Laredo

Thousands of trucks roll across the bridges over the Rio Grande every day – Laredo is the busiest land border crossing for trade between the U.S. and Mexico. But a trip to Laredo also reveals a historic city with a Spanish colonial past, where you hear almost as much Spanish on the street as English.

Seven Flags and a Republic of Its Own

Laredo was founded in 1755 by Tomás Sánchez as a Spanish settlement, making it one of the oldest cities on the Rio Grande. After the Mexican-American War, the river became the border in 1848; many residents moved to the south bank and founded Nuevo Laredo. One distinctive chapter is the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande of 1840, whose capital was Laredo – hence the saying about the "seven flags" the city has flown under. Today the vast majority of the population is of Mexican American heritage.

Things to See in Laredo

The historic center around San Agustín Plaza, with San Agustín Cathedral, preserves the charm of the colonial era. Right next door, the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum occupies a modest 19th-century building. Laredo College, on the grounds of the former Fort McIntosh, recalls the city's military history. Lake Casa Blanca International State Park on the east side of the city offers fishing, picnic areas, and hiking trails. Many visitors stroll along San Bernardo Avenue with its Mexican handicraft shops. If you want to get out into nature, you can watch for birds along the Rio Grande that are found only in South Texas.

Eating in Laredo

The cuisine is deeply rooted in border culture. Fajitas, cabrito (grilled kid goat), tamales, and menudo are on the menus, as are breakfast tacos with machacado, dried beef scrambled with egg. At Christmas, huge quantities of tamales are made. In the evening, people gather at restaurants downtown or along the main thoroughfares; the nightlife is more family-friendly than wild.

Border and Trade in Everyday Life

The border shapes daily life. Families, students, and workers commute between the two cities across several international bridges, and lines of trucks back up at the customs facilities. Downtown near the bridge, stores lined up side by side cater mainly to customers from Mexico, selling everything from clothing to electronics. If you want to understand border culture, visit the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum by the river. The conjunto and Tejano music drifting out of many venues is a reminder that two countries blend into one region here.

Festivals, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

The highlight of the year is the Washington's Birthday Celebration in February, one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the U.S. It lasts several weeks and includes parades, a Pocahontas ceremony, a colonial ball with elaborate gowns, and the symbolic meeting of children from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo on the bridge. Laredo International Airport has connections to Dallas and Houston, and San Antonio is about two and a half hours' drive to the north. The best time to visit is winter, when the weather is mild; summers are very hot. If you plan to cross the border into Nuevo Laredo, check the current travel advisories, as the state of Tamaulipas is considered a high-risk area.