This year's road trip through west Texas, mostly Big Bend area. Not real budget or backpack-y since my husband was along but pretty moderately priced. Links inside to picture and story.
1
peachfront
I was able to keep a day by day diary of our trip. Some of the photo pages:
A photo diary of the Grapevine Hills hiking trail -- try this trail for great photos!
San Antonio old jail/hotel and zoo photos -- this zoo is a great aviary with hundreds of species of birds represented
Day by day trip entries. You may not want to read all this ramble, but feel happy to skim if you are planning a trip to the area.
The road trip begins
We find out our hotel used to be the local county jail!
We visit the San Antonio zoo for its highly regarded bird collection.
a hike on the Window View trail in Big Bend and photogenic Terlingua
grapevine hills trail and why you shouldn't wear a Mexican T-shirt on highway 385
Camping at Rio Grande site so to take in the Rio Grande Nature Trail at sunset
Hotel links:
Eve's Garden at Marathon, Texas
Comfort Inn/old Bexar County Jail Riverwalk
I will soon be leaving for a month on another trip but happy to answer any questions when I can.
4
peachfront
#2 -- The jail/hotel was actually very nice and priced much lower than other hotels in the area. It looked to me like only the exterior was preserved from the original jail because the interior rooms were standard Comfort Inn type rooms with 2 beds, fridge, microwave, desk, etc. Plenty of room for 2 people. A free breakfast was included that had waffles and also a low carb option of hard-boiled eggs and cheese cubes, as well as the usual continental breakfast stuff like donuts, cereals, etc. A good deal for San Antonio's otherwise rather unreasonably priced Alamo Riverwalk area. I don't want to put a price because I don't know if the same deal will be available, but it was running around 1/2 the price of others we checked. Free internet also.
#3 -- No, we didn't get around to seeing the Marfa lights. I forgot all about it! Maybe next time.
New from last year, many places in Marathon, Texas including our B&B had free wireless. There is still free internet at the public library for those who don't want to lug around their own computers.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner