Out on the frontier removed from the frustrations of civilization sits Balmorhea an artesian gem…read morehiding among the tumbleweeds. The springs themselves are astonishing. Crystalline water, a natural oasis. Wilderness as a touch of elegance. The water is cool, refreshing, and large enough you can swim without bumping into a flotilla of inflatable flamingos every ten seconds. It is serene. Now, the true pièce de résistance: tiny fish. Yes darling, little cousins of piranhas nibbling delicately at your skin. At first, it's mildly horrifying. Being lightly snacked upon by aquatic creatures isn't typically on the itinerary. It's nature's exfoliation service. Truly. These miniature aestheticians gather around and provide the most delightful, ticklish skin treatment imaginable. Think of it as a rustic version of spa fish pedicures, except this one is completely natural, wildly entertaining, and performed by creatures that actually live in the ecosystem instead of a questionable salon tank. The entire place has this fascinating ecological charm that sneaks up on you. You're floating in a massive spring-fed pool, mountains in the distance, dragonflies skimming the water, and tiny fish politely tend to your skincare needs. The magic of Balmorhea (I'll let you figure out how to pronounce it correctly) is that it's a living ecosystem, and being able to swim in the middle of it is special. It's frontier chic. Don't expect marble spas and cucumber water. Following an afternoon, my skin felt absurdly smooth, stress level plummeted, and it was imperative to recommend the remote desert destination without qualification. Five stars for the fish running the spa.

Fun time at this park…read more Enroute from San Antonio to El Paso, we were able to stop at this park to get the kids out of the car and into some refreshing spring water It was clean, not crowded and left us already planning a return on our next trip back or towards Big Bend National. There are cabins on the ground, picnic tables, barbecue pits. I saw a basketball court. They had a few nature areas to enjoy. I was certainly pleased with just getting my feet wet, but the water is clear and if you were interested in seeing more below the water, I recommend goggles or snorkeling gear. I hear companies teach scuba here too. There's not much else near the park, so bring all the amenities you need or want there. Good times with nature. We will return.

Beautiful lake. Five dollars to visit. Bring small bills so you can have the right amount to place…read morein an envelope. Not much for facilities here and I didn't check out the restrooms so cannot comment on them. It is very scenic and has a few picnic tables but is lacking in other amenities.

Lake Balmorhea the lake and not the park with the pool is a great place to bird for Clark's and…read moreWestern Grebes as well as other birds. I actually saw the Grebes "dancing" the first time I visited with a birding buddy a few years ago in August on our way back from a birding festival. Very scenic and peaceful and not like a tourist trap. We stopped by a few hours before sunset. It does cost $ 5 to visit (Cost last time I was there in Dec. 2023) We will stop by again this December on our way back from our visit to AZ. Very rural and pleasant. Driving around the lake and over the dam was a very scenic experience. The weather was pleasant and the sunset spectacular! I saw a couple of fishermen out on their boats fishing.

We had a blast there for a nice 4 hour visit. We watched lots of birds have breakfast. We hiked the…read moreQuail Trail and were lucky to see a herd of Aoudads. We went and checked out the Lodge and then we drove to the top of Skyline drive. Everything was great

Davis Mountains State Park is a park that I've always wanted to come back to and I finally did…read moreafter 8 years. As one of two Texas state parks that provides mountain trail access, this place can offer some phenomenal views of nearby mountains both near and far. I came here for a two-night camp. I made all my reservations online and arrived before the office closed to check in. The campsite I reserved had both water and electric hookups, which I did occasionally use during my time here. There are many hiking trails to choose from, although some trail access was restricted due to recent flooding. But all the trails I hiked were well-maintained and clearly marked. My favorite trail, Skyline Drive Trail, took me up the side of the mountain via switchbacks up to the mountain ridge. The trail leads all the way to the famed CCC overlook that allowed me to see differently-shaped mountains in the distance. I thought it was cool that I could see the University of Texas McDonald's Observatory from the overlook, even though it requires a 13-mile drive to get there from the park. During my stay, I also had the opportunity to attend a ranger talk. The ranger came from the nearby Fort Davis National Historical Park with some relics of times past. The talk was informative and entertaining. I enjoyed the clean bathrooms near the campsite, though you'll have to bring your own shampoo and body soap to shower. The water provided at the campsite is potable and I thought it tasted better than the tap water I get at home! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and would love a chance to come back in the future!

Sadly, this lovely municipal pool on the edge of Rooney Park…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/rooney-park-fort-stockton has been closed for repairs since February 2018 and is not available for public use. Information is scarce online via City of Fort Stockton and Pecos County, but a Local 2 / Fox 24 news report from around that time suggests that repairs will be ongoing through the end of 2018. http://www.yourbasin.com/news/fort-stockton-water-carnival-looking-at-possible-cancellation/949041036 When it's actually open, it's pretty grand, so I'll update my review when it becomes accessible again. The pool is located near the historic fort, which makes sense, as the fort was constructed to take advantage of the once abundent fresh water source. The springs stopped flowing in the 1950s when big tract landowners began pumping groundwater to such a degree that no more could flow from the aquifer to the surface. The people sued, since agriculture and other public interests were being harmed, but the landowners won and groundwater resources in Texas have been at risk ever since. More about that situation is detailed in this 2005 essay from Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2005/jul/ed_2/ and this report from Texas Standard http://www.texasstandard.org/stories/what-happened-to-comanche-springs/.

YOU NEED TO GO HERE! Whether you make your whole road trip about coming to this awesome state park,…read moreor just make it part of another trip like we did, you have to come to Monahans Sandhills and rent a sand disc from the visitor center (or bring your own) to sled down the sand dunes with your friends or family. This was my daughter's #1 memory from our whole trip and we spent 3 days in Big Bend - but apparently sledding down the sand dunes beat out all the cool hikes and stuff we saw (she's still talking about it). Honestly, this was so affordable and could be hours and hours of fun, along with the beautiful desert views that you could enjoy on hikes. Probably not as fun in 100+ degree temps, but being there around the New Year was amazing. 10/10 place to stop and have a ton of fun!

the sandhills are very cool. the sand is very soft and they are tall. shadows look neat. they have…read morea visitor center with limited hours.

What a beautiful hidden gem! The moment you step through the gates it feels like you've entered a…read morewhole new world. My wife and I spent about 45 minutes just wandering, chatting, and taking it all in, we still didn't make it through all 27 acres. The garden is meticulously maintained, with an incredible variety of native Texas plants thoughtfully arranged to highlight the natural beauty of the region. Everywhere you turn, there's something to appreciate from colorful blooms to shaded pathways that invite you to slow down. The fountains and water features are absolutely stunning, adding a sense of calm and tranquility to the walk. The sound of the water pairs perfectly with the natural surroundings, making it a peaceful escape. We noticed lights strung throughout the garden, which makes me think an evening stroll here would be absolutely magical perfect for a date night. If you find yourself in Marathon, don't miss the chance to step inside this garden oasis. It's a place where time slows down and nature truly takes center stage.

I had a little time to kill while traveling from Big Bend National Park and happened to see this…read moreplace on Google maps. Decided to stop by, and very glad I did. This is a desert oasis that is exceptionally well maintained and cared for. Beautiful dark green grass, big shade trees, and wandering walkways invite you in to relax by a fountain and just enjoy nature. Lots of plants and birds. Dogs are welcome. There is even a little putting green if you have clubs with you and feel so inclined. I stopped in late morning on a Monday and there was only 3 other people I saw while there. Definitely worth a visit!

This is an awesome place to stop on any road trip, especially if you've never had the chance to see…read morethe real Stonehenge in the UK! They did a great job recreating it (at a smaller scale, of course) but it's still amazing to see up close, and you're allowed to walk through the pillars here, whereas in the UK you can't get anywhere near the actual Stonehenge pillars. We were on a road trip and when I heard about this place, I knew we had to swing by and experience it for ourselves. It was only about 15 minutes out of the car, but when you're driving across the massive emptiness of West Texas, every cool stop is worth the chance to stretch your legs. Check it out if you're driving through!

the stonehenge was underwhelming as a whole. it was not very big and it was within a college with…read moremany speed bumps around.

Here's the thing I would've given this a five star review but umm they removed the sand excavator…read morebecause that was my favorite thing there. Overall very fun with LOTS to do

I would definitely give this park a five star, that is mainly if you are comparing this to the…read moreother parks around. It was just perfect for my kids 2.5 and 3.5 years old. The park was constructed or dedicated for children with special needs, so it is made very accommodating and accessible for wheel chairs, and the swings are like chairs to be secure and comforting. There are plenty of plays for the kids of different ages, pretty colorful, and the weather is best after 7 pm, beware of the mosquitos though there are quite a few to bite you over there!