West Texas
The hottest ticket in West Texas? A reservation for one of the thrice-weekly Star Parties at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. Located on Mount Locke…
Must-see attractions in West Texas
West Texas
As you step inside the historic artillery shed, with its enormous windows, sweeping desert views and sun-dappled aluminum boxes, the Marfa hoopla suddenly…
El Paso
This thoroughly enjoyable small-scale museum is housed in a former Greyhound station. Its pride and joy is a 13th-century Byzantine Madonna and Child, but…
West Texas
This national park is almost the size of Rhode Island: when you’re traversing Big Bend’s 1252 sq miles, you come to appreciate what ‘big’ really means. It…
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
West Texas
Few Texans seem to know about Guadalupe Mountains, but this remote desert enclave is a true Texas high spot, literally as well as figuratively. At 8749ft,…
Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site
West Texas
The best art galleries in south central Texas are right here along the Rio Grande, and their works have been on view for at least 4000 years. This state…
West Texas
As you look out at the desert from the pavilion that houses this recent addition to the park, it's hard to imagine that a shallow sea once covered much of…
El Paso
Home to Texas’ oldest continually active congregation, tracing back to 1680, Ysleta Mission was established for Spanish refugees and Tigua people fleeing…
West Texas
Be sure to find out what’s happening at Ballroom Marfa, a nonprofit art space located in a former dance hall. The focus is on offbeat, interesting…
Fort Davis National Historic Site
West Texas
Established in 1854, this well-preserved, beautifully sited frontier fort was named for then–Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Staffed exclusively by…
West Texas
For majestic sunrises and sunsets, this remote park rivals any we've seen – and we've seen plenty. This wonderful place is just 3 miles northwest of Fort…
West Texas
At 486 sq miles, this massive park is more than 11 times bigger than Texas’ next largest state park (Franklin Mountains in El Paso). Taking up almost all…
El Paso
The largest urban park in the US, at over 24,000 acres, offers a quick escape from the city to the home of ringtail cats, coyotes and countless other…
West Texas
If you only stop at one Chihuahuan Desert exhibit in Big Bend country, make it this one, at the eastern entrance of Big Bend Ranch State Park, 1.4 miles…
El Paso
El Paso might not seem an obvious location for a Holocaust museum. Created by local survivors, though, this excellent little memorial holds thoughtful and…
First Armored Division & Fort Bliss Museum
El Paso
As the largest air-defense training center in the Western world, Fort Bliss consumes much of the desert northeast of El Paso, and trains troops from all…
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historical Site
West Texas
Just over 30 miles northeast of El Paso, toward Guadalupe Mountains National Park, this 860-acre park contains three small granite mountains that are…
El Paso
This small but informative museum spotlights the history of the US Border Patrol, which was founded in 1924. This happened three days after Congress…
Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Area
West Texas
Ghost lights, mystery lights…call them what you want, but the Marfa Lights, flickering beneath the Chinati Mountains, have been capturing travelers’…
El Paso
The surrounding community of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is sovereign home to the Tigua tribe and is recognized by many as the oldest town in Texas. Despite…
West Texas
Practically a ghost town, Langtry has turned its principal claim to fame into a tourist attraction on US 90, about 60 miles west of Del Rio. Displays in…
West Texas
You can view several original and reconstructed buildings of a 19th-century fort on the Texas frontier at Historic Fort Stockton. The site includes…
Fort Leaton State Historic Site
West Texas
This restored adobe fortress doubles as the western entrance and visitor center for Big Bend Ranch State Park, 4 miles southeast of Presidio. Look for…
West Texas
The Judd Foundation maintains and preserves the living and work spaces of minimalist artist Donald Judd, who founded the Chinati Foundation Museum. Two…
El Paso
Home to a large number of endangered animals, including the Asian elephant, Sumatran orangutan, Malayan tiger and the rare Amur leopard. All told, more…
El Paso
Managed by the University of Texas at El Paso, this 372-acre city park has walking trails (two natural-surface and one paved) weaving through the wetlands…
West Texas
Check out the ruins of a Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach stop, via an easy wheelchair-accessible 0.75-mile round-trip trail starting from the Pine…
El Paso
The community of Socorro was established in the fall of 1680, after Spaniards and Native Americans fled New Mexico following the Pueblo Revolt earlier in…
El Paso
The dioramas depicting the lives of the region's ancient peoples aren't particularly illuminating, but the baskets, pottery and hunting tools created by…
Amistad National Recreation Area
West Texas
Reasons to visit this reservoir, formed by a 6-mile dam on the Rio Grande, include boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing, bird-watching and a bit of…
El Paso
A Spanish presidio named for St Elzéar, the French patron saint for soldiers, was established here in 1789 (San Elizario is a corruption of his name). A…
West Texas
Behind Sul Ross State University, a trail leads up the dusty slopes of Hancock Hill. As well as offering fine views of the area, the hill holds some…
West Texas
Dwarfed by the looming Sierra Ponce, the Castolon Compound buildings date from 1920. A half-mile historic stroll offers a brief look at frontier life…
El Paso
One of Texas' best-kept secrets, this El Paso landmark was built in 1875 for Joseph Magoffin, an early El Paso politician and businessman. With 4ft-thick…
West Texas
Housed in a former hotel and boarding house, this museum is named for the frontier woman who owned and ran the hotel for many years. The building is a…
West Texas
This family-owned winery was established in 1883, making it the state's oldest continually operating vintner. The winery rode out the dry years of…
West Texas
Texas legend Judge Roy Bean is buried at Whitehead Memorial Museum, an idiosyncratic and endlessly fascinating place. Check out the room devoted to border…
West Texas
The historical exhibits inside this intermittently staffed old ranch house, 2 miles northeast of Pine Springs Visitor Center, give insight into what life…
West Texas
Back in 2016, a tiny cinderblock shack beside the railroad on US 90, 15 miles west of Marathon – morphed into Target Marathon, complete with Target’s bull…
West Texas
On the campus of Sul Ross State University, this great little museum holds exhibits on locally found marine fossils, Native American pictographs, Spanish…
