Laredo is located 150 miles south of San Antonio and is connected to central and northern Texas by Interstate 35 and Houston and east Texas by U.S. 59. Daily nonstop flights to Laredo originate in Dallas and Houston.
Laredo is equipped with many hotels to shelter a constant stream of business travelers and seasonal tourists. For upscale vacationers, Laredo landmark La Posada is the premier boutique hotel downtown.
Downtown Laredo offers a number of historical sights, including the San Agustin Cathedral, Webb County Courthouse, Hamilton Hotel and Fort McIntosh. The Museum of the Republic of the Rio Grande, next door to La Posada Hotel, offers a look into the oddly fascinating history of this short-lived nation.
This monthlong extravaganza celebrating George Washington's birthday is hugely popular with locals and visitors. It includes pageants, air shows, carnivals, the Jalapeno Festival and Jamboozie, a music festival.
Regional visitors come for Mall del Norte, the biggest mall in South Texas. Shops in downtown Laredo feature cultural arts, and regional cuisine is served everywhere.
Laredo's sister city across the Rio Grande, Nuevo Laredo, has experienced terrible violence in recent years. Crime statistics in the U.S. city, however, have remained static. Visitors considering travel to Mexico should exercise extreme caution, but travel to Laredo is safe.
