This past fall my family and siblings took a family vacation to Big Bend, Texas to celebrate my dads 70th birthday. This trip was actually a year in the making. We were supposed to go last year, but fun fact: when you want to go during the busiest week of the year (hello thanksgiving break) you need to book it out a year in advance!! This was truly one of those milestone trips that feels extra special because everyone is together.
Our Family Vacation to Big Bend, Texas
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Ten Bits Ranch and we really enjoyed our stay here. The community kitchen had major Yellowstone ranch house vibes and was unique. Next time I’d probably opt for our own private kitchen. Still, the charm and scenery more than made up for it. The views right outside our door were absolutely breathtaking with wide open desert and endless sky.
What We Did
While we were there we explored many places! We hiked The Window Trail, visited Santa Elena Canyon and Mule Ears Peak, had fun at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, enjoyed Corral Horseback Riding, grabbed food at the iconic Starlight Theatre, and made a trip out to the McDonald Observatory. Needless to say, it was a busy, but fun and fulfilling trip.
What We Loved
My two favorite days surprised me a bit. The Window hike was incredible, but let’s just say there was a lot of walking. My husband, my brother, and I rotated carrying the girls, and by day two they were fully committed to hitching rides on whoever would take them! Exhausting? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. The McDonald Observatory was definitely second on my list of favorites from our trip. The girls were a little too young for the adventure, but it was such a cool spot!
When we weren’t adventuring through the desert, we were back at camp making dinner together, enjoying the fire, and watching the stars in the expansive desert sky. The nights were windy, but I still left the trip totally in love with the desert’s unique beauty.
Next time, and there will be a next time, we want to take a camper and explore even more parts of Big Bend. If this place has been sitting on your bucket list, or you just want to go somewhere new, let this be your sign: GO to Big Bend. You won’t regret it.
Here are just a few little snippets from the moments when I actually pulled out my “real” camera, or my phone to snap a few pictures, because sometimes, being present really is the best souvenir of all.
Even though my cell phone photos aren’t as good as the photos above, they are still worth sharing:
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