If you're in the midst of preparations to move to or visit Brownsville, Texas, no doubt your kids are whining that Brownsville can't possibly be as fun as their old town or as vacationing in Disneyland. While you are packing up your gardening hand tools how can you convince the kids this move will be good? By telling them about all the fun things you can do when you get to Brownsville. Just in case you're not familiar with the city, we'll outline some of them for you here.

For Kids

Contrary to your kids' opinion, there's plenty to do in Brownsville if you're under 18. One of the most popular attractions is the Gladys Porter Zoo, which doesn't need to resort to holding car sweepstakes to draw in the crowds, because it's got loads of cute animals you can watch all day. Another popular draw for the kids is the Children's Museum of Brownsville, which features loads of fun hands on exhibits for kids to explore. Kids can get messy in the mud or ride in a giant inflatable ball! It also hosts traveling exhibits like NASA Space Adventures.

A Night Out

The Tex Mex culture that pervades the Rio Grande Valley where Brownsville is located makes itself known especially through cuisine. There are dozens of great restaurants that serve Mexican and Texas style foods, as well as traditional styles like Italian. Afterward, why not watch the local or regional sporting games sponsored by adult hockey camps or attend a play at the Camille Playhouse? For a really special night, you can also take a trip into Mexico or to the nearby resort island of South Padre.

The Great Outdoors

Texas is famous for its wide open spaces, so it's no surprise that most of its residents would rather be out and about than stuck inside doing online post card printing. There are seven golf courses in the city of Brownsville along with an extensive system of hiking and biking trails in city parks and along the Rio Grande. History buffs will love to visit Palo Alto Battlefield and its living history displays of life during the Mexican American War over 100 years ago. You can see real soldiers and even participate in some of the activities.

Retail Therapy

For those who like to browse the wares to relax, Browsville has a traditional American mall called the Sunrise Mall, which is large enough to attract shoppers from all over the region. Another option would be to spend the afternoon at a day spa. Greenwich-style farmer's markets are also fun, with their stalls of fresh local food and interesting local artwork. For more art, check the galleries downtown for Texas, Native American, and Mexican handicrafts.