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My husband and I spent New Year's Week of 2003 in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. It was a glorious experience! We had reservations at the historic Prude Ranch located about 6 miles west of Fort Davis.

The ranch itself offers many opportunities for relaxation. The guest lodges all have front porches with chairs where you can watch the sun set or rise, depending on your inclination. Whichever tickles your fancy, you have to sit out on the porch with your love to watch the stars.

In the mountains, away from the city, the suburbs and all the contamination of their neon and phosphorescent lights I could actually SEE the stars. Holding hands with my husband, snuggling up next to him under those chilly, West Texas winter skies was the beginning of the most romantic vacation we have taken.

The dining room is spacious if you choose to eat there. The cowboy breakfast is hearty and filling, especially if you're going to take advantage of the open-range horseback riding offered by the Prudes.

The attractions in towns near the Prude Ranch are enough to lure you away for day trips when the horseback riding, swimming, relaxing and discovering pictographs in the mountain caves on the ranch have exhausted your interest.

The Fort Davis National Historic Site was one of the first stops for my Love and me. This might not seem like an especially romantic place to some people, but to a couple of history buffs and Tex-o-philes, it was heaven!

After enjoying a few hours transporting ourselves to the 19th Century, we went into the city of Fort Davis to have lunch and discover what was waiting for us in town.
The "Mile High Village" is chock full of shopping opportunities, more historical markers, and some great food.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Hotel Limpia. This is a charming, historic hotel in Fort Davis that we will make time to visit in the future. The time I spent exploring the grounds and public areas of the Limpia were absolutely enchanting.

The McDonald Observatory, which is part of the venerable University of Texas system, is only a short drive from the Prude Ranch. In fact, the Ranch often organizes trips to the Observatory when there are significant astronomical events occurring. If you have even a passing interest in the stars, or want to learn more about the celestial objects, this attraction is a must see.

If you've got a whimsical bent, you may want to go out to Marfa one of the evenings you're staying at the ranch. It's about 38 miles away, a mere hop, by West Texas standards. There is a phenomenon known as the "Marfa Lights" that occur outside the city limits. Not everyone sees the Lights.

Science has never been able to provide an explanation for them. Some, of a more practical mind, have tried to dismiss the Lights as swamp gas, or the headlights of distant trains. However, if that's what the Marfa Lights are, why did indigenous tribes report seeing them before the white man invented trains?

We were thoroughly charmed with the Prude Ranch, it's owners, employees and the Fort Davis environs. We had wanted to get away from the craziness that seems to envelope home following a frenetic holiday season. We wanted some solitude and serenity to enjoy one another's company. The Prude Ranch and the stark beauty of the high desert in winter delivered just enough solitude to make us feel that we were alone. On the other hand, there were enough people around, that if we wanted some company we could seek others out.

We would love to return to the Prude Ranch. We only have to clear the time from our conflicting work schedules, then we are packing our bags and you can color us G-O-N-E, gone.

Learn more about this author, Holly Berry.
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