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    On the Road

    Big spirit and a love of the arts thrives in the tiny Texas town of Alpine

    CultureMap Create
    Jun 22, 2022 | 12:00 pm

    If a pilgrimage out west is on your list, Alpine is your picture-perfect stopover point. It boasts some of the best year-round weather in Texas, with dry air and elevation that keeps summers fresh and cool, especially in the mornings and evenings.

    And it’s also centrally connected to the most scenic routes in the state, with easy day-trip access to Big Bend National Park, Marfa, Fort Davis, Marathon, McDonald Observatory, and more.

    That said, Alpine proper has plenty to see and do, so make sure you carve out some time to stay a while and explore.

    Say hi to downtown Alpine
    With more than 40 murals to see, each picture is worth a thousand words in Alpine. From a historic map and vibrant storytelling renderings to bright pop art, the wall-adorning pieces offer glimpses of local history, folklore, and culture.

    If history is your M.O., the town’s self-guided walking tour ventures through 44 different historic stops, including the Ritchey Hotel from the 1880s — one of the oldest commercial buildings still standing in Alpine — along with early 20th-century residences, churches, and more.

    Enjoy the small-but-mighty music scene
    The town is a certified “Music Friendly Community” and it’s kind of a big deal. There may only be 6,000 residents, but the music scene is major and diverse. On any given week, you can catch a variety of live music performances.

    For starters, Old Gringo Coffee & Cocktails has Tuesday open mics as well as a few music performances every week.

    The historic Holland Hotel is Alpine’s classic railroad hotel, originally constructed in 1928. Now, it offers frequent live music in a beautiful enclosed courtyard or the elegant lobby.

    Railroad Blues hosts notable talent in a funky, fun atmosphere, and Ole Crystal Bar boasts a first-rate outdoor stage.

    All these places also happen to host artists during the Viva Big Bend music festival in July that brings in more than 50 bands to Alpine as well as Marfa, Marathon, and Fort Davis.

    Hit the trails — and find The Desk
    Hancock Hill
    , behind Sul Ross State University, has a small system of hiking trails that feature scenic overlooks of the town and the path to The Desk.

    If you haven’t heard the story of The Desk, it goes like this: In 1981, three Sul Ross students carried a desk up Hancock Hill to study. Soon they were spending hours on the hill, enjoying the beautiful surroundings. When one of them left a notebook in a desk drawer and later saw someone had written in it, he replied and soon the tradition of a notebook associated with The Desk was born.

    Learn about Big Bend before driving there
    Located on the Sul Ross State University campus, the Museum of the Big Bend celebrates the distinctive natural and human history as well as cultures in the Big Bend region. Rotating exhibits include paintings, photography, and more.

    And if you love maps, you’ll be fascinated by the historical pieces in the Yana and Marty Davis Map Collection.

    Discover more reasons to love this tiny town with a bold spirit at Visit Alpine.

    Don't miss a trek to "The Desk" on Hancock Hill.

    alpine night sky and the desk
    Photo by Alex Perez
    Don't miss a trek to "The Desk" on Hancock Hill.
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    7 extremely cool and offbeat hotels to stay in the Texas Hill Country

    Luke Applewhite
    Luke Applewhite
    Sep 12, 2025 | 5:03 pm
    Kerrville Texaco Station
    Photo courtesy of Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau
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    For weekend warriors looking to escape Dallas, the Hill Country offers more than just wine tastings and antique shopping. The rolling hills hide some of the most unique properties in the world. From safari ranches with rhinos to a life-sized bird's nest, these are the weirdest, wildest, and most unforgettable places to rest your head in Texas — because your hotel should be as memorable as your road trip.

    Cypress Valley — Spicewood
    If you've ever wanted to build a treehouse, but only had a few spindly saplings in your suburban backyard, this adventurous hideaway might cure some lifelong FOMO. With a winding tangle of rope bridges and trellises, the compound might look like a particularly elaborate rope course, but the rooms are more Jane than Tarzan. Snap a few shots of the distressed wood walls and oversized pendants for post-trip design inspo, then turn the cell phone off for the weekend.

    Barons CreekSide Glamping Wagons — Fredericksburg
    Yes, playing The Oregon Trail video game caused a generation to distrust covered wagons, and the iffy salad bars at K-Bob's probably didn't help. These replica Conestoga settler's wagons don't have a risk of typhoid fever. The 220 square feet spaces have roomy showers, sinks, and all the conveniences of home. But guests will probably want to spend most of their time outdoors, lounging in a hammock near the fire pit.

    Longneck Manor — Fredericksburg
    You might expect to find goats, cows, and chickens on a Hill Country ranch. Longneck ups the ante with ambling rhinos and wagging Labradors. Founded by Rick Barongi, a former director at the Houston Zoo, the safari resort works with conservation groups to quell any Joe Exotic-style ethical concerns. Overstuffed furnishings and luxe linens give all the comforts of a high-end hotel, but there are some amenities that the Four Seasons can't replicate. The suite offers a private window into the barn, where baby giraffes munch on leaves.

    Onera Fredericksburg The Diamond is Onera Fredericksburg's unique take on an A-Frame. Photo by Jeff Jones

    Missing Hotel — Marble Falls
    If Swiss Family Robinson's hardworking patriarch studied Modernist architecture, he might have drafted something like this Marble Falls enclave. The various cabins and geodesic domes may have urban niceties, but the canopy of old-growth trees is light-years from the hustle and bustle. Don't expect to make a stay into a working vacation — even the owners admit the Wi-Fi is spotty. Instead, give yourself the permission to forget about time by taking a dip in a private plunge pool or swaying along to a record.

    Onera — Fredericksburg
    This Hill Country resort is a CultureMap obsession, both for the breathtaking natural setting and the avant-garde architecture. In August, the spot debuted 23 new units with striking geometric forms that look more like minimalistic monoliths than buildings. Inside, the owners provide few distractions. Why nibble on tchotchkes when you can feast on spectacular vistas?

    Skybox Cabins — Glen Rose
    Although all of the cabins on this compound have charming themes, ranging from a tribute to 17th-century French pigeonniers to buzzy pollinators, the most coveted is The Nest. It isn't just a catchy name. Guests can actually perch in a human-sized aerie outfitted with pillows and twinkle lights. Bring up a portable speaker and cuddle into a tête-à-tête. Recommended listening: Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather."

    Texaco Texaco Station — Kerrville
    Yes, you read that right. You can actually spend the night in a repurposed Texaco gas station without having to wear a pair of coveralls. The 40s building is pure Americana, filled with quirky touches like a Dr. Pepper machine, a row of sporty vintage toys, and a trash can fashioned from a Mobil oil drum. And the recreational areas could be pulled straight out of Life magazine. Put on a bowling shirt and play table tennis or grill hot dogs inside a courtyard sodded with artificial turf.

    Barons Creekside Yes, you can sleep in this wagon. Barons Creekside/ Facebook

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