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Topic: Winter travel advice sought...... (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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Winter travel advice sought......
Yahoo Message Number: 127596
you favorite place to visit during the winter to escape the cold? I''ve been to Key Wst and thinking of going to the Rio Grande Valley this year....
Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127598
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* Try the Hot Spring at Big Bend National Park.  You can be in the hot spring and dangle your hand in the Rio Grande.
 http://www.lazydazers.com/index.cfm?fa=ShowItem&ID=3075

http://www.lazydazers.com/index.cfm?fa=ShowItem&ID=1518

best, paul

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you favorite place to visit during the winter to escape the cold? I''ve been to Key Wst and thinking of going to the Rio Grande Valley this year....
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Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127605
I second Big Bend... Out of the way, almost always fabulous weather in Jan/Feb/Mar. Geologically very complex and interesting. Good side trips to Marfa, Alpine, Presidio/Ojinaga, Davis Moutains. Terlingua is always interesting. Probably the safest area along the border. I haven't been to Ojinaga in about ten years but it will not be hard to figure out if if is safe or not once you are there. I cannot imagine it having safety issues. It is (historically and shockingly) a great place to eat seafood! (because of the railroad to the Mexican coast) Lots to see and do! Walking and hiking are the ONLY way to really experience the uniquity and diversity of the park.

The Rio Grande Valley is FAR less interesting!

Happy travels! Jay
Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127606
wrote: I second Big Bend... Out of the way, almost always fabulous weather in Jan/Feb/Mar.
--- The Big Bend NP website:
 http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm

Campground information is found under "Plan Your Visit" > "Things to Do" > "Places to Go" > "Campgrounds"; this placement seems a little odd (to me, anyway), but that's where they stuck it! ;-)

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127609
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* Don't miss Terlingua's graveyard with the grave site where the deceased resident's friends celebrate his life and leave their empty beer and liquor bottles after celebrating a sufficient time...

best, paul

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Terlingua is always interesting.
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Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127611
Not sure if any of you watch an HD TV show called "Motion" related to hiking in the outdoors, but they just aired an episode here in the LA area on channel 7 (7-2?) for Big Bend NP.. Haven't watched it yet but all of their other shows on Yosemite, Glacier NP, Bass Lake, Everglades and whatnot are great if you are into hiking..

I pick up ours via the antenna on the roof.. No cable or DirecTV needed.
Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127613
Big Bend is well worth a visit. We have been three times and plan to get back. The border crossing to Boquillas re-opens in February? There is a wide range between highs and lows this time of year. Today the high is forecast to be 63 with a low of 27 at Panther Junction. It will be much colder in the Chisos Basin and a little warmer on the river. I would not consider BB without a toad. It's a BIG park and you will burn gas getting around. There is one gas station in the park with high prices. So fill up in Alpine.
 There are 3/4 places to park in the "outback" that are OK for an LD.
You sign up for them at the ranger station at Panther Junction.

Ojinaga is no longer considered safe. There is at least one good seafood place on the US side. Presido is not interesting to us, but the drive there is quite scenic.

Don't consider BB during Spring Break.
 Lastly, I would not bother going unless I had at least a week to stay.
YMMV

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The Rio Grande Valley is FAR less interesting!
Very true, but warmer.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127619
Big Bend Ranch State Park is also very interesting. I had the privilege of hiking all through it before the state park opened and limited access.

Glad to know the access to Boquillas will reopen. Long overdue!
 I used to lead photo workshops to the park mainly in early January but throughout the year. While I would agree the Rio Grande Valley is warmer in the winter, it is pretty unusual for it to be very cold for long down by the river. The Chisos Basin is a totally different story!
 Good point on the toad! The distances are not trivial! It is BIG country!
 Too bad on security in Ojinaga! I always liked that town. Agreed, Presidio is not particularly interesting, but upstream are some interesting places like Candaleria and Chinati Hot Springs (which allows camping and would be good for an LD_. It is the drive upriver that is especially interesting. Be sure to check out Shafter if you drive north from Presidio to Marfa. And there is always the mysterious Marfa Lights!
 One can easily spend two weeks exploring the area - pariticularly if you have an AWD or 4WD toad so you can go to places like Ernst Tinaja and take some of the more remote (rougher) roads. (A short LD can probably make it to Ernst when the road is good but... a 27??? Asking for trouble. Always ask the rangers about the roads! Only the Maverick Road to Santa Elena and the shorter, highly used roads (like to Paint Gap) are very reliable.

One of my very favorite places! Jay
Re: Winter travel advice sought......
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127623
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you favorite place to visit during the winter to escape the cold?
We've heard great things about Big Bend, too, but haven't gotten there yet.  However, we are currently in our favorite winter grounds, Borrego Springs, CA: it's 80 degrees and lovely, though due to get cooler to 68 degrees (40's and 30's at night) next week.  So far no winds.  Boondock at Peg Leg Smith gathering place that is just 8 miles east of Borrego Springs on S-22.  Lots of metal sculptures in the area (over 100), great bicycling and hiking, and a certified "dark sky" area, even though one can easily see lights on the horizon from LA.  There are also several golf courses, various commercial RV places, some rather pricey, and the Anza Borrego Desert State Park with full hookups.  Enjoy.  John Boles