Driving along a certain 650-mile stretch of road through the Texas Midwest, curious travelers can see much more than asphalt and mirages.

The Texas Forts Trail, a 29-county journey that starts and ends in Abilene, is one of 10 driving trails in the state that blends community hospitality with historic preservation. Anchored by eight frontier forts and one Spanish Presidio, the trail gives travelers the opportunity to explore both the state’s rural areas and its rich history.

“You will learn about the impact and the struggle of civilization in this part of Texas, and the clash of cul­ture between Indians and American settlers,” says Margaret Hoogstra, regional coordinator for the Texas Forts Trail. “And we’re not only pro­moting our history, but our culture and the things that are happening in our region today.”

The trail is a powerful tourist attrac­tion – its brochure is one of the most consistently requested at state visitor centers, Hoogstra says.

“I tell people that the Texas Forts Trail is the Texas that you really want to see,” she says. “When you come into the Forts Trail Region, you are going to see the working ranch, the working cowboy. You’re going to see cattle; you’re going to see goats; you’re going to see oil wells.”

The trail is also an enticing getaway for big-city dwellers.

“So the visitor or the person in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who wants to get out and experience rural Texas or get back to their roots or see stars because they can’t see them in Dallas – some of my communities do star parties – I promote that as well,” Hoogstra says.

“We feel like we’re just another asset to the region to help build that common­ality and that common drive to better the region, to promote the region.”