Alpine is the business hub of the Big Bend. At approximately 6,000 people, it is practically a big city, compared to its neighbors. While we did not spend a lot of time in the town, it does offer a number of good choices for meals, a well curated bookstore, a small movie theater, the largest grocery and hardware stores for many miles in any direction, and a number of solid lodging options. The town is also home to Sul Ross State University, the Museum of the Big Bend, and during the late spring and early/mid summer, the Alpine Cowboys, a local semi-pro baseball team.