Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Several working ranches welcome visitors to experience a day in the life of a cowboy. Cibolo Creek Ranch in Marfa covers 30,000 acres near the Chinati and Cienega mountains and is a working longhorn business. Outdoor activities for visitors to the ranch include swimming, hiking, fishing, ATV riding and horseback riding. Walnut Creek Ranch is operated by third-generation family members and has homestead lodging for guests and day time activities, such as playing horseshoes, hay rides and bird watching. The 10,000-acre sheep and cattle ranch reserves 300 acres for guests' enjoyment and use.
The Fort Davis National Historical Site is a frontier post once used by Confederate troops. Guests can tour five buildings furnished in 1880s decor, while bugles call in the distance. More than 20 other buildings and 100 ruins are open to visitors to explore. Interpreters and volunteers frequently dress in period clothing to entertain guests. At Fort Stockton, historic adobe structures once used as officers' quarters, guard houses and a saloon are open to the public, and the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum features authentic Texan artifacts and exhibits. Several other forts and historical sites provide informative stops along the highways of southwest Texas.
The largest state park in Texas is located in the southwest region and has over 300,000 acres of rugged land featuring 66 miles of trails. Big Bend Ranch State Park has camp sites and lodging options for overnight visitors. Fishing and water sports at the Rio Grande River attract many to this pristine park. Located to the north near Interstate 10, Balmorhea State Park encompasses 45 acres of land and features a 77,000 square-foot artesian spring-fed swimming pool. An adobe-style motel and camp sites are available for extended stays. Picnic sites are scattered throughout the park for day use.
At the West of the Pecos Museum in the town of Pecos, visitors may tour a historic saloon and wander through an old Texan hotel. With three full floors and 50 rooms of west Texan artifacts, the museum evokes memories of gunfighters, Pecos Bill, chuck wagons and life as it was in 1896 when the saloon was built. In Alpine, 102 miles south of Pecos, the longest running exhibit of traditional cowboy gear and western art is open to the public at the Museum of the Big Bend. Permanent collections at the museum include historic maps of Texas, Mount Livermore arrowheads and retablos, which are devotional art pieces created on tin.
Known as the "Boot Capital of the World," the southwestern city of El Paso has several high-end cowboy boot shops and factories for travelers seeking authentic Texas footwear. Other Texas souvenirs in many southwest Texas towns may include cowboy hats, barbecue sauce or belt buckles. Local restaurants serve the pride of Texas cuisine: barbecue. From ribs to brisket to steaks fresh from local ranches, tourists are sure to find several barbecue restaurants serving local fare during their travels across southwest Texas.