Davis Mountains

Every year, I go camping during the Perseids meteor shower. It’s an easy way to see shooting stars because you don’t need special equipment or to look in a specific direction, and the peak of the shower lasts for days. It also happens during the summer, which makes it a great time for sitting outside while staying up all night.

The last few years I’ve been exploring Texas’s dark sky parks (where the Milky Way is easily visible) and this year I chose Davis Mountains State Park.

The park is lovely, full of wildlife, and there’s a lot to do in the area. My friends and I took day trips to Marfa (for lunch and shopping), Balmorhea State Park (which has a huge spring-fed pool), the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (botanical gardens with hiking trails), and the McDonald Observatory (for a tour of the telescopes).

I’ve adored the nearby city of Marfa since I passed through it on my way back from the Grand Canyon in 2019, and decided to end the trip with a night at a unique hotel/campground there called El Cosmico.

After this trip, I’m totally in love and already dreaming of my next adventure out west…where things are just a little bit weirder, the stars are brighter, and the air smells like sage.

View from the Indian Lodge Trail at Davis Mountains State Park
Huge cairns mark the trail.
A rainbow greeted us as we returned to our campsite.
A scorpion glows under a black light flashlight. We also encountered mule deer, javelina, and some very friendly (too friendly!) skunks.
The huge spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park. The water was clear and comfortable. Fish and turtles swam among us.
On the trail at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute.
Sassy selfi among the succulents in the Chihuahuan Desert greenhouse.
One of my favorite spots in Marfa. Nearby, you’ll find an art-filled vending machine.
Unusual seating options at the Planet Marfa beer garden include a school bus, mini rooftop patio, and this teepee.
El Cosmico delights with trailers, teepees, yurts, tents, and more…all beautifully decorated.
Next time, I’m totally staying in a teepee or yurt!

COMING UP!

Find me at the Neill-Cochran House Museum for a pop-up art market on Saturday, September 19th between 11am and 3pm, as part of Austin Museum Day.