The long drive through west Texas is brutal. It takes forever to get across our state, and with kids in the truck, they may need a break or three. So keep reading for a few fun and interesting stops we recommend.
The Thurber Smokestack
At 128 feet tall and built of red brick, you can’t miss it. It sits on the north side of I-20, right off the service road. Built more than 100 years ago, it was originally the town’s power plant smokestack.
You can see bricks have fallen out in places, so I wouldn’t approach too closely. It sits in a small grassy field and has a restaurant next door. It is named for the smokestack and serves down-home comfort food (with a giant patio checkerboard).
Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden
The Storybook Garden at the Abilene Convention Center was a charming stop with several story sculptures. Watch our video at the bottom to see D wander thru them. You can find and download or print the full Storybook Sculpture map here. The sculptures dot the downtown area. There is also an audio tour and sculpture scavenger hunt available.
Permian Basin Stonehenge
Located on the campus of UT Permian Basin in Odessa, this quick detour is less than 10 minutes north of I-20.
Built in 2004, this replica is exact in its horizontal dimensions but only 70% of its vertical size, and I’m sure your kiddos would love running around the monoliths like our Little D.
Watch our video below to see which stops you want to see.
