When The Local Chapter reached out to me in August about a media partnership, I was 100% in! With COVID-19 keeping most of us from traveling the majority of this year, I had been eager for a change of pace, craving change of scenery and a little time enjoying the great outdoors. With Reeses being at bootcamp the entire month of October, it seemed like the perfect time to schedule a getaway! While all travel seems a little daunting right now, The Local Chapter in Terlingua, Texas was an easy ‘yes’ for me. Sure, the drive is long (8.5 hours from Dallas!), but you’re not surrounded by people at an airport and the destination is about as remote and unpopulated as one would want in a pandemic. It really is the ideal trip for the current times! And the drive really wasn’t that bad. As long as you have good company and a solid selection of podcasts, playlists or audiobooks, it doesn’t feel all that long.
The Local Chapter is truly walking distance from the west entrance of Big Bend National Park, so not only is it convenient for outdoor activities like the Lost Mine hike we did, it features STUNNING views every direction you turn! We experienced some of the most colorful sunrises and sunsets I’ve ever seen at The Local Chapter. We also didn’t have to wake up too early to see the sunrise, as it happens around 7:45am this time of year!
There are four guest yurts on the property (a max of two adults per yurt!), each spread apart but still walking distance from each other. A great setup if you’re wanting to rent out all four for a group trip! The yurts are cozy but very modern, featuring comfortable king-sized beds, a comfy lounge chair, a telescope (star gazing at night is unreal!!), and dining area with four chairs. The exterior of the yurt has roll down shades, which you can easily adjust. I left mine open most of the time! Lots of great natural light that way. The yurts are also all equipped with A/C, hot water, etc!
Each yurt also has a spacious, modern bathroom and a small kitchenette featuring a mini fridge, microwave and Keurig coffee machine. They have a clothing rack with hangers and robes, and also have Dyson hairdryers in each bathroom – bless!! Speaking of the bathroom: the yurt is a very open layout, with no door to the bathroom from the bedroom area. Not an issue, but it is definitely different from a regular hotel where you can close the door to shower and go to the bathroom! I highly recommend bringing your own bottled water and some food to store in the mini fridge. There aren’t a ton of restaurants nearby, and we relied on some food we brought for several of our meals that week! We made sandwiches, and brought dips, chips and a veggie tray. There is a great grocery/convenience store down the road called Cottonwood General Store where you can buy everything from nice wine (they had Prisoner!) to all kinds of canned, frozen and fresh food if you don’t bring your own in a cooler like we did.
Each yurt is equipped with a few different outdoor seating areas, which were the ideal locations to watch the sun rise and set. The fire pit was also a delightful spot for drinks after dinner! Again, views all around! It really was sublime. Wearing this sweater, these jeans and these sneakers on the left, and wearing this sweater, these jeans and these ankle boots on the right! Jean jacket is old.
Our stay at The Local Chapter was the perfect getaway from city life! It was super relaxing, comfortable and so handy to be so close to Big Bend! Next time I come back I definitely want to do more hiking and exploring of the park. I highly recommend this spot as a place to stay if you’re looking to explore West Texas! You can read more about their amenities, see a photo gallery and book your stay through their website. Thank you again to The Local Chapter for hosting us! We had the best time!!
PS: I packed this cozy ribbed sweater + short set and it was the perfect lounge and sleep set. Both pieces are under $40 and ideal for the fall/winter season as the fabric is very warm. I got a small in the sweater which still fits oversized, so you can definitely size down. I originally ordered the medium in the shorts, but they looked like they would fit a small child! I returned the medium and ordered an XL, which is perfectly comfortable. Since I’ll be using these to lounge and sleep, I didn’t want anything tight! 100% recommend sizing up in the shorts *at least* one size!
