A 360-degree Digistar system is used for dome shows at the Marian West and William Blanton Blakemore Planetarium in Midland; star talks are also offered.

Experience parks and nature

Midland’s Parks and Recreation Department includes 29 neighborhood parks, nine pocket parks, eight community parks, two regional parks, two swimming pools, two senior centers, and a recreation center. Among the locations described in more detail is Centennial Park, next to the Bush Convention Center in downtown Midland. The Great Lawn hosts free public outdoor fitness classes. The Children’s Nature Play area is intended for supervised children ages five to twelve.

The nature offerings also vary in format. The I-20 Wildlife Preserve is an 86-acre regional park. At the Sibley Nature Center, visitors can explore the nature trails on their own or take staff-led tours. Those who prefer to explore independently can follow the trails; those who prefer a guided visit can factor the available tours into their plans.

Science and petroleum history

The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum combines two different exhibition scales: it has 15,000 square feet of interactive exhibit space about the petroleum industry, and its Oil Patch is a 40-acre outdoor exhibition area with drilling rigs and related equipment. The planetarium focuses on something different: star talks and dome shows using a 360-degree Digistar system bring science to audiences in a lecture and show format.

Admission to the Museum of the Southwest gives you access to all of the museum’s facilities. Check the current visitor policies before your visit. The historic Turner Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bush Family Home is also listed.

Explore the region’s history

The Haley Library contains more than 30,000 volumes on Western exploration, early railroads, and the development of ranching, mining, the petroleum industry, and politics. It also offers extensive information about the Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid. Its subjects range from regional economic and transportation history to specific historical figures and events.

The Midland County Historical Museum covers Midland’s early history and displays pioneer-era memorabilia, photographs, Civil War and both World Wars memorabilia, as well as artifacts from Indigenous American cultures. A reproduction of “Midland Man” is also among the exhibits.

Local manufacturing and golf

At Susie’s South Forty Confections, visitors can tour the factory and watch toffee and other confections being made. Call for information about tours. Susie’s South Forty Confections also holds a Guinness World Record for making the largest piece of toffee. These insights into confectionery production complement the museums, parks, and historical topics with a local manufacturing experience.

For golf enthusiasts, the courses at Hogan Park have 36 holes in total: Roadrunner and Quail. The total refers to both courses combined.

As a guide for getting to the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, the route from Interstate 20 follows FM 1788 north for eleven miles to Highway 191. Check for possible temporary road changes before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Midland, Ward County, Pecos County, Jim Wells, Upton County, Hill County, Hale, Parker.

For the main travel overview: Texas.