Space Cowboys

A road trip through wide open landscapes of the West in search of space history

Rockets and ranches: that made up the theme of our Autumn 2019 road trip across the United States, exploring Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico before a return from a week in El Paso across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

As we live within sight of launches from the original Rocket Ranch at Cape Canaveral, tops on our list for this journey were visits to space centers, aerospace museums, and historic sites associated with the American space program, especially in the vast deserts of New Mexico.

Research and serendipity along this journey inspired the storyline, settings, and characters for Sandra's first novel, Star Struck.

Itinerary

Alabama

Flagg Mountain
Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham

The Barber Museum contains the top collection of vintage motorcycles in the USA

U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville

Wilson Dam, Muscle Shoals

Northern Mississippi

Natchez Trace Parkway
Jim Henson Museum, Leland
DINING: South Main, Greenville

Natchez Trace Parkway / Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

Arkansas

Arkansas Delta

Hot Springs
Hot Springs National Park
Center Avenue Historic District
Garland County Historical Society
Mid-America Science Museum

DINING: Superior Brewing Company, Rolandos, The Pancake Shop
LODGING: Arlington Hotel

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Oklahoma

Broken Bow / Idabel
Beavers Bend State Park
Museum of the Red River
Dining: Blue Rooster, Hochatown
Lodging: Lakeview Lodge, Beavers Bend State Park

Museum of the Red River: A stunning collection of Native American art through the centuries

Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Angies Circus City Diner, Hugo

Medicine Park
Charley Wright Creek Walk
Holy City
Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge

Dining: The Old Plantation Restaurant, Joe Mountain Breakfast Bar
Lodging: The Plantation Inn

Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge

Weatherford
Stafford Air & Space Museum

General Thomas A. Stafford Air & Space Museum

Elk City
National Route 66 Museum and Old Town Museum

Black Kettle National Grassland
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

Texas

Amarillo
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
Cadillac Ranch
Jack Sizemore RV Museum

Canyon
Downtown Canyon
Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Vega
Route 66

New Mexico

Glenrio
Route 66
Russell's Filling Station

Tucumcari
Route 66
New Mexico Route 66 Museum
Santa Fe Railroad Museum
Dining: Pow Wow Restaurant

Las Vegas
Route 66
Las Vegas History Museum
Las Vegas Plaza
Peace College
Dining & Lodging: Plaza Inn

Pecos
Pecos National Monument

Santa Fe
Museum Hill: New Mexico Museum of the American Indian
Santa Fe Plaza
New Mexico History Museum
New Mexico Museum of Art
Downtown Santa Fe
Lodging: Sage Inn

Bandelier National Monument

Los Alamos
Manhattan Project National Historic Park
Los Alamos History Center
Canyon Rim Trail
Dining: Pyramid Cafe

Taos
Taos Pueblo
Taos Plaza
Dining: Stellas
Lodging: Mable Dodge Luhan House, Sagebrush Inn

Mable Dodge Luhan House, a retreat for artists and writers

Alamogordo
Orogrande
White Sands National Monument
New Mexico Museum of Space History
Tularosa Basin History Museum
White Sands Missile Range
Dining: Johnny Carinos, Can't Stop Smokin

Las Cruces
Thanks to a visit arranged for journalists at our SATW El Paso conference, we were honored to meet J. Paul Taylor and his daughter Rosemary. Known as the "conscience of the legislature" during his time in the New Mexico House of Representatives, Paul was a lifelong advocate for human rights. Four years after this visit, he died at age 102. As he had told us he had planned, his home and art collection are now open to the public as the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site.

New Mexico Farm & Ranch Museum
Old Mesilla
Dining: La Posta de Mesilla

Carlsbad
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Pecos River Park
Dining & Lodging: Trinity Hotel

Texas

El Paso
Our time in El Paso was largely defined by the 2019 SATW annual conference, which included tours as well as time on our own to explore downtown on foot and by trolley. Guided tours: El Paso History, Bootmaking, Franklin Mountains. We also had a local show us around to capture art, architecture, and the outdoors for the Photo Quest, for which we won several awards.

El Camino Real National Historic Trail
El Paso Museum of History
El Paso Trading Post
Franklin Mountains State Park
Keystone Heritage Park
Hueco Tanks State Park
Rio Grande Greenway
Upper Tom Lea Park
University of Texas El Paso Campus
Whoopee Bowl
Zin Valle Winery

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Van Horn

Fort Davis
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Davis Mountains State Park
Dining: Cueva de Leon
Lodging: Veranda Historic Inn

Marfa
El Paisano Hotel
Marfa Studio of the Arts
The Sentinel

Marathon
Gage Hotel
E. Dan Klepper Art Studio
Dining: Brick Vault Barbecue

Sonora
Eaton Hill Nature Center

Rocksprings
Devil's Sinkhole Natural Area Bat Tour
Lodging: Historic Rocksprings Hotel

Vanderpool
Lost Maples Natural Area

Kerrville
... in which John accidentally met and chatted with Kinky Friedman.

Louise Hays Park
Wolfmueller's Books
Dining: Pax Coffee & Goods

Fredricksburg
Downtown Fredricksburg
Dining: Bella Sera, Texas Sunrise
Lodging: The Hangar Hotel

Wimberley
Cypress Creek
Jacobs Well Natural Area
Wimberley Glass
Dining:
Lodging: Flora and Fauna

San Marcos
Now part of Texas State University, the collection of springs surrounding the headspring of the San Marcos River was a post-WWII roadside attraction called Aquarina Springs that boasted an underwater show with Aquamaids and a swimming pig. Students pilot narrated river tours using refurbished glass-bottomed boats to showcase the springs and explain the site's history.

Meadows Center at Spring Lake

Palmetto State Park
Outside historic Gonzales, this state park is a little slice of the tropics in Central Texas. On the San Marcos River, it's popular for paddling and hiking. Learn more.

Brazos Bend State Park
Known for its alligator population and great birding, this state park occupies a marshy landscape created by the Brazos River south of Houston. Learn more.

Houston
Space Center Houston and Johnson Space Center

Beaumont
Beaumont Botanical Gardens
Big Thicket National Forest
Cattail Marsh
Dining: Habeneros, Pappadeaux, Rao's Bakery

Orange
Shangri-La Gardens

Louisiana

Avery Island
Tabasco Museum and Factory Tour
Jungle Gardens

Lafayette
Jean Lafayette National Historic Site
Vermillionville

Louisiana Northshore
The Tammany Trace bicycle path was our theme for a visit to this region across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. It connects the following communities.

Abita Springs
Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve
Abita Mystery House

Covington
Lodging: Southern Hotel

Mandeville
Dining: Country Kitchen Restaurant, Hambone

Fontainebleau State Park
On the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain with easy access out the front gate to cycle the Tammany Trace towards Abita Springs or Slidell. Campground, fabulous lakefront cabins, and nature trails. Learn more.

Mississippi

Infinity Science Center
A must for space enthusiasts for its detailed info and artifacts from Apollo 13. Homegrown astronaut Fred Haise stops in on occasion. Lots of hands-on activities for young and old, plus a boardwalk through a pitcher plant bog between the buildings and Interstate 10. Official visitor center for NASA Stennis Space Center.

Alabama

Gulf State Park
Our first visit to this outstanding state park but not our last! Choose from cabins, a massive campground, an oceanfront lodge, or a glamping tent area for your stay, and bring a bike to explore the extensive paved trail system.