Due West
The late, great Texan Dolph Briscoe Jr. loved his native land as much as anyone who gazed upon the storied ... Read More »
Curious Collection
J. Marvin Hunter, the late founder of the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera, liked to say that he didn’t ... Read More »
Bookshop Memories
Wherever I travel, I seek out independent bookstores. They help define a city’s character for me. That said, I ... Read More »
Cast Away: Fly-fishing the Guadalupe River
Seated on a large, flat rock along a tranquil section of the Guadalupe River, I hear the faint whoosh of my ... Read More »
Gather ‘Round
The cowboy rides in from the West, mulling stanzas, lines and words. Winter delivers a fleeting rest from the ... Read More »
Caching in
If my husband, John, buys a gadget, he’s going to use it. Trust me. All the more if the gadget has to do with ... Read More »
Texas Grit: How the Dust Bowl Changed the Course of History in the Texas Panhandle
The view from High Lonesome Lane is remarkably empty. The narrow dirt road cuts through the southern High Plains, ... Read More »
Hotel Settles Animates Big Spring of Past and Present
It’s natural to take a historical view of Big Spring when you check in to the Hotel Settles. The 83-year-old hotel, which opened in December after a meticulous restoration, conjures local history throughout. From the lobby’s original terrazzo floor to the 1930s photos in the guest rooms, the Settles breathes new life into Big Spring, past and present. Read More »
Telling the South Texas Story
The freight courier and ox-drawn cart in the entryway of the new Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas ... Read More »
Where’s Martha? (Marfa)
This exchange happens often, and because I actually worked to build tourism in Marfa, it still surprises me that many folks—especially Texans—don’t know about Marfa. After all, it’s mentioned regularly in The New York Times as well as in countless international publications. Marfa is a regular stop for art pilgrims and patrons from all over the world, and the town serves as a getaway for celebrities and experienced travelers. Read More »
Crossroads of Culture
When I think of Winnsboro, I think of fall color … or rather that's what I used to think. For years my ... Read More »
Barbara Jordan: The Great Texas Orator
As the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the deep South, Barbara Jordan faced adversity on her road to success, but she did not let society’s limits define her. Read More »