Driving West Texas during Christmas? (San Antonio, El Paso: living in, title, cars)

[TexasNick]

I'm thinking of making the drive from San Antonio to West Texas cities like Marfa, Ft. Stockton, Alpine, Eagle Pass (have relatives there) and then maybe Big Bend.

Is this a bad time to go to West Texas? Is the scenery not as nice? etc?

Thanks for any info.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by TexasNick

I'm thinking of making the drive from San Antonio to West Texas cities like Marfa, Ft. Stockton, Alpine, Eagle Pass (have relatives there) and then maybe Big Bend.

Is this a bad time to go to West Texas? Is the scenery not as nice? etc?

Thanks for any info.

Right now, that country is so green that it hurts the eyes. I haven't seen it look this good in 40 years. The best time to go is really in late October, as you will have a winter landscape in late December on part of that route. I personally like that, but it won't be as pretty as a summer or fall one.

But it's still an amazing drive, regardless of what time of year you take it.

[tstone]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

That said, there is a lot of nothing out that way down I-10.

[Muhnay]

If you want to see something like lights and all that there are a few places near San Antonio you can visit.

Do the Christmas Holiday Trail of Lights.

Each Christmas, Kilgore lights up its derricks and produces a sample of what the town looked like some sixty years ago. The lights are turned on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and remain lit until after January 1.

Stars top the sixty replica derricks, helping the city maintain its title as the state's official "City of Stars." Kilgore is also among the stops on the Holiday Trail of Lights, which includes Marshall and Jefferson in East Texas and Natchitoches and Shreveport in Louisiana.

For over 100 years the folks living in Hallettsville and the surrounding area have long been accustomed to seeing the dominant old building on the square. And it's hard to imagine how it must have looked when it was brand new, but when you think about it, the unique stone structure hasn't changed much at all.

There are some awesome displays all around you too..

I will look into it, I cant find my links but I know many of the small towns near you have awesome displays and travel tours during the holidays because they are so fantastic.

[Muhnay]

I found it.. in Texas Monthly.. I knew I saw something about Texas and Christmas..

Texas Monthly: Christmas Lights

Check it out.. looks like a lot of fun.

Also head up to Carlsbad NM, the river of lights is something to be seen.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by tstone

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

That said, there is a lot of nothing out that way down I-10.

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

If you think there is a lot of nothing, so be it. Different strokes for different folks. Thank God that not everybody likes the desert and such.

[case44]

I think it would be just fine being able to see some West Texas scenery any ol' time of year, not just at the holidays. Christmas on I-10? Well, you and I might be the only cars on the road that day. More room to enjoy it????

[blusteel]

I really like W. TX so anytime is a good time in my book. I have spent New Years in Big Bend and it was perfect weather in the basin for sleeping on the ground. I've stayed in Ft. Davis in February during a cold snap and almost froze. I've dealt with heat approaching 100 in April. I delivered a car to El Paso for a dealership and ran into sections of I-10 that were closed due to ice/snow; but drove a convertible back the next day for the dealer...and had the top down. So look at it as an adventure and be prepared for a wide range of weather.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

If you think there is a lot of nothing, so be it. Different strokes for different folks. Thank God that not everybody likes the desert and such.

I actually do like driving through interesting deserts. I did it this spring, actually. The Sonoran desert in AZ had those organ pipe cactuses. And Death Valley National Park has probably the best, most colorful desert scenery ever.

As far as west TX goes... well, those giant windmills are pretty cool.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by tstone

I actually do like driving through interesting deserts. I did it this spring, actually. The Sonoran desert in AZ had those organ pipe cactuses. And Death Valley National Park has probably the best, most colorful desert scenery ever.

As far as west TX goes... well, those giant windmills are pretty cool.

I have not even seen the windmills near McCamey...I'm going to have to take a drive out there one of these days when I go home....!

Yes, I remember Death Valley....