Mission, Texas: A Weird Little Border Town with a Heartbeat
mission, texas. never heard of it? me neither, until i ended up here chasing a rumor about the best breakfast tacos north of the rio grande. spoiler: the rumor was right. but this place is more than just tacos-it's a weird little border town with a heartbeat, humidity so thick you could cut it with a knife, and enough quirks to keep a sleep-deprived travel blogger entertained for days.
i just checked and it's 14.24°C right now, feels like 14.15°c, so basically sweater weather with a side of existential dread. humidity's at 93%, which means my hair is doing that thing again. you know, the thing.
mission's not exactly a tourist hotspot, but that's part of its charm. it's the kind of place where you can wander into a hole-in-the-wall joint and end up swapping stories with a guy who's been running his family's taqueria since the '70s. *La Mexicana on business 83 is one of those spots-no frills, just killer food and a vibe that screams "i've seen things." someone told me that their barbacoa is the stuff of legends, and honestly, i believe it.
if you get bored, mcallen and edinburg are just a short drive away. but honestly, why would you leave? mission's got the National Butterfly Center, which is exactly what it sounds like-a magical place where butterflies outnumber people and the air smells like wildflowers. i heard that it's a must-visit if you're into nature or just need a break from the taco coma you're inevitably in.
now, let's talk about the weather. it's not just humid; it's humid. like, your clothes stick to you in ways you didn't know were possible. but hey, that's texas for you. someone warned me that summer here is a whole different beast-think "walking into a sauna that's also on fire." so, maybe stick to spring or fall unless you're into that kind of thing.
mission's also got this weird, wonderful mix of cultures. you'll hear spanish and english blending together like a perfectly mixed margarita, and the streets are lined with murals that tell stories you didn't know you needed to hear. i overheard a local saying that the best way to experience mission is to just get lost-literally. so that's what i did, and it led me to a tiny coffee shop called Coffee House 101 where the barista drew a heart in my latte foam and called me "mija." i'm still not over it.
if you're into history, mission's got that too. the La Joya ISD Performing Arts Center* isn't just for shows-it's a piece of the town's soul. and if you're lucky, you might catch a local band playing there. i heard that their live music scene is underrated, but don't quote me on that.
here's the thing about mission: it's not trying to be anything it's not. it's raw, real, and a little rough around the edges. and that's exactly why i fell for it. so, if you're ever in south texas, skip the usual spots and give mission a shot. just bring a sweater, an appetite, and a willingness to embrace the chaos.
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