Editor’s Note: Happy Trails
February 28, 2023 | By Emily Roberts Stone
Over the last decade, Senior Managing Editor Matt Joyce has written dozens of stories about Texas’ majestic landscapes, charismatic people, and multifaceted history.
matt joyce
Explore American Soccer, from its Foundations to its Greatest Stars, at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco
November 19, 2022 | By Matt Joyce
As the U.S. Men’s National Team kicks off its World Cup run in Qatar this week, soccer fans don’t have to travel across globe to explore the foundations of American soccer and the homegrown players who have taken the American game to the world’s biggest stages.
Find Unexpected Adventures in the Rugged Canyonlands of the Texas Panhandle
September 23, 2021 | By Matt Joyce
Spectacular scenery, new trails, and friendly locals bolster a burgeoning outdoors mecca
In Alpine, Cowboy Poetry Hangs on for Another Ride
February 4, 2020 | By Matt Joyce
Fans of cowboy poetry know the arrival of February means it’s time to head to head to Alpine for one of the nation’s most authentic cowboy poetry gatherings.
Big Bend Rafting Trips Combine Scenery, Food, and Live Music
August 27, 2019 | By Matt Joyce
Amid the spectacular scenery of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, catered trips offer the chance to row, hike, relax, and listen to world-class live music under the stars
At Viva Big Bend, Enjoy a Bonanza of Texas Bands and (Hopefully) Relatively Cool Texas July Weather
July 10, 2019 | By Matt Joyce
If you’re a fan of live music and West Texas, you should take note that Viva Big Bend is right around the corner. The four-day music festival takes place July 24-28 with shows in Alpine, Marfa, Marathon, Fort Davis, and Terlingua. The eighth annual Viva Big Bend will feature about 50 bands—most of them from around Texas—playing a total of roughly 60 shows in 12 different venues.
Irish Storybook Creator Oliver Jeffers Talks Children’s Books in Abilene
June 11, 2018 | By Matt Joyce
Oliver Jeffers has sold millions of children’s picture books, traveled the globe as a renowned artist, and even collaborated on art projects with Irish rock stars U2.
Big Squeeze Contest Seeks Young Accordionists Across Texas
February 8, 2018 | By
Attention accordion players and fans! The Big Squeeze Accordion Contest returns in February with 10 showcases across Texas aimed at seeking out and promoting young accordion players.
Traffic grows at Big Bend’s Boquillas border crossing
June 1, 2015 | By
In the two years since the Boquillas border crossing reopened in Big Bend National Park, about 18,000 people have used the port of entry to cross the Rio Grande from Texas into Mexico.
The Groove Abides: Doug Sahm documentary that premiered at SXSW to screen at San Antonio Book Fest
March 31, 2015 | By
While South by Southwest is known as a petri dish of global alternative culture and innovative thought, some of the conference’s best moments spring from local creativity that grabs the spotlight when the world comes to Austin.
SXSW Music is a magical melting pot
March 20, 2015 | By
Exploring the South by Southwest Music Conference under way at the Austin Convention Center, I’m struck by the diverse and wide-ranging elements of the music industry represented at the annual festival.
Kayaking the Colorado River at McKinney Roughs
March 5, 2015 | By
I recently discovered a little-known natural escape near Bastrop that’s easily accessible from Central Texas, 90 minutes from San Antonio, and about two hours from Houston.
Selena Celebrated
January 30, 2015 | By
Luminaries of Latin and Tejano music will take the stage in Corpus Christi this April in tribute to the late, great Selena.
It’s trout-stocking season in Texas
January 13, 2015 | By
No need to go to the grocery store for rainbow trout at this time of year.
Texas Grit: How the Dust Bowl Changed the Course of History in the Texas Panhandle
December 14, 2013 | By Matt Joyce
The view from High Lonesome Lane is remarkably empty. The narrow dirt road cuts through the southern High Plains, traversing the Rita Blanca National Grasslands in the northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle.
Texas by Bus:
October 24, 2013 | By Matt Joyce
My first trip on a Greyhound bus wasn’t planned. In western New Mexico, my aging sedan had broken down, and the mechanic said the delivery of parts and repair would add up to a week out of commission.
Hotel Settles Animates Big Spring of Past and Present
August 1, 2013 | By Matt Joyce
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.
Follow the Frio: Swim, Hike, and Dance Your Troubles Away in the Frio Canyon
May 8, 2013 | By Matt Joyce
As I climbed down from the Quarter Horse, it occurred to me that the Hill Country trail ride had been the perfect way to ease into my visit to the Frio Canyon area
Hotel Settles, built by one oil boom, could flourish in another
January 29, 2013 | By
With the recent reopening of the Hotel Settles in Big Spring, I couldn’t help but wonder about the viability of such a hotel in the remote West Texas town.
