Welcome To The Southernmost Trail Region!

Spreading across the unique cultural heartland of south Texas, the Tropical Trail Region encompasses 20 counties, 23,000 square miles and is home to 1.7 million residents. The Region’s Border Byway skirts the nation of Mexico and the Gulf Coast Byway runs along the Texas Gulf Coast. The rich landscapes in between are called the Brush Country Byway and the Wild Horse Desert Byway. Historical sites include battlegrounds, architecture, museums, lighthouses and landmarks. For the adventurous the region offers beachcombing, hiking, hunting, camping, golfing, boating, fishing and a wide variety of water sports. The Texas Tropical Trail Region's mild weather is perfect for year round multicultural and historical events and festivals. Nature lovers can take in birding, wildlife preserves, ranches, sanctuaries and wetlands. From Carrizo Springs, Laredo, Zapata, Brownsville, Harlingen, Port Isabel, South Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Refugio, George West, and all points in between, from the wide open skies to the sands of the beaches, the Tropical Trail invites you to adventure! Start at texastropicaltrail.com and build your itinerary before hitting the open roads of extreme south Texas.

The Texas Tropical Trail Region offers the complete Texas experience with: 

• Historical sites including battlegrounds (Mexico - U.S. War to the American Civil War), buildings, churches, homes and lighthouses
• Recreational activities including beachcombing, boating, fishing, kayaking and surfing
• Land management including preserves, ranches, refuges, sanctuaries and wetlands 
• Multicultural customs, festivals, foods and languages
• Art, cultural, history and science museums
• Tropical climate with orange groves, palm trees, plenty of nature and, of course, the gulf! 
• Wildlife including bird watching and fishing & hunting 
• Hand-drawn and engine-powered ferries
• Army Posts & Air Force and Navy Bases (Former and Current)
• County fairs and costumes
• 2007-2008 List of Texas Tropical Trail Region Accomplishments

If you are looking for these and more, then let the warm water, gentle breezes and abundant sunshine entice you to this enchanting paradise! 

Monthly Partner Event Photos and Meeting Information

Our region's 2007-2008 List of Accomplishments>pdf
 
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST THE TEXAS TROPICAL TRAIL REGION BROCHURE

A Look at Our History
     A couple of years ago, one of our partners in tourism was kind enough to give us a well-preserved copy of the 1970 Texas Tropical Trail Brochure. This vintage guide to the 726 miles of the original travel trail is now online, and we encourage you to follow this link to enjoy a "look at our history." 
     Somewhere along the way, the name of the person who so graciously donated this original brochure has been lost. If you were that generous person, please let us know so that we may properly thank you.

Who came up with the idea for the use of the word "Tropical"? 
     Tourism partner Norman Rozeff of Harlingen was doing volunteer work in the Archives Room of the Harlingen Public Library and came across a newspaper article from April 1968. 
     This newspaper article told, in great detail, how the Texas "Tropical" Trail was named. You will certainly want to follow this link and find out for yourself! 
     Thanks, Norman, for sharing this true story.

The Texas Tropical Trail Region heritage tourism program is a not-for-profit initiative developed by the Texas Historical Commission and organized in February 2005 with an eleven-member volunteer Board of Directors, a salaried Regional Coordinator and over 400 partners in tourism throughout the 20 county South Texas area known as the Texas Tropical Trail Region.  Kingsville is the home of the Regional office located at the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, 635 East King Avenue, Suite 102. Phone: (361)592-4603. It is the intent of the Texas Tropical Trail Region Board of Directors to showcase the heritage, natural beauty and diverse culture of South Texas for the benefit and enjoyment of Texans and travelers. To achieve this goal, the Board must first join hands with our tourism partners, community leaders, and state and local entities to identify, preserve and interpret our natural, historical and cultural resources. Monthly meetings with educational presentations are the workshops to help make this goal a reality.  These meetings are open to the public.