Travel Diary: Marfa, Texas

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas is an awkward few weeks where you’re excited for the upcoming holiday but it’s really not coming up as fast as you would hope. During this time frame is when I planned the third blog trip of the year (first trip here, second trip here) The quaint desert town had been on my bucket list of cities to visit in Texas and I finally found girls crazy enough to make the long drive with me!

Marfa Texas Prada — Meet the girls!
Brandi – Jac – Me – Nataly

See

Marfa is small. Population of 1,700 small. There wasn’t much going on on the weekend we were in town, but there were Christmas events planned for the upcoming weekend. I clearly didn’t look into the city enough, but I highly recommend researching and planning your trip around local events while you’re in town – it’ll give you a little more to do.

Prada Marfa: The highlight of the trip! It’s 30 miles out of Marfa and truly exceeded my expectations!

Marfa Lights: We arrived to the visiting center at 10ish pm. It was dark out and perfect for witnessing some mysterious lights. The visiting platform is just that, a platform with nothing else but a bench to sit on. Bring a bottle of wine and bundle up!

Chianti Foundation: I convinced the girls to make one last stop on our way out of town and this was it! If it looks like blocks of cement to you, that’s because it is. The symmetry and simplicity is absolutely stunning. This is one place I wish we would have made more time for.

Museums: Ballroom Marfa and Ayn Foundation were on our list of places to see. We made it to the Ballroom but hours in the town are odd and the museum was closed.

Window shop: We loved the Wrong Store shop. It was the quirkiest little thing and a must see shop in town!

Stay

Hotel Paisano: This 41-room historic hotel is beautiful and so charming! I booked our first night here just to say that we stayed there, and I’m glad we did. Our room was spacious and aside from the obvious beds, it also included a living room and screened in porch. We would have loved to take advantage of the porch if it had been warmer. The bathroom was small and not ideal for four girls to share, but perfect for a small family or a couple’s getaway

El Cosmico: A popular choice during the summertime is a teepee. We did not stay here (again, 4 girls who need mirrors and outlets!) but we had a chance to swing by and look at the property. It is vibrant! Keep in mind that this is in December… I can’t imagine how fun it must be over the summer with outdoor concerts and hammocks on the grounds!

Airbnb: The safe choice for a group of people who need space to spread out. THIS was our airbnb and it was so perfect for us! It was modern, spacious, and the girls couldn’t get enough of the decor.

Dine

I’ve said this a few times on various blog posts, but let me remind you that I am not a foodie. If I, the easy-to-please non-foodie of the group, was disappointed with our dining options, you can only imagine what the rest of the group felt like! The food was sub-bar at best, menu items were limited, and restaurant hours are completely random. Still, we tried to make the most of what there was. If you’re staying in an airbnb I highly recommend getting some groceries at the store down the road and only dine at places you have thoroughly researched.

Buns N’ Roses: Our saving grace! Normal hours, solid breakfast food, and it was so satisfying we came back the next day!

Jett’s Grill: I can’t say much about the dinner menu here, but the bar has an incredible margarita! Don’t miss out on the fried artichoke either!

– someone that had never had artichokes before

The Capri: This restaurant is undeniably gorgeous and was totally IG worthy. Have a drink, enjoy the ambiance, and skip the food.

Mando’s drive in: Mexican cuisine. I suggest looking up other Mexican restaurants in the area.

Do Your Thing Coffee: The girls all had a cup of coffee from here one morning. From what I remember, the coffee was good and the shop itself was warm with a fire burning inside.