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$2499
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April 8-14, 2024

Springtime in Big Bend

Motor Coach,North America

7 Days

12 Meals

Price Starting at:
$2,499 Double Occupancy

$3,205 Single Occupancy

 

Established in 1944 as a National Park, Big Bend covers more than 800,000 acres of rugged Chihuahuan Desert wilderness. It is the only National Park that contains an entire mountain range – the Chisos – within its boundaries. Rich in history, there are tales of lost gold, Indian raids, bandits, train robberies, military ventures, mining and pioneer ranching. 

 

Itinerary

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel, then we are off to Fort Stockton, TX where we meet Paisano Pete.  Visit Historic Fort Stockton, TX. This important Indian Wars Fort was active from 1867-1886. It was strategically placed at the life-saving waters of Comanche Springs to protect the San Antonio-to-El Paso mail, freight wagons, cattle drives, and emigrants. The fort was garrisoned by the 9th Cavalry, known as “Buffalo Soldiers”. It also provided employment for freighters, laborers and a market for farmers, stockmen, and merchants. Lunch (included) at OQ8 Officers’ Quarters  Visit Annie Riggs Memorial Museum. Housed in an original adobe structure built at the turn of the 20th century, the museum was originally The Koehler Hotel. Annie was awarded her husband’s estate after he died and, with
the assets, she purchased the Koehler Hotel for $ 5,000.  Optional visit to Grey Mule Saloon. The Grey Mule Saloon was built around 1890 and was one of several saloons that were frequented by cowboys, Texas Rangers, and U.S. Army troops in the early days of Fort Stockton. Today, the Grey Mule Saloon preserves its history while serving as a wine tasting room for the local Ste Genevieve Winery owned by Mesa Vineyards. It offers wine tasting, cheese boards with various cheeses, fruits, and crackers, and fresh bread served with Texas Olive Oil Company olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Check in to Lajitas Golf Resort, Lajitas, TX Perfectly situated between the Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend State Park, Lajitas has golf, shopping, a spa, shooting activities, great dining options and more. This evening we discover Terlingua, TX. “Ghost Town Texas” is mostly ruins of a mining town but is a popular spot for Big Bend visitors. The Terlingua Trading Company and the Star Light Theater Restaurant & Saloon (dinner included) are still alive and the two most popular attractions. It is here that we will dine this evening while being entertained with music and probably a few tall tales.

(B, L, D)

Day 3

Breakfast at hotel.
Big Bend National Park
Described by the National Park Service as splendid isolation, Big Bend National Park offers many opportunities to see vistas, flora, fauna, mountains and desert. Today’s highlights include Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Chisos Basin, Santa Elena Canyon, Panther Junction and the Castolon Historic District. Guided tour with local park specialist.
Lunch (included) at Chisos Mountain Lodge.
This evening is at leisure and dinner is own on.

(B , L)

Day 4

Breakfast at hotel.
Morning at leisure.
Book optional activity (in advance).
Lunch on own.
McDonald Observatory Solar Viewing Experience an up-close look at large research telescopes on this guided tour on Mount Locke. The Visitors Center and shopping is included in this experience.
Check in to Alpine, TX hotel. Rest, relax.
Evening at leisure and dinner on own.

(B)

Day 5

Breakfast at hotel.
Fort Davis National Historic Site Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars’ frontier military post in the Southwest. Troops stationed at the post protected emigrants, freighters, mail coaches, and travelers on the San Antonio-El Paso Road hoping to reach the gold fields of California. They spent much of their time in the field pursuing Comanches, Kiowas, and Apaches. Lunch (included) at Reata, Legendary Texas Cuisine. Named after the ranch in the movie Giant (starring Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean), Reata is an iconic dining experience for locals and tourists alike.  Museum of the Big Bend Located on the campus of Sul Ross State University, the museum relates to the prehistory, history and cultural diversity of the Big Bend region of Texas and Mexico.
Return to hotel, rest, freshen up.
Refreshments and light dinner at hotel.
McDonald Observatory Star Party Enjoy a night sky open-air constellation tour & live telescope views and views of celestial objects through a number of telescopes.

(B, L, )

Day 6

Bags out, clear incidentals, breakfast at hotel.
Today we leave Far West, TX to begin our journey home.
Lunch (included) in Midland/Odessa.
Abilene, Texas’ Storybook Capital, is today’s destination with breaks and lunch (included) along the way.
Check in to Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Abilene.
Evening is at leisure; dinner is on own. There are several restaurants with walking distance from the hotel.

(B, L)

Day 7

Bags out, clear incidentals, breakfast at hotel.
Driving tour of Abilene with a stop at Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden There are five sets of sculptures for the garden depicting some of Garth Williams’ most iconic characters from best-selling books “Charlotte’s Web,” “Stuart Little,” and the popular Little Golden Book “Three Bedtime Stories.” From that book, sculptures were created of “The Three Little Pigs,” “The Three Little Kittens” and “The Three Bears.”  Visit Frontier Texas! Frontier Texas brings the frontier to life and lets visitors meet people who played out their lives on the Texas frontier.
Breaks and lunch on own along the way home.

(B)

*Itinerary is subject to change

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