Author Archives: Ashley Landis

SONORA

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XBar7830If you’re looking for a relaxing get away with all the comforts of home, Sonora‘s the place.

It’s on I-10, just south of Eldorado, and it’s home to X Bar Ranch Nature Retreat and the Caverns of Sonora.

I was tired when I arrived at X Bar Ranch.  Before Sonora, I visited Balmorhea, where I camped, and Marfa, where I slept in a safari tent and bathed outdoors.  I loved doing all of those things, but four days of traveling, living outside (in the rain) and packing in as much activity in as I possibly could made me ready for some peace and quiet.

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BALMORHEA STATE PARK

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It’s a true oasis in the middle of the west Texas desert.

When planning my trip out to west, I had a whole list of places I wanted to go.  Balmorhea wasn’t one of them.

I looked at the map, studying small towns along I-10 on the way to Marfa.  I saw Fort Davis and Fort Stockton and a few others on my wish list, but then I saw Balmorhea State Park.

Hmm…how do you even pronounce that?  I looked it up on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department web site and, much to my surprise, Balmorhea moved up to the top of my list.

It’s a tiny town about an hour north of Marfa in west Texas.  It’s in the middle of the desert, surrounded by mountains, and home to San Solomon Springs and the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool.  (Among other surprises.)

Balmorhea is the perfect place to make a refreshing stop for the night on your way to or from Big Bend Ranch State Park or Big Bend National Park.

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STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

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AL3_0623How could I do a travel blog in Texas and not include the biggest Texan of them all?

Big Tex made his comeback this year after a horrific fire during the 2012 fair.  I don’t know about you, but watching videos of Big Tex burning was like watching a family member in a car accident.

When I was a kid growing up in the Dallas area, we received free fair tickets at school and districts were closed on opening day for Fair Day.  Big Tex was just as much an icon to me as fireworks on the 4th of July or turkey on Thanksgiving.

Don’t worry, Big Tex is back!

I recruited my my friend (and WFAA photojournalist) Taylor and uncle (and family fair expert) Jeff to help me with lots of fair food, fun and photography.

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MARFA

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Marfa!  What a quirky little town!  I live near Austin and let me tell you, Marfa could show Austin a thing or two about being weird.

In fact, the majority of people I met in Marfa were from Austin.  So much so that if you were from Austin, you didn’t need any further explanation about what brought you out west.

One of the main attractions in Marfa is art.  Art galleries outnumber restaurants in this little town, and in the past few years Marfa has been known for it’s large, outdoor installments.  The most famous of those is Prada Marfa, a “storefront” situated out of town in the middle of nowhere.

It was my first stop of many on my 24-hour trip, mostly because it was about a half hour out of town.  Take Hwy 90 west from Marfa, through Valentine and it should be about 2 miles out, on your left.  You can’t miss it.  (The drive through the desert is worth it!) Read more →

CADDO LAKE

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Caddo 5242 Landis

East Texas swamp beauty.  No, really!

I’ve always thought of east Texas as a humid, mosquito-infested, muddy swamp full of frogs.  I’ve never been a fan of frogs, with the exception of Kermit (of course).  I live in constant fear that they will jump on me and that their slimy skin will touch mine.  It’s irrational, I know, but I was willing to set aside my fear, think of Kermit and travel to Caddo Lake in east Texas.

I arrived at Caddo Lake State Park late in the afternoon on a Tuesday and had the place to myself.

The park has several options for accommodations.  I rented a two-person cabin that was very comfortable and clean, perfect if you’re not a big camper or you plan to spend time in a Texas state park in August, or if you live in constant fear of frogs.

After unloading the car, I took a drive around the park with my camera to see what there was to see.  This was my first view of the lake.  What a beauty!

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PORT ARANSAS

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This time of year work is slow.  It’s the end of summer, all of the festivals are over and everyone’s gearing up to go back to school.  Soon football season will start and a routine will ensue, but until then, freelancers all over the country are searching for things to do.

Last Sunday afternoon I sat at the kitchen table with my husband and I was a bit down.  He suggested I go do something fun, but all I wanted to do was get away.  I had an appointment Tues. morning in Kyle, so I only had about 30 hours or so before I had to be back home.  Not a lot of time for travel.

“Why don’t you just go down to the coast?” Nick asked. Read more →

ENCHANTED ROCK STATE NATURAL AREA

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(This was my first 24-hour get-away trip.  Originally posted here on June 21, 2013.)

I love you guys, but sometimes a girl just needs a break.

Since Feb. 1, 2013, I’ve shot 8 UIL state championship tournaments, Texas Relays, SXSW, 2 weddings, the Texas Water Safari, 10 business profiles, and over 100 editorial assignments.   I’ve been to New Mexico, Chicago, Dallas (multiple times) and various locations all over Texas.  I’m not even going to try to estimate the number of times I’ve clicked the shutter in the past 140 days.

Saying I’ve been busy is a bit of an understatement.  So when summer finally came and I had a few empty days on the calendar, you can understand why I might want to escape.

On Tuesday I packed up and drove to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area all by myself. Read more →