Navigate the Mountains: New Online Travel Guides for the West Texas Frontier

    VAN HORN, Texas, July 15 /EMWNews/ -- Planning a trip to the wide

open spaces of the remaining frontier can be daunting, but officials in

West Texas are making it easier through online travel services. The

non-profit Texas Mountain Trail, a participant in the state's heritage

trails system, offers special interest itineraries, a daily photo blog, and

other services to aid trip planning. "We know that many of our visitors

travel across the country to get to the adventure-filled high mountain

desert, our clear night skies and our frontier towns still experiencing

horse traffic," says Beth Nobles, Regional Coordinator of the Texas

Mountain Trail. "We want to make planning their trip from afar as easy as

possible."



    Nobles offers several websites for visitors: the Texas Mountain Trail

Daily Photo Blog (http://www.texasmountaintrail.blogspot.com) features

photographs of scenic mountain vistas, flowering cacti, adobe architecture,

hiking and biking adventures, and ancient rock art awaiting visitors to the

region. Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the

Davis Mountains and El Paso, all located in the region are pictured on the

blog. The organization's main website, http://www.texasmountaintrail.com,

offers fun itineraries for travelers of all ages and all interests, such

as: Big Bend Birding, Movie Traveler: The Kevin Costner Fandango Tour, the

El Paso Mission Trail, Top Ten 15 Minute Rest Areas, and Big Bend Hiking

and Biking Girlfriend Getaway, as well as travels suggested by historical

memoirs by women. "We also regularly feature 'favorite places' of visitors

and residents of the region, in the blog 'My Favorite Place,'" said Beth

Nobles. http://www.tmtrfavorite.blogspot.com.



    Nobles also recommends a new travel resource, WestTexasTrip, and their

website, http://www.westtexastrip.com, with special content about the

Trail, Fort Davis, in the mile-high Davis Mountains, and Midland, its

gateway city. Fort Davis, population 1,200, was awarded a 2008 Dozen

Distinctive Destination(R) award by the National Trust for Historic

Preservation(R) for its unspoiled frontier nature and heritage tourism

resources, such as historic hotels. The community is home to the National

Park Service's Fort Davis National Historic Site, one of the country's best

restored frontier forts; and the world renowned McDonald Observatory.



    A 24 page travel guide for the Texas Mountain Trail region -- featuring

parks, museums, and historic sites in Far West Texas -- can be ordered

through the Texas Historical Commission, by calling 866/276-6219, or

visiting http://www.texasmountaintrail.com.



    Online Trip Planning:



    For travel to Far West Texas, visit: http://www.texasmountaintrail.com

or http://www.westtexastrip.com



    For a look at fun things to see and do, visit the Texas Mountain Trail

Daily Photo blog: http://www.texasmountaintrail.blogspot.com



    For information on Fort Davis, Texas, visit: http://www.fortdavis.com

or call 1-800-524-3015



    For flight information to Big Bend, the Davis Mountains and other

attractions in West Texas, visit Midland "Your Window to the West"

http://www.visitmidlandtexas.com






     Web site:  http://www.westtexastrip.com/

                http://www.texasmountaintrail.com/

                http://www.fortdavis.com/

                http://www.visitmidlandtexas.com/