Category: Best Rated Reviews

The Nutcracker by Houston Ballet

If you are looking for a “best of the best” family tradition this holiday season, we recommend Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker by Houston Ballet. 

Hosted at The Wortham Theater, seeing The Nutcracker is an enchanted evening for people of all ages. 

Clara, The Nutcracker Prince, and The Sugar Plum Fairy mesmerize with their graceful dances, as do all the dancers, really, in this magnificent production. 

The performance is especially spellbinding for children with the addition of larger-than-life animal characters, such as the regal lion, prominent panda and soldieresque penguins. 

Houston Ballet’s rendition of The Nutcracker is truly one of the “best of the best”.  In its 52nd year, The Nutcracker features a dazzling set and the moving and timeless music of Tchaikovsky, one of the world’s most classic composers. 

Rating: Five stars! “Best of the best!”

Find out more at HoustonBallet.org.

Best of The Best: Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks

    If you are looking for a “best of the best” hiking and wilderness experience, we recommend visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks.

     Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks are known for their rugged beauty, diverse geographical features, and majestic wilderness. Utah’s Mighty 5 include Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef. Each park is located 1.5 to 3 to 5 hours apart from the next.  Visiting all 5 parks, you will drive 16 hours and 1,000 miles round trip if you depart from Las Vegas, NV.

     We found it very helpful to realize that these amazing parks are so far apart.  Oftentimes it is possible to assume that all the National Parks in one state are close together.  In this case, the fact they are hours apart intensified our wilderness adventure because traversing the vast terrain added to our anticipation of seeing them.  Each park is completely different and has charms of its own.  We recommend visiting all of them!

     We recommend flying in to Las Vegas and renting an SUV.  If you can rent a vehicle with 4-wheel drive, it will be even better! We rented a Jeep and found it was worth it! Jeeps are great adventure vehicles.  It was perfect for traversing the rugged terrain and allowed us to go off-roading to some places we would not have been able to visit in a regular rental car or SUV.

On Day 1, we drove to the outskirts of Zion National Park and camped at a private encampment. It was the perfect way to start our trip and get our bearings in a quiet meadow overlooking majestic Zion and spending the night under the serenity of the stars.

Day 2-4 we camped and hiked in Zion National Park.  Zion National Park contains one of our nations most rugged, majestic mountain wildernesses. 

The best and most comfortable time to visit The Mighty 5 National Parks is May.  We are from Texas and we went in June expecting the weather to be in the high 60s to high 80s.

During our stay in Zion, we had unexpected weather which taught us a thing or two about the need to be doubly-prepared when you are in rugged terrain.  Normally the temperature is in the 60s-80s in June, which is comfortable enough for camping.  However, unbeknownst to us, an inclement weather event occurred and a heat dome trapped a thermal heat layer on the rocks causing the entire ground area to range from high 80s to 111 in temperature.  We didn’t know this, however, because we did not have a weather radio and no one was issuing notices about anything unusual regarding the weather.  We just knew it was hot – unusually hot.  It was so hot it made us woozy and even lethargic!

When you are reserving a campsite, it will ask if you want partial shade or full shade.  I had selected partial shade because I had been to Zion before and figured we would be fine in 60-80 degrees.  Yet it was so hot the only way we could get cool was to sit in our AC in the Jeep or swim in the river! We tried having a picnic lunch under the little sliver of trees that we had but it was not enough to really keep away the scorching heat because of the heat dome! So the first 24 hours we were lethargic until we became more hydrated and cooled off.  I bought a bandana and covered my head with it as well.  I truly learned the value of a bandana on this trip! I wore it often from then on, whether to provide extra shade from the sun or to shield from accumulating dust.

The Mighty 5 National Parks are worth visiting because each one has its own unique geography and landscapes.  Here is a description of each of them.

ZION NATIONAL PARK

Zion National Park is stunning and majestic in its beauty and splendor.  It is definitely worth a visit in one’s lifetime.  The park can be crowded during summer months.  April and May are the most pleasant time of year to visit, especially if you can go before the summer crowds.

We visited in June and although there were crowds, the park did not feel crowded because it is a vast wilderness.  We recommend setting out early in the morning – even just before sunrise – to immerse yourself in the solitude and morning majesty of the park.  We set out to hike Angel’s Landing in the early morning and the hike was refreshing and peacefully pristine. 

Angel’s Landing

Angel’s Landing and The Narrows are two of the park’s most famous hikes.  Angel’s Landing is a steep, gradual switchback-laden ascent which arrives at a daunting precipice.  The last .5 miles of the hike require balance and skill, as they take place along a narrow path and require sure footing and a sheer bravery to traverse to the top of the precipice. 

However, just before the last leg of the hike, there is a viewpoint where anyone who is not going to go all the way to Angel’s Landing can enjoy the magnificent view and exultant pleasure of ascending to the top of a beautiful outlook where you can see 360 degree views of Zion National Park.

The Narrows

The Narrows is an enjoyable river-bed hike which requires special shoes for the utmost sure-footedness to be able to go whatever distance you would like.  You can rent durable water shoes and a hiking stick at Zion Outfitters just before you enter Zion National Park.

We hiked Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in the same day.  Hiking The Narrows in the afternoon proved refreshing in the intense heatwave.  Most families would probably want to hike one the first day and the second the next day.

We enjoyed both hikes for different reasons.  We highly recommend both of them if you are up to the challenge.  And they really are do-able if you take your time and make sure to stop and enjoy the scenery along the way.

Camping in Zion National Park is highly memorable; it is thrilling to awaken surrounded by the beauty of the pink-coral mountains against the brilliant blue sky.  We camped at the Watchman campground.  We highly recommend reserving a full-shade campsite if possible.  You may need it.  The sun can be intense, especially in summer months. 

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Bryce Canyon National Park is a  1 1/2 hour drive from Zion National Park.  You can eat at Thunderbird Cafe en route if it’s open.  It has typical local cuisine and offers hearty fare in a Southwestern setting. 

Bryce Canyon National Park features a unique geographical landscape of orange, white and gray hoo doo formations which seem other-worldly at the onset.  The park’s roads and walking paths make it possible to see the entire vista on a flat walking path from above. 

Hiking into the canyon is an enjoyable and unique experience.  The canyon depths present a form of orange solitude as one walks through a fairly-land like forest amidst the unusual geological formations.

We hiked through the canyon near dusk and found it to be serene and enjoyable.  The park is also known for its dark sky visibility.  On clear nights, you can see a pantheon of stars.

Campsites in Bryce Canyon National Park are located in a forested area, which provides a nice respite in contrast to the plethora of aridly rugged campsites which make up most of the camping options in the Southwest.

A few miles outside the park, Ruby’s Inn offers food, accommodations and a wide variety of souvenirs and sweets to punctuate your visit to Bryce Canyon National Park with a memorable tourist-stop.

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Arches National Park features arch-shaped formations in an arid landscape and it, also, has an other-worldly feel.  What is great about Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks is that they are completely different from one another and all worth visiting.

Utah’s famous monument, the Delicate Arch, is located here.  It is a must-see in the park.  We recommend getting up an hour and a half before sunrise to hike up.  You will need to use GPS or AllTrails to navigate the trail, as it is sparsely marked and the Arch is located deeper within the park but does not have a clear and straight walking path and is not easily visible.  Getting to it is half the wilderness adventure!

Although it is called the Delicate Arch, it is massive and robust, all the while fascinating, too!

We brought granola bars and pastries for breakfast and enjoyed the satiation of sitting adjacent to the arch, watching the sun rise and taking in the glory of the beautiful morning.

This was the most populated hike we encountered during our travels and although the trails were not crowded, there were lots of people enjoying the arch as well at 6 a.m.  However, the rock area surrounding the arch is very spacious  and most travelers are gracious and take turns getting pictures with the Delicate Arch so there is no crowding.

We hiked other places in the park as well.  We enjoyed a sunset hike as well.

We camped at Devil’s Campground.  Although we are not fans of the name, the campground itself was very nice.  The campsites provide lovely views of the park and you get a sense that you are in a vast wilderness yet with others nearby. 

The park facilities were clean and pleasant.  In fact, we did not see one piece of stray trash in any bathroom or anywhere else during the entirety of our trip!  Utah is a very clean place and its citizens and visitors do a great job keeping it clean.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Canyonlands National Park is a vast wilderness with an overall foreboding feel.  We hiked a few trails there but since we could not find campsite availability, we shifted our priorities to finding a camping spot.

We planned to camp at Canyonlands National Park in the camping area, but it was first-come-first-served and all sites were taken.  We have found first-come-first-serve to be mostly unavailable in general at campsites which do not have many spaces so we have learned not to count on it.

Sarah researched and recommended that we try an alternative camping option: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites.  To our surprise and delight, she found the most picturesque campsite we have ever enjoyed in the Southwest.  We camped in pristine wilderness on the edge of a canyon rim and we had the entire canyon to ourselves!  There were two other campers nearby but far enough away that we didn’t even see them.  It was one of our most picturesque, favorite camping experiences of our lifetime!   And a truly enchanted evening!

We had rented a 4×4 Jeep.  Four-wheel drive makes all the difference, giving access to the BLM sites.  They are located on seemingly random dirt-roads which are more narrow than most roads – and they don’t even look like roads.  They look like someone took a dirt-bike and made a thin trail in the midst of a tall grass meadow.

When we first saw how narrow it was, my first thought was, “I’m going to drive this on that?” Sarah looked at me and said, “Please just trust me.  Trust the process.  There is a beautiful canyon campsite on the other side!” So I did.  We did! And we are both so glad we did!

We spent a night of wonder in the wilderness!  We set up our camp as the sun had just set and the soft glow of the evening filled the sky.  We put together a camp kitchen on the ledge overlooking the canyon, found a bush to hang our portable small LED string lights, and made our freeze-dried lasagna (Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce ready in 10 minutes! Just add boiling water!).

While we were waiting, we had half of our cheeseburgers and left-over French fries for a snack.  We set them in a paper bag near our camp kitchen on the rock.  Suddenly, a desert mouse and a spider came to join us.  The desert mouse tried to hop into the bag of French fries.  We gave a French fry to each of them.  The desert mouse grabbed it and ran off gleefully.  The spider pounced on his and kept jumping for joy! He ate a bite and then jumped for joy! Over and over again.  Who knew spiders could be overjoyed?  What else do they eat out here? I wondered!

We spent the night in serenity and solitude under the canopy of stars.  We knew we had found one of Canyonland’s best-kept secrets. 

The next morning, we awoke to the morning majesty of the dawn’s early light against the canyon walls.  We packed up camp and spent the day exploring Moab.

Moab is a college town located within driving distance of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.  We enjoyed a Southwestern fare breakfast at Jailhouse Cafe.  We ate a delicious pizza for lunch-dinner at Canyon Pizza Company.

The Main Street of Moab hosts restaurants, shops and lodging.  You will find a variety of souvenirs and food options.  

We went for a refreshing swim and took hot showers at Moab’s recreation center for $15/per person.  The aquatic center is open year-round.

When we were trip-planning, we made sure to include a variety of excursions – mostly wilderness wandering and hikes along with some urban experiences.  The balance creates a pleasant diversity of travel delights to contribute to overall travel joy. We also brought our glamping equipment: string lights, a cozy, joyful throw, and blow-up mattresses! You can be a wilderness expeditionist and enjoy the journey even more by adding some amenities like these! Our philosophy is Why go camping when you could go glamping? Little extras go a long way to make moments even more memorable!

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

Capitol Reef boasts very unique and picturesque geographical terrain.  When we were first researching this trip, we noticed that Capitol Reef was not as well-known as the other parks.  One of our favorite parts of experiencing the park was the drive from Arches National Park to Capitol Reef National Park.  When we drove  into Capitol Reef via Arches, we marveled at the unique, colorful geological terrain.  It truly has an allure all its own.   We hiked and explored the park.  It was a vast and quiet wilderness. 

Capitol Reef National Park gets its name from the white sandstone domes in the park which look like the U.S. Capitol building and the 100-mile-long ridge of steep cliffs which are present in the parklands and create a barrier (although there are roads and one can enter the park).

To our delight and surprise, we enjoyed one of our most superlative moments on the trip just outside of the park when we visited Color Ridge Creamery in Torrey, Utah.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

There are several additional landmarks and places to visit which we highly recommend on your journey to visit Utah’s Mighty 5.

Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell (Arizona)

En route to Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, we took a detour to visit the famed Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell (all located in Arizona).  Visiting these iconic sites provided a memorable visual contrast to the other amazing feats of nature we witnessed on our travel journey.  Also, after all the vertical ascents and hiking prowess we exerted, the stop in Arizona made for a nice respite because all of our walking was on fairly flat ground! 

We took an open-air rough road ride to Antelope Canyon. You must arrange a tour in advance because Antelope Canyon is located in Native American territory and requires a permit through approved tour agencies.

We enjoyed a serene sunset visit to Horseshoe Bend, taking in the magnitude of this unique geological formation. When you arrive to the site, you park and walk for about 10 minutes to get to the bend.

The best part of our travels were getting to spend Mama-Daughter quality time together! Nothing replaces outdoor adventure time together in the wonder of the vast wilderness and enchanted evenings under the stars taking in the beauty of creation and enjoying exhilerating travel expeditions across the vast expanse of these magnificent and mesmerizing landscapes. Each park is a masterpiece of its own!

All in all, Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks are all worth visiting.  They are a “best of the best” experience you do not want to miss!

Visit nps.gov to learn more about Utah’s national parks and make reservations.

Sister’s Back To School Catechism

Sister is back!  If you are looking for one of the most talented one-act theatrical wonders on stage today, we recommend Sister’s Back To School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales.

Sister is played by Denise Fennell who is a beautiful and lovely person and actress in her daily life and transforms into a quintessential Catholic school nun who teaches class and takes her student-audience on a hilarious and thought-provoking journey through the theme of the day.

This time, it is Sister’s Back To School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales.  Sister takes the audience through a thought-provoking analysis of Halloween movies during the first half and then she debuts an entrepreneurial Shark-tank idea for the season that is highly memorable!  

She keeps the audience laughing while catching some unsuspecting attendees off-guard with her brilliant and on-point improv.  We highly recommend Sister’s Back To School Catechism!  It is fun for the whole family!

Denise Fennell is one for the most talented actresses we have seen, especially with her ability to improv and connect with her audience in memorable ways.  Stages Theater puts on a stellar production yet again!

Sister’s Catechism runs September 29-November 8, 2024.

This is a show you will not want to miss! (And whatever you do, don’t be late! And make sure you dress appropriately for class!)

Find out more at StagesHouston.com.

Miss Rhythm: The Legend of Ruth Brown

Stages Theater 

From August to October, Stages Theater in Houston is debeauting Miss Rhythm: The Legend of Ruth Brown.  This story of the life and music of Ruth Brown is energetic, moving and memorable.  She was a trailblazer and a strong woman who endured much as she sang her way through the various seasons and challenges of her life.

Ruth Brown was a legend in her time.  She is credited with making a significant and historic contribution to rhythm and blues music and giving Atlantic Records its start.  

Her music is upbeat, soulful and heartfelt.  Acclaimed actress Sheryl McCallum delivers a compelling performance of Ruth Brown’s music and story, featuring many of her most popular hits.

She is accompanied by a stellar band who puts on a great musical performance and whose members are also surprise actors in the show! They are very convincing in their roles!  

When you step into Stages Theater for this performance, you feel as if you are going back in time to a blues lounge during the entire show.  We highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be inspired by the life and times of a legendary rhythm and blues singer. 

Get tickets and find out more at https://stageshouston.com/event/miss-rhythm-the-legend-of-ruth-brown/.  

The Little Mermaid at The Houston Ballet

The Houston Ballet presents The Little Mermaid at Wortham Theater from September 6-15, 2024.

This rendition of The Little Mermaid is NOT the Disney story, nor is it geared toward children.  Rather, it is a ballet that contains themes of love and despondence, and a mermaid who wallows her life away in longing for unrequited love.  The music, costumes, set and dances convey a deep, haunting ocean underworld and a discordant human world as well where the desire to fulfill one’s love longings is never met by the mermaid..

So as you might imagine, it is a very different version of The Little Mermaid.  The ballet is dedicated to the Queen of Denmark.  

In usual Houston Ballet style, it is performed with high-level professionalism and intensity of expression. 

Find out more at houstonballet.org.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL SONGBLAZERS

“Mesmerizing!”- Best Rated Reviews

Songblazers, by Cirque du Soleil, is one of the most memorable, “best of the best” tributes to Country Music on the creative stage.  If we could sum it up in one word, we would say it is “mesmerizing”!

Cirque du Soleil performers debut first-rate talent and entertainment in their compelling performance of Songblazers, an iconic tribute to Country Music.  Featuring some of Country’s most memorable scores and songs, Cirque du Soleil artists defy the imagination with their spellbinding acrobatic feats combined with Country Music classics as well as blue grass.  We found the entire experience of Songblazers to be enthralling.  

The pre-show captivates audiences by inviting audience members into the jovial world of the County Fair.  The audience experiences the fun of competing in a yodeling contest, chicken-clucking, and musical abilities.  

The dynamic between Cirque du Soleil and  Country Western music is absolutely phenomenal.  Initially, we did not know what to expect.  We wondered how Cirque du Soleil and Country Music could possibly go together  To our surprise and delight, just as always, it was mind-defying in the most wonderful of ways in true Cirque style!

We were spellbound by the amazing jump rope artists – who jump rope inside a jump rope inside a jump rope and other acrobatic feats.  (Yes!  You read that right!)

We marveled at the way a railroad crossing arm became a balance beam where a glamorous woman did triple summersaults in mid-air to Country-western music!

The gymnast who performed the hoop act was graceful and lovely as a dove.

We also found the clown acts to be truly entertaining!  They were filled with both candid and jesting moments of hilarity, but yet again to a backdrop of a Country-Western world, such as a rail road crossing and train, the Grand Ole Opry, and a night under the stars singing and songwriting.  There were several acts to follow, including a mind-defying Solo cup juggling act.  

The show even features native Texans, including Wayne Wilson, the Associate Show Director and Comedic Concept Designer – Train Brakeman, Clown (from Houston, TX) as well as Ellen Melissa-Story, Band – Fiddler & Vocalist and Allora Leonard, Ranch Girl, Vocalist & Guitar.

We highly recommend Songblazers.  It truly is a trailblazing show in and of itself both for Cirque and in the entertainment and arts industry at large.  There is nothing like it.  It is fan experience you will find yourself thinking back on for years to come.  

Rating: 5 Stars! “Best of the best!”

Find out more here

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Maison Mouton

If you are looking for a bed and breakfast in Lafayette, LA that offers a memorable stay, we highly recommend Maison Mouton.

Founded in 1820, Maison Mouton preserves the enchanting allure of its day.    Each room is quaintly decorated with authentic furnishings.  We enjoyed a stay in the Eiffel Tower Suite.  Each room has its own charm, but we found the Eiffel Tower Suite to be especially memorable.  

The next morning, we ate a scrumptious breakfast of eggs, sausage, and homemade blueberry pancakes with Louisiana cane syrup, fruit and orange juice prepared by Maison Mouton’s executive chef.

A 300-year-old Magnolia, Louisiana’s historic, official state tree, resides on the property.  

The venue offers live music, an informative home tour, and offers a window into what life throughout the years and centuries would have been like both then and now.  

Find out more at Moutonplantation.com

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Gulfarium Sea Turtle Release at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Photo by Mandy Seymour, Best Rated Reviews

If you are looking for a fun, conservation-centered marine life experience for the whole family, we recommend Gulfarium.  The Gulfarium is located between Pensacola, Florida and Destin, Florida (closer to Destin).  It is a historic marine park which claims to be the first aquatic facility to feature a huge glass-wall-viewing aquarium.  

The Gulfarium is conscientiously committed to conservation and features many exhibits which are devoted to marine life rehabilitation.  The Gulfarium  is home to dolphins, sharks, stingrays, an albino alligator, sea otters, sea lions, seals, penguins, and sea turtles.  Most of the animal presentations are focused on conservation much more than entertainment.  And the animal trainers and keepers often work diligently behind the scenes to care for the animals with invested interest in their rehabilitation.  

The Gulfarium offers animal interactions and encounters.  However, they are very brief and minimally interactive.  Their greater strength is in their commitment to conservation.  

We were fortunate to get to see 7 sea turtles being rehabilitated in their care the day we visited.  The next day, the Gulfarium rehabilitation specialists released the 7 sea turtles into the ocean at a local state park and we were fortunate to get to be a part of it!

When they released the sea turtles into the ocean, each turtle had a different response.  One walked slowly toward the ocean, another walked toward the ocean and then turned around! Another hesitated to go into the ocean at all!  But once they arrived at the ocean, they swam to their freedom and the crowd cheered!  It was a glorious sight to behold!

Soon, they will welcome Manatees as they expand their conservation efforts to help save the Manatees.

Find out more about The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park at Gulfarium.com.

Best of The Best: Big Bend, Texas

Best of The Best: Big Bend, Texas by Mandy Seymour

If you are looking to enjoy a wilderness camping and hiking trek to the Texas frontier, we recommend visiting Big Bend.  

If driving from Houston, we recommend the following route: Houston to San Antonio, Texas to  Marfa, Marfa to Prada-Marfa, Marfa to Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park to Big Bend National Park, Big Bend National Park to Enchanted Rock State Park and Trois Estate near Fredricksberg, Texas and Fredericksburg, TX to Houston, TX.  This route will add an extra hour to your itinerary at the end but it is well worth it!

San Antonio, Texas

A visit to San Antonio, Texas offers a festive and iconic gateway to West Texas and gets the trip off to a great start.  We recommend visiting The Riverwalk, The Historic Market Square, and eating at Mi Tierra.  Mi Tierra is a delicious Mexican restaurant offering scrumptious fare in a colorful and vibrant setting.

Marfa, Texas

Marfa, Texas is a Texas frontier town which is both historic and artsy.  Maria’s courthouse is a stately building in the center of town. Hotel Paisano is an iconic hotel which features a memorable restaurant, gift shop and the setting for the movie Giant.  The hotel has a stately heir and is fairly expensive.  On the other extreme, campers may stay at El Cosmico for $30/night.  We visited El Cosmico and found the actual campground and facilities are presented as clean, freshly painted and bursting with excitement but during our actual in-person visit, El Cosmico was dingy, run down, and not what it seems.  The staff was not hospitable, friendly or even faintly welcoming.  We did enjoy the hot coffee and warm fire in the lobby in the morning.  But we do not recommend a stay at El Cosmico.  Although marketed as a magical and enchanting place, it is not.  And even more concerningly, it lacks virtue and is not a venue we would recommend.

Prada Marfa

Prada Marfa is a contemporary art statement 30 miles outside of Marfa, Texas near Valentine, Texas.  Artists built this artwork project to make a statement against consumerism.  But due to instagram-worthy places, it has become an internet sensation.  You will drive through remote wilderness to get there.  But a visit is worth it because it’s an unusual, stand-alone experience that adds to the uniqueness of your frontier wilderness experience.

Big Bend Ranch State Park

We visited both Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.  We enjoyed both greatly and recommend visiting both.  We highly recommend starting with a visit to Big Bend Ranch State Park.  It is an unfettered wilderness with austere, daunting mountains, a wide and expansive terrain, scenic drive, and desert-frontier wilderness solitude.  It is more remote and less developed than Big Bend National Park.  That is part of its appeal.

We stayed at the Grassy Banks Campground which has primitive campsites located on desert sand hemmed in by a mountain range.  The terrain is isolated, quiet and offers a great place to view the stars.  We enjoyed walking through the soft sand and experiencing the stillness and wonder of this remote area.  It was one of our most favorite campgrounds because it is what we most imagined Big Bend would be like.

When traveling from Marfa, Texas to Big Bend Ranch State Park, we recommend stopping in Presidio for a meal at The Bean Cafe.  The Bean Cafe serves authentic Mexican food that is local to the region.  They have delicious horchata, cheese enchiladas, Chile rellenos, and tres leches.  The owners and waitstaff are some of the most hospitable and friendliest, most welcoming people we met on our entire wilderness trek.  We look forward to eating there again when we are passing through.

En route to the campsite, there are several exquisite hikes such as the Hoodoo trail.  They are worth a visit.

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is a vast wilderness where the Rio Grande runs wild and free and is federally protected.  This park features the Rio Grande at its best.  In some other towns along the Texas-Mexican border, the Rio Grande is fairly muddy and wide.  Here, it is clearer, calmer and extremely scenic and peaceful (on a dry day, although things can change when flooding occurs).  

We visited three of the park’s main areas: Rio Grande Village, Cottonwood Campground, and the Chisos Mountains.  We also enjoyed a dip in the hot springs (105 degrees) and a swim in the river there.  

Rio Grande Village

Rio Grande Village is an enchanting campground where campers and local animals coexist on the campground, including free-ranging cattle and packs of javalena.  Cattle and javalena happily grazed right next to our tents.  We enjoyed a guided nature hike which we found helpful to acquaint us with the area.  While we were on the hike, we heard a bobcat capture its prey and we saw Mexican horses and vaqueros riding across the park.  Rio Grande Village’s nature trail leads to an embankment which offers a view across the Rio Grande and also Boquillos.  It is a great place to view the stars at night and to also capture photos of the iconic Rio Grande at sunset.

Rio Grande Village has a grocery store where you can get gas, a larger selection of souvenirs than elsewhere in the park, and various basic amenities.  The visitor center is nearby as well.

Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood Campground is open seasonally.  It is on the west side of the park and is 7 miles from the Santa Elena canyon.  It is a quiet campground with less amenities than the Rio Grande Village campground.  We enjoyed the peace and tranquility of looking at the mountains there and having a short drive to the Santa Elena Canyon.  The Cottonwood trees are beautiful and there are pretty yellow-flowering trees as well.  A short drive up the hill, you will find a grocery store and a park office.  The grocery store has some basic and minimal necessities as well as delicious Mexican popsicles.  The park visitor’s center is very small at the Cottonwood Campground.

Chisos Mountains

The Chisos Mountains are definitely worth a visit.  Campsites fill up 6 months in advance and are hard to come by.  There is also a rustic lodge and restaurant.  However, we found that the cost of the lodge is expensive for such basic accommodations and the restaurant is very expensive as well so if you are not camping, your expenses can add up quickly but may not match the value you receive for what you pay.

We recommend hiking the loop (1.8 miles) as it gives an exquisite view of the infamous Window, a view of the distant mountain range hemmed in by two closer mountains and offers a different hiking terrain experience, including local trees, forest, cactus and mountains.  Hiking in Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood Campground is more of a desert land and includes striking canyons and breathtaking views of the vast wilderness.

Regarding choosing a campsite, you will need to pay close attention to whether the site is easily accessible or requires four-wheel drive.  We drove a sedan and found that even the road going to the hot springs was a little rough.  

Enchanted Rock State Park

We recommend driving from Big Bend National Park to Enchanted Rock State Park near Fredericksburg, Texas.  It is well worth a visit and offers a culminating contrast to the previous hiking and camping terrain due to the pink granite rock landscape.  At first when you arrive to the park, the batholith appears to be a large granite dome and you think to yourself, “How interesting can hiking this be?”  But when you get closer, you find that every nook, cranny, crevice, and trail is an adventure in itself and there are many of them so the rock formation is not as plain as it seems.  Camping here offers a very pleasant experience because it is not  dirt-sandy but rather the terrain is made from crushed granite rather than fine sand or mud.  

All of these parks are known as dark sky parks, recommended places to see the stars with greater viewing than in cities or towns.  Over the years, we have found this classification is helpful but not always precise, as in some places there is still a haze of light from neighboring cities or RVs or campers themselves.  But most campers try to abide by the dark sky advisory rules, such as using a red flashlight instead of a white one and turning off lights at a certain hour.

Trois Estate

If you are looking for a luxurious place to have a final night to culminate your frontier adventure, we recommend Trois Estate.  Trois Estate offers several accommodations and lodging with West-Texas flair combined with a New Mexico pink adobe feel.  The estate’s owner, Rebecca Trois, is the consummate hostess and receives many repeat visitors who eagerly anticipate a stay here. Trois Estate hosts a dinner buffet and breakfast buffet.  In addition to an outdoor swimming pool and a unique indoor grotto pool and chapel, the estate has a viewing platform where you can enjoy looking at Enchanted Rock or stargazing or reading in the tranquility of this peaceful and restorative place.

Enchanted Rock and Trois Estate are located near Fredericksburg, Texas.  Fredericksburg, Texas is a small Texas town worth a visit.  The downtown area has many shops, some restaurants and a West-Texas/German feel to it.  

Houston, Texas

It takes about 6 hours to get back to Houston, Texas from Fredericksburg, Texas

Big Bend is Texas’ wild wilderness and border frontier.  In our experience, it was a pristine, safe and family-friendly wilderness.  

When we did our initial research for this wilderness expedition, I asked a park ranger at Big Bend Ranch State Park if they have many issues with migrant traffic or cartels.  She said they do not because the mountain range is a daunting 8,000 feet above sea level, so it is an inhospitable route for anyone wanting to cross.

We saw Mexican residents who lived in the town of Boquillos cross back and forth several times on horseback to round up their horses who were grazing in the National Park.  Mexican nationals sell handicrafts and homemade Mexican food along the National Park trails which are available for purchase.  The National Park Rangers explained to us that the border is a place of commingling of cultures and nations at Big Bend who are trying to protect the resources of the area with an alliance between two amazing nations.

Cypress Valley

If you are looking for a “best of the best” place to stay during the Winter in the Texas Hill Country area, we recommend the Yoki Treehouse at Cypress Valley.

The Yoki Treehouse is a spa-like modern-chic cabin in a rustic setting.  It is magical, enchanting and tranquility among the trees!

We especially enjoyed our stay in the Yoki Treehouse at Cypress Valley because it was spa-serene.  We awoke to birds singing and enjoyed delicious locally roasted Cuvée coffee on the treehouse balcony.  We relaxed and rejuvenated inside the high-ceiling livingroom on a comfortable couch in front of a gas fireplace looking out at the clear water creek below.  

We luxuriated in a great night’s sleep in the king-sized bedroom with cozy, soft sheets, comfort bedding and  gigantic bison portrait overhead.

When we saw the room photos and amenities online before our stay, we were intrigued why the lodge chose a bison theme in the room.  It turns out that the family actually has raised a herd of bison for many years and they are on property.  Currently the family has 13 bison and even bison babies in the Springtime.  You may get to see them occasionally when they are grazing near the fence on the 100 acre woodland.

We enjoyed a wonderful stay, prized quality time, and the rejuvenation of nature.  Each room is filed with aromatherapy which immediately gave us a sense of being in a spa overnight.  

The bathhouse is across a sturdy trundle bridge.  It is a serene spa in itself, featuring a therapeutic cedar infused environment with a natural stone heated soaking pool which looks out on the trees.

Once we nestled in, we didn’t want to leave.  It’s a place you wish you could stay for days.  It is definitely best of the best.  We look forward to our stay here again!

The property also hosts a wedding and events venue which is mesmerizing, magical and special against a natural backdrop.

Guests may also stay at the glamping village in tents that are fully furnished.  The family has provided a truly glamping-luxurious bathroom with substantial, clean and refreshing shower and bath accommodations.

We highly recommend Cypress Valley as the “best of the best” for any Winter wilderness experience you are looking for.  It is especially known for its natural, verdant beauty in the Spring, Summer and Fall when the leaves are on the trees.  It is a wonderful place for any time and any occasion.

Please let us know when you visit.  We hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did!

Mandy and the team at Best Rated Reviews

Website: https://www.cypressvalley.com/