McDonals observatory in west texas is worth the trip.

[Will.iam]

My daughter is into astronomy so i noticed mc donalds observatory does star gazing parties and i took her to one. We loved it. Flew into alpine airport and there was one family owned rental car that we used for the 2 day experience   The only negative is go when it’s a new moon. We had a sliver of a crescent moon and i did not realize how much even that little amount of moon destroys your night vision to see even just the milky way. 

[DonMuncy]

I agree. I was absolutely amazed with the stars. Being a city kind of guy now, I did not remember what it was like to see so many stars.

[Will.iam]

Just did the mc donald observatory for a second time. This time with wife and daughter and a new moon. Yes it made a huge difference and we could see the milky way very easily. Did it oct 21 during the meteor shower and saw on average a meteor every 2 mins or so which made it extra special. Car rental still scarce and i had the local uhaul as a backup if i didn’t fine anyone to rent from. 

[DonMuncy]

I agree, it was a very good Mooney trip, but that was quite a few years ago.

[LANCECASPER]

11 hours ago, Will.iam said:

Just did the mc donald observatory for a second time. This time with wife and daughter and a new moon. Yes it made a huge difference and we could see the milky way very easily. Did it oct 21 during the meteor shower and saw on average a meteor every 2 mins or so which made it extra special. Car rental still scarce and i had the local uhaul as a backup if i didn’t fine anyone to rent from. 

I used to take a motorcycle trip out there every year to Big Bend and we went to McDonald a couple of times. 

I'd like to do that trip again. Did you fly into Alpine?  I see that Turo has some cars out there, did you end up finding a rental car? If so could you share the phone number or rental contact? 

[Ragsf15e]

That place is awesome!  We did it once when we lived in Del Rio, TX.  Big Bend is pretty good as well in the winter, but my wife was a bit disturbed by the swarm of migrating tarantulas on the road…

[Will.iam]

On 11/19/2025 at 5:58 AM, LANCECASPER said:

I used to take a motorcycle trip out there every year to Big Bend and we went to McDonald a couple of times. 

I'd like to do that trip again. Did you fly into Alpine?  I see that Turo has some cars out there, did you end up finding a rental car? If so could you share the phone number or rental contact? 

Best method is to contact alpine airport during business hours as they have the low down on what’s available. First time it was a guy that lent us his suv this time it was a lady they gave me a phone number to that lent us her honda civic. But in desperate times you can rent a uhaul truck usually a 26th size for the day and they will come get you from the airport. It’s slim picking but small hospitality town makes it work somehow.  

[Schllc]

If you go all the way to big bend and don’t see Chisos basin at sunrise you should go back. 
we went mountain biking there 30 years ago, during a school break. We rode our tails off, changed a lot of flats.  
found an unofficial border crossing along the rio. It was kind of innocent back then, I mean migrants weren’t using it to migrate, just a convenience for tourists. 
apparently there were plans to build this major border city in the Mexico side but after a bunch of major infrastructure was put in they cancelled the plans. (at the time it may actually be built by now)
so you had these giant power lines and highway but no electricity and hardly even any cars. 
it was very rural on their side of the border and national park on our side. 
anyway, you could eat tortillas and buy blankets , trinkets , awful liquor. 
we shot pool in a cantina with dirt floors. 
funniest part was you went across in a boat full of bullet holes, and the ride across was $1 and for another $20 on the other side you could ride a burrow into town. 
boat ride back was $20. This was 30 years ago and we were students!!!
good times…