M.L. Leddy’s Boots in Fort Worth. Photo by Sean Fitzgerald.
After a year of staying close to home, many of our writers got back on the highway for the first time to report the stories for our annual Road Trip Issue. Clayton Maxwell, who has been writing for us for seven years and was recently promoted to senior writer, decided to go big for her first Texas road trip in 11 months and clocked in 1,900 miles on her sojourn from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley. Her first day on the road happened to be her birthday, and she was treated to a celebratory drink at the Cattle Exchange restaurant in Canadian. (Her recommendation if you go? “Steak, steak, steak.”)
The small-town hospitality continued the next morning when she stopped in for coffee at The Canadian Restaurant. “Our waitress in her trucker hat was a warm greeter, clearly proud of the pancakes here and of Canadian in general,” Maxwell said. “She was generous in her descriptions of what makes her town special, like the ranchers who come in for breakfast every day. It’s these unexpected friendly connections that allow us a glimpse into the soul of a place and open up our hearts a little—the best part of travel.”
Our newest writer-at-large, Roberto José Andrade Franco, made some discoveries of his own on his inaugural visits to the Alamo and Fort Worth Stockyards. Though he’s lived in the state for most of his life, he’d never visited either location, partly because of their distance from his hometown of El Paso. Though he enjoyed his time at the iconic landmarks, his favorite place in Texas is still Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas. “Few things are as relaxing as watching minor league baseball in the summer,” Franco said. “That stadium is where I’ve had some of my most enjoyable evenings with my wife or friends and family members.”
Whether you’re setting out to revisit your favorite spots or discover something new, we hope this summer’s road trips are your most rewarding yet.
Emily Roberts Stone
Editor in Chief
