Today we’re taking a random places road trip, and we are so happy to have you along for the ride. Enjoy!
Pike Place Market, Seattle. Established in 1907, it is the oldest running farmer’s market in the U.S. The original Starbucks opened here in 1971.The Green Monster left field wall at Fenway Park, Boston. The reason the wall is there? To keep people from watching the game for free. In 2003, 269 barstool seats and 100 standing room only spaces were added to the deck on the wall, however tickets for those seats are hard to come by. By the way, the scoreboard on the Green Monster is still updated by hand. Fenway Park has been the home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912.Smokey Bear’s gravesite, Capitan, New Mexico. The idea of a fire prevention mascot was conceived in 1944 when the National Forest Service came up with a character called Smokey Bear. In 1950, a black bear cub was found badly burned after a forest fire in the Capitan Mountains of the Lincoln National Forest. The firefighters who found him named him Smokey. A popular living symbol of fire prevention, Smokey made his home at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. until he died in 1976. He was returned to Capitan where he was buried in what is now Smokey Bear Historical Park.Ernest Tubb Record Shop, Nashville. Home of the Midnite Jamboree, which started right after the Grand Ole Opry show was over on Saturday nights. Ernest helped many artists get their start right there in that store until 1974 when the show was moved to another venue. The Midnite Jamboree was moved back to the store in 2021. Tubb was born in Texas, 35 miles south of Dallas. He performed and wrote songs up until his health required him to quit in 1982. He died in 1984. In March 2022, it was announced that the store is being sold and the Midnite Jamboree would be ending.Geographic Center of the U.S. The actual survey marker is 22 miles north of town, but Belle Fourche, South Dakota does a great job of letting people know it’s close by.UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico. Occupying a 1930s era movie theater, the museum was opened in 1991. In addition to the exhibits, mostly about the so-called Roswell incident, they also have a gift shop that carries things like bumper stickers that say, “I Like Aliens, They Taste Just Like Chicken”, and other gotta-take-one-of-these-home souvenirs.Granary Burying Ground, Boston. Established in 1660, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are all buried here, along with some of Ben Franklin’s family members and victims of the Boston Massacre, among others. It is estimated that more than 5,000 people are buried in this small cemetery, though there are just over 2,300 markers.Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, Nebraska. Site of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Scout’s Rest Ranch, which was his home from 1886 to 1913. This beautiful barn was built in 1887 to house his purebred stallions and other livestock that lived on the 4,000-acre ranch. His mansion is shown below.Buffalo Bill Cody’s home at Scout’s Rest RanchReflections on the Colorado River, Moab, Utah. Did you know that the Colorado River Basin is part of eleven national parks? The Colorado River also flows through seven states, two Mexican states, and it forms a partial border between Arizona and Mexico.Provincetown, Massachusetts. Fleeing religious persecution in England, the Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed first at Provincetown in 1620 where the men on the ship signed the Mayflower Compact. The compact was a document whereby they agreed to self-rule the colony they were set to establish in the New World. After finding no fresh water in the area, they sailed across the bay to Plymouth, and the rest, they say, is history.The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado. Freelan O. Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile, opened the hotel in 1909. In the 1970s Stephen King visited the hotel and was inspired to write his novel The Shining. Today, the Stanley Hotel claims to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country with none other than Freelan and his wife, Flora (among other spirits) roaming the hallways. We toured this stunning hotel, and even went in the basement, but we didn’t see any paranormal activity – or Jack Nicholson!
That’s going to do it for today. Thanks so much for joining us on our random places road trip. We hope you will return to our site again for more sights, scenery, trips, tricks, and tips. Be sure to sign up to be an e-mail follower so you never miss a post, and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Tell your friends! We want to be friends with them, too.
Happy hump day, everybody!
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
Bored? Stuck at home? Rather be on the road or camping? We are right there with you. To fill the void at our house, we’ve been using our spare time to take different kinds of virtual road trips. In this post, we’ve put together a list of ideas to help end the boredom. We hope some of these resources will “get you out of the house” and help you start planning your next big adventure.
Bridge at Acadia National Park
YouTube
Some of our favorite folks to virtually travel with are full-time RVers. These folks travel all over the country giving tips on where to go and what to do and see. They also give reviews on great camping spots, and we promise that you’re going to see some amazing scenery and points of interest along the way, too. In random order, our top six picks:
Changing Lanes – best for higher end camping and motorcycle rides.
Embracing Detours – best for free camping spots and traveling with pets.
Grand Adventure – best for boondocking in very scenic places.
Traveling Robert – best all around for travel, RV camping, hiking, and scenery.
Less Junk, More Journey – best for traveling the country with small kids.
Long Long Honeymoon – best for tips and tricks along with great destinations.
Texas
Texas
We love for others to see what adventures await in our great home state of Texas. Some of our favorites:
The Daytripper – Chet Garner and crew travel to a new Texas city or town every week – PBS – check listings for times.
Texas Parks and Wildlife – travel to state parks and recreation areas and view our state’s amazing wildlife – PBS – check listings for times.
Texas Country Reporter – ride along with Bob Phillips for amazing places in Texas – various channels – check their website for more information. Here’s a link: Texas Country Reporter
The Texas Bucket List – learn about the people, places, food, and fun that Texas has to offer with host Shane McAuliffe – various channels and times – check their website for more information. Here’s a link: Texas Bucket List
Good Ol’ Buoys
Netflix
We thoroughly enjoyed the two shows listed below. The only problem: they weren’t long enough!
Expedition Happiness – join Salima and Felix as they travel North America in a school bus turned RV – movie – 1.5 hours.
National Parks Adventure – documentary narrated by Robert Redford – 42 minutes.
Water Diamonds
Prime Video
While some Prime Video selections have to be rented, the following are included with an Amazon Prime membership.
The National Parks – America’s Best Idea – 12 part documentary by Ken Burns
America’s 58 National Parks – documentary series with 57 episodes
America’s National Parks – 8 part documentary series
Best Parks Ever – America’s National Parks – 10 part documentary series
America’s Treasures – 8 part documentary series
RV – hilarious 2006 movie starring Robin Williams – 1.5 hours
National Lampoon’s Vacation – 1983 movie starring Chevy Chase – the ultimate guide for what you don’t want a road trip to be – definitely worth another watch
West Texas Sunrise
Books
There’s nothing like a good book. Pick up the hard copies or download a couple of our favorites listed below.
Dear Bob and Sue – three book series covering Matt and Karen Smith’s adventures while visiting all of the national parks. These are a great read for any national park or travel enthusiast – couldn’t put them down! They have written a couple of other travel-related books, too, so check those out as well.
50 States 5000 Ideas – National Geographic publication which also includes the 10 Canadian Provinces – where to go, what to see, what to do. This is a fun book!
On the Road – classic Jack Kerouac novel published in 1959. If you have never read it, now is a great time.
Any road atlas – yep, we mean that old fashioned paper map book. Atlas trips are a favorite pastime of ours. Pick a state and see what all it has to offer by “traveling” its highways and backroads via map.
Fat Prairie Dog
Around the Web
The possibilities are endless for navigating travel related sites on the web. Here are some of our favorite stops:
RoadsideAmerica.com – pick any city and state to see what quirky attractions await.
AtlasObscura.com – enter a destination in their search box to see what interesting sights can be found there.
Explore.org – a collection of live webcams and webcam videos from around the world. Kids will love this!
OnlyinYourState.com – enter a state in the search box to find out about people, places, and things in the state of your choosing.
TripAdvisor.com we like to search “things to do” in a particular city and state to see what Trip Advisor comes up with.
DearBobandSue.com – check out their website for podcasts, photos of their adventures, and more.
One for the Money Two for the Road Blog – you’re already here, so look through our archives and revisit some great road trip ideas, itineraries, and photos!
Reflections of Boston
We hope our ideas will help you escape for a few minutes or a few hours. Remember to count your blessings, wash your hands, and turn off the news. Stay safe and well, and we will see you when we can get back on the road.
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
Cost: $7.00 per person (ages 16 and up) for 7 day pass – seniors free with senior pass
Pine Springs Visitor Center: open daily 8:00 – 4:30 Mountain Time
McKittrick Canyon day use area: gate is open daily 8:00 – 4:30 MST and until 6:00 MDT
Frijole Ranch Museum: open daily 8:00-4:30
Salt Basin Sand Dunes day use area: no overnight parking or camping, picnic tables and pit toilets available – located approximately 50 miles southwest of Pine Springs Visitor Center – no services
Williams Ranch day use area: high-clearance vehicle required for one lane dirt road access – keys must be checked out at the Pine Springs Visitor Center and returned the same day
Camping spaces available at Pine Springs Campground – open year-round – no hook ups and reservations are not available – restrooms and potable water are available
Dog Canyon Campground: open year-round – located 110 miles from Pine Springs Visitor Center, and approximately 65 miles from Carlsbad, New Mexico – tent and RV campsites available – restrooms are available – no services
Backcountry and equestrian camping also available in the park
Hotels, additional camping, food, and gasoline available in Carlsbad, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas
View of the mountains near Guadalupe Pass
Getting There:
Cholla cactus blooms
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located approximately 53 minutes southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico and approximately 1.75 hours northeast of El Paso, Texas via US Highway 62/180. El Paso has a major airport.
⇒Travel Tip: there are few services between El Paso and the park. It’s a good idea to have plenty of gasoline, water, and food on hand before beginning your journey. The only services between the city of Carlsbad and the park are 32 miles northeast of Guadalupe Mountains in White’s City near the entrance of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but the services there are limited. There are no services available in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Recommended RV parks in Carlsbad:
Carlsbad RV Park & Campground – 4301 National Parks Hwy, Carlsbad, NM 88220 – (575) 885-6333, which is closest to the national parks.
Carlsbad KOA Holiday – 2 Manthei Rd, Carlsbad, NM 88220 – (575) 457-2000, which is about 30 minutes farther but is close to the state parks in Carlsbad.
Destination: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Guadalupe Mountains are the remains of an ancient reef – beautiful!
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of two national parks in Texas, the other being Big Bend National Park. Guadalupe Mountains, however, is home to Guadalupe Peak, which is the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet. The Guadalupe Peak trail, at a little over eight miles round-trip, is a popular and strenuous hike.
Pine Springs Visitor Center
There is an interesting museum exhibit inside the Pine Springs Visitor Center. Guadalupe Peak hikers can check in here. Restrooms and a water filling station are available. Outside, there is a short nature trail (the Pinery trail) leading to the remains of the historic Pinery Station, which was a Butterfield Overland Mail Station (pre-Pony Express) used in the mid-1800s. The remains of this station are some of the only ones left of any Butterfield Station in the US. Learn about some of the plants found in the park while walking the paved Pinery trail.
The Pinery Station
The crumbling walls of the Pinery Station with El Capitan in the background
Highway access and parking for the Pinery Station is approximately .5 miles northeast of the Pine Springs Visitor Center and is clearly marked with signs along the highway. The parking lot here also serves as overflow parking for the Guadalupe Peak trailhead which is located at the Pine Springs campground near the visitor center. The short trail to the Pinery Station is paved and is wheelchair accessible.
Frijole Ranch
The Frijole Ranch house, originally built in 1876 and expanded in the 1920s, is now a cultural museum. The ranch was established in order for its owners to raise cattle near several springs located here in the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains. Subsequent owners grew vegetable gardens and tended large orchards along with raising stock. Click the park website link above to read about the interesting history of the ranch.The orchards are behind the white building (which could be an outhouse) on the left. The tin roofed building on the far right was used as a bunkhouse and schoolhouse.
Access to Frijole Ranch is via a well-marked exit off of the highway northeast of the Pine Springs Visitor Center. A short gravel road will lead to a parking and picnic area (with restrooms) next to the Frijole Ranch house/museum. Equestrian corrals and overnight parking for stock trailers are available at Frijole Ranch. This is also the trailhead for Manzanita Spring trail and Smith Spring trail. The Manzanita Spring trail is an easy 4 miles round-trip on a paved, wheelchair accessible trail. Smith Spring trail loop is classified as moderate at 2.3 miles round-trip.
Hiking McKittrick Canyon
Here you can see a wide variety of plants, and possibly some animals that call Guadalupe Mountains National Park home. That, on top of the breathtaking beauty of the mountain scenery, makes McKittrick Canyon a wonderful place to hike. Oak, maple, walnut and many other types of trees can be found in this desert-turned-riparian hideaway. When the trees turn in the late fall, the canyon becomes an even more popular place for hikers. Check the website for the fall colors report in October and November.
Starting off on the trail leading from the ranger station/contact station where all hikers must check in. Didn’t we have a gorgeous day for hiking?A cool creek is a welcome sight on a hot dayPratt Cabin – note the stone roof
Wallace Pratt, a Humble Oil Company geologist, first came to McKittrick Canyon in 1921, and eventually acquired about 5,000 acres of the canyon. In the early 1930s he hired Houston, Texas architects and local workers in need of jobs to construct the cabin also known as the Pratt Lodge. Mr. Pratt referred to the cabin as the Stone Cabin, which was constructed of locally quarried limestone. Pratt eventually built another home in what is now Guadalupe Mountains National Park. His second home, completed in 1945, is known as the Ship on the Desert. In 1960, the Pratt family donated their land to the park service. The cabin is open intermittently for ranger guided tours, and there are a couple of picnic tables nearby but no restrooms or water.
View from the front porch of Pratt Cabin – we could have stayed on that porch all dayThis little lady was as curious about us as were about herA shady part of the trail leading to The Grotto
The well-marked turn-off for McKittrick Canyon is located 7 miles northeast of the Pine Springs Visitor Center. Although we went on a hot day, this was one of our all time favorite hikes. It is rated moderate, however, we thought it was an easy, family friendly trail. We turned around at The Grotto (6.8 miles round-trip), but the trail continues to McKittrick Ridge which is a steep and strenuous 14.8 mile round-trip hike from the ranger/contact station trailhead. Restrooms and water filling stations are available at the station. Park passes/admission fees can be paid at the station, however, they require exact change in the form of cash only. Park passes can also be obtained at the Pine Springs Visitor Center.
Below are a few more shots from McKittrick Canyon trail.
Cute and colorful – we saw several of these guys along the trail
One of our favorite things to see on this trip was the blooming New Mexican agave plants, even though the only ones we saw were in Texas!
We visited the park during the latter part of May when many of the plants were in bloom. Desert plants are magnificent when in bloom, and if you’ve never experienced the refreshing summer rain scent of the creosote plant, you’re totally missing out!
Agaves and yucca plants produce tall stalks that can grow several feet overnight. Many desert animals eat the blooms and the stalks. We watched a mule deer in McKittrick Canyon gobble up an entire century plant stalk in about five minutes.
The normally scraggly-looking cactus plants put on a show during the spring with their brightly colored blooms, such as the cholla cactus shown at the top of the page.
Some of the other plants that were in bloom included:
Soap Tree YuccasButterfly WeedPrickly Pear CactusApache Plume with its white flowers and feathery pink plumesDelicate Prickly Pear “rosebuds” about to burst into bloomBright orange Ocotillo blooms and a beeCardinal penstemon growing straight out of a rock at The GrottoAnother agave shot – not sorry. This was a large “agave forest” (our words) just outside the park.
Below are some of the plants and sights that we saw along the road in Lincoln National Forest on the way to Dog Canyon. Some of the plants looked like they had been purposely planted, but that didn’t bother us. We loved taking the back roads and seeing these plants off the beaten path!
Creosote Bush – and oh, did it smell heavenlyYellow Bird of Paradise BushSweet AcaciaFree range cattle jam on the road – and this wasn’t the only one we encounteredThis is the state line marker on the gate going in to Dog Canyon campground. Most of the trek to Dog Canyon is through New Mexico, but all of Guadalupe Mountains National Park is in Texas. Remote Dog Canyon is THE place to camp if you want to get away from it all.
We will close this post with a shot of a spectacular Texas Madrone.
Texas Madrone trees shed their bark to expose their smooth pink wood
Thank you for hanging with us through this long post. There is just so much beauty in Guadalupe Mountains National Park we wanted to share it with you! (And we barely scratched the surface.) We appreciate you traveling along with us on our journeys, and we hope you will stop back by soon for more great road tripping and RVing tips and more exciting adventures. Until then…
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road.
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
If you follow our posts, you’re already familiar with Quick Stops. Quick Stops are designed to give a nod to locations to which we can’t devote an entire post. The destinations are completely random and totally fun.
Just get in the car and we will be on our way!
First stop: The Flume
Where in the world is it?
The historic Carlsbad Irrigation Flume, known locally as The Flume, is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It’s an aquaduct that diverts water from the Pecos River to an irrigation canal. The Pecos River was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records because The Flume caused it to be the only river in the world that actually crossed itself.
Looking down the irrigation canal toward The Flume
Throckmorton is located 111 miles west of Fort Worth at the intersections of US Highways 380 and 183/283. It is the county seat of Throckmorton County. The Great Western Cattle Trail passed through here during the nineteen years it was in use from 1874 to 1893. Trivia: Dallas Cowboys great, Bob Lilly, once lived in Throckmorton.
The Throckmorton County courthouse was built in 1890 and in 1978 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Restored to its original state in 2014, the courthouse is also a Texas Historic Landmark. The population of the county was a whopping 124 when this courthouse was originally constructed.This is the original Throckmorton County jail, built in 1893. The sheriff’s offices were on the first floor, and the prisoner cells were on the second floor. The old jailhouse now serves as a museum.This metal sculpture of a pioneer woman is located in a tiny park area next to the Throckmorton City Hall. Check out that huge prickly pear!
It’s a fact, Jack!
Twenty-six miles southeast of Carlsbad, New Mexico lies the only WIPP in the country. What in the world is a WIPP, you ask? Well, it is a Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. It is a repository for defense-generated waste, including clothing and tools among other things, that have been contaminated with or contain man-made radioactive materials and other elements such as plutonium. This type of waste is called Transuranic or TRU for short. The plant opened in 1999, and now our country’s radioactive nuclear waste is being buried almost a half mile (2,150 feet) underground in an ancient salt bed in the desert of eastern New Mexico. The plant is operated by the Department of Defense and with 1,200 employees is one of the largest employers in New Mexico. And now you know…
Until the next trip…
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road!
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
The road goes on forever and the party never ends. Robert Earl Keen
If you follow our posts, you’re already familiar with Quick Stops. Quick Stops are designed to give a nod to locations to which we can’t devote an entire post. The destinations are completely random and totally fun.
Just get in the car and we will be on our way!
First Stop: Turkey, Texas
Where in the world is it?
Turkey is located in the Texas panhandle, about 103 miles southeast of Amarillo, at the intersection of Highway 86 and Highway 70.
This restored vintage Phillips 66 cottage gas station sits right in the middle of town.
So what’s so special about this tiny town with its population of around 420 at last count? Well, it’s the home of Bob Wills, the King of Western Swing. The town hosts a Bob Wills Day festival every year on the last Saturday in April. There’s a museum dedicated to Mr. Wills in town, and a monument (pictured below) in the city park honoring him and his Texas Playboys band.
This replica tour bus sits next to the old gas station
Second stop: Dismal River
Where in the world is it?
Dismal River is located in west-central Nebraska. This part of the river is located near the town of Thetford, off of US Highway 83.
We didn’t think the river was dismal at all. Actually, it was a beautiful, welcome sight within the Nebraska sand hills. The river runs for only about 72 miles until it converges with the Middle Loup River, and its source is the Ogallala Aquifer.
It’s a fact, Jack!
During the early 1950s, another western swing band, Ole Rasmussen and his Nebraska Cornhuskers, became popular recording artists on the Capitol Records label. Ole Rasmussen must have idolized Bob Wills because he styled his music as well as his band’s country chic look after Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Though one would think that Ole Rasmussen and his Nebraska Cornhuskers were from the state of Nebraska, they weren’t. They were from California. And now you know…
That’s all for this post. Thank you for joining us on our virtual tour of Turkey, Texas and the Dismal River. We invite you to return to our site every week for another great adventure on the road. Until the next trip…
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road!
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
Shackelford County Courthouse, Albany, Texas, built in 1883.
We’re in love! Albany, Texas has captured our hearts. Not only is it a beautiful small town, it sits amid rolling hills covered in mesquite, pecan, and oak trees. The town is surrounded by ranch land, and the Clear Fork Brazos River flows nearby. Albany has a rich history, proven by its thirty-five historic landmark designations, as well as historic Fort Griffin fifteen miles north of town.
This sunflower field near Albany just makes us happy!This classic sits across the street from the courthouseHistoric buildings in downtown AlbanyRestored Gulf gas station
During the last two weekends in June, the town of Albany puts on the Fort Griffin Fandangle, which is the oldest running play in Texas. This year (2019) was the eighty-first production. People come from all over to see the townspeople tell the story of the settlement of the area. This wonderful show will delight the whole family, and we highly recommend going to see it!
Fort Griffin is home to the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd, and a few of them star in the show! We had never seen a more well behaved bunch of cattle before. Plus, they’re just kinda awesome. For more information about Fort Griffin, please see our Abilene, Texas post. Here’s a link: Abilene, Texas
Some of the Fandangle cast
Also during Fandangle, there are many events around town, including a catered barbecue dinner, tours of historic buildings and homes, and baby longhorns on display on the courthouse lawn.
Precious!
We bet this calliope is something you haven’t ever seen, and if you have seen one, we bet it was a long time ago. We were enthralled. This one is about 76-years-old, and they play it for thirty minutes before each show. Beware it is loud, but so intriguing! Turn up your sound and check out the video.
While there is a hotel and RV park in Albany, there are also hotels and campgrounds in Abilene, 35 miles south. Since we love camping in our RV, we chose to stay at Fort Griffin. The campground is not only pretty, it has clean showers and bathrooms, a playground for the kids, and full hookups. We woke up to birds singing, longhorns mooing, and a couple of spectacular sunrises. In the evenings, cicadas, tree frogs, and crickets chirped, and the dark skies afforded breathtaking views of the stars. Frankly, it was hard to leave the place.
Fort Griffin Sunday sunriseThis guy was singing his little heart out next to our campsite. Isn’t he gorgeous?
We’re going to close this post with a couple of shots of the old Highway 183 truss bridge over the Clear Fork Brazos River near Fort Griffin.
From the new Highway 183 bridge. Yes, we stand in the middle of highways to get the shot.Standing in the middle of the old Highway 183 while looking up. No traffic on this one though.
That’s a wrap, folks. Be sure to make plans to attend the Fort Griffin Fandangle in 2020. We hope you will return to our site for more great trip ideas, tips, and tricks, and if you’re already a follower, THANK YOU for your support of our site. We do this for you. If you’re not a follower, become one so you never miss a post. We would love to have you aboard on our journeys. Until the next time…
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road.
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
Abilene, Texas may now be known as the storybook capital of America, but the city is so much more. In 1881 when lots began being sold and cattlemen began shipping cattle on the Texas and Pacific Railway, a thriving city was born. Shortly thereafter, Abilene was named county seat of Taylor County, having won a vote to move it from Buffalo Gap. Today, Abilene is home to three universities, satellite campuses of a junior college and a technical college, as well as Dyess Air Force Base. Located 150 miles west of Fort Worth on I-20, Abilene is a can’t miss stop on a West Texas road trip. We highly recommend staying over for a day or two to experience this wonderful, historic city.
On the beaten path…
Frontier Texas!
Located at 625 N 1st Street. This is a multimedia museum unlike any other we have ever seen, and we loved it. Go to learn about the history of West Texas from the people who settled the area. Exceptional western heritage exhibits, videos, and holograms. Yes, holograms, and they are amazing! Beautiful building, lovely grounds, and a nice gift shop, too. Open Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 and Sunday 1:00 – 5:00. Adults $10.00, Seniors/Military $7.00, Students/Teachers $6.00, Children (3-12) $5.00, Ages 2 and under are free.
Flying Buffalo Herd at Frontier Texas
The Grace Museum
The Grace Museum is an art and history museum that includes a hands-on children’s museum area. The building was originally the Hotel Grace, built in 1909. We happened to visit on a free admission day, but we would have gladly paid the $6.00 per adult fee for the art exhibits alone. Located at 102 Cypress Street, The Grace Museum is open 10:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday.
Storybook Sculptures
The Lorax in Everman Park
Storybook sculptures can be found all over downtown Abilene. Dr. Seuss characters, among others, can be seen in Everman Park (across the street from The Grace Museum) and more at the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden (1008 N. 6th Street). Kids and adults of all ages will love these whimsical characters! Click here for a Storybook Adventure Guide: Abilene Storybook Adventure. While visiting downtown Abilene, be sure to check out the NCCIL (National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature) located at 102 Cedar Street for weekly children’s activities, an illustration gallery, and a children’s bookstore. The NCCIL (aka the nickel) is open 10:00 – 4:00 Tuesday – Saturday.
Characters emerge straight out of the pages of a storybook! This fabulous sculpture in Everman Park is called “Childhood’s Great Adventure”
Abilene Zoological Park
2070 Zoo Lane. Though smaller than some big city zoos, this is a clean, well-kept zoo with a variety of animals. In addition to the many animal exhibits, there are a couple of kiddie rides, a concession area, and a zoo store. There are picnic tables outside of the zoo in the adjacent Grover Nelson Park. A splash pad, playground, duck pond, walking trail, and dog park are also located in the park. The zoo is open 9:00 – 5:00 daily. Adults – $8.00, Seniors – $7.00, Children 3-12 $5.50, Children under 3 are admitted free.
Other points of interest on the beaten path…
12th Armored Division Memorial Museum – 1289 N. 2nd Street. Open 10:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday.
Center for Contemporary Arts – 220 Cypress Street. Open 11:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday.
Dyess Air Force Base Visitor Center Memorial Park – Arnold Blvd & Military Drive. Open 7:30 – 4:00 weekdays.
“Jacob’s Dream” sculpture on the Abilene Christian University campus. One of our favorite places in Abilene. Located off of N Judge Ely Blvd on Teague Blvd.
Off the beaten path…
Abilene State Park
Not only is Abilene State Park a beautiful park, it is one of our favorite camping spots! Located approximately 30 minutes south of the city of Abilene, this park has a lot to offer in the way of recreation. Primitive campsites, water and electric sites, full hookup sites, playground, hiking and biking trails, swimming pool (summer), picnic areas, yurt rentals, group areas/facilities, fishing, boating, soccer and baseball fields, wildlife and bird watching can all be found at this park.
This happy little cardinal was visiting the campgroundSteps leading from the swimming pool concession building to a creek and meadow beyondOne of the gorgeous campsites at Abilene State Park
Taylor County History Center
The original Taylor County courthouse is now part of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, and it is on the National Register of Historic PlacesWe wondered who might have lived in this rustic old cabin. Buffalo hunter? Farmer? Rancher?
Approximately 22 minutes southwest of Abilene, the Taylor County History Center is located at 133 N William, Buffalo Gap, Texas. Open 10:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday. Adults $7.00, Seniors/Military $6.00, Students $4.00, Ages 5 and under are free. All buildings are open for visitors to walk through unless it is raining/muddy.
Fort Phantom Hill
Remains of the commissary/storehouseThe chimneys are all that remain of the hospital complex
Fort Phantom Hill is located about 20 minutes north of Abilene on West Lake Road (aka FM 600) and is open daily from dawn to dusk for self-guided tours. Very interesting, and as one of the highlights of our trip we highly recommend a visit.
Lake Fort Phantom Hill
Beautiful lake for fishing, boating and other water sports
Lake Fort Phantom Hill is approximately 20 minutes north of Abilene, and is accessible from West Lake Road (aka FM 600) or from East Lake Road (aka FM 2833). Camping, boat ramps, picnic/barbecue areas, sand volleyball court, and a disc golf course are some of the recreational activities available at Lake Fort Phantom Hill.
Other points of interest off the beaten path…
Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene -7457 West Lake Road. Open daily 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Perini Ranch Restaurant – 3002 FM 89, Buffalo Gap. Make a dinner reservation! Here’s the website: Perini Ranch
Eating and sleeping…
Cypress Street Station – 158 Cypress Street (downtown). We recommend for lunch.
Lytle Land and Cattle Company – 1150 E South 11th Street. We recommend for dinner.
Hampton Inn – two locations to choose from. See our Places/Links tab above for website. Many other hotels along I-20, on the south side of town, and near downtown.
Nearby points of interest…
Sweetwater, Texas: National WASP World War II Museum at Avenger Field
Fifinella, the mascot of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), was designed by none other than Walt Disney
Approximately 1,800 women served as WASPs during WWII. These unsung heroes worked long hours and performed dangerous jobs for very little pay. They did not receive veteran status or benefits until 1977. In 2009, the WASPs were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Located 35 minutes west of Abilene off of I-20, this free museum is definitely worth a stop for some interesting WWII history. Open 10:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday and 1:00 – 5:00 on Sunday. Donations are appreciated.
→While in Sweetwater, stop by Allen’s Family Style Meals for the best fried chicken and other mouth-watering home cooked food you’ll find anywhere. This is an all-you-can-eat, sit-with-your-neighbors, no-menu, eat-what’s-served, Sunday dinner-type restaurant. (How’s that for a description?) Located at 1301 E Broadway Street in the original Allen family home. Open 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Tuesday – Sunday.
Albany, Texas: Fort Griffin State Historic Site
Fort Griffin was a US military site from 1876 – 1881, during the Indian Wars. The fort housed both federal troops and buffalo soldiers. Some of Fort Griffin’s troops fought Comanche Indians at Palo Duro Canyon during the Red River Wars. The town of Fort Griffin, also called the Flat, was located just north of the fort, and was once the largest town between Dallas and El Paso. Famous locals included Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. During the mid-1870s as many as 1,500 buffalo hunters called the Flat their headquarters. As a side note, the Flat was a rambunctious town that included 21 saloons and 22 houses of ill repute. By 1949, the Flat was no more than a ghost town.
Located approximately 50 minutes northeast of Abilene via Texas Hwy 351 and US Hwy 180. Open daily from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Adults $4.00, Seniors/Students $3.00, Ages 5 and under are admitted free.
At one time, Fort Griffin had 93 buildings on its grounds and housed as many as 469 soldiers. Now, almost 150 years later, ruins are all that remain.The ruins of the Sutler’s Store. A sutler was a civilian merchant. Sutlers sold goods to buffalo hunters and local citizens, as well as the soldiers who were stationed at the fort.This is a young longhorn. (Just look at that sweet baby’s face!) Fort Griffin has been the home of the Official Texas State Longhorn Herd since 1948.
The visitor center has an interesting museum and also a gift shop. Golf carts are available for those who want to ride rather than walk through the ruins of the fort. A recreation area is located across the highway, and offers a fabulous campground with water and electric sites as well as full hookups and tent sites. There is also an equestrian campground, hiking trails, access to the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, a playground, and a dump station. Fishing is allowed from the river bank without a license.
This is one of the well-maintained, beautiful campsites at Fort Griffin
That’s going to do it for our Abilene, Texas road trip. Please come back to our site each week for another great tip, trick, or trip. Become a follower so you never miss a post, and follow us on Facebook. Thank you for reading and for joining us on our journeys! We will close this post with a picture of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher that we saw near Fort Griffin.
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road.
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
If you follow our posts, you’re already familiar with Quick Stops. Quick Stops are designed to give a nod to locations to which we can’t devote an entire post. The destinations are completely random and totally fun.
Just get in the car and we will be on our way!
First Stop: By Bridge
Where in the world is it?
By Bridge is located in Moab, Utah. It is a pedestrian bridge that spans the Colorado River.
Looking upstream at the Colorado River from By Bridge
Second stop: Gruene, Texas
Gruene (pronunced green), is home to the famous Gruene Hall. Built in 1878, this 6,000 square foot dance hall and saloon has hosted and launched the careers of a multitude of musicians. It is the oldest dance hall in Texas.
Where in the world is it?
Gruene is about an hour southwest of Austin, off of I-35. The town of Gruene was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 1979, the city of New Braunfels annexed Gruene which has become a popular tourist destination.
Once the home of the son of the founder of Gruene, this beautiful building is now the Gruene Mansion InnThe Guadalupe River at Gruene, Texas
It’s a fact, Jack!
More than 50 movies have been filmed in and around Moab, including City Slickers II, Con Air, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Thelma and Louise to name a few. One movie, Michael, starring John Travolta, was filmed in Gruene. In the movie, John Travolta’s character, Michael, danced at Gruene Hall. Additionally, both towns sit on the banks of rivers that empty into gulfs. The Colorado River runs for 1,450 miles to its mouth at the Gulf of California, and the Guadalupe River runs 230 miles to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. And now you know…
That does it for this week. Thank you for joining us! Come back next week for another exciting post. You never know where we are going to take you! Until the next trip…
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road!
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
If you follow our posts, you’re already familiar with Quick Stops. Quick Stops are designed to give a nod to locations to which we can’t devote an entire post. The destinations are completely random and totally fun.
Just get in the car and we will be on our way!
First Stop: Golden Spike Tower (Nebraska)
Where in the world is it?
Golden Spike Tower is located in North Platte, Nebraska. The eight-story tower overlooks Union Pacific Railroad’s Bailey Yard, which is the largest train yard in the world. The Bailey Yard operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and is responsible for making sure that 10,000 rail cars per day get sent in the right direction.
Watch the workings of the rail yard from the top of the Golden Spike Tower.Locomotives!
Second Stop: Lajitas, Texas
Sundown at Lajitas
Where in the world is it?
It is located 12 miles southwest of Terlingua, Texas on Highway 170. Lajitas, once a thriving community turned ghost town, is now a resort.
Awesome old building in Lajitas
It’s a fact, Jack!
In 1868, when the Union Pacific Railroad was extended west, the town of North Platte, Nebraska was born. The city sits at a point where the North and South Platte Rivers converge to create the Platte River. Lajitas sits at a point on the Rio Grande River, but the closest railroad is located in Alpine, Texas, almost 100 miles to the north. North Platte’s Canteen served refreshments to millions of servicemen as they passed through the depot there during World War II. By 1912, Lajitas had a saloon that served thirsty cowboys and miners who worked in the area, but the town didn’t have electricity until 1949 – four years after the end of World War II. And now you know…
That’s all for this trip. Thank you for joining us! Please come back to the site to see where our next road trip is going to take you.
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road!
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
If you follow our posts, you’re already familiar with Quick Stops. Quick Stops are designed to give a nod to locations to which we can’t devote an entire post. The destinations are completely random and totally fun.
Just get in the car and we will be on our way!
First Stop: Fort Davis National Historic Site
Officers Row
Where in the world is it?
Fort Davis National Historic Site is located in Fort Davis, Texas, which is about 95 miles southwest of Pecos, Texas on Highway 17.
Remains of the original fort and some remaining buildings.
Established in 1854 as a frontier military post, the soldiers stationed at Fort Davis were tasked with patrolling the San Antonio-El Paso Road. The widely traveled road was used to transport goods, mail, and emigrants traveling to California hoping to strike it rich in the gold rush there. Over the years, several regiments called Fort Davis home, including a cavalry regiment of African Americans called Buffalo Soldiers. The fort was abandoned in 1891.
The fort’s hospital has been restored and is now a museum.
Second stop: Pipe Spring National Monument
Where in the world is it?
Pipe Spring National Monument is located in northern Arizona on Highway 389, between Fredonia and Colorado City on Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians tribal land near the Utah border.
Living Quarters
Kaibab Paiute Indians have called this area home for hundreds of years, but when Mormon settlers arrived between 1860 and 1870, things changed for the Native Americans. Pipe Spring was an important water source in this arid strip of Arizona, and when the Mormon settlers decided to claim the land for themselves, conflict arose.
Pond at Pipe Spring
Today, the site is dedicated to telling both sides of the story, and if you happen to be in the area, the park is definitely worth the stop. The park maintains farm animals, a vegetable garden, and an orchard at Pipe Spring.
Farm animals at Pipe Spring
It’s a fact, Jack!
In 1918, German men were seen with Mexican troops at Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Anticipating an attack on the US at the border town of Nogales, Arizona, American Buffalo Soldiers engaged in an gun battle with the Mexican troops across the border. It was the only World War I battle fought on American soil. And now you know…
That’s all for this post. Thank you for joining us! We invite you to return to our site every week for another great adventure on the road. Until the next trip…
Travel safe, travel smart, and we will see you down the road!
Mike and Kellye
As always, we strive to be as accurate with our information as possible. If we made a mistake, it was unintentional. (Hey, we’re only human!) We aren’t paid for our recommendations, and we only recommend our own tried and true vendors and venues. Our suggestions are for places that we’ve heard good things about but haven’t visited personally, and our opinions are our own.
Fort Griffin is home to the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd, and a few of them star in the show! We had never seen a more well behaved bunch of cattle before. Plus, they’re just kinda awesome. For more information about Fort Griffin, please see our Abilene, Texas post. Here’s a link: 
Gruene (pronunced green), is home to the famous Gruene Hall. Built in 1878, this 6,000 square foot dance hall and saloon has hosted and launched the careers of a multitude of musicians. It is the oldest dance hall in Texas.
