Be sure to set aside an hour or two for Fort Davis National Historic Site (on Hwy. 17 in Fort Davis, 432/426-3224, www.nps.gov/foda, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, $3). Considered one of the country’s best remaining examples of a 19th-century frontier military post, Fort Davis draws visitors from across the country.

Families and history buffs can spend as much time as they like on the self-guided tour, showcasing the post’s 20 buildings and more than 100 ruins. Of particular interest are the restored barrack buildings and officers’ quarters with period furnishings and military equipment, offering a slice of life on a frontier base in the late 1800s.

Opened in 1854, Fort Davis played a key role in the history of the Southwest by protecting settlers, mail coaches, and travelers on the San Antonio–El Paso Road.

The fort is especially notable for serving as the base for several regiments of African-American troops known as Buffalo Soldiers, who helped maintain peaceful settlement in the region.