Fort Worth to Marfa Road Trip

This quirky little Texas town has now been checked off the old bucket list. I’m the kind of girl that when I get asked to go on a trip, it’s an enthusiastic yes! Miggle is new to Texas and I thought this would also be a perfect way to initiate him into the TX residents club. What says “welcome to the great state of Texas” better than a long, long, long road trip? The kind of road trip where hours go by and all you see is dirt and if you are lucky, a tumbleweed family and a Dairy Queen.

My friend Alana (you may recognize her from Alana Kay Art), put together this intricate Marfa trip to celebrate my 39th birthday. There are about 17 food items that she is NOT allergic to and she isn’t high maintenance at all, haha! The menu had to be planned down to the seed flour, coconut whip and the specific cocktail glasses she likes. I can only imagine the vacation prep she endures.

While Alana planned and prepped all of our meals, I was asked to plan out any activities or must see things on our route.

Keep in mind this was more meal planning than I have done in the last year.

I mean, I literally received this text:

ALANA:

Monday: bring your own picnic style lunch and snacks. Monday night, dinner at St. George Hotel.

Tuesday: Breakfast at St. George. Road snacks for drive to Prada Marfa and the solar home. Lunch, set out charcuterie/dips/fruit for snacking and settling in. Dinner, salmon bowls.

Wednesday: Breakfast, I make a seed bread that is great with sunbutter or jelly, or I make sausage balls, or both. Lunch we will have leftover dips and charcuterie. Dinner, filet and scalloped potatoes.

Thursday: Breakfast, same. Lunch, tamales. Dinner, gumbo with rice and sweet potato.

Miggle responded by asking her to please bring some ramekins for the marmalade. That’s my dude! A smart ass must fall in love with a smart ass. It’s only fair.

What Alana failed to take into consideration was the amount of food Miggle and I can put away. There were many joking moments of judgement and concerned looks when we were downing Chex mix, chips ahoy, sour patch kids and potato chips that we picked up at the only store within a way too large radius of the solar home after we had devoured all of the healthy people food. Shockwaves were felt around the house when Alana found out Miggle ate all of the chips and salsa by day 2.

So what did I plan for our route?!

I sent this well thought out text outlining my master plan:

PAIGE: I found a sand dune I want to surf around on.

This was probably the exact moment that I realized I’m not the best vacation planner. I’m glad I wasn’t in charge. Read that a few more times out loud, because I will probably never say that again.

Marfa Road Trip Day 1: Loose Sand

Alana and her husband Tim pull up to get us bright and early Monday morning. Their large SUV is fully Tetris packed in the back with Alana’s dietary needs, large 50 lb bags of corn feed to try and lure wildlife to our solar home, and all of the normal luggage. We shimmied in our suitcase into a miniature remaining spot and were on our way! Mig’s face has a concerning look of uneasiness. We aren’t in LA anymore.

I pride myself on being really self aware and trying to have the least amount of inconveniencing others that I can. So naturally, when I announced that I wasn’t going to be the reason we would have to make any stops, I would become the reason we had to make three stops in the first hour. Shameful.

Um, how do I say this? I need to stop. Again.

So you know what I did to try and make up for my irritating ways? I bought everyone scratch off lotto tickets that made a crumbly mess all over Tim’s car.

I had to pee. I needed a drink and a snack. I had to buy batteries for my mouse so I could work on the road. My apologies.

After about 5 hours, we finally found ourselves at a little gem of a place called Monahans. My one and only road trip activity plan. All you need to know about Monahans is that there are sand dunes there, loose sand, board wax, winds that rival the arctic except for that it’s a sandblast to the face instead of ice bits and it’s really cool to scream, “WE’RE GOING DUNE-ING!!!!”

I highly recommend stopping at Monahans Sandhills State Park and checking it out for yourself. I haven’t laughed this hard since 2018.

My favorite blooper:

Tim told Miggle that he could pick one spot and one spot only to stop and take photos. Miggle tries to stop everywhere and take video and bust out the drone. I respect the enthusiasm and the creativity, but we ain’t got no time for that.

This is what he chose. Fresh!

Soon after we took some Wonder Bread truck photos, we were in Marfa! We stayed at the Hotel St. George.

The rooms were nice, the restaurant was great and it seems to be one of the most popular places to stay.

We ate too much, drank too much and walked down to a dive bar where Santana and Los Lonely Boys were literally on repeat, not just the artists, the actual individual songs were on repeat. We were the only ones there. Alana and I pool sharked the boys, had funny conversations about what she is certain goes on in female prisons and patiently waited for Tim to reveal his swaggy dance moves. Don’t be fooled by the finance guy exterior, the hip hop interior is alive, well and welcome anytime.

I don’t sleep that great a lot of the time. My mind is very busy, my to do list plays over and over and I like to mentally finish decorating my home, come up with new business ideas that will change the world and put me on the Forbes list and/or dream about my next vacation spots. That being said, when I am on actual vacation, I turn into a hibernating teenager and for lack of a better word, PTFO. Sometimes it be like that.

Marfa Road Trip Day 2: Prada Bae

My post bar sleep was terrific! I was getting blown up at 9:30 the next morning and was obviously still asleep. Alana and Tim were not only up, but had checked out the hotel breakfast set up, gotten dressed, checked out of the hotel, packed up, loaded the car and found low maintenance Alana a microwave for her royal diet.

I knew I needed to move my ass at warp speed when Alana used the phrase “considerable amount of driving still ahead of us today.” She’s a go getter so it was time to rally.

Luckily it only takes me around 10 minutes to throw on some makeup and do something with my big fake hair. Oh. Wait. I forgot to mention that I am a horrible packer and brought outfits that I would have no use for and no hair brush. I wasn’t at my best, but there was no time to be picky and Prada Marfa was calling our names! I foolishly didn’t even think about what I would wear to take pictures with this famous monument. My #ootd was kinda drab to say the least.

What is the deal with Prada Marfa anyway? It’s considered a sculpture and it’s a permanent installation right off the highway (how has no one been mowed over by a semi taking selfies?!) You can find this famous spot about 26 miles NW of Marfa (45 minutes from downtown), right outside Valentine, TX. I was thinking it was really old, like from the 70s, but it was actually built in 2005. The shoes and bags you can see through the windows are actual Prada items. I think it’s absolutely genius and love how much attention it has gotten!

If it’s good enough for Beyonce, Faith Hill and Marge Simpson, it’s probably worth it.

On the way there we passed a lot of bizarre looking shelter type things, a mysterious unmarked white blimp and this huge highway tribute to a James Dean and Liz Taylor movie that was partially filmed at that spot.

It was kind of surreal to see Prada Marfa in person. It’s whelming. It’s neither disappointing nor incredibly impressive, just, whelming. We didn’t need much time there to take it all in and get some pictures.

For lighting reference, we got there at about 10:45 am. I thought this would make me twitchy being a pro portrait photographer and shooting in full sun, but it was easy to shoot and I love the way the images look. At least the ones that were in focus, ahem Miggle. It just goes to show, it doesn’t matter how expensive and fabulous of a camera you are using, it’s so easy to get it wrong.

Alana put a lock on the fence behind it, because that seems to be a thing. I bet you can easily spy which lock is hers.

From there we were on our happy little way to our airbnb. This is not just any old airbnb, Tim found it on a list of the top airbnbs to stay at in Texas and after spending some time there I can totally see why!

But, we couldn’t leave Marfa without going to see El Cosmico and it wouldn’t be a trip with Miggle unless he made us do some silly photos. Alana and Tim’s album is dropping this tuesday. And if that’s not an intensely out of proportion, lens distorted lower leg and foot, then I’m sorry Tim for talking trash about your elongated mysterious leg and foot condition.

I have never seen anything quite like El Cosmico. It’s a campground/glampground/hotel/I’m not even fully sure how to classify it. Take a look at the accommodations!

Here are some pictures I got with the phone as we were creeping around. You can stay in an airstream, a teepee or like a wigwam type joint. My favorite was the bottom right, it’s basically an el penthouse.

Walking around modeling on airstreams was also a very important part of our agenda that day. Specifically with poses gazing off to the left.

We said goodbye to Marfa and were off on the next leg of our journey to Ruidosa, TX.

Not even kidding, population: 43. To clarify, that is 4 tens and 3 ones.

The drive started off like this

I had really no idea where we were going. I did click on a link that Alana texted and gave it a once over weeks earlier, but this was not at all what I was expecting.

It wasn’t long until the pavement turned to a rocky dirt road and I guarantee if we had car trouble not one of the 43 folks in the area would have found us anytime soon.

We drove on this road for 2 hours. It had some unbelievable views and Miggle asked to stop and get some drone footage approximately every 6 minutes.

Just when we were starting to think, where the actual heck is this place, we spied a glass house way up high. It was getting to the point where we just knew Mexican cartel leaders could be lurking around the bend waiting to swing some machetes at us and steal our car full of high quality gluten free, dairy free, homemade organic goodness and 50 lb bags of corn feed!

But, nah. We made it safe and sound and followed the home owner’s directions that Tim had printed out in case we had no reception. And we had no reception. Another point for hip hop swagger finance Tim.

The house was exactly what we needed. Off the grid with a beautiful view, but also still modern and funky.

Take a look at the images from the airbnb site. Mexico is just on the other side of those mountains.

Marfa Road Trip Day 3: Javalinatics

Alana grew up on a farm, she knows how to put a prolapsed uterus back in a sheep if that tells you anything. She’s no city girl. Naturally, she was the one who put out all of the corn feed for the animals we wanted to lure and watch.

Being in the middle of the desert in a solar powered glass house, the highlight of that day was the Javelina posse that rolled up. Closely followed by the rival Javelina family that came in guns blazin’ and mohawks up high. May the best pig family win the bits of corn.

When polled on instagram stories, 82% of you advised Tim and Miggle to not approach the pigs. It’s a good thing the idea was voted down, because Tim conveniently had to go in and stir the sauce for lunch at that very moment.

Due to a generator problem that I obliviously slept through, we were granted access to the 4 wheeler. This greatly frazzled Alana with wild and unpredictable Miggle behind the wheel. However, it did give us tons of entertainment and exploring power.

Alana needed some shots of us in her dresses. I asked if it could please be a no makeup, come as I am photoshoot. She agreed. As soon as I saw her prancing herself around for some kind of video, I had to act fast for a proper bombing.

We did get some normal-ish shots too, after many drinks, that I’m sure Alana will be thrilled to use for marketing.

We celebrated my birthday later that night with a gluten free, dairy free cake turned olympic torch. A very nice way to end the day.

Marfa Road Trip Day 4: Last Day

We spent the last day doing what you do in the desert away from all civilization. Our one major plan was vetoed when the owner of the hot spring told us we were not allowed to go there. What? I guess it’s just for people staying at their property. So Alana was in a weird robe in the general store, that specializes in snacks, canned food, booze and leather goods, for no reason. The owner of the store told us to call and make sure we could go since we weren’t staying there. That saved us about an hour of driving and disappointment. Please note: Chinati Hot Springs is not just something you can go flop in and have a nice time.

So there goes our agenda and big outing. At least we got some non Alana approved snacks and got to see some interesting things.

I was able to entertain us cirque de Soleil style and save the day.

Miggle and I had an impromptu love ceremony where words of affirmation were flowing and butterflies were all up in the tummy.

We ended the day with a trip to the Indian burial ground to look for arrowheads. I was overdosed on confidence as usual and thought I would find 4 arrowheads with ease to give to my kids. We found zero. Alana thought she found plenty, but no, not every three sided semi flat stone is an arrowhead. She is so much fun and hilarious!

There was a beautiful sunset the last night and the lingering ugly truth that we had to wake up at like 5 am to bust out of there the next morning because I wanted to be home early enough to help Kylie get ready for cotillion.

Marfa Road Trip Day 5: Happy Birthday in a Car

The road trip back, where everyone is tired and way more quiet, landed on my actual birthday. We stopped in Alpine, which is such a cute town, at Judy’s Bread and Breakfast. I got a coffee and put no less than 85 tiny creamer pods in it because it’s my birthday dammit.

Road trip on the way there…

Annnnnd on the way back…

A car snooze and Tim’s comedic T shirt did bring me some birthday joy.

Thank you so much Tim and Alana for planning this getaway and celebrating with Migs and I! We had the best time and needed the constant laughs so much.

And Tim, you know what’s not hot? A broken neck. Probably a deal killer.

St. George Hotel | El Cosmico | Marfa Solar House | Alana Kay Art