I was on the phone with my mom a few weeks before our departure to the Big Bend. “Santa Elena Canyon is beautiful! You should really try to go there!” Well, if it’s good enough for my momma, it’s good enough for me! Located at the end of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, this 1.7 mile … More Santa Elena Canyon
Day two of our Big Bend adventure took us down Ross Maxwell Scenic Road towards Santa Elena Canyon. Wanting to enjoy the somewhat cool early morning breeze, we set out on the Chimneys Trail. Located about 13 miles south on Ross Maxwell Scenic Road, the Chimneys Trail is a well marked path that takes hikers … More Chimneys Trail
Spanning over 800,000 acres, or 1,252 square miles, it can be an extremely overwhelming task to try to take everything in at Big Bend National Park. We decided that the best course of action would take on the idea of divide and conquer: divide the park into thirds (since we were spending three days there), … More Grapevine Hills Trail
A very short, yet interesting trail lies about four miles west of the Hoodoos Trail: the Closed Canyon Trail. It’s namesake is well earned as hikers will discover since the vast majority of the 1.4 mile round-trip trek takes them through a very narrow canyon! It was unseasonably hot that day in March, and yet, … More Closed Canyon Trail at Big Bend Ranch State Park
Having been in the car for the majority of the morning, a hike was a perfect remedy for stiff muscles and lethargic dispositions. It just so happens that, about twenty miles east on 170 from Fort Leaton, the Hoodoos Trail is situated within view of the roadside, inviting all to begin exploring the Big Bend … More Hoodoos Trail – Big Bend Ranch State Park
What serves as the Visitor Center for the western portion of Big Bend Ranch State Park was formally a bustling trading post originally owned by Benjamin Leaton and Juana Pedrasa. Even though several hiking trails are located right off FM 170, passes must be purchased and displayed in car windows to avoid fines. These passes … More Fort Leaton State Historic Site
It was the day after Thanksgiving, 2014, and, after feasting on a wonderful meal the day before, we were all ready to get out and do a little hiking. One great option nearby is Davis Mountain State Park. Located twenty four miles north of Marfa, Davis Mountain State Park offers numerous activities for outdoor enthusiasts, … More Davis Mountain State Park
It was summer 2009, and Mom was pining a visit with her mom, my Grandma Cruzita. So with Kurt’s blessing, the kids and I joined her, hopping on a plane headed west. The three hour drive from the airport to Grandma’s was fairly uneventful: blue skies, open, arid ranges, sprinkled with a few lowly antelopes. … More Prada Marfa
Growing up in small town Arkansas, I will be the first to admit that my exposure to the fine arts was very limited. We had a set of encyclopedias (yep, this was waaay before the internet); therefore, well known paintings and sculptures by Michelangelo, Picasso, and the like were at my fingertips. On occasion, perusing … More Art In Marfa
Shootin' The Breeze 