Our journey will continue across TEXAS, through MIDLAND, and into ODESSA where we will stop for lunch. This afternoon, we begin making our way towards SOUTH TEXAS to arrive in ALPINE. We will check into our hotel (our home for the next three nights) in time to freshen up before setting back out to enjoy dinner at one of Alpine’s finest. We will not keep you out very late today. You’ll need your rest for the next two day’s adventures!      

MEALS INCLUDED … Breakfast, & Dinner

This morning, our professional guide will join us for a journey through BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK! We’ll travel through this desolate, yet beautiful, land learning about Big Bend’s GEOLOGY, CULTURAL HISTORY, as well as it’s MEDICINAL and EDIBLE PLANTS.  We will travel down the ROSS MAXWELL SCENIC DRIVE, stopping off at SANTA ELENA CANYON with her MAJESTIC ROCK CLIFF WALLS towering 1,500 FT and SOTOL VISTA with amazing views overlooking the CHIHUAHUAN DESERT.  We will enjoy a picnic lunch in a HOTSPOT FOR BIRDING. Finally, we travel the MOUNTAIN ROAD up into the CHISOS BASIN! Here, we will enjoy the iconic "WINDOW VIEW" and CASA GRANDE.  This 800,000+ acre park is full of canyons, rocks, rivers and was once the home of dinosaurs! We’ll watch for wildlife and all the wildflowers that should be blooming this time of the year! Next, we’ll travel through TERLINGUA, LAJITAS, enroute to BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK, the HIDDEN GEM OF THE BIG BEND.   We traverse the RIVER ROAD through the park, paralleling the RIO GRANDE with stunning views into MEXICO. Next, we travel through PRESIDIO, a border town with OJINAGA, MEXICO. Finally, we head north through MARFA, made famous by the ART WORKS of DONALD JUDD and his MINIMALIST STYLE, enroute to ALPINE, once again our home for the evening.

MEALS INCLUDED … Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

This morning, we depart for FORT DAVIS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE and MCDONALD’S OBSERVATORY! We will be taking another TEXAS SCENIC BYWAY up to the MOUNTAIN TOWN OF FORT DAVIS, the highest town in Texas. We will be on the lookout for BIG HORN SHEEP, AOUDAD, and MULE DEER on our journey, and we will hear about LIVING OFF THE GRID like the locals do, and the history of this famous fort.  Once at FORT DAVIS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, we will walk around to see the Soldiers Quarters, Hospital, Church, Barn, and Visitor Center. Take a step back in time as you marvel the antiques on display in this gem of a collection. Next, we will have lunch at an OLD FASHION SODA FOUNTAIN. Midday, we head to the WORLD FAMOUS MCDONALD OBSERVATORY, learning how they see our fascinating Universe! We will learn about the sun in the SOLAR TOUR, followed by a GUIDED TOUR of their OBSERVATORY. After this, we will head to FORT DAVIS for dinner followed by the STAR PARTY at the OBSERVATORY where we will learn about the COSMOS and view STELLAR OBJECTS through multiple TELESCOPES.  

MEALS INCLUDED … Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner 

This morning, we start our journey back towards Northeast Texas but not before spending some quality time at FORT STOCKTON HISTORIC FORT as well as the ANNE RIGGS MEMORIAL MUSEUM. After lunch in FORT STOCKTON, we will journey through more of our beautiful Texas Hill. This afternoon will include two short leg-stretches before we stop for the night in MARBLE FALLS (TX). After checking into our hotel with time to freshen up, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the BLUE BONNET CAFÉ. If you like OLD-FASHIONED PIES, this will be PURE DELIGHT TO YOUR TASTE BUDS!! Established in 1929, the Blue Bonnet Cafe is one of the oldest running restaurants in Texas.  Specializing in southern 'comfort food', the menu offers classics like chicken fried steak (the owner's favorite) and burgers along with weekly specials, delicious breakfasts, and huge variety of pies.  

MEALS INCLUDED … Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Our trip is about over, but not before we visit the famous LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER. The LBJ Wildflower Center is the official Texas state botanic garden and arboretum. Lady Bird Johnson, our former first lady, and actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes. This special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants. Every day, the Wildflower Center brings life to Mrs. Johnson's vision in its public gardens, its woodlands and sweeping meadows. After lunch, we will make one final stop at COLLIN STREET BAKERY for one last fling! We should arrive in Tyler around 6:00 PM with wonderful memories of the BIG BEND OF TEXAS!    

MEALS INCLUDED … Breakfast