I love Alpine, TX! And a new giveaway!

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I travel three hours away from my hometown of Stanton, Texas to the Big Bend region of Texas to attend grad school at my alma mater Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Find out more about Sul Ross by clicking HERE.

Most of the time if I mention Alpine it is usually to bellyache about all the homework I need to get done or projects that are due. Hey, life as a single Mom grad student isn’t easy, so I get to bellyache just a smidgen I think!? Every once in a blue moon I will show you a picture or two of Alpine,Texas but for the most part you don’t really know about my favorite place in the world. I love Alpine. It makes my soul and heart happy to be there.

Today I’m going to take you on a tour of Alpine, Texas and show you where I stay, where I eat and all the groovy and cute things that make Alpine such a wonderful place to visit. It’s a long post, so grab a cup of coffee and get ready!
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Texas is the experience of being transformed by another culture without ever leaving the state. I am lucky enough to just drive a few hours and arrive in an entirely different culture and landscape.

Once I cross the Pecos River I know it won't be long before I start seeing mountains in the distance. I actually learned to swim in the Pecos. Pretty neato, right?

When I hit this part of the highway on my trip to the Big Bend my heart starts beating faster. See the mountains? When I start seeing those beauties in the horizon I know I’m almost there!

When I stay in Alpine, I stay at the Antelope Lodge.

I have stayed there every single visit and I adore the owners and everyone who works there. I feel like I’m at home when I am at the Lodge.


They have individual cottages with kitchenettes and even a desk for someone like me who brings their entire office and kitchen with them while traveling.

I even bring my own coffee pot, because I have coffee issues. I also bring my laptop, printer, photography lights, props and everything else I might need for school and for any photo shoots I may have while I’m in Alpine. Yes, I’ve even done photo shoots in my cute little cottage!


Speaking of coffee -- my favorite thing to do (when I have time!) is to drink a cup of coffee on the porch of my little cottage and watch the sun come up.

They have a magnificent gift shop too, featuring rocks, minerals, jewelry and a wide variety of marvelous gifts.






You can find more information about staying at the Lodge or the gift shop by finding them on Facebook HERE. Tell them I sent you!
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My favorite breakfast spot in Alpine is Judy’s Bread & Breakfast. It’s a SUPER cute café. Find them on Facebook HERE.

Everything is homemade and absolutely delish! I actually bought a loaf of the wheat bread (pictured) to take home. It’s full of grains, nuts and yummy goodness!


They also feature a different artist each month in the café. While you are munching on homemade cinnamon rolls, pastries, breakfast or lunch, you can scope out some fantastic artwork by local artists.

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For dinner, the girls and I from class LOVE to go the Reata. It’s absolutely superb.

We love the atmosphere, the drinks, the food and the people. I crave their tortilla soup and can never wait until it’s Reata night! We go at least once every trip, but we’ve been known to go twice in a weekend. It’s that GOOD!


The Reata offers unique cuisine such as a Field Green Salad with Texas Goat Cheese with San Saba Pecans and Sherry Wine Vinaigrette or the Chicken Caesar Salad with Asiago Cheese and Sourdough Croutons.

Pan-Seared Pepper Crusted Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce or the Grilled Salmon with Boursin Cream Sauce…

and Alpine Black Bean & Chicken Nachos….


Check out their entire dinner menu, reserve a table and/or learn more about the Reata by clicking HERE. Find them on Facebook HERE.

And as if that isn’t magnificent enough, you should see their dessert entrees. How does a chocolate chunk bread pudding tamale served with dulce de leche sound? Or what about dutch oven apple crisp with cajeta? Maybe molten chocolate cake with drunken berries and vanilla cream? Tres Leches Cake? Are you in heaven just thinking about it? Well take a look at this…


The best part is you can indulge in all this fabulousness and enjoy a West Texas evening on the patio.


If you plan on dining at the Reata, making reservations ahead of time is your best bet for large groups.
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Shopping in Alpine is as unique as the eating experience. There is something for everyone! I most adore that there are a lot of shops that feature local artists. I may not have a huge budget, but I try to support local artisans in any way possible. One precious artist that I met on this trip is Georgia Waller.

She is a beautiful and talented artist who creates these one-of-a-kind earrings and jewelry pieces.

Each piece is handmade and completely unique. There are even hand painted details on some of the feathers.

Georgia calls them “Solos” and they are not meant to be worn in pairs.


If you can’t make it to Alpine to get your own gorgeous jewelry from Georgia, you can visit her online Etsy shop to order one by clicking HERE. All proceeds actually go to help rescued horses which you can read more about HERE.

Downtown Alpine is full of unique shops and venues. You are sure to find something you like!

Another one of my favorites is the homemade bath salts found in the Desert Divas boutique. Find them on Facebook HERE.


It is also a cute boutique and tanning salon, offering clothes, jewelry, hand bags and crafts.

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My favorite thing to do for relaxing when I’m in Alpine is to drive around and catch a gorgeous sunset. You can drive in any direction and watch the sun set in the mountains. There is something magical about fresh mountain air and a sunset.


On this particular trip, my friend Jennifer and I drove in her convertible on the Scenic Loop drive to watch the sun set.

It was absolutely MARVELOUS!



On a previous trip, I drove toward Marathon, Texas for a few sunset shots.




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As you can see, Alpine and the Big Bend region is a wonderful place to visit. Everyone is warm and friendly and there is something here for everyone. I feel like there is so much more to share about this great place. I might have to do a few installments just to cover all the wonderful features.

If you plan to visit, let me know! I’d love to hear all about your experiences. If you visit any of the places featured, let them know you read about them here!

Have a wonderful day!

$100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Travel Texas and BlogHer are sponsoring a great giveaway to one lucky reader. Please leave a comment telling me where you'd like to visit in Texas. You can request a free Texas Travel Guide from the TravelTex.com website where you can get lots of great ideas!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/1/2012-6/1/2012.

Be sure to visit the Discover Texas page on BlogHer.com where you can read about other bloggers' adventures and find more chances to win!