Even though we live in the same state, Fort Davis is an 8-hour haul from the the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. So the fact that we choose to return to Fort Davis and Indian Lodge every year says something about the soothing effects of visiting. If you're fond of vast skies, empty roads, cool summer temperatures (the elevation is 5000 feet) and rugged mountains, I highly recommend Trans-Pecos Texas. And even though the Hotel Limpia is a nice place, I don't think the Fort Davis experience is complete without staying at least one night at Indian Lodge, which was constructed by the young men of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps in the the 1930s using materials indigenous to the region. It's run by the state, so don't expect luxury. But it's clean and generally well managed. There's a small swimming pool with a big view and the Black Bear restaurant serves up decent family fare at low prices. You won't be inspired but you won't go hungry, either. I recommend asking for one of the "original" rooms (there is a 1960s addition), most of which contain furniture hand-carved by the CCC. The lodge gives you immediate access to Skyline Drive. There is no better place for watching dusk settle in and the sun set. I also recommend a trip to the nearby McDonald Observatory and a drive of the almost empty 70-mile scenic loop. If you're a fan of frenetic activity, solicitous service and pampering luxury, you should probably skip this place. But if you're satisfied with natural beauty and authenticity, you shouldn't miss it.