On the Road: San Antonio to Big Bend National Park

Program Registration: 3:30 p.m. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 4:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar On The Road (OTR) program. OTR journeys take participants to multiple study sites in a region with a number of overnight stays. Lectures, talks, discussions, field trips, and on-board commentary amplify the program theme. Some journeys involve great distances and may take hours, others are much shorter. Long or short, On the Road journeys are learning experiences that make the most of our time together. A Texas Master Naturalist, along with our Group Leader, will serve as our Study Leaders throughout the program and provide educational information on the areas we explore, both on site and during travel and transfers. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/ conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. At 5:30 p.m., you are welcome to enjoy the “Kickback” reception on the second floor of the hotel, with free hot food and cold drinks. We will continue to get acquainted over our group dinner.

At a local restaurant.

After dinner, the Group Leader will accompany those interested across the plaza to San Fernando Cathedral. The cathedral was built from 1738-50 by settlers from the Canary Islands who had been granted land by Spain’s King Philip V. Mexican general Santa Anna raised the red flag of “no quarter” from the church tower during the siege of the Alamo. Every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there is the light show by French artist Xavier De Richemont. This show tells the history of San Antonio, projected onto the cathedral, and is about 25 minutes long. It is free to the public. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

In the hotel’s second floor mezzanine.

We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and head out on our educational adventure into the least populated area of Texas. We’ll make stops along the way as we cross scenic Hill Country and enter the breathtaking Chihuahuan Desert. En route, our Naturalist will talk about the geology, wildlife, and geography of San Antonio and West Texas. We'll stop this morning in the small town of Uvalde, for an expert-led exploration of the remarkable art collection at First State Bank Uvalde. We'll also have some time to explore the town square.

En route, we’ll have boxed lunches.

This afternoon we'll make a stop at Amistad National Recreation Area visitor center where we'll view some exhibits that showcase the natural and cultural history of this area. The Amistad reservoir extends into Mexico and it's unique biodiversity is due to it's location within climate transition zones. It provides not only a home for migrating wildlife but a dynamic area for human recreation. Next we’ll board our motorcoach and travel on to our hotel in Alpine. After checking in, we’ll have time to freshen up before dinner.

At a local restaurant.

At the hotel.

We’ll hop on the motorcoach for a field trip to the Fort Davis National Historic Site. As the U.S. Park Service describes it, Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars frontier military post in the Southwest. We’ll have a presentation by a park ranger about life here and begin to develop an appreciation of native inhabitants of the region, Buffalo Soldiers, early settlers, and the importance of mail coaches and freight wagons during the westward expansion of the United States. At the post hospital, we’ll get a glimpse of what frontier medicine was like. Next we'll head to the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute for an expert-led exploration of this unique nature center. For over 40 years, the CDRI has severed as a biological research station with the goal to encourage and promote research on the natural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert. We will explore the botanical gardens, cactus museum, and there will be time for independent exploration which could include a hike or learning more about geology and mining in the area.

Boxed Lunches at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute.

After lunch, we'll ride to the McDonald Observatory for a behind the scenes visit. We’ll begin with an introduction at the Observatory Visitor’s Center. Then, we’ll ride the shuttle to the 107” telescope dome on Mount Locke. We’ll set out on a walking field trip with observatory staff to observe and learn about the large, state-of-the-art telescopes and the important research conducted here. Afterwards, we’ll have some independent time to explore exhibits in the visitor center and contemplate advances in the world of astronomy.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll return to the McDonald Observatory for a Star Party. In the outdoor amphitheater, an astronomer will tell us about the observatory as well as visible planets and constellations. As we listen, we’ll gaze at the sky and see what we can observe with just the naked eye; far away from city lights, the stars, moon, and planets are visible with amazing clarity. Then, we’ll have an opportunity to view the magnificence through the myriad of telescopes around the plaza. Note: depending on the weather, the Star Party may take place indoors using virtual sky simulation software. Then, we’ll ride via motorcoach back to the hotel. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

After checking out, we'll ride to the campus of Sul Ross State University. On arrival, we’ll set out on a walking field trip with a museum docent to explore the Museum of the Big Bend. We’ll learn about the life, history, and culture of the Big Bend area and Northern Mexico. As we explore the exhibits, we’ll observe how the area was shaped by the confluence of cultures brought by Native Americans, Europeans, and U.S. citizens. As we eat our lunch, the museum curator will provide a lecture on the Buffalo Soldiers, a regiment of African Americans who played a key role in defending frontier settlements throughout West Texas.

At Museum of the Big Bend.

We’ll then get back on the motorcoach and continue to Lajitas. En route, our Group Leader will teach us about the colorful history of Presidio and its sister city, Ojinaga, Mexico. We’ll hear about Pancho Villa and other border stories. The drive from Presidio to the Big Bend National Park area is one of the most scenic in Texas; take this opportunity to sit back and appreciate the remoteness of this rugged landscape. Upon arrival in Lajitas, we’ll check in at the resort with time to freshen up and relax before dinner. If you’re feeling up to it, you may enjoy taking a scenic stroll outside to soak up the surrounding natural beauty.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You may want to eat at one of the resort restaurants, or walk to the nearby deli or general store.

At leisure. If you like, join the Group Leader at the resort theater to watch a movie and enjoy some complimentary popcorn!

At the resort café.

We'll begin our exploration of Big Bend National Park with a scenic trip by motorcoach down the Ross Maxwell Drive. We’ll be joined by a local expert who will tell us about the plants, animals, and ecosystems of the area as we ride. We’ll make a few stops along the way to take in the scenery and stretch our legs. One hundred miles from the nearest grocery store, we’ll marvel at views from the Sotol Vista overlook where we can see the entire western side of the park. We’ll then head to Santa Elena Canyon with its impressive cliffs rising high above Big Bend River. Those who wish may join our local expert on a walk up a trail to a canyon overlook. Those who prefer not to go up to the overlook can admire the exceptional views from the riverbank with our Group Leader.

Boxed lunches in the park.

We'll reboard the motorcoach and continue exploring the remote beauty of Big Bend National Park with our local expert. We’ll make stops along the way to observe beautiful scenery and wildlife. As we ride, we’ll learn more about the plants and animals that call this park home. We’ll return to the resort via motorcoach in the early afternoon with some time to relax and socialize before riding to dinner. On our way we'll drive past Terlingua. This ghost town was once a thriving mining community centered around the production of Cinnabar—an ore that is a source of mercury. Once the mines were no longer profitable, the town was abandoned.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll ride back to the resort after dinner. The rest of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the resort.

After checking out, we’ll ride via motorcoach to Big Bend National Park. As we ride to the Chisos Basin area, we’ll learn more about the wildlife, geology, history and culture of the area. As elevation increases, we’ll observe changes in vegetation and wildlife; as we go up, the desert will be replaced with trees and greenery. Those who wish to may join our resident Naturalist for a short hike in the basin of the Chisos Mountains. Those who do not wish to hike may relax and enjoy the outdoors with the Group Leader or explore the exhibits at the visitor’s center on their own.

Boxed lunches in the park.

After lunch we’ll meet with a Park Ranger who will provide an overview of Big Bend National Park and answer questions about this diverse natural area. The park covers more than 800,000 acres, comprising spectacular geology and an amazing range of flora and fauna — with more types of birds, bats, and cacti than any other national park in the U.S. Next, we'll continue our exploration of Big Bend National park with our Group Leader and Naturalist. We’ll learn more about the wildlife that lives in this desert ecosystem. We’ll also learn about the history and culture of the area. We’ll end with a stop at the Panther Junction Visitor Center. We’ll have independent time to explore its interactive exhibits. Lastly, we will ride via motorcoach through the Persimmon Gap section, exit through the north entrance, and travel towards Alpine. Along the way, our Naturalist will continue teaching us about the native plants, wildlife, and area topography. Upon arrival in Alpine, we'll check in at our hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We’ll bid a fond farewell to the beautiful and remote Big Bend region, check out of the hotel, and board our motorcoach. Along the way, we’ll stop in a scenic Hill Country town to stretch our legs and have lunch.

At a restaurant in a Hill Country town.

We’ll board our motorcoach and ride to San Antonio. En route, our Group Leader will share some final thoughts to wrap up our journey. Upon arrival, we’ll check in at our original San Antonio hotel. At 5:30 p.m., you are welcome to enjoy the Kickback reception on the second floor of the hotel.

In the hotel meeting room. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Remaining in the meeting room, the Group Leader will conduct a final discussion and present a slide show of photos collected during the week. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!