Posts Tagged ‘Fort Davis Bed and Breakfasts’

Scenic West Texas Drive

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
McDonald Observatory, West Texas

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.

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Visit Big Bend National Park

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Deserts. Mountains. River. These three words accurately describe the landscape of Big Bend National Park, but they fall terribly short of revealing its vastness, its starkness, and its incredible beauty. To truly experience Big Bend, you have to stand in it.

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Experience the beauty of Big Bend National Park.

Whether you stay in Big Bend National Park for a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks, there’s a good chance you’ll leave wishing you had more time. The park is enormous and it’s still growing, encompassing land around it as it comes up for sale. It’s so big, it can be tempting for many visitors to simply drive through the park, in order to see “more” of it in a short time.

In truth, those who leave the roads enjoy the best of Big Bend. Even short hikes – those that leave the road behind by only a few yards – can have a tremendous impact on visitors. Away from the car, one immediately feels more capable and more vulnerable. Big Bend has that effect on people.

Great ways to explore Big Bend:

  • Walk the Window View Trail, a paved, wheelchair accessible trail in the Chisos Basin, only .3 mile (round trip) long. It affords wonderful views of the Chisos Basin and the Window.
  • Hike the Window Trail. This 5.6 miles (round trip) trail starts at high elevation and leads down to the Window. Views are magnificent.
  • Bike the Old Maverick Road to Santa Elena Canyon.
  • Bike the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive from Panther Junction to Castolon.
  • Dine at the restaurant in Chisos Basin.
  • Drive the 14-mile Dagger Flat Auto Trail, in the northern portion of the park.
  • Dip your feet in the Rio Grande. But don’t dip yourself. The river hides sudden drop-offs and dangerous currents.

 

Something about exploring the rugged environment of Big Bend National Park makes one want to sleep comfortably. The park is only about 123 miles from Fort Davis, Texas, a friendly town with a fascinating history. That’s a short distance in Texas. Fort Davis Texas Bed and Breakfasts offer the simple luxury of tranquility.

Please visit our Fort Davis Texas Bed and Breakfasts page to find an inn.

Please visit Big Bend National Park for more information about traveling in the park.

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Evening Events at the McDonald Observatory

Monday, May 9th, 2011

The McDonald Observatory is an incredible resource for anyone interested in learning more about the universe. Its remote location in the Davis Mountains allows for prime viewing of the night sky. Visitors to the Observatory should plan to stay several nights in a Fort Davis Texas Bed and Breakfast. Fort Davis is located at the foot of the mountains, less than 20 miles from the McDonald Observatory.

McDonald Observatory

Take advantage of special evening programs at the McDonald Observatory when you stay at a Fort Davis B&B.

The Visitors Center is open daily; while it is certainly worth a visit, the real magic occurs at night. Throughout the year, the McDonald Observatory offers a variety of star gazing parties and special events, and they are well worth the planning it takes to get there.

McDonald Observatory Special Events:

  • Evening Star Party: look through large telescopes to see constellations and view the moon, planets, stars, galaxies, etc.
  • Lunar Viewing: see the moon as you’ve never seen it, through a 16-inch telescope.
  • Dinner and a Viewing: enjoy dinner and then a special dessert – view the universe through the 107-inch Harian J. Smith Telescope.
  • Special Viewing Night on the 36″ Telescope: the 1956 telescope perched atop Mt. Locke provides incredible views of planets, planetary nebulae, etc.

 

Dates for all evening programs are entirely dependent on the universe. Please see the McDonald Observatory for dates and details.

Fort Davis Texas Bed and Breakfasts welcome star gazers any time of year.

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