walk and find shells.

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  64. bloglovin follower: Nicole Sender.

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  65. I like to visit the San Diego Beaches. We have relatives there, so, that's an extra bonus too. svonfumetti at yahoo dot com

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  66. I live in England and my favourite beaches are in the north because they are secluded and deserted but beautifully sandy, you also get to take your dogs which lots places don't allow. Thanks for a fun giveaway. x

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  67. I used to live in St. Petersburg, FL and one of the only things I miss was going to Ft. Desoto beach - a nice peaceful gulf beach that the tourists didn't know about!

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  68. My favorite beach to visit is in beautiful Morro Bay California. It is just inside the jetty and has light waves and it perfect for a person to just walk, play, look for tide pools, and even learn to surf!.

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  69. I am a subscriber to your newsletter!

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  70. I'm not a huge beach fan, but the prettiest one I've been to so far is south beach, Miami.

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  71. I follow via bloglovin. P.s. this Turtle is sooooo stinkin cute!

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  72. I live in No. Carolina and my favorite beach is Myrtle Beach....we try to visit at least once a year. I grew up in New England and Maine has some very beautiful beaches too. Thank you!

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  73. Thank you for the sea turtle pattern! I am a Bloglovin follower!

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  74. My favorite beach is in the very southern part of Norway, Sjøsanden in a town called Mandal.

    jachelno at gmail dot com

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  75. I am a Bloglovin follower

    jachelno at gmail dot com

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  76. I love the beach at Half Moon Cay..

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