Words That Play

More energy. Less stress. Find this and more when you step into the great outdoors of San Angelo , Texas. Studies prove that being outside benefits both the body and mind. Unfortunately, some cities aren’t designed to get you outdoors, but San Angelo is. With sunny skies year-round, easy accessibility and award-winning urban design, it’s not surprising. Being outdoors boosts energy and mental focus. The American Planning Association added the  Concho River Walk  to the list of Great Places in America in 2017. This soon-to-be-expanded, 4-mile public walkway along the Concho River makes it easy to spend the day outside. Whether it’s fishing in the river, strolling the manicured pathways or relaxing on a park bench, feel the stress and tension melt away as you breathe the fresh air and soak up the warm sun. Take advantage of your outdoor energy boost at  The Bosque , one of the many attractions along the Concho River Walk. Rent paddleboats, keep score with mini...

Tucson’s urban vibe and unique locations inspire Randy Houser again for “We Went” video.  When Randy Houser returned to Tucson for the making of his “We Went” music video, he turned to Arizona-resident Dustin Rikert (Ambush at Dark Canyon, Born Wild) to get the job done. Rikert, who also directed Houser’s “ Like a Cowboy ” music video (which plays like a short film), knows that country songs are the right stuff for cinematic storytelling. The lyrical narratives of country songs often spin yarns about the lives of ordinary folk who just can’t help but attract trouble—these notions easily translate to the screen. A script was born. The inspiration: Tucson This time, Houser told Rikert that he didn’t want to do the Old West thing. For “We Went,” an up-tempo, rebel-rousin’ song, Rikert wanted settings with historical relevance to render his vision of a gritty, fast-paced, modern-day Robin Hood tale. In the video, Houser and his sexy cohort (Caitlin Leahy), known as the Good ...

It’s the new year of 2001. We arrive mid-morning, sunny but cool enough to give us an excuse to wear the recently gifted winter clothes we received for Christmas (though in the afternoon sun, we’d be shedding them and lapping up ice cream). Everyone is here. My mom, dad, sister, brother, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, two nieces, nephew, husband, and daughter surround me—I push my one-year-old son in a stroller ahead of me. If you’re keeping track, that’s three generations—with that comes differing generational mindsets, schedules, and interests. It proves challenging to bring everyone together. Thank goodness it’s easy to know what to do when they arrive. The  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum  is a refreshing desert escape with the open-air freedom to explore the high desert and stare straight into the eyes of the region’s wilder residents. Though, to be honest, “museum” just doesn’t seem to cover it. The Desert Museum (the local nickname) is several attractions that focus...

In Sedona , beauty surrounds you, but for up close, personal and jaw-dropping sights created by nature, you’ll want to go off the beaten track. With more than 100 trails covering 300-plus miles in Sedona, it’s easy to find a new path to wander. What’s hard is deciding which path to take. Whether hiking , biking , walking or running, there’s a route for you. Landmark Decisions Check ‘em off on Doe Mountain Trail where switchbacks ascend a mesa with 360-degree views of Bear, Maroon, Mund and Wilson mountains; Loy, Boynton Sycamore and Secret canyons; Chimney Rock and Cockscomb formations. You’ll agree it’s well worth the effort. (1.5 miles; 2 hours) Note: All distance and time estimates reflect round-trip excursions. Meanwhile, Centennial Trail [LC1]   , a paved 1-mile trail, delivers many of the same visual rewards, including the Red Rock Country basin, the Cockscomb formation, Bear, Doe, Mingus and Secret mountains. Go late in the day and watch how the setting sun chan...

As natural nurturers, women tend to focus on the needs of others, often putting themselves last. Continual self-neglect can lead to all kinds of negativity. So, don’t feel guilty about retreating with one—or a few—of your favorite femmes . Your body, mind and soul will thank you. Your loved ones will thank you, too. In the best-selling memoir, Eat Pray Love , writer Elizabeth Gilbert gets away to Italy, India and Indonesia on a mission of self-renewal, but you don’t have to go that far to reap the same rewards. Sedona has it all: fabulous food, a renowned spiritual environment and a community that you will love. First, you must attend the body. Voted “Best Sedona Massage” for multiple years, Stillpoint… Living in Balance offers more than 30 healing sessions to focus on whatever ails you—from specialty body massages and reflexology to aromatherapy and chakra balancing. One customer attests, “The Stillpoint session was a profound experience for me; it was a catalyst for an emot...

As spring blossoms and summer beckons, it’s only natural to find yourself with symptoms of an age-old, seasonal affliction—a mind consumed with getting away to enjoy the great outdoors. This year, remedy your spring fever and summertime blues with a retreat to a place that’s off the beaten path; a refuge that’s unexpectedly abundant; an oasis in the desert. San Angelo is that place. This west Texas town has a history rich with native Americans, Spanish missionaries and frontier settlers. Situated on the banks of the Concho River and surrounded by three lakes, San Angelo offers lush natural beauty and a plethora of outdoor activities to cure even the worst case of “outdooritis.” No matter how you roll—whether it’s with a bed roll, a fifth wheel, a duffel bag or a spinner suitcase— San Angelo accommodates. And, who knows? You might just find a pearl... Go with the Flow The Concho River is the lifeline of this region and feeds the reservoirs that makes San Angelo a veritable ...