When in the RGV

05/27/2026

Big win for a RGV resident🙌🏻

JUST IN: An Edinburg resident is feeling like a million bucks after winning the $1 million top prize from a scratch lottery ticket, the Texas Lottery announced Wednesday.

05/27/2026

😬

05/25/2026

We had the day off today, so we went out for lunch and tried Yummy Pho in Harlingen for the first time.

We both ordered the spicy Vietnamese soup with brisket and eye of round beef. My wife swapped the ham for shrimp. Even though she has a pretty low spice tolerance, she said it was perfectly balanced — not too hot for her. The portions were pretty generous. My wife only made it through half a bowl.

Deren (hope I spelled that right) provided excellent service — he even brought out samples of both the regular and spicy broth so my wife could choose which one she preferred.

Overall, if you’re looking for a good spicy Vietnamese soup in Harlingen, Yummy Pho is a solid choice.

05/25/2026

Today, we remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

We are grateful for their courage and the freedoms we enjoy because of them.

05/18/2026

A while back I shared a Texas Highways article about how an ancient volcano helped shape the geography of South Texas.

Tonight, on our way home, we made a quick stop at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Rio Grande City, which was featured in that same article.

This beautiful replica of the famous grotto in Lourdes, France, was built in 1928 by Rev. Gustav Gollbach. Parts of it were constructed using petrified wood sourced locally from the Rio Grande City and Roma areas.

It’s not a place where you’ll spend hours, but it’s a peaceful and interesting quick stop with nice lighting at night. Definitely worth pulling over if you’re in the area.

05/17/2026

Today I took the fam to Cordon's Taste of Chicago - Restaurant in Edinburg for the first time, and it was a hit!

Since none of us had tried Chicago deep dish pizza before, we ordered the pepperoni and Italian sausage deep dish. The crust was nicely crispy and it was loaded with toppings — one slice was almost a full meal! We also got a 19-inch thin crust pizza. Between half of that and the whole deep dish, it was more than enough for all five of us… we still had to take a to-go box home.

The place has pretty cool Chicago vibes — Michael Jordan posters and decor by our booth and a Chicago Bears statue at the entrance.

We finished with a warm chocolate lava cake with ice cream that was the perfect ending.

Solid spot if you’re craving Chicago-style pizza in the Valley!

(Quick apology — I completely forgot to take any menu pics this time 😅)

05/10/2026

To all the incredible mothers out there — thank you.

Your love, strength, patience, and sacrifices make such a big impact on your children’s lives. Without a doubt, the world would be a completely different place if it weren’t for all the amazing mothers who pour their hearts into raising the next generation.

Today we celebrate and honor you — moms, stepmoms, grandmas, and mother figures alike.
Wishing you a beautiful and relaxing Mother’s Day! ❤️

05/03/2026

This evening I stopped by Dos Rios Winery in Rio Grande City, expecting a quick glass of wine and to head out. Instead, I ended up getting a wonderful, full experience!

By pure luck, I arrived right as a small group tour was starting. Delfino Garza took us through the vineyard and shared a lot about the different grapes they grow, plus the real challenges of farming here in the Valley — deer, wild hogs, birds, drought, and more — and how they work to overcome them.

After the tour, Nora Garza led a great wine tasting with four different wines (two dry followed by two sweet). I’m usually not great at picking up differences, but these were very distinct and enjoyable. We snacked on olives from their own olive trees and almonds while tasting.

To wrap it up, Delfino and Nora showed us photos of how much the winery has grown since they started in 2010. Seeing the evolution made it clear that the beautiful view and the wines we enjoyed are the result of nearly two decades of hard work.

The hospitality, the setting, and the wines all made for a memorable evening. Highly recommend visiting Dos Rios if you’re in the area.

04/27/2026

One of my first posts here was about La Sal Vieja in Raymondville (pinned on my page).

Today I visited the more well-known Sal del Rey, which does receive more traffic.

The trail is well-maintained fine gravel with almost no grass in the middle, making it very easy to follow. It’s mostly flat with minimal elevation and goes pretty much straight to the lake — about 3 miles round trip according to Strava.

Once you reach the lake, the view is really interesting. The ground is completely covered in salt crystals that sparkle under the light. Such a unique sight!

A cool, easy historical walk right here in the Valley. If you enjoyed Sal Vieja, you’ll probably like this one too.

04/27/2026

Last Thursday my wife and I stopped by The Moon Rock in Harlingen, TX for dinner.

Sorry for not posting any pics of the actual place this time — it was pretty crowded that night, and I’m not big on having people show up in my photos/videos 😅

That said, the food definitely delivered! I really enjoy going here because there’s something for everyone — BBQ, tacos, desserts, asian, Puerto Rican, seafood, and more.

We started with the Brisket Nachos from Rolling Smoke BBQ at The Moon Rock. They were loaded with smoky brisket. It was so filling, we almost stopped there! I also grabbed a fresh Arnold Palmer that tasted legit (Not powdered)

For our mains:

I had the Cubano from Wepa Caribe — perfectly toasted buttery bread stuffed with multiple meats. Super filling.

My wife went with the Crawfish/ Shrimp Boil from Krab Kingz Pop Up . She kept it mild, but it was still very flavorful.

Overall, great portions and tasty food in a fun, casual setup. We’ll definitely be back!

01/23/2026

Before the cold front hits, my wife and I stopped by Blues Chill and Grill in Port Mansfield, TX for lunch — very nice spot!

We started with fried mushrooms — crispy outside, nice firm texture inside, perfect appetizer.

She had the fish and shrimp platter, and I got the black drum platter with jalapeño coleslaw — that slaw had a nice kick. Even if you are not into spicy, it had just the right heat— everything fried up beautifully, golden and crunchy.

Sides were on point (fries, hushpuppies, slaw), and the view was a great bonus: pelicans chilling on the dock, boats bobbing in the bay, and colorful waterfront houses.

Casual, tasty seafood with that classic coastal RGV feel. If you're near Port Mansfield, definitely add this to your list!