On the Road Again...
We have been in Texas now for 10 years! Can you believe that? We decided it was time to get our butts out to West Texas where we have heard so much about. Everyone said that we wouldn’t believe that we were still in TX; it’s like you’re in another country and it was so true. It was unlike anywhere we had ever been. The landscape, the wildlife, and the vegetation were breathtaking. I am already ready to go back and explore some more but we will need to wait until the crazy summer heat passes and go in late Fall or early Spring.
On the first day, we drove 7 hrs to our airbnb in Alpine, TX which was the closest town to Big Bend National Park, (even though it was an additional 2.5 hr drive to the park.) We listened to The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane on audiobook on the way and we HIGHLY recommend for all ages. It’s a beautiful story. We all loved it.
The first day we drove about 30 mins north from Alpine to Davis Mountains State Park, where we drove to the top of a mountain and explored and hiked. Driving up/down the mountains, Olive kept calling the switchback roads, “aisles” and said “here we go up another aisle.” Davis Mountains:
The kids spent about an hour using the rocks as building toys. Graham made a gumball machine.
the “perfect slingshot” Jonah found which he brought home to make one with a rubberband
If there is a tree, they will climb it. Actually, it doesn’t even need to be a tree--they’ll climb anything.
Next we decided to go to Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute which was near the state park. In Alpine the weather was beautiful--mid 70s and sunny but on our 15 min drive into the mountains to get to the research institute to hike it started hailing more than we’ve ever seen.
The roads were slippery like it was a snow storm in the middle of winter. We finally made it to the center for shelter from the hail storm and from a crazy downpour which would flood the hiking trails. It was quite the sight. We were grateful to not have been out with the kids on the trails in the middle of the hail storm since there is so very little protection from the elements in the desert. After we waited out the storm, we headed back into Alpine, where we hiked a small, local trail what was deemed an “easy, kid-friendly hike” on alltrails but ended up being very steep. It was beautiful and we were able to see a nice view of Alpine.
We managed to make it 95% of the way back to our car with no accidents, despite the trail being lined with cactus on either side. Graham tripped and landed hands first on a Prickly Pear Cactus. Once we picked out about 20 fine spines from his hands, he was fine. We had a few other encounters with cactus and kids during the trip but once the spines are removed, the pain is gone thankfully.
That night our good friends from Dallas joined us. They and their 4 kids parked their RV outside our house for a couple nights. We were so excited to be able to take a day trip together the next day to Big Bend. We drove 2 hrs to the park entrance
and drove another 30 mins south to Santa Elena Canyon which is on the Rio Grande River.
After finally making it to the canyon, getting 7 kids out of the car and walking to the river, OUT. OF. NOWHERE big, fat raindrops came and then...hail! Like, welt-leaving hail. Our family found protection under a tree.
The hail storm only lasted for 15 minutes and then we were able to continue on with our hike. The Santa Elena Trail gave us beautiful views of the canyon and the river.
After our hike, we made our way back down to the river to cool off and explore. Mexico is on the other side of the Rio Grande River. We were allowed to swim but not across to the other side! Here you can see the Texas/Mexico boarder:
butterfly caught in mud
fresh mountain lion tracks!
Here’s an odd digging bee that Olive almost lands on
Headed back to the car.
From the Rio Grande and canyon, we stop at the lower burro mesa pour off trail, which was my favorite and most kid-friendly. Highly recommend.
Here Grambo is again building and creating, what he does best.
The 2 hr drive back to Alpine from Big Bend was gorgeous.
We saw storms form in the distant mountains and watched as we drove to them. We drove through hail, once again. If you’re not counting, that’s the 3rd hail storm in 2 days. And then we saw it--a double rainbow!
This is what 2 hikes and 5 hours in a car in 1 day look like with kids. In case you’d like to join on our next roadtrip, we have an extra seat in our van...
The last night we were in West Texas, we all stayed up late and took the kids to an odd town called Marfa to see the “Marfa Lights” which is a completely dark viewing center to see stars like you’ve never seen them before--think outdoor/real planetarium. There’s claims to thousands of people seeing UFO sightings there but we only saw beautiful stars.
We had such a great and tiring trip! I’m ready to go back already. Who’s with me?