If you travel about four hundred miles West of San Antonio, you’ll come across a tiny hidden little treasure called Marfa, Texas (Be careful not to blink, you may miss it). Named after a character in Dostoevski’s The Brothers Karamazov, Marfa is located three hours from the nearest airport; and the population of around 2,000 resides on one of the last American frontiers. Even better than it's in-the-middle-of-nowhere existence is the fact that this little Old West saloon-and-casino outpost, has evolved into a haven for artists!

My love story with Marfa begins something like this… 

First Comes Love:

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine suggested that we spend a couple of days out west in the Big Bend territory with our daughters. Always up for an adventure and never hesitant to travel with my little girl, I yelped, “Let’s Do It!”

As I was doing my research on things to do while out in Big Bend territory, I was struck with such a weird case of synchronicity…

I got my Sundance Catalogue in the mail.

Get this.
On the back cover were three cute little t-shirts; one that said “Marfa Texas”.

So I Googled.
And I found that it was well within proximity to where we were going, but more importantly, that it was so totally up my alley – with its artsy, foodie vibe and all. So I insisted we go.

And so we did.

Then Comes Marriage:

Our time in Marfa was limited to a Monday and a Tuesday. Little did we know that the ENTIRE CITY IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS and TUESDAYS.

There were a few things opened. Namely our accommodations and less than a handful of restaurants.

I stayed at the El Cosmico and the Thunderbird. They both go a little something like this:

At the El Cosmico, I stayed in a yurt but you have other options, including a vintage trailer or a TEEPEE! The bathrooms and showers are outside. And there are cute little hammocks through-out. If you enjoy camping, you will love El Cosmico. Remember to bring a space heater as desert temperatures tend to drop at night – and there is no heating/air in any of their accommodations.

The ladies at the Thunderbird were ultra cool (as in down-to-earth) and they treated us, especially our little girls, really well. The rooms were nice, clean & simple. The bathrooms were decked out with the yumminess of Malin + Goetz (=heaven). Again no heating (thank goodness for the space heater I packed for the yurt). And the walls were thin-ish. If that bugs you, good news… they provide ear plugs (look in the bathroom).

Then Comes Baby #2 in a Baby Carriage:

There were a few things we missed in Marfa due to our lack of planning and bad timing with the whole Mondays and Tuesdays being closed deal. Specifically the galleries. I would have loved to have toured the Chinati & Judd Foundations' art tours.

I would have loved to have gamboled through the Ballroom. I would have loved to have been a gluttonous foodie at the Food Shark or the Cochineal.

(photo credit: The New York Times)

And.
I would have loved to have seen the mystery lights.

One thing's for sure. I will definitely be back. With the husband. To do all of the above. And we might even make a baby.

In a yurt…
or perhaps a teepee.

Or maybe out in the fields behind the mystery lights viewing deck.

* * * * *

If you’d like to start your very own love affair with Marfa (and I highly recommend that you do) start here and here and here and here. Just don’t visit on a Monday or Tuesday.

Marfa Vacations