A man wearing a hat stands smiling with his hands on his hips on an empty beach.
Courtesy The Daytripper

If you’re heading south for the winter, it doesn’t get much more southern than the spot where the Rio Grande joins the Gulf. If you need directions, simply head to the bustling metropolis of Brownsville (population 189,382), turn to the east, and keep going until the signs of city life fade away and you’re left all by your lonesome staring at an endless ocean. At this point, you’ll be near the southeasternmost tip of Texas and ready to lay eyes on something few Texans ever see.

Vermillion Restaurant and Watering Hole

Before your journey, you’ll need sustenance.  This beloved restaurant on Boca Chica Boulevard started in 1934 serving a “no nonsense” hamburger and cold beer. While the menu has expanded, the sentiment is still there. Patrons can now order everything from enchiladas to chicken fried steak, but I recommend getting a big plate of fajita nachos that comes topped with so much cheese, you’ll question whether any chips made it to the plate.

Palmito Ranch Battlefield State Historic Site

As you head East toward the ocean you’ll pass the site of the final battle of the American Civil War fought in May of 1865. Unfortunately for everyone involved, it was more than a month after Robert E. Lee’s surrender that effectively ended the war. These days, there isn’t much left other than a single historic marker. It does, however, look exactly the same as it did more than 150 years ago and that fact alone makes it worth the stop. 

Spacex Starbase

This place looks as intense as the name suggests and may make you think you’ve beamed into a science fiction movie. After miles of abandoned marshland, you’ll suddenly arrive at the launch facilities of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets. You can’t miss it—it’s the only thing on the road. And sitting in the Texas sun are numerous full-sized rockets that look as if they’re ready to launch on a deep space mission. There aren’t any public tours, but public gawking is totally allowed. 

Boca Chica Beach

Eventually you’ll reach a place where the road dead ends into the Gulf of Mexico. This is your cue to turn right on the beach of Boca Chica (Spanish for “Little Mouth”). It’s likely the sand will be clean and the water will be clear, so feel free to pull over at any time and go for a swim. Remember—all beaches in Texas are public. If you drive (on the sand) for about 2.5 miles, you’ll arrive at the sacred place where the Rio Grande River concludes its 1,800-mile journey and joins the Gulf of Mexico. Take a moment. Take a breath. And appreciate the fact that you’ve reached one of the most unique points in Texas.

Fish King Seafood Restaurant & Market

After your time by the water, you’ll likely be hungry for some fresh seafood. Drive back into Brownsville and visit this fresh seafood market that is more than happy to cook you some of the freshest seafood in the RGV. Start with fish ceviche tostadas but save room for their Shrimp Florentine with local shrimp swimming in a sea of heavy cream and spices. It’s appropriate at this point to crack a Mexican beer and toast to a great day.

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