Golf getaways

Dallas-based hop-on jet service tees up new route to famous West Texas golf resort

There's a new way to get to Lajitas Golf Resort.

Photo courtesy of Lajitas Golf Resort

A new gift idea for the golfer who has clubs, will travel: Hop-on jet service JSX will begin offering flights from Dallas to Lajitas Golf Resort in West Texas in early 2021.

According to a release, the Dallas-based air carrier and top-rated golf resort are teaming up to offer an "ultimate outdoor adventure," starting January 8, 2021. The package will include:

Roundtrip airfare from Dallas Love Field (or Houston Hobby) on JSX’s E145 jets with a unique all-single seating configuration
Two free bags, including golf clubs, complimentary snacks, drinks, and cocktails inflight
A five-minute shuttle service to and from the resort upon landing
Two nights’ deluxe accommodations at Lajitas Golf Resort
Three rounds of golf on the iconic Black Jack’s Crossing
Access to Lajitas Golf Resort’s activities and culinary programming at an additional cost, including the Agave Spa, Pool, Equestrian Center, Zip Lining, Clay Shooting, and meals at the resort’s four culinary outposts

Pricing will vary according to room type and time of year, they say. More information can be found on the Lajitas website.

“Lajitas Golf Resort is a bucket list experience for golfers in Texas and beyond," says JSX CEO Alex Wilcox in the release. "Coupling JSX’s crowd-free flights with this one-of-a-kind resort creates the ultimate socially distanced getaway during these uncertain times.

JSX debuted service from Love Field in June, with introductory flights to Las Vegas and North Carolina. On November 20, it launched daily roundtrip service between private terminals at Dallas Love Field and Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, with flights at $99 each way. The Lajitas service is part of the company's continued expansion in Texas.

JSX calls itself a “hop-on jet service” because customers may arrive just 20 minutes before departure at private terminals and simply “hop on” a flight, avoiding the crowds and lines. At Love Field, travelers have access to valet parking, Wi-Fi lounges, and speedy baggage retrieval.

On board, passengers can relax in a business class-caliber seat and enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks, and cocktails. It also has a pet-friendly policy that allows small dogs and cats to fly for free. The company's goal is to provide a luxury travel experience at competitive prices, they say.

JSX's safety standards, dubbed "Simpli-Fly," include contactless temperature screenings, an advanced air circulation system, and no middle seating. Masks are required in lounges and on board flights. JSX is also now introducing a unique seating configuration whereby 30 single seats are arranged in a 1x1 layout, each offering at least 35 inches of legroom and no overhead bins to allow for comfortable social distancing in the air. Some seats offer a leather-covered cocktail table and work area.

Considered Texas’ top golf resort, Lajitas is nestled on 27,000 acres between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, on the banks of the Rio Grande.

“The January 2021 (JSX) launch is perfectly timed," says Scott Beasley, president of Lajitas Golf Resort, in the release. "We fully believe that this new alliance and expansion of direct air travel service will provide the fuel for Lajitas to become the new premier golf and second home destination of the Southwest.”

Weekly service starts on January 8, 2021 with flight options that include weekends and weekday getaways. While flights can be booked directly through the JSX website, golf packages can be booked by contacting Lajitas Golf Resort by email at kakers@lajitasgolfresort.com or by calling 972-885-7215.

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lets go camping

Llama ranch near Dallas roams onto America's 50 favorite camping spots

Courtesy of Hipcamp

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A family-owned, llama roaming ranch just an hour outside Dallas was just declared one of America's 50 favorite camping spots in 2026.

The field guide was compiled by online marketplace Hipcamp following a review of campsite ratings from users, regional trends, cultural relevance, and a "spirited debate" of Hipcamp experts. Campgrounds were chosen from 35 different states and organized into seven regions: the Pacific Northwest; California and Hawaii; the Southwest; the Mountain West; the Great Plains and Midwest; the Northeast; and the Southeast.

Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas was one of nine total campgrounds featured in the Southwest region. The ranch is the perfect place for families to go on core memory-making excursions like meeting the free roaming llamas or watching out for other wildlife like wild boars. The ranch spans 101 acres, and a 50-foot deep creek also flows along the property lines for fishing and swimming.

"The llamas will come to greet you and so will many more things in this wonderful place," the ranch's listing says. "We are conveniently located in a secluded area, but just a short drive from many local conveniences."

The listing also specifies that the pastures are only mowed three times a year and some of the property is on rough terrain, so campers are welcome to bring their own machetes if they want to explore the area thoroughly.

There are 14 sites available for guests to set up camp, with a mix of tent-only, RV/tent, and RV-only sites. The ranch is also very affordable; sites can be booked for as little as $15 per night.

Many reviewers enjoy getting out into the country to reconnect with nature, and many also praise the ranch's owner, Judy, who says the ranch has been in her family since 1987.

"I went with a group of women for an overnight camp at the pond," one reviewer wrote. "It was so beautiful and a much needed break from city life. The host was wonderful and kind. She was also very accommodating to our group."

A second Dallas-Fort Worth-area campground tucked away in Texas' newest state park was also highlighted in the report. Warbler Ridge Campground, located in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, was the only other Texas representative on the list.

The pet-friendly campground's listing doesn't offer many details, but it says there are 22 RV and tent campsites for visitors, as well as showers, toilets, potable water, and picnic tables. There are activities galore for visitors, including a 68-acre lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, and over 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says campsites at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park start at $13 per night (plus a daily entrance fee) for hike-in primitive sites. Walk-in campsites with water are $15 per night and campsites with electricity are $30 per night.

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