Davis Mountains State Park

February 3, 2026

February 3

We packed up the RV, got back into our road-school rhythm, and left Big Bend Station for Fort Davis. By afternoon we had set up camp at Davis Mountains State Park.

Once we were settled, we rode bikes around the campground and enjoyed a slower evening. Dinner was the rest of Cal’s chili, which tasted even better the second time around. Afterward we played Pass the Pigs and spent some time bird watching.

We spotted an acorn woodpecker and several dark-eyed juncos — a fun little surprise for the day.

February 4

A full day of road school kept us busy in the morning. Later we rode our bikes and hiked the Montezuma Quail Trail through the hills around the park.

In the afternoon we drove down to Marfa to explore the town. Unfortunately, almost everything was closed, but we still enjoyed walking around. We wandered through the Hotel Paisano, stopped by the local museum, and had dinner at Margaret’s.

After picking up a few groceries, we drove out on Highway 90 to look for the famous Marfa Lights. Cal pulled up satellite maps and we eventually realized that the flickering light we were seeing was actually a house way off in the distance.

Even though the mystery wasn’t solved, the stars on the drive back were incredible.

February 5

Another full day of road school.

Later we rode our bikes up to the Indian Lodge for lunch. The kids picked out a stuffed Mexican free-tailed bat and a rat snake from the gift shop.

Even better — they met other kids at the park.

Meg went for a run, and Bethan had a close encounter with a white-tailed deer. Cal worked a full day from the RV while the rest of the day unfolded around him.

Dinner was pork ribs, and the RV oven performed beautifully. That night we finished the day with a star class hosted by the interpretive ranger up at Skyline Drive.

The desert sky did not disappoint.

February 6

Cal took the kids to finish their Junior Ranger program that morning. They spent the rest of the morning playing with other kids in the park — epic games of hide-and-seek and lots of bike riding.

After lunch we drove out to Balmorhea State Park and swam in the massive spring-fed pool.

Along the drive we saw javelina crossing the road, Barbary sheep climbing the rocks, and deer along the roadside.

On the way back we got pulled over by a state trooper and were given a warning for not having a front license plate on the truck.

Dinner that night was breakfast for dinner — including venison summer sausage that a neighbor had given us back in Del Rio.

Later we drove to McDonald Observatory for their star party. The kids played in the sand while we waited, and once the sky darkened the stars were unbelievable — the Milky Way and everything.

February 7

This might have been the most relaxing Saturday we’ve had in a long time.

Breakfast was cereal, and the kids spent almost the entire day playing with other kids in the campground. There were endless rounds of hide-and-seek using walkie-talkies.

One family — the “Wild Bunch” crew — left around 11, but the kids kept playing with another family from Richardson for the rest of the day.

We visited the interpretive center where the kids did watercolor painting, found a geocache, and generally played as hard as kids should play.

Cal and I even managed a two-mile run.

Dinner was spaghetti and salad, and we finished the night watching the first Night at the Museum.

February 8

We had a lazy morning — sleeping in and watching the Olympics.

Pepper got her first haircut on the road, followed by a bath. RV grooming is always an adventure.

Later we drove into Fort Davis to stock up on groceries. In the afternoon we tried the Montezuma Quail Trail again in hopes of finding a geocache. Instead we ended up taking the Indian Lodge Trail and walking along the ridgelines around the park.

We made it back to camp in time to watch the Super Bowl while eating seven-layer dip and jalapeño poppers.

Not a bad way to watch the game.