You know us… we love a good photo opp, and we’re feeling especially inspired by one of our favorite (and most photogenic) masterpieces: Prada Marfa. In case you haven’t heard, all small Prada Marfa prints are on sale for $99, so now is the time to add this artistic wonder to your walls! We have a long standing love affair with this little art installation in the middle-of-nowhere Texan landscape, and it’s probably easy to see why. Not only does the purpose of this art piece make us think deeply about its meaning and the hyper-commercialism of the modern age, but put simply, it also makes for a pretty incredible backdrop for a photo.
With that in mind, we thought we’d round up 10 Insta-worthy road trip pit stops to add to your bucket list, and Prada Marfa is just one of the amazing stops on our list. Keep scrolling to see the other nine, and make sure to bookmark this post for the next time you hit the open road…
(Oh, and don’t forget to collect all of your favorite small Prada Marfa prints while the sale lasts by clicking right here, or shopping a few of them directly below!)
1. Prada Marfa
Let's kick it off with our consummate favorite,Prada Marfa in Texas. It’s a well-known fact by now that this isolated installation in Marfa, Texas has our hearts! The little town is known for its “New York chic” meets “cowboy cool” aesthetic, and this art piece created by Elmgreen and Dragset makes for an incredible Instagram shot. By the way, this thought-provoking and oh-so-Instagrammable art piece isn’t the only reason to make a pit stop in Marfa. Click here to see two more reasons why Marfa, Texas deserves a stop on your route, then head to the GM shop to add this destination to your walls, too.
2. The Pink Wall at Paul Smith
If you have an Instagram account, then it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve seen the pink wall. It’s a hub for tourists, bloggers, and general Instagrammers alike, and for good reason—the clean, bubble gum pink paint is sure to make a swoon-worthy backdrop for your next Insta post. Last year, Paul Smith even took things up a notch and transformed the iconic landmark on Melrose in West Hollywood into a mural for the LA Pride festival, resulting in this show-stopper above! If you have a thing for pretty walls like this one, check out Gray’s guide to selfie-worthy walls in Los Angeles, right here.
3. Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum
This stop might not look like much on the surface, but the creative re-use of scrap materials and found objects in this outdoor museum makes this a super otherworldly photo opp. The large-scale sculptures were created by the late Noah Purifoy, who was a strong believer that art should be used as a tool for social change. His nonprofit foundation is now dedicated to preserving his works, and educating the public on his life story and mission through art.
4.Bottle Tree Ranch
Located off historic Route 66 in Oro Grande, California, the Bottle Tree Ranch is one man’s collection of vintage bottles transformed into over 200 makeshift trees. It’s free to visit, pet-friendly, and if you stop at just the right time you might even get to meet Elmore, the friendly artist behind it all.
5. La Refuge
Dubbed themost Instagrammed piece at Milan Design Week last year, then temporary exhibit and now permanent at The Beverly Hills Hotel is the – is thealarge pink daybed,designed by Parisian artist and designer Marc Ange. Take just one look, and we dare you not to snap a picture of pure relaxaction shaded by the pink fronds.
6. The Marfa Lights
If you’re heading to the desert for a natural spectacle, then Marfa won’t disappoint. Visitors have said that during the night, on the southeast horizon just outside of Marfa, you can see mysterious lights that change colors, dance, and speed across the empty plains in the distance. These lights are stranger than they may seem, however… The area outside of town is uninhabited, and no one can figure out the source of these mystery lights. But no matter where they actually come from, the sight just adds to the intrigue of the remote location of Marfa. Head to theofficial viewing areato see for yourself.
7. The Neon Museum
Perhaps the most charming thing about the desert oasis of Las Vegas is the reminder of its beginnings. The Neon Museum—also known as the “Neon Graveyard” or “Neon Boneyard”—is a nonprofit organization that collects and preserves the iconic signs that once hung over the early streets of Las Vegas. It’s stunning, to say the least, but make sure to make a reservation if you plan to stop here, as they only offer entrance with a short guided tour.
Photos via Erika Carlock
8. Urban Light at the LACMA
You may be familiar with the arrangement of antique street lamps (222 to be exact!) that flock the sidewalk of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and we’ll tell you why—they’ve been Instagrammed countless times over the course of their stay at the museum. The sculpture made by Chris Burden is accessible at any hour, but we recommend stopping by at dusk for a dreamy Instagram photo, then staying a while to see the dazzling display of the lamps in the dark.
9. World Famous Crochet Museum
Yep, you read that right! It might sound like a crafty grandma’s grandiose dream, but this little piece of crochet heaven actually makes for a pretty great Instagram post. Located in Joshua Tree National Park, this “museum” is actually just an overflowing collection of crochet animals and knick-knacks, all situated in a vintage One-Hour Fotomat Booth in the middle of the desert. Plus, it’s totally free and open 24/7 so you can stop whenever you please.
10. The Food Shark
Last but not least, the food scene is always an insta-worthy stop. Some visitors even say that the food alone is their favorite part of a trip to Marfa, so don’t underestimate these humble food stops. Case in point? The must-tryFood Sharktruck, parked in the middle of the sparse desert, complete with an old-school bus where you can sit and have your meal to get out of the Texas sun. Considering it's one of Queen B's favorite spots in Marfa, we figure it's worth a shot, no?
Photo viaKatie St. John
Have you visited any of these Instagram-worthy stops?
Don’t hesitate if you have your eye on Prada Marfa… our sale for $99 small Prada Marfa prints ends today! Shop them all HERE.
Xx Team GM