Davis Mountains State Park The Beginning of the American Southwest

Davis Mountains State Park is one of the oldest Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) projects in Texas, which means the park dates back to the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since its inception, the park has provided winding trails for hikers to meander into valleys and crest mountain ridges. One of the signature routes in the park is the Skyline Drive Trail which provides 4.5 miles for hikers and mountain bikers to enjoy uninterrupted panoramic views. Another well-trodden and history-filled path, the 1.75-mile Civilian Conservation Corps Trail, guides hikers to the fascinating Fort Davis National Historic Site.

While there, be sure to stop at the Indian Lodge. Currently under renovation, the mesa-style building situated in a desert basin is a 39-room, full-service hotel that includes stucco fireplaces in the suites and original furnishings from the 1930s. Even if the rooms are unavailable for a night’s stay, there are plenty of campgrounds available to enjoy this unspoiled nature.

For those who prefer longer loops powered by motor vehicles, Scenic Loop Drive is a 75-mile roadway that takes travelers across acres of arid terrain punctuated by the electric blooms of succulents, the chartreuse foliage of the occasional tree, and the iridescent feathers of one of the many birds fluttering in the West Texas breeze. TX-118 N, Park Road 3, Fort Davis, TX

Celebrating 100 years

Texas Parks and Wildlife is celebrating their centennial birthday with a smorgasbord of events thrown across 89 state parks. Which of the many parks will you be exploring this summer? Visit tpwd.texas.gov/state-park/ 100years to see what events are happening at a park near you.

McDonald Observatory

The Stars at Night are Big and Bright…

The infinite universe of the Milky Way has never been so close as it is to the McDonald Observatory. Home to four of the world’s largest telescopes, including the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, this West Texas observation center opened in 1939 and has since expanded to house scientists from a range of global universities who track the night skies.

Amateur stargazers are also welcome here at one of the evening Star Parties where guides orient attendees to the constellation map of sky before changing perspectives by opening the heavens through a telescope. Keep eyes peeled for shooting stars. Out west, they frequently illuminate the darkness.

For those who don’t have time to camp out under the stars, come early and watch the sunset as astronomers calibrate the hexagonal mirrors that reflect the universe back to Earth. Shortly after the last rays of light disappear, the observatory roof slides back to reveal a quilt of darkness tufted with shimmering beads.

Upon closer inspection, these twinkling lights transform into balls of fire whose intensity is measured using color. What appears white to the naked eye is really gradients of blues, reds, and purples that tell stories of a star’s age, distance, and position relative to Earth. Under the expanse of the universe, it is easy to reset perspectives, which is exactly what summer vacation is for. mcdonaldobservatory.org, 3640 Dark Sky Drive, McDonald Observatory, TX

Favorite Texas Parks That Are Worth The Drive

• Garner State Park

• Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

• Monahans Sandhills State Park

• Dinosaur Valley State Park

• Palo Duro Canyon State Park

• Caddo Lake State Park

• Big Bend Ranch State Park

Take the road trip with a local company that sets you up with all the essentials. Read more about Vanish on page 14.

Marfa

A Secluded Oasis for Artistic Meditation

While the legend of the Marfa lights remains to be proven (or disproven), an extraterrestrial encounter that can certainly be found in this West Texas town is the geography. For as far as the eye can see, the desert flows, only interrupted by spotted tufts of scrubby flora and the occasional antelope or ibex.

Under the white light of the desert sun, the bleached walls of the town shelter dozens of galleries dedicated to the arts. From painting and sculpture to multi-media installations and conceptual pieces, the tranquility of this small town is the perfect canvas for imagining an alternative way of life.

When the sun descends behind the far-flung horizon, town lights in the evening are a welcome beacon, and all paths on the small urban grid lead to Highland Street where visitors can stop in at Hotel Paisano for a good time. The revelry begins after sundown when the entrance courtyard is transformed into a patio laden with company, fresh beverages, and Texas-sized portions of southern comfort food such as the Pistachio Fried Steak and Lemon Penne Pasta.

The historic property first opened in 1930 and was the filming location for the 1956 film Giant starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson. Although the establishment was extensively renovated in the early aughts, Old Hollywood glam still seeps through. Well-worn terracotta tiles pair elegantly with the indoor-outdoor living that plays out in the hotel’s cypress-scented air.

For a more contemporary touch, head to the Hotel Saint George where industrial whitewashed walls serve as conscientiously curated gallery walls displaying local paintings, sculptures, photography, and multi-media crafts. Though the hotel has been renovated to include all the modern luxuries any guest would need, Hotel Saint George has been a part of Marfa’s story since 1886. Likewise, this new incarnation has become the communal epicenter of Marfa and a comfortable landing spot for Texas old-timers and contemporary art pilgrims visiting the art mecca.

A meal at Saint George’s LaVenture treats patrons to fresh local fare with southwestern influences that tickle the tastebuds, such as their homemade bacon jam which comes on their fresh-baked sourdough toast at breakfast or on their HSG Burger at suppertime. Guests can also enjoy a light menu and carefully crafted cocktails poolside with cool desert vibes under the bright Texas sun.

Artist To Watch

Check out Guy Sealey’s exhibit off Highland Street. The South African artist arrived in Marfa by way of NYC and sources his inspiration from his time in the South African army, an advertising career in the Big Apple, and the meditative landscapes of the West Texas desert.