Deep in the Heart of Texas

True West Texas luxury travel means going beyond the predictable and getting to the big, beautiful, and multifaceted heart of the USA’s Lone Star State. On this authentic Texas experience — an exclusive Ker & Downey favorite — the trendy soul of Austin is traded in for the hole-in-the-wall barbecue joints and charming wineries of the Texas Hill Country, the minimalist sculptures of Marfa, and the pioneering cowboy spirit of Big Bend National Park.

Suggested Itinerary-at-a-glance:

• Day 1:

  Arrive Austin / The Driskill

• Day 2:

  Austin / The Driskill (B,L)

• Day 3:

  Austin / The Driskill (B,L)

• Day 4:

  Marfa / Cíbolo Creek Ranch (B,L,D)

• Day 5:

  Marfa / Cíbolo Creek Ranch (B,L,D)

• Day 6:

  Marfa / Cíbolo Creek Ranch (B,L,D)

• Day 7:

  Marfa / Cíbolo Creek Ranch (B,L,D)

• Day 8:

  Marfa / Departure (B)

Itinerary Description:

Your Texas luxury travels begin in the Lone Star State's eclectic, trend-setting capital of Austin. Experience the city's most established -- and haunted -- accommodations at The Driskill luxury hotel, whose downtown address puts you within walking distance of all of The Live Music Capital of the World's most impressionable spots, from the South Congress food trucks to the legendary 6th Street entertainment halls. After exploring the city, take time to get acquainted with the surrounding Texas Hill Country, a region known for its finger-lickin'-good BBQ, quaint antique shops, age-old saloons, and charming wineries. After stops in Dripping Springs, Luckenbach, and Fredericksburg, catch the sunset atop Enchanted Rock, a 425-foot monolith of pink granite with 360-degree views of the beautiful Texas Hill Country.

Continue your Texas luxury travels in West Texas, a place where the boundary-pushing minimalist sculptures of Marfa meet the geographical expanse of Big Bend National Park. Your private charter plane will deliver you into a slice of living history at Cíbolo Creek Ranch, a 30,000-acre Longhorn cattle ranch boasting authentic pre-Civil War accommodations and a true Texas spirit. Luxury and adventure come as a pair here, allowing you to relax amid the property's adobe walls, Spanish-style verandas, and spa facilities while still striking out by horse, ATV, or foot to admire the local wildlife, Native American rock art, and ghost town ruins. When you are not satiating your passion for western history, enjoy guided day-long explorations of Marfa's surprising art scene and Big Bend National Park's fascinating geological landscape. You will have the opportunity to visit the private minimalist collections of the Chinati and Judd Foundations, as well as drive along one of the most scenic drives in the United States, the Rio Grand Road following the Rio Grand River. A delicious picnic and hike through the Santa Elena Canyon is the perfect capstone to your Big Bend stay.

After each day of adventure, return to Cíbolo Creek Ranch to round out your West Texas vacation experience, enjoying what the locals call “South Texas TV” -- which consists of roasting s’mores and telling stories around the campfire. Out here deep in the heart of Texas, the stars truly are as big and bright as legend suggests.

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