O
ften, the most gratifying parts of travel
are the places or moments that take
us by surprise. In honor of recent staff
promotions, I asked our newly minted
managing editor and writers-at-large to share a
rewarding discovery they’ve made in
their nearly 70 combined years of writ-
ing about Texas. I hope their revelations
inspire one of your own.
Michael Hoinski, managing editor:
For the last day of summer break, my
wife and I took our daughter and her
friend to Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs. I’m
embarrassed that after living in Austin for almost
15 years, it was my first visit there. Hello—love at
first sight. The natural beauty, the refreshing water,
and the hikes in and out that make you work for the
experience. We’re already looking at multiple res-
ervations for next summer.
Clayton Maxwell, writer-at-large: I am often
gobsmacked by people’s generosity. Strangers I’ve
just met take time to tell me their stories, and they
don’t seem to mind all my questions. For exam-
ple, Steve Russell, a painter in Rockport, invited mytravel partners and me into his living room and re-
galed us with stories about his life painting in Mex-
ico after returning from Vietnam and his losses
from Hurricane Harvey. Then he took us to look
for whooping cra nes on a fr iend’s proper t y nea rby.
It’s humbling—how many warm souls
there are who have great stories to tell.
Joe Nick Patoski, writer-at-large:
The town of Canadian in the eastern
Panhandle may be my biggest surprise.
It’s very well-established and prosper-
ous for such a small town, with the Cit-
adelle Art Foundation and the River Valley Pioneer
Museum, a restored movie theater, a fine library,
three art galleries, walking trails, close access to
national grasslands, and a vibrant sense of place
that few other small towns in Texas have managed
to retain.Photo: Sean Fitzgerald OCTOBER 2019 1
EMILY ROBERTS STONE
EXECUTIVE EDITORNOTE
EDITOR'S
Unexpected Rewards
The Panhandle town of Canadian makes an ideal fall retreat, with colorful foliage, and plentiful art and history offerings."It's humbling—
how many warm
souls there are
who have great
stories to tell."