By Robin Thornley
There is an old saying in Texas; "The sun has riz and the sun has set, and I ain't out of Texas yet." Nowhere does that seem more true than in West Texas--the vast, sparsely populated region of the Lone Star State that has a wild beauty and appeal for visitors eager to get away from urban noise and tension. Drivers can go for miles without seeing a soul, or passing another car on the region's back roads, but they are sure to see oil wells, cattle, mountains on the horizon and--these days--an increasing number of large wind farms capturing those steady West Texas breezes.
No Boundary
Much of West Texas lies in the Northern Chihuahua Desert, an arid region that stretches across the Rio Grande on the border encompassing both a large area of Texas and Northern Mexico.
Big Cities
While there are sparsely populated areas of the region, including Loving County near the New Mexico border which has only 67 residents, there are also several large cities in West Texas. These include neighbors Midland and Odessa, the historic home of oil wildcatters and El Paso, the border city that with its Mexican neighbor, Ciudad Juarez, has a decidedly Mexican air.
Big Bend
Big Bend National Park, the 800,000-acre park along a bend in the Rio Grande, and the neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park, offer visitors an unspoiled view of West Texas flora and fauna, plus prehistoric Indian sites and an opportunity for water rafting on the river.
Star Search
MacDonald Observatory, operated by the University of Texas, is located in the Davis Mountains, just north of the little town of Marfa (known for attracting artists and eccentrics), and is open to the public for starwatching programs and tours of the four telescopes.
West of the Pecos
Judge Roy Bean was a Texas legend--played by Paul Newman in the movies--who handed out his own brand of justice in Langtry, Texas at the Jersey Lilly Saloon, named in honor of the judge's favorite actress, world-renowned Lillie Langtry, who he never met.
Fort Davis
The Davis Mountains State Park is home to Fort Davis National Historic Site, one of the best examples of a Indian Wars-era frontier military post. The area also attracts cyclists, glider pilots and primitive camping enthusiasts.
Resources
About the Author:
Robin Thornley has been a successful writer for more than 25 years, penning articles for national magazines, newspapers and websites. She specializes in a variety of topics, including business, politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine. She also is the author of two guidebooks.
