The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center was a fantastic stop for my daughters, our dog, and me on…read more2.15.2025. I knew from scrutinizing their website that I would love this place. I love their video tour by David Politzer from 2022. In fact, the only things I didn't love were their map and outdoor displays that needed maintenance or repair. The map lacked key details and was a bit confusing. There were several uprooted signs, at least one overturned bench, and exterior paint wearing. Otherwise, it's a very cool place. Clean women's restrooms. Bottle refill station inside the visitor's center. In 2023, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center celebrated its 50th year anniversary, so it definitely deserves constant maintenance. Open: Mon. - Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed on Sunday. Very nice lady at the front desk. She only charged me half price since we got there at 4 p.m. My kids and dog were free. Admission Fees ADULTS $6.50 CHILDREN 12 & UNDER FREE MEMBERS FREE SRSU STUDENTS $3.25 DOGS ARE WELCOME FREE My dog loved it here. A little rocky, but not many issues with stickers and weeds as long as you adhere to the trails. No dogs allowed in the Cactus Museum Collection. They're having their succulent sale on March 10, 2025 from 9 am - 5 pm. For more information, go to https://www.cdri.org/

I did not do any hiking here so I can't speak to the trails available. I arrived in the early…read moreafternoon and it was to hot for a long hike. The botanical gardens is very nice with a significant collection of native desert plants. All are very well labeled. Out back of the garden is a "Cactus Museum," a small greenhouse with a great collection of different Cactus. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Admission is only $7. Definitely worth stopping by.

If you have some time, I would definitely recommend paying $10 a person for a tour of the…read moretelescopes. The tour was about an hour and a half long. My husband and I learned so much about Big Bend, its dark skies, and the history of the McDonald Observatory! Our tour guide, Ryan, was very informative and engaging! He was very passionate about his work and you can tell through the tours he gives! Loved seeing the science happening behind the scenes in the dark skies of Big Bend when the country is asleep!

We went to a Star Party during a new moon, and it was amazing! Definitely dress warmly for the…read moreevening conditions, and be prepared to stay for about 2 hours. You will be sitting for the first part on stone benches, but chairs are available by the visitors center (not in the Star party space). The location is gorgeous, and I recommend bringing a flashlight (red lens if possible to prevent light pollution) because the parking lot is pitch black at night. Fill your gas tank before you head out there because fueling options are limited, and dont plan on eating after the party unless you want to drive an hour. The location is necessarily remote to maximize the sky view, which makes it gorgeous at night. I'll upgrade my photo-gear before going back, because the opportunities for Star pics are endless!

If you're looking to tap into a little turn-of-the-19th Century Texas spirit, Prude Ranch is the…read morekind of place where you can hang your hat and feel right at home. This isn't just some dressed-up attraction, it's a genuine working ranch that blends hospitality with a healthy dose of outdoor adventure. I brought my daughter and her friend along so they could experience what it's like to saddle up proper, just like I did as a kid. There's nothing quite like learning to mount, settle into the rhythm, and take the reins of a horse that's got a mind and personality of its own. Set just outside Fort Davis, the ranch sits on land that's nothing short of breathtaking with wide-open spaces, mountain views, and that quiet kind of stillness you only find out in the country. From check-in to hitting the trail, the staff were as knowledgeable as they were Texas-friendly, the kind of folks who make you feel welcome before you even swing into the saddle. And the horses? Fine animals, well cared for, even-tempered, and each with their own quirks. Mine, for instance, had a habit of moseying toward every patch of snack-worthy greenery along the trail... felt a bit like looking in a mirror at a buffet line. With a soft spring breeze rolling through, the ride felt easy and peaceful, the kind that makes you slow down and take it all in. Though we didn't stay overnight, it was clear plenty of families had settled in for Spring Break, and the main house was serving up hearty, satisfying grub that smelled as good as it looked. Even in a short visit, Prude Ranch delivered a true taste of ranch life that is unpretentious, scenic, and just the right amount of cowboy charm to leave you grinning long after you've ridden off into the sunset.

We were visiting the Marfa/Fort Davis and wanting to do horseback riding. We looked all over and…read morefor the value and views (Mountains!) we choose Prude Ranch. We were not disappointed! It was my wife and son with me for a 2 hour ride. Our guide was Jake and he was awesome. Kind, knowledgeable and thoughtful when it came to us and the horses. We couldn't have imaged a better ride. This was our first trip to the region and ranch but won't be our last. This is a must do when visiting the area.

Love this place so much! Kerri does a great job making it warm, welcoming and FUN to go shopping…read more Walk up to the door and you are greeted by adorable yard art (this time it was fun little poodle-like doggies) and a sign encouraging you to photograph the murals on the sides of the buildings. As you enter the gallery your senses are immediately overtaken by how much amazing cool stuff is literally everywhere. My 7yr old daughter exclaimed "wow mommy this place is so awesome!" the moment we set foot inside. Although she's been in before, the store is ever changing with decor and goodies everywhere. There are paintings, sculpture and photographs- all originals - throughout the store. Fun jewelry, beautiful clothing and gift items galore are in every nook and cranny. I highly recommend walking in and going straight back, down the hall to start. And then work your way forward again as you look at both sides of the walls. It's like art, color and vibrance jump off the walls at each turn. They have custom framing available and although I didn't get any done, my friend who lives in Alpine swears they are the best (compared to Dallas, TX for pricing and quality). I was delighted to see original paintings from an artist we saw in a friend's home. My daughter chose 3 paintings as a gift for her dad (Fathers Day was upon us) very reasonably priced at $85 each. I didn't want them sitting in my truck as I ran more errands so Kelly offered to package them for us to pick up the next day on our way out of town. During past trips to Alpine, and Kiowa Art Gallery, I have purchased tunic tops, earrings and hand-blown glass ornaments. This is one of our favorite places and we love popping in when we visit Alpine!

A charming & wonderful place with great art, jewelry, pottery, t shirts,…read more a lovely boutique at the back end of the store & very friendly service. The lady there on the day we were there was chatty, personable & helpful without being pushy.

Ambiance: Historic western hotel in Marfa with an onsite restaurant, bar, and boutiques. We loved…read moreour stay over Valentine's Day! Friendly check-in and staff. Our room was spacious and overlooked the pool. Hotel is extremely dog friendly! Reasonable room rates and comfortable bed. Parking onsite and street parking available. Pool looked lovely. Multiple areas to socialize and gather. Lots of history and cool art. We loved the onsite shopping/boutiques! Great for souvenirs and unique West Texas finds. We will always plan to stay here when we visit Marfa!

I chose Hotel Paisano over another hotel in Marfa because the other property's website clearly…read morestated, in all capital letters, that there was no elevator. Accessibility and mobility concerns were a factor in our decision, and Hotel Paisano's website gave no indication that its elevator was out of service. Upon arrival, we were informed that the elevator was not working and would not be repaired during our stay. Every guest room requires climbing at least one flight of stairs, making this a significant issue for anyone with mobility limitations. What was most disappointing was not just the outage itself, but the fact that it was never disclosed before our arrival. We were also told at check-in that the restaurant was closed for renovations and no food service would be available. One of the reasons I selected this hotel was because the restaurant menu looked more appealing than those offered by other hotels in town. Again, this information was not communicated in advance. We were informed that the bar would remain open until 3 p.m. each day. However, when we visited around noon on Saturday, we were told we could not order drinks because the space was being reserved for a private party later that evening. That same party continued until 10 pm and the noise was loud enough to be clearly heard from our room. The party guests extended into the pool area. Event attendees were allowed to use the pool, and guests in formal attire were jumping into the water fully clothed. While that may have been entertaining for those attending the event, it created an atmosphere that felt more like a private venue rental than a hotel serving paying guests who were expecting a quiet and relaxing stay. The guests were also taking photos with a very bright flash camera. Every flash penetrated through both the sheer and formal sets of curtains in our room and made relaxing and sleeping impossible. Any one of these issues might have been manageable had they been disclosed before booking. Instead, guests were left to discover them only after arrival. I was particularly troubled by the apparent lack of concern regarding guests with mobility challenges. When a property has no practical access to guest rooms except by stairs due to an inoperable elevator, that information should be communicated prominently before a reservation is made so travelers can make informed decisions based on their needs. The hotel seems to rely heavily on its historic reputation and charm, but historic character should not come at the expense of transparency, accessibility, or guest service. The elevator outage, restaurant closure, restricted bar access, and late-night private event created an experience that felt far different from what was advertised.

The Last Supper was one of the very last works ever commissioned by Andy Warhol…read more It can be found here,at the Ayn Foundation. Considering it is one of the quintessential works by The Godfather of Pop Art,I would definitely pop in.

Four stars for having a Warhol. The rest of the art - let's…read morejust say it's not my speed.

Very cute little art exhibit. It's hard to miss it if you don't know where to look. It's right…read moreoutside the Lincoln Hotel.

The yellow phone is at The Lincoln hotel in Marfa. Swifties this is for you! Not a working phone,…read morehowever it continuously plays "shake it off"

Yummy food but beware - they may run out of said food on busy (for them) days. We had good coffee,…read morecinammon roll, and the *last* breakfast taco (they had been open less than an hour and ran out of tacos...?) Everything seems to be made from scratch, excellent.. Just limited options. I think when we walked by around 1 or 2 they had exhausted all of their supplies for the day and closed shop (normal hours until 3 pm, I believe).

Our best dining experience in Marfa during our extended weekend in this small town…read more The interior is small and cozy, and decorated in a simple yet chic style. The kitchen where the chef prepares the wonderful meals is not in a separate room, but completely open to the dining area. So as the diners relax over their wine (BYOB) and wait for their meals, they get to see the chef nearby, dicing, grilling, baking, and working her magic in the kitchen. My friends I felt more like guests in a home than diners in a restaurant. The chef/owner came to our table after we were seated, greeted us, and chatted with us for a bit. The two servers were adorable and polite little girls, roughly around 9 and 12 (give or take a year or two), who helped the chef around the kitchen and served dishes as needed. I later learned they were the daughters of previous diners; these little fairies apparently wanted to come back and help the chef around the kitchen. How cute is that?! (You'll likely get regular grownup servers on a typical night). As for the food, everything tasted so incredibly fresh and flavorful. For appetizers, my friends and I shared the salmon spread and the bruschetta, both of which were delicious. My entree was the fish tacos with a side of sweet potatoes and a vegetable dish; the highlight of this dish was the yams. The yams were topped with -- if my memory serves me correctly -- goat cheese, which brought out the wonderful taste of the sweet potatoes even more. On a sidenote, the wait for the food is on the long side. There is only one chef, after all. If your night is flexible, this shouldn't matter, since chatting with friends over wine and appetizers in this wonderful setting is certainly nothing to complain about. But if you have other activities scheduled that night, you might want to get there much earlier so you can relax and leisurely enjoy your dining experience.