Edinburg is a city in Texas located in Hidalgo County and part of the Rio Grande Valley region.
The city is one of the United States’ fastest growing cities, ranking 11th among U.S. cities in a 2021 report by Consumer Affairs.
Due to the spike in population and income, the city government has made strategic development plans throughout Edinburg, making it an attractive place for tourism.
Known for its outdoors and rich history in arts and entertainment, the city will give you plenty to do for a couple of days, indoors or outdoors.
To help you compile a fantastic itinerary, here are the best things to do in Edinburg, Texas:
Alex Garrido, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
La Sal del Rey, or “Salt of the Earth,” is one of the several saltwater lakes along the coast of the Rio Grande, located 20 miles up north from the central districts of Edinburg City.
When you go to the lake, you’d be amazed that a simple stroll around would lead you to find natural salt along its coast.
After all, the lake sits on an estimated four million tons of salt!
The lake has supported various animals and people from prehistoric times.
It remains relatively untouched, offering spectacular views and photographic opportunities.
Because of the reflectiveness of the salt, walking along its shallow waters will give the illusion that you’re walking on water!
Visiting La Sal del Rey is a bucket list for any traveler going to Texas.
It’s only a 30-minute drive using U.S. North Expressway 281, so include it in your itinerary.
The Museum of South Texas History is one of Edinburg’s most popular tourist attractions.
Originally called the Hidalgo County Historical Museum, the museum’s site was the county jail in 1910.
Opened in 1970, the Museum of South Texas History has continuously revamped its facilities and exhibits.
Because of its background, the museum offers to teach visitors about Rio Grande Valley’s history and the jail’s past.
Its Rio Grande Valley collection dates back to prehistoric times, with its two most prominent displays being a skeleton of a mosasaur and a wooly mammoth from the ice age.
Other exciting displays here portray earlier civilizations, particularly indigenous tribes who first settled in Rio Grande Valley.
Other events in the 20th century are included, such as the US Civil War era.
You can visit the Museum of South Texas History at North Closner Boulevard.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, or UTRGV, is the most prestigious school representing Texas’ Rio Grande Valley region.
UTRGV is the 4th-best university in the state of Texas.
Whether you are a student, a parent, or a tourist, a campus tour of UTRGV is a great place to add to your itinerary because of the school’s picturesque campus and excellent facilities.
Its Performing Arts Complex, for example, exudes modern artistic traits through its architecture.
Here, you can also find the university’s H.E.B. Planetarium, which is open to the public for space learning.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts group or student tours.
Add this place to your itinerary, as it is just a few blocks from the Museum of South Texas History.
If you want to unwind or do recreational activities, check out the Edinburg’s Municipal Park.
Situated just beside Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, the park is home to a few wild animals such as birds and butterflies.
Several activities keep you busy, such as jogging, biking, and playing soccer.
There are also artificial lakes where you can do boating activities like kayaking and canoeing.
If you’re looking to relax, the 90-acre park has plenty of spaces for picnics and barbecues.
Bert Ogden Arena, accessible through South Frontage Road or Alberta Road, is the largest indoor arena and entertainment venue in Deep South Texas.
Constructed in 2018, the Bert Ogden Arena is the home arena of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers sports arena, a G-League team of the National Basketball Association (N.B.A.).
Whether you want to catch an N.B.A. G-League game or join one of their events, entering the arena alone is an itinerary.
It has state-of-the-art suites for events, and the arena is full of various concessionaires and dining options.
Because of its size, there are always various events in Bert Ogden Arena on top of the Vipers’ season games.
Plan your visit accordingly, and you’re sure to get a fantastic experience here!
What if you don’t fancy basketball or baseball?
Edinburg is also home to the Rio Grande Valley (R.G.V.) F.C. Toros soccer team, playing at the state-of-the-art H.E.B Park.
H.E.B Park is a massive outdoor stadium with 9,700 seats, 30 luxury suites, an amphitheater, and 20 acres of space for non-soccer events such as concerts and music festivals.
The vibe at H.E.B Park is always a must-see, especially during a R.G.V. FC Toros home game.
Like the Bert Ogden Arena, plan your visit here to catch an event.
You can access H.E.B Park through South Raul Longoria Road, near the Edinburg Municipal Park.
Whether or not you’re into motorcycles, the allure of seeing vintage motorcycle technology is too good to pass up at Edinburg’s South Texas Motorcycle Museum.
A non-profit organization with several volunteers manages the museum, which opened in 2009.
The volunteers can guide you about the history of the motorbikes on display.
There are a lot of big bikes to see here, from Indians, Harley Davidsons, and a few odd ones from the 20th century.
Visiting this museum will give you an excellent new perspective on the rich cultural importance of motorcycles in the U.S.
Coming across a vintage motorcycle museum is rare, so check out South Texas Motorcycle Museum, located along East Richardson Road near Edinburg Municipal Park.
MrAlexGarrido, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Campus tours are not the only thing you can do in the vicinity of UTRGV, as the school also owns the UTRGV Baseball Stadium, initially called Edinburg Stadium.
Erected in 2001, UTRGV Baseball Stadium operated under the city government until 2014.
It’s the city’s featured baseball stadium, the main playing ground of the UTRGV’s baseball team, the Vaqueros.
Since the school’s acquisition, the stadium has gradually received modern revitalization in its facilities.
If you plan your visit at the right time, the stadium is also the main venue for Edinburg’s largest concerts and events.
It seats only 4,000 people during baseball games but can expand to 16,000 in capacity when necessary,
Enjoy a baseball game at this stadium in the northwest corner of UTRGV’s main campus.
If you’re visiting on a hot summer day, the Freddy Gonzalez Memorial Park Splash Playground is an excellent way to cool down and enjoy quality time with friends and family.
The park mainly caters to children, so it’s a fun place to relax and cool down if you’re a family or a parent with toddlers.
It also has many water sprinklers and kiddie fountains that you can use to soak yourself under the blistering sun.
If you’re not into getting wet, then it’s generally a laid-back spot to sit and relax. There are also other playground spots for children who wish to remain dry.
The Freddy Gonzalez Memorial Park Splash Playground is along Freddy Gonzalez Drive.
The Dustin Michael Sekula Library (DMSML) is the main public library of Edinburg geared both toward children and adults.
Its namesake, Marine Lance Corporal Dustin Sekula, is the first Edinburg native killed during the Iraq War.
At the tender age of 18, Lance Corporal Sekula lost his life, and the library immortalized his name to honor his heroism.
DMSML features a spacious interior that you can explore by yourself or through a library tour.
On certain days, the library hosts several events and programs for adults and children.
Most programs focus on the education, arts, and culture of Edinburg.
The Dustin Michael Sekula Library stands along South Closner Boulevard beside a football stadium.
Since Edinburg is in the Rio Grande Valley region, Mexico has a lot of influence on the city, with its Mexican-inspired food culture as a good example.
With over 1,000 reviews on Google, Trevino’s Restaurant has become a prime destination for locals and tourists alike because of its delicious Mexican menu and quirky restaurant.
The exterior of Trevino’s Restaurant is already quite a showstopper, as its facade comprises a lining of stones, making it look like a church or ancestral building.
Mexican-inspired mural art decors the walls inside, giving you an appropriate ambiance as you gobble up their Mexican specialties.
Trevino’s Restaurant is at North Closner Boulevard.
Fast Eddie’s is a go-to place in Edinburg if you want to unwind and have fun while hanging out with friends.
Billiards is not the only thing you can play here.
There are plenty of games to choose from, such as table tennis, foosball, and darts.
You can also play board games here like chess, checkers, and Jenga.
The ambiance and food are also fantastic.
Fast Eddie’s specializes in fried finger food, burgers, wings, and American dishes.
Located on the lively streets of North Closner, Fast Eddie’s is a table sports haven for those looking to spend a chill night while playing games and drinking beer.
If you’re not in the mood for nighttime table sports, Edinburg also has a gorgeous golf course at Los Lagos Golf Course and Putter’s Grill.
Los Lagos isn’t just your run-of-the-mill golf course.
It has received the Monitor’s Reader’s Choice Award for “Best Golf Courses in Lower Rio Grande Valley.”
This award-winning facility covers over 7,000 yards and is an 18-hole championship course.
If you prefer just to practice your swing, its driving range facility is also open at night.
You can find Los Lagos Golf Course and Putter’s Grill along South Raul Longoria Road near Edinburg Municipal Park.
Few locations in Edinburg can offer you a more satisfying wild catch than Edinburg Lake, for both casual anglers or serious fishing enthusiasts.
Some of the most popular fish here are catfish, largemouth bass, and white bass.
The lake is far from the city’s center, where you can find landmarks such as Edinburg Municipal Park and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Still, it’s a fun place for those who want to haul a good catch.
Remember that Edinburg Lake is quite remote with barely any modern convenience, so bring your own supplies.
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While Edinburg is on pace to become a highly commercialized city, it still has an outstanding balance of urban development and environmental preservation.
The Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center prove this.
With over 40 acres of wetlands, this family weekend hotspot is a must-visit in Edinburg, filled with a wide variety of wild birds, insects, and other land and freshwater animals.
You can see various plants when you walk along its trail that extends for a few miles.
Walking in these wetlands is a sure way to experience the beauty of Edinburg’s local flora.
Besides its observatory, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center also has a small museum with animals such as lizards and snakes.
Likewise, buy a souvenir from the gift shop.
Edinburg’s Scenic Wetlands and Birding Center is along South Raul Longoria Road.
Edinburg continues to grow in population and economic strength.
With a rich heritage in sports culture and natural history, this city is a must-visit for the curious adventurer.
Get started on your adventure with this list of the best things to do in Edinburg, Texas!
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