Terlingua

One of the strangest places in all of America is Terlingua, located in Far West Texas about 12 miles from the Rio Grande and the Mexican border. Jackson Hole is not this town, despite being blatantly a tourist destination. Only a few hundred people call Terlingua their home; depending on the time of year, there are miles and miles of unspoiled natural beauty and this area. It was established in the 1880s as a quicksilver mining community, but by 1942 the mines had been shut down, making it a true ghost town. A small but thriving community still exists today, and the river guides, retirees, artists, lost souls, seekers, prickly introverts, park rangers, and ardent desert enthusiasts who make up the local community play a significant role in what makes Terlingua such a singular, fascinating place to visit.

It would be a shame to visit Terlingua without taking in the breathtaking natural magnificence that Big Bend National Park and it's even more remote neighbor, Big Bend Ranch State Park, have to offer. There are many geological wonders in the area, including the vast Chihuahuan Desert and steep, dramatic canyons as well as rough mountains. The South Rim offers the best views in the national park (and all of Texas) if you're up for a 12-mile hike, but it's a challenging ascent. If you're not up for the challenge, the Lost Mine Trail is a miniature version of the South Rim and offers breathtaking views of Mexico's Sierra del Carmen, Juniper Canyon, and Casa Grande.

Additionally, you must visit the Boquillas Hot Spring and Santa Elena Canyon (the latter, a natural hot spring pressed up against the Rio Grande, is an especially welcome activity after an all-day hike). And in the state park, which, depending on when you visit, may be largely to yourself, you'll find pristine, untamed wilderness. Both the Cinco Tinajas Loop and the stunning slot canyon hike known as Closed Canyon are under three miles round-trip.