The historic town of Matamoros shares a border with heavily trafficked cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez but is endowed with more charm. Just over the muddy waters of the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas, Matamoros has culture and enough activities to make for a well-rounded day trip.

Let curiosity lead you around the Museo Casamata, an old nineteenth century fort, for historic artifacts and anecdotes. Take in the architecture and art on display at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Tamaulipas and shop for essential souvenirs before steering in the direction of the beachfront.

Vans shuttle passengers on summer days to Playa Baghdad on the Gulf of Mexico. While this stretch of shore might lack a little in atmosphere, the fresh air just might compensate. Small fishing boats bob across the horizon, plying the waters around the Rio Grande's terminus in the Gulf.

Matamoros is 569 miles from the port city, Veracruz, and 194 miles north of Ciudad Victoria.