Anything worth visiting in West Texas? Or is there really nothing out there? (San Antonio: how much, motels)

[catman]

It won't take forever to get there from Dallas. It'll just seem like it om I-20. If you have the time, I think it's much more interesting to take the old highways.

I agree, it is so worth it! I hope Fort Davis didn't have a lot of damage from the 'Rock House' fire, which started at Marfa and went 21 miles in 30 minutes. That is frightful if you think about it!

[cBach]

Originally Posted by unseengundam

Would say the drive on I-10 is any bit scenic? I know speed limit there is 80 mph since it is in middle of nowhere.

I found the drive very scenic west from San Antonio to around Ft. Stockton. It is there that I fully understood what is meant by "Big Sky". You really get to see everything around you for miles.

I also went in May and found the weather fine. Actually as we headed north up to Carlsbad, the temp cooled because of elevation. Also, the dry air feels quite nice - I overall liked it out there.

We hiked the Guadalupe Mountains and it was in the upper 80's at the base and was around 69 at the peak in mid May. Carlsbad Caverns are 58 degrees year round, so that's another place to beat the heat.

[cinnamon_toast]

Y'all are making me really excited about getting out there sometime. What is the best time of year to visit Big Bend and Marfa?

[High_Plains_Retired]

Originally Posted by catman

I did get the best chicken-fried steak I've ever eaten at George's Cafe there. I hope it's still in business.

Indeed it is.

[catman]

The sense of 'nothing' out there is one of the things I like about it.

[LilyLady]

Homeinatx - you described it beautifully! Can't add a single thing.... except that I'm getting homesick.

[turkeytrot]

[quote=doctorjef;19058920]Driving north from Lubbock to Amarillo is pretty amazing -- best done early in the morning IMO. There is one town on the road where it looks like you are going to drive right into some big grain elevators that you can see for several miles in the distance, gradually getting bigger and bigger as you approach. At what seems like the last minute you see that the road skirts to the left of these elevators. It's one of my most memorable sights in the Panhandle and strangely, eerily cool.quote]

I live between Amarillo and Lubbock and made that drive many times and agree with you!
After living in metropolitan areas for almost all my life my family and I moved to Happy Texas (pop 647, SAALUTE!) in 2000 and have no regrets.

I discovered after moving here that the panhandle is a largely neglected area of the state for different reasons mostly though it's because of the myth that there is nothing out here.
Palo Duro canyon and Caprock canyon both are beautiful and if you come to the city of Canyon Tx. the play "TEXAS" is well worth seeing.
It's played out every summer Palo Duro canyon just east of Canyon, which is just south of Amarillo on I27.

So get your cowboy on and come visit!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by cinnamon_toast

Y'all are making me really excited about getting out there sometime. What is the best time of year to visit Big Bend and Marfa?

October through April, in my opinion.

Big Bend starts getting VERY hot the first part of May, and that lasts through the end of October.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

October through April, in my opinion.

Big Bend starts getting VERY hot the first part of May, and that lasts through the end of October.

It can hit 100F or better as early as first of April - especially along the river (Rio G). I remember trying to sleep in the old motel in Presidio on a hot April night when all they had was a noisy swamp cooler.

[doctorjef]

Yes, but the amazing thing is that swamp coolers actually work well out there.