Offering a wide selection of city parks, golf courses and sports teams, McAllen residents and visitors have many choices of things to do in their spare time. 

Other Sports

Sports fans in the Rio Grande Valley have plenty to cheer for, with minor league or semi-pro basketball, football, baseball, hockey and soccer teams.
 

Hockey fans have cheered on the semi-professional Central Hockey League Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees since 2003. Those looking to have fun and stay cool in the intense South Texas heat can visit the newly renovated Rio Grande Valley Ice Center for ice skating, hockey, broomball, lessons and more.

Basketball fans have the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to root for. Founded in 2007, the Vipers are currently associated with the Houston Rockets in the NBA's Development League. Both the Vipers and the Killer Bees play their home games in State Farm Arena, located close to McAllen in nearby Hidalgo, TX.

The Rio Grande Valley Bravos have been the Valley's only soccer team since 2008. Playing in the USL Premier Development League, the Bravos have already drawn a large following in the region.

The area is also home to two baseball teams: The McAllen Thunder, a member of the independent professional North American League. One is the Edinburg Roadrunners of the United League Baseball, a professional baseball league not affiliated with Major League Baseball, while the other is 

Racing fans can also get their fix in McAllen, with the Rio Grande Speedway.

Private and Public Golf

With nearly 20 courses in the McAllen area, golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley.

One of the most notable courses in the area is the Palm View Golf Course, a public course with a private feel. With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds, the course is an often used location for professional and amateur tournaments, having hosted LPGA tournaments and Amateur Golf Championships.

McAllen Country Club gives players at all skill levels a challenge, and also offers a swimming pool and tennis courts for its members. Other courses surround the city in nearby towns, including the Club at Cimarron in Mission and the Alamo Country Club in Alamo. 

Every golf course in the area is constantly bustling week in and week out, especially in the winer, when "Winter Texans" come to the Rio Grande Valley. The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months, making it a perfect place for winter golfing.

Hiking and Biking

McAllen residents enjoy plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town, and cyclists can meet up with the help of Team McAllen Cycling, a bike club that's been in the city for more than 25 years.

McAllen's oldest, Archer Park, opened in 1912. Serving as a historic landmark in the city, it also plays host to many of the city's annual special events, including the Candlelight Posada and Shakespeare in the Park.

One of McAllen's newest additions to the park system is Los Encinos Community Park, which has become a great place to play many different sports, as it is home to baseball, football, soccer and softball fields, in addition to basketball, volleyball and tennis courts.

McAllen's largest city park is Springfest Park, which hosts many special city events and is home to McAllen's Winter Polo League from January through March.

Other parks include Westside, Suarez, Garza, Las Palmas and Cascade parks, each with their own special features that make each park unique. With so many parks in the city, there's something for everyone. For a complete list of McAllen's City Parks, visit the City of McAllen website.