The city of Marfa sits on one square mile in the middle of untamed land, with a population around 1,500. There's a reason people call it an island. A historic Western downtown surrounded by a cohabitation of artists, ranchers, and families. The desert climate is drier and more moderate than the rest of Texas, even in the summer (thanks to our higher altitude, almost 4,700 feet!) -- check the weather.

While many are drawn to Marfa for the art galleries and institutions (Chinati and Judd are the big ones), just as many come to disconnect from the outside world. There's plenty to explore, not to mention a surprising variety of local eats and bar scenes.

Marfa makes for a great basecamp between explorations of breathtaking landscapes in Big Bend National Park, or stargazing some of the darkest skies in the country from McDonald Observatory. Keep in mind: Marfa is three hours from the nearest city, so the stars aren't bad here in town, either.

Don't forget about Prada Marfa -- an art installation by Ballroom Marfa, made more famous by Beyoncé herself (pictured here) -- or the mysterious Marfa Lights. (Yes, we've seen them many times. No, we still can't figure it out.)

(At the Lincoln, you'll have your own kitchen, so it's a good idea to stock up when you get into town -- you never know what will be open in Marfa. For groceries, you have two options: Lowe's Market and The Get Go. There's also Cactus Liquors, and a Dollar General for basics.)

For everything else you need to know, click here:

Marfa Field Guide