I'm taking the family (wife, 14 yo boy, 11 yo girl) around West Texas this summer. Money is tight this year and I can't afford an elaborate vacation. Also, I think it's important for the kiddos to at least travel to all parts of Texas and take pride in the the greatest state in the union.
I'm thinking of the following, but would appreciate any suggestions:
We're from Dallas. I was thinking of going to Ft. Davis, tourning Mcdonald Observatory and staying there at least one night. I want to hit Marfa to see the Marfa lights. I thought we'd go by Alpine because I've heard it's a coold town. Also want to go to Big Bend and either camp in the Basin one night or stay in the lodge. If anyone knows good places to stay or visit in those towns or others, please tell me.

I am very familiar with that area. In Ft. Davis, stay at the Limpia Hotel in downtown Ft. Davis or at Indian Lodge in the state park a few miles outside of town. Eat at the Drug Store in FD. Real, old time sodas and malts. Good burgers. The Limpia is a good place to eat, also. Tour the old fort at Fort Davis. Raft down the Rio Grande. Go swimming at the state park in Balmorhea--a spring fed pool that is cold, cold.Stay in FD the whole time and just drive to Alpine and Marfa.

All ideas above are great. The Observatory is a great trip.

You might plan on more than one night for the Marfa lights. I have seen them a couple times, but that is over many trips.

You will enjoy it, but it isn't like Sea World, et al. Much slower pace, but worth it.

quote:

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Balmorhea

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I was wanting to post that too, but couldn't figure out how to spell it.

Plus, Carlsbad in NM is in the area and well worth seeing.

on your way out there stop in Abilene and visit Frontier Texas. Its a new interactive museum that's alot of fun. Not too far away is the Grace Fine Arts Museum. Then get someone to direct you to Joe Allens BBQ.

tlh_94, see what an English degree from A&M does? It taught me to spell Balmorhea!

I spent an hour staring into a dark field outside of Marfa one time. Not sure what I was supposed to see, but it wasn't out that night.

I do recommend Balmorhea though. And as mentioned, if you want to detour into SE New Mexico, go see Carlsbad Caverns. To make it a full day in New Mexico, you could head to White Sands as well. And if you have any interest in the Oil business, you could go to the Petroleum Museum while going through Midland. It's right there on I-20.

On other site I think should be mentioned is the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. That place is really nice. Very close to Carlsbad. And if you do go to Carlsbad, make a reservation to see the "new cave" you have to bring your own flash light, so come prepared.

I'll second the New Cave suggestion. When we went there, you had to schedule with the park rangers, and they only took a couple of groups in each day. Seeing an "undeveloped" cave was a real treat, and as I recall, it wasn't too physically taxing.

And you do have to bring your own flashlight!

Also you might check out the Sandhills (either in Monahans or over in Kermit). Kermit's cheaper because it's not a state park, just a roadside park.

I'll second squid's suggestion of the trip through Abilene. I haven't been to Frontier Texas, but I hear great things about it. Joe Allen just built a brand new restaurant down the street from his old one, and I hear that it's nice (and clean, too).

Gage hotel in Marathon should be a supper and one night stop for sure.

caves at Sonora too

in Alpine, cool rock and roll blues bar called the Railroad Blues - brings in lots of named acts.

also in Alpine
supper at The Reata - well worth it

Also, besides the Petrol Museum in Midland there is also the Confederate Airforce Museum. Very cool stuff lots of WWII aircraft. Can't believe no one mentioned this before hand.

They have a new bed and breakfast in Marfa. Saw it on Texas Country Reporter. I worked in Presidio for a year (early 90's). I might leave Big Spring at 2A or 3A where I could be on the job no later than 8A. You could really see the Marfa Lights coming from the west (Alpine) at 4-5A. OJ was always a fun place to go and have a meal. The golf course at Lajitas was fun, but I think it has been priced out of sight. Have fun with your family.

Go to eat in Imperial, TX also they have a Saltwater Shrimp farm that uses underground saltwater. I have not been, but have been told it is some of the best shrimp people have tasted - and the freshest in West Texas.

Permian Sea Shrimp
FM 11 (FM 1053)
Imperial, TX 79743
432.536.2280

http://chefmoz.org/United_States/TX/Imperial/Permian_Sea_Shrimp1060660726.html

From Dallas - Stop in Thurber, TX for lunch.
I have only eaten at the New York Hill Restaurant on the top of the hill - they have good homestyle Texas fried foods. We enjoy NY Hill every chance we get.

There is also the Smokestack at the bottom of the hill - supposed to have good food there also.

Read what you can about the history of Thurber, TX it was a real boomtown gone ghosttown. I know the NY Hill has a town history on the menus and a lookout over what used to be the boomtown of Thurber.

They may even have a museum now, but the food is good enough for a stop IMO.

This is near Cisco/Ranger/Eastland area so it can be your lunch stop on the way out of Dallas.

[This message has been edited by LoudestWHOOP! (edited 3/27/2006 9:45a).]

No doubt you have to stop and visit Cisco/Ranger/Eastland to get your true Texan card validated.

Ranger - originally a Texas Ranger camp in the 1870s and grew to a good sized community after the T&P Railroad came through in about 1880. Became one of Texas' first boom towns when oil was discovered in 1917. By 1820 the town had a population estimated at 30,000. By 1921 the boom busted and most of that population moved on.

Cisco - Conrad Hilton purchased his first hotel in Cisco in 1919. You might say that old boy did well ... the chain is now 500 hotels worldwide. (Not to mention having a great, great granddaughter named Paris.)

Eastland - Home of Old Rip. Old Rip was a West Texas horned toad reportedly placed in the cornerstone of the county courthouse in 1897. Again, reportedly, that cornerstone was opened in 1928 at the dedication of a new courthouse and there was Old Rip, alive and as well as a horned toad is expected to be.

I agree with all the Fort Davis, Balmorhea, and Marfa suggestions already mentioned. I'll add a few more. We go every year to the bike ride, so it's a personal favorite.

Since you're on a budget, maybe the Limpia isn't the best place to stay since it tends to be a bit pricey for the nicer rooms. You could consider the Prude Ranch, especially since you have kids.

Murphy's in Fort Davis has good pizza for the kids. Tour the Blue Mountain Winery on the scenic loop.

Take some extra time and go to Guadalupe Mountains national park and hike Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas. And if you've gone that far, it would be a shame not to go to Carlsbad Caverns. As others have said, do the off trail tour with a ranger. however, spots fill up very far in advance.

Links:
Star Party: http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/visitors/programs/

Fort Davis: http://www.fortdavis.com/

The Hotel Paisano, in Marfa, is beautiful but on the same cost level as the Limpia in Fort Davis: http://www.hotelpaisano.com/

Eat at Maiya's in Marfa for a nice evening out. Have coffee at the Brown Recluse.

Big Bend would require page after page of stuff, but I like this one:
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/virtualvisit/parkmap.htm
and this one:
http://www.maroon.com/bigbend/

If you want to eat some of the best chicken fried steak in Texas, skip the New York Hill restaurant in Thurber and go to Mary's or Flossies in Strawn. Strawn is just a few miles north of I20, and they have ice cold beer to go with the CFS!

what Ag65Son said

Mary's in Strawn has by far the best CFS ever.

Can't believe people settle for NY hill and Smokestack, both of which are good, but not that good.

Fancy new Museum of Technology is just down the hill from the NY Hill restaurant. Tells the story of Thurber Coal mines and Thurber Brick Factory all on that location. Thousand and Thousand of people employed and housed right there. Went to dust and disappeared. A lot of the old shack houses you see across the country around there were company houses built and abandoned there at Thurber and then sold to be moved.

Thanks for the tip about Strawn, will have to try that CFS sometime.