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McAllen, Texas

Population: 95,300
Located in Hidalgo County

McAllen is a color splashed subtropical garden, centered in the rich history and tradition of the Rio Grande Valley. A place to relax in a superb climate, warmed by the sun and cooled by the refreshing Gulf breeze. McAllen has a rich and lively history, with small towns on both sides of the Rio Grande. Most history buffs start at the Hidalgo County Historical Museum, that is housed in the old county jail in nearby Edinburgh. In the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen is within easy reach for many attractions.

Enjoy the sparkling beaches of South Padre Island, Harlingen's Iowa Jim Memorial, the inspiring shrine to the Virgin of San Juan and one of the nation's top zoos, the Glady's Porter Zoo in Brownsville.

Much of the McAllen area's attraction lies in its geography, its great outdoors, its climate, its history, and its rich Hispanic flavor. Situated as far to the south as Miami, the laid-back subtropical setting easily lends itself to a slower, more relaxed, somehow more pleasant life-style. The musical sounds of the Spanish language you'll hear on the streets and in the shops simply confirms that you're "not in Kansas anymore", but in a unique, very special place. CNN Money lists McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr as one of the hottest markets for 2006-2007, with a forecasted growth percentage of 11.4%.

Fields of vegetables, sugar cane and onions that grow here year round freely invade the city limits. Summer's cotton and winter's grapefruit and oranges can be found across the street from handsome residential neighborhoods just as easily as farther out in the country. No matter what your interests (short of skiing and mountain climbing), there is something for you here in the Valley of the Texas Rio Grande.

Any time of year there are exciting things happening in and around McAllen: a number of challenging golf courses, tennis courts, swimming, bowling and miniature golf, recreation centers, and activity centers geared for kids during the day; plus lots of opportunities to let your hair down at night, from a quiet romantic bistro, through country western, to full blast rock-and-roll, and the very popular Tejano music of South Texas.

Attractions:
The McAllen International Museum is one of the city's artistic centers. It is a showplace for traveling art exhibitions, showings of its own considerable collections, and newly-developed Hands-On exhibitions of science and natural history. Periodic lectures, seminars, and special events are part of the Museum's extensive program of art and science education.

The Valley Symphony Orchestra plays a regular concert series in McAllen and at the Fine Arts Center at the University of Texas Pan American in nearby Edinburg. Outdoor concerts are scheduled periodically in McAllen's downtown Archer Park.

Broadway shows and big-name performers grace the Civic Center stage during the winter season productions of the McAllen Performing Arts. An active community concerts organization also brings in well-known productions, featuring soloists, ensembles, dancers and plays, and a number of the best-of-the-country shows from Branson, Missouri which find a winter haven in McAllen.

The University Theater at the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg produces a series of plays and musicals during the school year, and the McAllen high schools present excellent theater productions on their stages. Regular performances by Rio Grande Valley Ballet are enjoyed throughout the year.

Shopping:
When it comes right down to it, many people who visit McAllen spend most of their leisure time shopping. That's not just true for the many visitors from all of Mexico who regard McAllen as the southernmost American city, and reserve their most serious shopping for their frequent visits to this retail dynamo. It's true for everyone. Because of a number of shoppers from Mexico, McAllen's retail variety and the quality and quantity of retail outlets, and the merchandise they offer, would do credit to a city several times McAllen's size. From the city's principal shopping center, La Plaza Mall, uniquely situated within walking distance of the airport terminal, to the bustling downtown area with many smaller shops that have been in the same location for years, to a whole new generation of retail construction to the east, and along 10th Street to the north, totaling to 40 retail shopping centers with a constant flow of incomers. McAllen's wealth of shopping is here for you to discover. McAllen is the retail center of South Texas and Northern Mexico, drawing from a consumer base of over ten million people.

La Plaza Mall, a 1.2 million square-foot shopping center, is one of the most prosperous and highest-trafficked centers in the United States. Many national retailers located here are among the most profitable in their chains. La Plaza Mall, a single-level super regional mall, is managed by Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. La Plaza Mall is anchored by Dillard's, Foley's, Home and Children's Store, Japanned, Joe Brand and Sears and has over 140 specialty stores.

The nights can be wonderful in South Texas and you know what it is that's "big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!" Just a few miles away from the lights of the Valley cities, the clear night sky is a black and silver tapestry of stars. Even better, find a place where you have a good view of a typical dazzling South Texas sunset, then watch the stars come out one by one. Trace out your favorite constellations, and discover some new ones you won't find in the northern skies. Bring along those bionics you toted down to help you gaze at birds; they work very well for studying the heavens too.

McAllen's food is not the only thing liberally seasoned by the border heritage. Much of the local entertainment finds its origins in the color, the rhythms and the zest for life of neighboring Mexico and indeed of all of Spanish America. Many of the schools and the parks and recreation departments have regularly scheduled performances of music and dance from Mexico. During the year, a number of fine Mexican performing companies find their way to the stage of McAlle

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