Hopeless Romantic

I'm about to go on a trip with some family members to the beach tomorrow.  There's nothing like a good, tantalizing book to read while sitting on the beach.  There is a book that has recently come out and it's all the talk of the town bringing forth conversations at lunch to dinner to television talk shows.  It's one of those books that everyone has talked about so much that you almost feel like you already know what it's all about, but the story is such that you feel like you have just got to read it for yourself.

So, I head out to the bookstore with one goal in mind and that is to get that book.  Well, look what I came home with instead!

I take the New York Times and every Sunday in the
Travel Section they have a column called "36 Hours" that
lists great things to see, top spots to sleep and the best places
 to eat at in 36 hours in a particular location.  It's one of the best
columns and I look forward to reading it each week.  I have
found the articles to be "spot on" when it comes to advice about each
 place.  And, now to see that the New York Times has combined
 150 of these columns in one book is like finding a rare jewel!

This is so much better than having that stack of
newspapers piled up in my closet.  And, it hits
150 places across the United States and Canada in
one book!

Plus the way the book has it laid out, it goes over
each day like a perfectly planned weekend itinerary.
There are tabs that mark regions so if you are hankering
for a trip up the Northwest Coast, you can open the tab
and find a whole weekend planned out for you with
every bit of information you will need.  This is my
kind of book!

In my eyes, this book is just as tantalizing as that other book.
Yes, I have found a page-turner for my beach trip!
I am a happy girl!


WISHING YOU GREAT READINGS WHEREVER YOU ARE!

TRAVEL M GIRL

It's No Mystery Why People Love Marfa

Marfa use to be known mainly for the optical phenomenon of
mysterious lights that take place in the Marfa skies and the
 movie "Giant" that was filmed there in 1956 with James Dean
(his last movie he made before his untimely death).  It may be
located in the vast prairie land of West Texas, but this dusty little town
  where cattle and other livestock outnumber the human population, has
become one of the hippest communities of art, food and hotels  like no other.
 Part art town, part ranching town, former military town, former oil town,
 and part border-patrol town makes Marfa a unique place where artists
and ranchers sit at the same coffee shops.

Prada is a faux couture shop located just west of town in the
middle of nowhere.  It was constructed by artists Elmgreen
and Dragset.  Marfa is a magnet for many contemporary and
minimalist artists.   There are a number of wonderful galleries
 there including the Binder Eugene Gallery, Galleri Urbane
Contemporary Art, Inde/Jacobs Fine Art &Photo, Urban Art,
 Marfa Studio of Arts and Ballroom Marfa.  But, none more
 infamous than founder Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation,
an indoor/outdoor contemporary art museum that put Marfa on
the map as the cutting edge of contemporary art in the world.

Even though the nearest commercial airport is three hours away,
there is a good reason the Smithsonian Magazine, recently named Marfa #8
in its poll of  the 20 Best Small Towns in America.  

Marfa boasts iconic hotels such as Thunderbird, a blend of contemporary
architecture with western touches built by the same team in Austin that
built the funky Hotel San Jose, El Cosmico which is an assemblage
of yurts, safari tents, a teepee, and meticulously restored mobile
home sitting on 18 acres at the edge of town and Hotel Paisano, a 1930's
Spanish Colonial edifice where James Dean stayed during
the filming of "Giant".  Cibolo Creek Ranch is located just
40 minutes south of town.

Ballroom Marfa has two art galleries totaling 4,500 square feet
with a 6,000 square foot courtyard.  It is housed in a 1927
 converted dancehall. 

The Marfa National Bank Building has been restored
 to encompass part of the Judd Foundation.

A display of the Chianti Foundation art.

Funky and tasty restaurants are plentiful in this little outpost
such as:
Food Shark -- a vintage food truck serving Mediterranean-
by-the-way-of-West Texas food and open from 11:45a.m.-3:00p.m.
Frama@Tumbleweed Laundry -- a quirky coffee shop that
that is attached to a coin-operated laundry.
Austin Street Cafe -- after enjoying an 18 year run in Santa Fe,
the owners moved it to Marfa into a restored 1885 adobe house
where they serve homemade sandwiches, salads,
 soups and baked goods open from 11:00a.m. until 2:00p.m.
Jett's Grill -- named after James Dean's character in "Giant", this
restaurant is located inside the historic Hotel Paisano and serves
seafood, pasta, chicken and beef dishes.
Maiya's -- this Northern Italian restaurant is the place to go for
a gourmet dish featuring grilled and roasted meats and veggies along
with an excellent wine list that you can enjoy under Marfa's
massive moon-lit sky.
The Pizza Foundation -- serves up New York-style thin crust pie in
a former gas station that stays open until they run out of dough.
Afraid Book Co. -- a popular place in the center of town with an art
gallery, bookstore and wine/coffee shop.
Squeeze Marfa -- a cozy little sandwich shop open until mid afternoon.
Brown Recluse -- drop in early for cappuccino, Mexican pastries, burritos,
and breakfast in this charming home.  It is also home to Big Bend
Roasters where they also have vintage books, records,  and cowboy boots.
Marfa Burrito --  located in a freestanding commercial building, but
feels like you are in a family kitchen serving great burritos
for breakfast and lunch.


I'LL BE MAKING MY WAY BACK TO MARFA SOON!
TRAVEL M GIRL

Dusting Off In West Texas

If you are looking for an escape from the noise of the big city and are 

in need of fresh air, there is a place in West Texas that has your name on it.

It's called Cibolo Creek Ranch and it is true elegance in the rough, majestic yet 

barren landscape of West Texas.  Movie stars have been known to frequent this 

place, including Mick Jagger, Bruce Willis and Larry Hagman to name a few.

  In fact, Julia Roberts had just stayed at our fort prior to our arrival.  Looking 

at the guest book you will be shocked to see how far away the guests

 have traveled to get to Cibolo Creek.

Cibolo Creek consists of three forts built in the 1850's that sit on more than 30,000

acres in the Chinati and Cienega Mountains of the Big Bend in West Texas.   Elevations on 

the ranch range from 3,500 to about 6,000 feet which are great for hiking, horseback riding, 

four-wheel driving, hiking through Indian caves, and bird watching.  And, not only do the deer

 and buffalo play on the range, but you will find elk, quail and turkeys who make

 Cibolo Creek their range of choice.

Mild temperatures and low humidity make it comfortable year round
for outdoor activities or for just relaxing on the veranda or by the pool.

Some additional activities include a cooking workshop, massage at their spa or at your fort,
paddle across a spring-fed reservoir, fish, archery, bat watching and an overnight
cattle drive.  I put the last two as my least favorite on my "to do" list,  but there
is something for all types of folks.

There are three forts on the property. The main compound, called
 El Cibolo,  offers 11 rooms along with a long, narrow gallery
where elegant dinners are presented.  Three meals a day are provided
with the cost of your room.  There is also the main pool, spa and
 reservoir all located at the main compound.  Apres-dinner is enjoyed
 by a roaring fire accompanied by some good ol' Texas tunes
while you gaze at 3 million stars in the sky.  After all,
 you are not that far away from the McDonald Observatory.
 La Moritais a private 1-bedroom cottage and the most
isolated of the three forts.

Cibolo Creek is equal parts working ranch with Texas Longhorn
grazing about, wildlife preserve, historical landmark and luxury resort.

We stayed in the second largest fort, La Cienega, and it has four
rooms, a main dining room and its own pool.  Once we were there we
never saw the main compound until we left.  We were treated to a
chef and spa treatments at our fort so why leave?  The staff at
Cibolo Creek will arrange a schedule for you whether you want
a full day of activity, some activity or a full day of relaxation.  

We dined on gourmet meals prepared by a chef within the dining
room's 140-year old adobe walls.  The cuisine is a cross-cultural offering
 flavors of Ancient Mexico, Asia and Tex-Mex focusing on organically
 grown local ingredients.  The result is fantastic!  During the day we lounged
by the pool, cracked open a few cervezas and rested in hammocks under shade
trees until we were summoned for yet another meal.  

Life was so good here, it was hard to get back on that saddle and head back to the big city.
For more information go to www.cibolocreekranch.com

If you are "lucky" enough to drive to Cibolo Creek,  just when you think you
can't handle anymore barren land you come across Marathon, Texas.  It's an oasis
of a town that is the proud owner of  the historic Gage Hotel.
 Built in 1927, it originally was the headquarters for Alfred Gage who
owned 500,000 acres in the area.  It is an outpost of adobe elegance in the
West Texas outback and a great place to hang your boots for the evening.
We were lucky enough to stretch our legs and call this place home
for one night on our way to Cibolo Creek Ranch.

Within the hotel is the 12 Gage Restaurant that serves some of the
best grilled buffalo rib-eye, tomatillo shrimp and quail you have ever tasted.
Wander next door to Shirley's Burnt Biscuit for a fried pie you will soon
not forget.  And, then get up in the morning for some more breakfast
fixings at Shirley's that will set you right for the day.

For more information go to www.gagehotel.com

WISHING YOU DREAMS AS  BIG AS THE STATE OF TEXAS!
TRAVEL M GIRL