The Big Bend of Texas is home to a few remarkable communities: Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. The communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment for all types of travelers with accommodations running the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. A variety of outdoor activities are also available like ATV tours, canoeing the Rio Grande, horseback riding, ziplining, disc golf, traditional golf and over 150 miles of hiking trails to enjoy. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery.
1. What is your destination most known for?
Brewster County is most known for being the largest county in Texas with the least amount of people per square mile. It is also home to Big Bend National Park with over 800,000 acres of mountain, river and desert landscapes plus the darkest night skies in the continental US.
2. During this season, what are some must-see attractions?
Summer months are quite hot in Big Bend as it is in the ruggedly beautiful Chihuahuan Desert. We suggest visitors start their day early when participating in outdoor recreation and enjoy our cool summer nights at one of our local hotspots like the Starlight Theater in the Terlingua Ghosttown or the White Buffalo Bar in Marathon. This area has not one, but two International Dark Sky Parks and the stargazing is breathtaking.
3. What hidden gem should not be missed when visiting your destination?
One of the least visited areas of our National Park is the amazing Fossil Discovery Exhibit located off of the main road heading north out of the park. The open-air exhibit showcases the history, geology, and paleontology of the Big Bend.
4. What’s one feature that can’t be missed when visiting your website?
The Visit Big Bend Mobile App by VisitWidget can be downloaded or used directly on our website. Visitors can utilize this app to plan out their entire trip to the Big Bend, whether you’re looking for an outfitter that offers trips on the Rio Grande or lodging options in a certain town. You can plan out your dream vacation and be linked to local business websites easily.
5. How did you hear about NATJA, and why did you join?
We were members of NATJA for many years and rejoined in 2924 because of the incredible quality of journalists that are members. Our best “bang for our buck” is hosting journalists and influencers and letting them tell our story. NATJA helps us find those quality people easily and we plan to continue our membership for years to come.
6. Is there anything else you feel travel media should know about your destination?
The Big Bend of Texas is now far more than just a National Park with great hiking and camping. Recent developments have added a vast array of unique locations to stay in from a teepee to a star gazing dome to a cave just to name a few. The Lajitas Golf Resort has been voted the number one course to play in Texas for 10 years running by the Dallas Morning News and their accommodations are a true delight for those seeking high end luxury. The history of the Big Bend lends itself to hundreds of stories about the people who call this remote part of Texas home. With the nearest major metropolitan area over 200 miles away, the lack of light pollution gives the stars in the night sky the spotlight with the entire region being a Dark Sky Preserve with the darkest skies and brightest stars in the lower 48.
