This could be you. A sunset trail ride in West Texas.

If you’re visiting West Texas, there’s a good chance you’ll feel the urge to ride a horse. It’s something about the wide open spaces, the dry, rugged land, and the lack of roads. It brings out the cowboy in the best of us.

Luckily, you can go horseback riding in West Texas.

Fort Davis Stables offers Trail Rides to suit even the most inexperienced riders. You’ll ride a gentle giant, and enter a wild and peaceful land that will soothe your soul. Trail rides can last an hour or they can last all day. You can take a Sunset Ride into the mountains, or stay out in the Davis Mountains for one, two, or three nights. If the spirit moves you, you can even participate in a Cattle Drive. Extraordinary experiences, every one.

You’ll want to be treated gently when you get out of the saddle, and Fort Davis Bed and Breakfasts won’t let you down.

The Veranda Inn, as its name suggests, has a large veranda; it’s a perfect place to enjoy a drink at the end of a day in the saddle. It also has two, secluded, walled courtyards and a great deal of outdoor seating. If you can sit at all, you’ll want to sit here.

The Old Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast sits at the foot of Sleeping Lion Mountain. Rest in the shade of a pecan grove, breathe in the clean mountain air, and admire the views. It’s the perfect place to transition back to society after time on the trail.

Discover the Bed and Breakfasts of Fort Davis, Texas. Then discover West Texas.

For additional information about horseback riding, please see Fort Davis Stables.

The sign says it all.

“Howdy” is how you’ll be greeted when you arrive at a College Station, Texas Bed and Breakfast, or just about anywhere else in Aggieland. Home to Texas A&M University, Aggieland is a special place with a big heart and strong traditions.

Just why is it so special? If you’re an Aggie yourself, you know all about it. If you’re a prospective Aggie, you’ll find out. It’s hard to describe, but it’s easy to recognize. It’s the unique school spirit that exists here, the “spirit that can ne’er be told”. Curious? You should be.

College Station Bed and Breakfasts are idea for folks visiting Aggieland for an event at Texas A&M or to check out the school. They are also a good choice for folks who are touring Central Texas and visiting the area at large.

Drive by the Aggie Barn.

College Station is close to historic downtown Bryan, which is undergoing revitalization and is a great spot to shop for antiques.

The Brazos Valley African American Museum in Bryan is a fascinating chronicle of the history of African American life, from ancient civilizations to the present day.

Messina Hof Winery is close to College Station. They produce over 50 varietal wines and offer daily winery tours and wine tastings.

It’s impossible to feel like a stranger in Aggieland, thanks to its generous spirit of hospitality. We think you’ll find that hospitality extends to the Bed and Breakfasts of College Station, as well.

Spend a few days discovering Aggieland. It’s a delightful place to be.

Discover North Texas Horse Country.

North Texas is Horse Country. In fact, North Texas boasts one of the highest concentrations of horse farms in the country, and that’s saying something.

All breeds and disciplines of horses are born and raised here. There are Arabians, Quarter Horses, Appaloosas and Thoroughbreds. Many world champion horses have come from North Texas, and many more will in the future. In short, if you like horses, you’ll like North Texas.

Visitors are welcome to drive down country lanes and bask in the beauty of the horse farms at any time of the year. Folks interested in touring some of the farms would do well to arrange a North Texas horse farms tour through the Denton Visitors Bureau.

After touring the countryside in your car, try a horse-drawn carriage ride. It’s a fun way to tour a town and feel part of the pervasive horse culture. Brazos Carriage offers carriage rides in Fort Worth, Dallas, and throughout North Texas.

Spend some time discovering the horse culture of North Texas, and stay in North Texas Bed and Breakfasts while you do. It is sure to be a memorable vacation.

Be there to celebrate commencement with your grad.

Lubbock is home to several universities. Each spring, they host their Commencement Ceremonies, and lodging in Lubbock fills.

Plan ahead and book rooms in Lubbock Bed and Breakfasts.

2012 Commencements

• Texas Tech University: May 18 and 19.
• Lubbock Christian University: May 4 and 5.
• Wayland Baptist University: May 7.

If you have a student in one of these universities, make your commencement plans early. Many Lubbock Bed and Breakfasts accept commencement reservations a year in advance. This could be the moment to solidify plans for 2013.

Learn about Darwin at The Witte in San Antonio.

Charles Darwin is in San Antonio, Texas. This is one reason among many to spend a few days at a San Antonio Bed and Breakfast.

The exhibit, Darwin: How One Man’s Theory Turned the World on its Head, will be at The Witte Museum through September 3, 2012. The Witte is the first museum in Texas to host the fascinating exhibit that is a collaboration of the Natural History Museum of London, The Royal Ontario Museum, The Museum of Science Boston, The Field Museum of Chicago, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Darwin: How One Man’s Theory Turned the World on its Head uses documents, film, fossils, and interactive media to explore the life and discoveries of Charles Darwin. Visitors will learn quite a bit about how he came to conclude that life is constantly changing. Many of the wonders Darwin encountered during his five years aboard the HMS Beagle are on display.

Spend an afternoon discovering Darwin at the Witte this spring or summer. Stay in one of San Antonio’s many Bed and Breakfasts while in town.

For more information about the exhibit, please see The Witte.

A Hill Country farmhouse surrounded by bluebonnets.

Bluebonnets are blooming now, and should peak in a week or two. When bluebonnets fade, they are quickly replaced by red Texas Paintbrush, pink and yellow Indian Blankets, and cheerful yellow Greenthreads. Fields fill with rich, purple Winecups, yellow Primrose, Prairie Verbena, and more.

Sunshiny wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country.

Travel the Texas Hill Country Wildflower Trail through Brady, Burnet, Early, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Llano, Mason and San Saba. Keep an eye out for blooming Prickly Pear Cactus, tall Yarrow-Milfoil, and delicate Flax and Antelope Horns. Look for Mexican Poppies, Phlox, and Lemon Mint.

Texas is glorious in the spring.

Yes, the Hill Country of Texas blooms each spring. The air is thick with the fragrance of flowers. It can fill a heart with joy for months.

Hill Country B&Bs welcome flower lovers this spring. Give yourself over to delight.

Ah, azaleas. They're in bloom right now in Tyler, Texas.

Spring means azaleas and dogwoods and tulips and wisteria in East Texas. It’s a wonderful time to spend a few days in an East Texas Bed and Breakfast.

The Azalea Trail is in full bloom right now in Tyler, Texas. This celebration of spring flowers lasts through April 8, 2012. Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to spend as much time as possible appreciating flowers.

• Take the Tyler State Park Dogwood Days Driving and Walking Tour.

• Walk the Azalea Trail through town.

• Stroll through the Main Street Flower Market.

• Admire orchids at the Central East Texas Orchid Market.

If it can bloom in spring, it will be celebrated in and around Tyler Texas. Leave your allergies at home (or bring your allergy medicine), and come celebrate spring in East Texas.

The American Kestrel is the 2012 Great Texas Birding Classic Bird of the Year.

For the past 15 years, spring in the Gulf Coast of Texas has meant the Great Texas Birding Classic. Year after year, bird enthusiasts have arrived on the Gulf Coast with binoculars in hand, ready to record each and every bird they see. They have filled Gulf Coast Bed and Breakfasts and they have had a great time.

The purpose of the Birding Classic has always been to increase public awareness about Texas birds and to promote nature tourism. Everyone is encouraged to participate, whether for a day or a week. The truth is, it’s fun to get out in nature and scan the skies and coast for different species of birds. The thrill that accompanies spotting a new species for the first time is hard to match; this is true for seasoned birders and novices alike.

This year, the Great Texas Birding Classic is in transition. The formal competitions of past years, which have lead to conservation grants, will be informal in 2012. No grants will be awarded this year, and teams are allowed to bird when schedules permit, not only during specific dates. That said, the tournament is still unofficially taking place April 14-22.

In 2013, the Great Texas Birding Classic will go statewide. No more will it focus uniquely on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. This will allow many more people to participate, and more birds to be recorded.

In the meantime, dust off your binoculars and call your favorite Gulf Coast Texas Bed and Breakfasts. The 2012 Great Texas Birding Classic, unofficial though it may be, will soon be underway.

The McDonald Observatory on Mount Locke.

Picture yourself on a long stretch of quiet road that meanders its way through West Texas and the Davis Mountains. That’s what you’ll find on the Scenic Loop Drive that begins and ends in Fort Davis. It’s a great way for guests of Fort Davis Bed and Breakfasts to experience the vast, mountainous landscape of West Texas.

Head through Limpia Canyon, which is guarded by Mount Locke and Mount Fowlkes. 6,791-ft Mount Locke is is home to the McDonald Observatory, which is well worth a visit if you’ve never been. The view of the surrounding landscape is spectacular.

The drive then leads into Madera Canyon, where there are shaded picnic areas and one good hike, the Madera Canyon Trail. It is a 2.4 mile loop. Hikers can head to a spot overlooking the canyon or descend to the bottom of the canyon, where there is a large pond.

Back on the road, travel past Mt. Livermore and Sawtooth Mountain. Enjoy expansive views of the Sierra Viejo Mountains, which hug the Rio Grande. Also visible are the Puertacita Mountains and Miter Peak.

This is one of the most beautiful loops in Texas, and one of the least well-known. The Scenic Loop Drive is 75 miles long and can be driven in about 1.5 hours.

This is the kind of fun you have at SXSW.

The first South by Southwest Music Conference took place over 20 years ago, in 1987. It was an instant success, and it has done nothing but grow since it began. Today, it encompasses music, comedy, and film and interactive sections. It runs from March 9-18, 2012.

The goal of SXSW has always been to help creative people build their careers. Originally SXSW was concerned with local musicians. Now it helps musicians, filmmakers, and artists from around the world. Who benefits most? Many would say the fans.

The truth is, SXSW puts on a great show. Or rather, many great shows. The event is well-run, so it’s easy for even first-timers to find their way around. We can’t say enough good things about it. It is a fantastic event for everyone.

Highlights of the SXSW Film and Interactive include a conversation between Richard Linklater and Randall Poster, a study of The Business of Kevin Smith, and a discussion with Ashtar Sayed about his film Bijuka. There will be an animated short film competition, a documentary film competition, and midnight screenings.

SXSW Music Festival welcomes The Cult, Nora Jones, and Bruce Springsteen, who will give the Keynote Address. Fans can listen to Hip-Hop/Rap, Rock, Electronic, Alternative Country, Classical, Folk, and Experimental music. The Music Festival runs March 13-18.

Visit the SXSW website for complete line-ups and other festival information. Visit Austin Texas Bed and Breakfasts to find lodging during SXSW.