Mission, Texas was founded in 1908 after it became an addition to the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Early Spanish settlers’ influence and rich soil for growing all things citrus are the cornerstones of the city. Mission is my hometown. I was born and raised here before moving out of state after college. I have seen this town grow in many ways and it continues to grow and branch out beyond its regional flare!
During the winter season, Mission is one of many cities in South Texas that is a haven for hundreds of thousands of RVers, both seasonal and full time. These southbound travelers are referred to the locals as Winter Texans. They seek sun, good company, and a bit of the culture as opposed to brutal storms of the North. If you find yourself in South Texas, winter or summer, make sure to include these fun stops on your agenda!
Movie Night
In a time when movie rental stores are becoming a thing of the past, a Mission native sought to revive the business. Movie Night is not only a movie rental store; on most weekends, it is a date night with dinner and a movie (or on occasion karaoke night) featured outdoors in the establishment’s fenced in patio/yard.
Patrons of Movie Night access the entrance of the store via red carpet before winding through the labyrinth of DVD selections and genre themed decorations. It’s every movie goers playhouse. My favorite area of the store is the scary movie section. Characters from Child’s Play, The Exorcist, and Nightmare on Elm Street linger between shelves upon shelves of horror flicks. Once you’ve made your selection(s), make your way to the front counter for snacks or meals. Movie Night offers an array of mouthwatering delights from burgers to nachos. Popcorn is always ready to be served!
Wanting to enjoy dinner and a movie under the stars? Not a problem. We headed to Movie Night on a Friday night to see the featured movie, A Dog’s Purpose. Admission to this flick was a donation to a local animal rescue center. The drive-in dine-in is located behind the store through the rear exit. The Texas-themed set up, giant movie screen, and comfortable seating made for a fun ambiance. There were about twenty of us and plenty of room for more! We enjoyed a great film on a cool night; plus it was for a good cause!
Movie Night lets customers know about the latest DVD rentals, upcoming outdoor movie features, and any other special events through their Facebook page. The owner and staff are very personable and eager to help!
Victoria’s Tea Room
The Mad Hatter wouldn’t be late for this tea party date! There is no better word to describe Victoria’s Tea Room then Satisfying! The venue has seen three separate owners but the delectable menu has remained, save a little tweek here or there. Victoria’s Tea room serves up dishes of salads, soups, sandwiches, or a combination of them. Their most popular entree is the chicken salad!! Not too runny…not too dry…made just right with fresh ingredients that complete this lite, sweet, slightly crunchy, creamy ensemble…but I digress.
I typically order the soup and sandwich combo. It includes a small “teacup” size soup of your choice (varies on a daily basis), half sandwich (includes choices like chicken salad, turkey, tuna, ham), chips, pickle, and choice of tea or coffee. I have never ordered a soup I didn’t have fantasies about days later. This past visit our soup options were chicken noodle and enchilada. I had already experienced the heart warming goodness of Victoria’s chicken noodle so I opted for the enchilada soup. I was not disappointed. It was like sipping liquefied enchiladas and leaving me wanting more…so much more…and I haven’t even mentioned the desserts yet…but I digress…again.
Victoria’s Tea Room is open everyday excluding Sunday from 11 AM t0 5 PM. It’s a popular spot for lunch and I’ve been told the teachers at the nearby schools order takeout often. Personally, I recommend dining in! Customer service is top notch and the waiting staff has been around for several years, even with change in ownership. The price is right, very affordable, especially for the portions and quality of food! The restaurant is quite quaint with the mishmash of antique furniture, dainty tablecloths, and elaborate tea cup table settings. It makes for a lighthearted outing with the gals or an intimate setting with your loved one! I have enjoyed many lunches here with family members and friends…had many memorable, meaningful conversations here…nothing beats good food and good company…but I digress.
Jitterz Coffee Bar
There’s always room for a good cup o’ joe. Jitterz is a trendy cafe with an array of coffee and tea selections made the way you like! Step into the spacious lounge and be bombarded with the smooth, rich aroma of coffee beans and sweet pastry temptations. Like many cafes, much of the visit is the experience…perusing the net or completing an overdue project using the establishment’s complementary wi-fi, curling up on one of their comfy chairs to finish reading that novel, having a deep (or not so deep) conversation with a friend, or simply seeking shelter and a warm drink from a sudden cold front (few, far and in between in these parts).
It is apparent that that baristas take their job seriously here. Every time I have frequented Jitterz, I learn something new about coffee or how it is prepared. At one point, the coffee bar hosted musical performers, but it has since begun a new endeavor zeroing in on their love of coffee: tastings. These once a month sampling sessions include informational talks about various coffee brands and many opportunities to make your own opinions. Information on upcoming events or new products are available on Facebook.
For more information on places to see and experience in and around our nation, check out our Trail Guide page. If you have visited some of these sites or have a suggestion on nearby sites, leave us a comment below!
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As always, safe travels and happy trails!
