Heading down south this weekend. Normally I would never have thought twice, but I've got a couple of young kids and need to be more cautious than I used to...

Was thinking a quick afternoon day trip on saturday might be nice...

Progresso still gets the lion's share of border tourist traffic in the Valley. It is off the "map" as far as narco-trafficantes are concerned (read non-strategic) and with the single main street having everything you need within 3 blocks, it remains a viable day-trip option, IMO.

don't you need a passport to go?

kids all have passports. I've never been skittish about going across, but with the kiddos, i'm second guessing everything

Go during the day and come back before 5 or 6 PM and you should be fine.

I've never had an issue but staying there towards the end of daylight can get a little scary.

I agree that you should start heading back over around 5 pm. Also, you DO NOT have to have a passport but it makes crossing a little faster. If you don't want to bother with passports, a copy of birth certificates works along with a photo ID. You will be questioned more extensively and it might take an additional 5 minutes but you WILL NOT be denied entry. You're an American citizen, right?