Where: Marfa, Texas
Driving time from my house: 8 hrs 45 min
My "back yard vacation" series continues today in Marfa, Texas - a town in the high desert of far West Texas located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. At almost 9 hours away from Dallas by car, this is the furthest destination in our series. While in Marfa, we'll stay at El Cosmico, which lies on an 18 acre plot of land in Marfa, Texas. Opened in the fall of 2009, El Cosmico is described as "part art vintage trailer, yurt and teepee hotel and campground, part creative lab, greenhouse and amphitheatre - a community space that fosters and agitates artistic and intellectual exchange." Makes one curious, doesn't it?
El Cosmico offers accommodations in several renovated vintage trailers, reinvented yurt structures called eco shacks, a traditional 22 ft. diameter Sioux teepee, and a number of tent campsites. Visitors are encouraged to explore and use the communal spaces on the land including an elm grove full of hammocks, a community lounge and mercantile, and an outdoor kitchen and dining space.
Marfa has some serious film cred and is the location where Giant (1956), No Country for Old Men (2007), There Will be Blood (2007) and other films have been shot. However, Marfa may be most famous for the mysterious Marfa Lights, which are visible on clear nights between Marfa and the Paisano Pass when one is facing southwest. At times they appear colored as they twinkle in the distance. They move about, split apart, melt together, disappear, and reappear. Presidio County residents have watched the lights for over a hundred years. The first historical record of them is from 1883.
We'll get settled into our trailer for the night, drink some beer and enjoy the wafting sounds of a guitar from a traveling troubadour camping nearby. In the morning, after watching the sunrise and enjoying a cup of strong coffee, we'll probably venture into town for a meal at the quirky cute Austin Street Cafe. Then we'll browse through the Marfa Book Co, which also boasts an impressive art gallery. Actually, for a town of 2,100 residents, Marfa has a ton of great art. My husband and I will probably spend the entire day gallery hopping. Check out THIS impressive list of galleries.
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| Austin Street Cafe |
On our way back to El Cosmico, we'll stop at The Get Go grocery store for some provisions. Or maybe we'll be lazy and get something to go at the Food Shark. I know it looks a little sketchy, but this little truck is reported to peddle some amazing Mediterranean cuisine.
...and then back to El Cosmico for a drum circle (because I'm sure my husband will bring his Jembe) or a soak in a Dutchtub or a nap in a grove of hammocks or all three.
Tomorrow, we'll be trading the mysterious Marfa lights for the lights of Dallas. Join me for a two-night stay in my own city. No driving, great food and awesome accommodations - all in my"back yard". Stay tuned!
6 comments:
I love this! Thanks for posting. My husband I were looking for this exact type of vacation.
I am loving your Texas backyard vacations, Sarah!
Maybe we should all do a week of posts like this!
I'd love to see the Marfa lights!!!
I have to say, your Texas features are really making me want to visit :) I wanted to swing by and say today's featured photographer over on HMD is right up your alley. I really think you'll enjoy the photos - they made me think of you. Have a good night! sarah
That looks like heaven!
Completely brilliant, tipi's!! I would love to stay in one of them!!
xx
callie
I recently went to Marfa and was googling for blogs of other people's experiences and found yours. I'm still unsure of how I felt about Marfa. I loved the architecture and west Texas is possible one of the most wonderfully desolate pieces of our country but I haven't been able to make up my mind about Marfa. I didn't stay at El Cosmico but walked around and loved it.
I like you blog. I'm thinking the theatre school you went to is in Santa Maria? Maybe? That's where my husband grew up.
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