ALPINE/MARATHON
GUIDE *
EAT & DRINK ↓
ALPINE
A specialty coffee shop offering amazing coffee, lattes, and espresso. The space is modern and airy and the service is friendly.
Locally owned Mexican restaurant that serves up incredibly flavorful tacos, flautas, burritos, y mas. The homemade salsas are excellent and the service is sweet. Their outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy tacos on a warm summer night.
Great little hot dog truck in the middle of town offering both beef and veggie dogs with all the toppings you could imagine.
Some call it a dive bar, some call it a fine watering hole. Harry's is always full of friendly characters who may offer you some wisdom or stories of life in the Big Bend region. They have an extensive German beer list but it's cash only so be sure to come prepared.
The Reata is cowboy cooking at its finest. A popular spot for locals and travelers alike, the Reata is worth a stop for dinner or lunch.
MARATHON
One of our favorite hotel bars in existence, the White Buffalo is a legendary watering hole serving up the best margaritas in town (we like the prickly pear margarita). They also have an amazing burger and other bar food options.
As close to fine dining as it gets in Far West Texas. 12 Gage is located in the Gage Hotel's stunning restaurant, outfitted like an upscale ranch. The meat and produce are locally raised and grown. Reservations are highly recommended.
There's something for everyone at this well-stocked and expertly curated general store. On some nights you can find bands playing outside (like their legendary John Prine covers night), and they also host burger and karaoke nights.
The Gage Hotel's in-house coffee shop offering coffee, smoothies, breakfast, lunch, and other beverages on the main drag.
Amazing BBQ spot in Marathon. We highly recommend the brisket, ribs, and green chili mac n cheese!
SEE ↓
ALPINE
In 1981, a few students from Sul Ross University decided that they wanted a quiet place to study away from the dorms, so they lugged an entire school desk to a vista point on a hill with the most incredible views of the mountains in Alpine. Notes left inside the desk have been collected and preserved over the years. Worth a day hike for the view alone.
Permanent and rotating instillations offer a glimpse into the distinctive natural history, anthropological history, and the confluence of cultures that make this region so unique.
MARATHON
A legendary, historic hotel with incredible grounds worth a visit to learn more about the history of Marathon itself. Zane Grey wrote some of his most famous Western novels while staying here.
James H. Evans has been making photographs in the Big Bend Region for many years. His prolific body of work captures many of the characters and people who have called this area home. His book, Crazy From the Heat, is a chronicle of 20 years in the Big Bend.
A small roadside outpost with tons of information and brochures to help you have the best adventure possible while heading into Big Bend National Park
27 acres of lush, desert gardens perfect for a stroll or to sit and read while surrounded by an abundance of indigenous desert plants. Also home to an array of migrating birds and butterflies.
Fans of Wim Wenders and Paris Texas will appreciate a trip to the Marathon Hotel which was one of the locations where Travis makes a stop on his journey.
