Deep in the Heart of West Texas

This article is a part of the 2022 Summer Travel Guide, a sponsored collection brought to you by our travel advertising partners. You can find more summer travel destinations and events here.

Ready to reconnect with your inner Texan in the land of the last frontier? This summer, head to Far West Texas and swap your big city blues for mountain views and a taste of small-town life in Alpine, Fort Davis, and Marfa.

Alpine

Nestled in the shadow of Twin Peaks Mountain, Alpine sits in the middle of relaxation, giving visitors easy access to all the treasures of Big Bend Country. Hang your hat in the historic Holland Hotel and take a hike or mountain bike up Hancock Hill, winding your way to The Desk for a view that will make you sing, “Now this is Texas.”

Off the trails of tranquility, dive into the rich history of the Big Bend of Texas and Mexico at Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus. Experience fine art and artifacts of the region from prehistory to the present through visual and interactive exhibits for the entire family. Back in town, be dazzled by the rows of art galleries and small boutiques along Holland and Murphy streets, where unique is the new norm.

Fort Davis

Join the friendly folks in Fort Davis, the highest town in Texas, and embrace the slow pace set by the timeless landscapes visible in every direction. Stretch your legs at Davis Mountains State Park where you can hike or bike some of the highest trails in the state for a peek of Texas at its best.

The stars at night are big and brighter at McDonald Observatory, a short drive north up Mount Locke. Day and evening programs include solar viewings and the family-friendly star parties that give you an up close and personal view of our planetary neighbors in the solar system, as experienced through one of the observatory’s powerful telescopes.

Marfa

Get squared away at Chinati Foundation, south of Marfa, where minimalism meets a stretch of big blue sky on the high-desert plains. World-renowned artist Donald Judd arrived in the tiny town of Marfa in the 1970s when he transformed a historic military base into the now-famous art museum. For decades, art enthusiasts from around the world have made the journey to Marfa for what many have declared a transformative experience of art, architecture, and land.

Talk your time with a walk or bike ride around the quaint, quiet streets, lined with art galleries and small businesses, and then choose from one of the town’s independently owned and operated restaurants for a memorable meal. When the sun sets and the sky goes dark, head on out to Mitchell Flat for a visit to the Marfa Lights Viewing Area. Look toward the Chinati Mountains for a chance to witness the mysterious Marfa Lights, one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the world. Are they natural gases? Are they spirits? Come see for yourself!