Big Bend Series

The Big Bend Open Road Race attracts many of the top drivers in the United States to compete in a timed, speed-classed event between Fort Stockton and Sanderson. This year the course record was broken by the NASCAR holders of the previous record, but the buzz around re-fueling activity and lunch at the Terrell County Courthouse, between the two legs of the race, was all about wildlife of this southwest desert region.

Fort Davis, the town and the historic military post, are a double-barreled combination for families with children to relax and learn about Texas’ rich and vibrant frontier controversies between U.S. Army cavalry and the light horse cavalry of Apache, Comanche and Kiowa Indians. Sumptuous accommodations in the nearby community offer historic-appearing rooms, fine food, gift shops, spirits, and ice cream.

Alpine, Texas chamber of commerce officials consider their town the centerpiece community of the Big Bend region, and the argument is sound from the dual standpoints of geography and tourist accommodations. Townspeople and tourists alike may anticipate a typically tranquil holiday season, with some shops open even on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Big Bend National Park is a destination worth considering for holiday celebrants who want to tone down the noise and have both time and quiet to reflect. It’s not so distant, only remote, and that both preserves its beauty and suggests careful planning for a visit.

Historic hotels abound in the Big Bend region, and the Gage Hotel in Marathon enjoys a widespread reputation of rustic opulence in both food and lodging. Restored and furnished for the comfort and admiration of year-around guests, the hotel also features one of the finest restaurants in the state, Café Cenizo. It’s another quiet retreat available to those who hope to dodge the stress of Christmas and New Year’s in the city.