Star gazing
Marathon is one of six Dark Sky Park designations in the states. It is also a Class 1 dark sky (the darkest classification that exists). This means amateur and professional astronomers and photographers are in veritable Heaven. Seriously. Stargazing out here is so phenomenal, you’ll happily forsake that beauty sleep night after night. A 24’’ Dobsonian telescope (a gift of the McDonald Observatory) marks the official stargazing site near the Marathon Motel. The stargazing site, located near the Marathon Motel, is equipped with a 24” Dobsonian telescope donated by the McDonald Observatory. Tip: The Gage can arrange stargazing excursions.
Relax
Drink beer and stare. Seriously, find a good vista, crack a cold one and be one with your beautiful surroundings. While adventure abounds out here, laid-back Marathon is our favorite place for restorative days spent doing absolutely nothing except be.
Gage Gardens
Have a stroll through Gage Gardens, the lovely 26-acre desert garden with an orchard, vineyard, pond, and verdant greenery everywhere. Read a book or take a picnic and relax for a few hours surrounded by beauty.
Swim Around
Pick up that book you’ve been dying to read and spend the afternoon lounging poolside. Relax to the sound of cascading water and enjoy a prickly pear margarita as you soak up rays at the Gage Hotel’s lovely pool. If you need to warm up, head to the hot springs inside of the national park for a good, long soak. .
Hunt Fossils
The Glass Mountains and the Crinoids Hills, which feature interesting strike-slip faults and folds, are also fossils hunting grounds. Self-guide yourself on a fossil hunt, and maybe you’ll get lucky and find a Paleozoic-aged memento.
