San Angelo is really spread out. If you’re just passing through you only see part of it.
Yes, we have lakes and the Concho River runs through it, nice park and golf course along it. Fresh water pearls in the river. Here’s an article about them:
Irregular Radiance
The rare beauty of Concho River pearls
Unlike the round, white gemstones normally prized for pearl jewelry, the pearls produced by a family of mussels in the Concho River around San Angelo come in irregular shapes and colors, ranging from light pink to lavender and deep purple.
“They’re a really special gem, at the least likely place on earth you’d expect to find them,” says Mark Priest, a longtime San Angelo pearl dealer, referring to the semi-arid West Texas conditions.
But then, pearling is a difficult business anyhow. Local waters are murky and hard, with lots of caliche and other minerals; pearlers find mussels by walking in three to four feet of water and feeling for the shells with their toes. In the process, they confront rattlesnakes on the banks, and water moccasins and snapping turtles in the water. Sloper describes pearlers as secretive, “closed-mouth guys who don’t talk about where they get their pearls.”
https://texashighways.com/culture/irregular-radiance-concho-river-pearls/
Daytripper: San Angelo
A Wild Time in San Angelo
On a map, San Angelo sits somewhere between the Hill Country and West Texas. But what the map doesn’t show is that this town also lies between its epic past and a bright future. I quickly realized that when tripping to “S’nangelo” or “Angelo” (as the locals call it), one must always come prepared with an appetite, boots, and a wanderlust to explore.
https://texashighways.com/travel/daytripper/daytripper-san-angelo/
Here’s one of my favorite places to go:
The ‘Art Spirit’ Perseveres at San Angelo’s Old Chicken Farm Art Center
After losing its founder and navigating the pandemic, the center preps for its 50th anniversary
50th anniversary, pretty neat. It’s a great legacy for Mr Allen. The daytripping activities sound good - i might need to stay there a day before we start our trip. And of course, have great mexican food!