TRIPS TO INSPIRE

From magnificent natural sights to spiritual spaces and authentically awesome artistic destinations, a visit to any of these locations is sure to leave you creatively charged.

- Words by Andrew Conway, Christian Barker and Laura Barry

Petra, Jordan

If starring in your own version of Indiana Jones is high on your bucket list, Petra is for you. One of the world's most famous, important and admired archaeological sites – a symbol of Jordan itself – this ancient Nabatean city is located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, and is accessed via The Siq, an eye-of-the-needle narrow gorge with towering cliffs on either side. Preserved buildings like The Treasury and The Monastery are half-built, half-carved into breathtaking rock formations, offering a fabled 'Lost City' experience without the Temple of Doom. BYO explorer fedora and bullwhip. AC visitpetra.jo

Marfa, USA

Framed by a mountain range, golden grass and endless cerulean sky, Marfa was once just a small town on a long road in western Texas. Today, Marfa is a renowned hub for minimalist art, thanks to Donald Judd, the pioneering artist and designer who transformed it into his creative domain. Exploring geometric form, industrial materials and spatial relationships, Judd purchased swathes of land and repurposed buildings to house his monumental sculptures and site-specific installations from the early '70s into the ‘90s. Those seeking an immersive encounter with Judd!’s legacy — and that of like-minded contemporaries ~ can visit the Chinati Foundation and the Judd Foundation in Marfa. These institutions offer guided tours and present Judd’s work at scale - Chinati features large installations, while the Judd Foundation preserves his furniture, paintings and design work. If you're in the area, visit Prada Marfa, a ‘pop architectural land art project’ by Scandinavian creatives Elmgreen & Dragset, a faux boutique that exists within the artistic landscape Judd helped cultivate. LB juddfoundation.org