San Angelo

San Angelo is the county seat of Tom Green County, and the largest city in this mostly sparsely-populated part of west Texas. The military and college communities, along with business opportunities and Mexican immigration, have contributed to the city's growth and change over the years.
The city was founded in the late 1800s outside a new Army post, Fort Concho. The founder, Bartholomew DeWitt, named it "Santa Angela" after his wife, Carolina Angela. This was eventually shortened to "San Angela." The final change came in 1883 when the US Postal Service informed the town that the name was grammatically incorrect (san can only be used before a male name). Rather than revert to the original name, they changed it to "San Angelo."
The city has benefited economically from agriculture, the oil and gas industry, and after World War II, the US Air Force presence in the form of Goodfellow Air Force Base. Today, San Angelo's economy is largely supported by its two hospitals, telecommunications, agriculture, the university, and the region's largest employer, the Air Force.
Even though this city has over a 100,000 people, the locals will still notice if you're not from around here.

By car

San Angelo is not on an Interstate highway, so there aren't any completely direct routes from any major cities.
From the Dallas/Fort Worth area, take Interstate 20 to Abilene, and then either US-277 directly to San Angelo, or US-83 to Ballinger and US-67 from there to San Angelo (neither route is substantially faster or slower).
From San Antonio, the best path is probably Interstate 10 to Fredericksburg, US-83 to Eden, then US-87 to San Angelo.
From El Paso one can start on Interstate 10, then get onto Interstate 20 when it splits off from 10, go through Midland and Odessa to Big Spring, and then take US-87 from there to San Angelo.

By plane

• San Angelo Regional AirportServes San Angelo as a commercial non-primary hub airport that serves commercial, private and military aircraft. American Eagle provides service to Dallas/Fort Worth. Usually only 4 flights a day arrive here. It is the only commercial airport serving Concho Valley. There is also no ATM machine at the airport. There is also two places to eat at this airport with vending machines as well. This is a small airport and you have to be there 30 minutes prior to the flight departing if you need to check bags and get a boarding pass, even for e-check-in. The same person who is at the ticket counter is the same person who scans your ticket at the gate that's how small the airport is.

There are taxis that can pick you up at the airport, but usually you have to call them to come pick you up. There are also two rental car companies that serve the airport. Parking: there are 352 public parking places.

By bus

San Angelo is served by Greyhound 55 E 6TH ST Station. Ticketing times vary.

A car is necessary to get around just like in most places in Texas, it's not really recommended to walk as everything is spread out. The main roads that can pretty much get you anywhere around town are Knickerboker, Bryant, Chadbourne, Sherwood, and Avenues L and N. Expressways US-67 (around the north) and Loop 306 (around the south) form a partial ring around the city.
Cars can be rented from:

• Affordable Rent 325-949-8549
• Avis Rent a Car 325-949-8681
• Budget Car & Truck Rental 325-944-4718
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car 325-658-1911
• Hertz Rent A Car 325-944-1221
• National Car Rental 325-944-9505

By taxi

Taxi service is available but usually needs to be called, as it's rare to hail a taxi on the street.

• Red Ball Taxi and Shuttle 325-942-8899
• Checker Cab 325-655-1982
• Yellow Cab 325-655-3104
• All American Cab 325-658-1982

• Riverwalk

  address: 418 W. Ave
  Located on the Concho River, part of whats being done to beautify the River area it has 4 miles of walking/running trails, has 14 water displays, new and modern lighting on the riverwalk, and a memorial river stage dedicated to Bill Aylor Sr. The Celebration Bridge links the Historic City Center, the River Stage and El Paseo de Santa Angela, and provides access to Fort Concho from the river. Be sure to check out the San Angleo visitor center, (B) Hours of operation are Monday Friday 9AM to 5PM, Saturday 10AM to 5PM, and Sunday noon to 4PM.

• Fort Concho National Historic Landmark

  address: 630 S. Oakes St
  Open established in 1867 to protect frontier settlements and in 1889 the last soldiers left and it was deactivated, now a historic preservation project and museum. The museum is open from 9AM to 5PM Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 5PM Sunday. Admission is $3, adults; $2.00, military and senior citizens; and $1.50 for children 6-17. Group rates are available. For information call +1 325-481-2646

• The Cactus Hotel

  phone: +1 325-655-5000
  This historic hotel was Conrad Hilton's fourth hotel. Built in 1929, it's 14 stories tall; it no longer takes overnight guests

• Old Town – Orient StThe city has designated Old Town as an historic district, shows what San Angelo has looked like in the past, very interesting if you are into early architectural styles. A few buildings have been relocated here.

• Tom Green County CourthouseBuilt in 1928.

• San Angelo State Park

  phone: +1 325-949-4757
  Has 7,563 acres to look around and hike, with numerous leisure and recreational activities, a lot of great sightseeing and has its own herd of Texan Longhorns and Bison.

• Lake Nasworthy

• Historical MarkersSan Angelo has over 39 historical markers to see about its history in a variety of areas ranging from cemeteries, churches and homesites. Very interesting to find out about some of the history around here.

• The Sheep StatuesAll around San Angelo mostly in the downtown area you will see a small statue of a sheep painted a different color scheme, try to find them all.

Museums

• Railway Museum San Angelo

  phone: +1 325-486-2140
  address: 703 South Chadbourne

• San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts

  address: 1 Love St

• Southwest Military Museum Foundation

  address: 119 South Irving St
  This museum is dedicated to honoring all United States veterans, their families, and their service to America, focusing on the period from World War I to the present.

• Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum

  phone: +1 8 325-653-0112
  address: 1/2 E. Concho Ave
  For 50 years this place operated as a bordello till it was closed by the Texas Rangers in 1946, now open as a museum and has all of the same furnishings as it would when it was open. Tours are Monday – Wednesday 4PM, Thursday – Saturday 1-4PM on the hour.

• San Angelo Art WalkHeld every third Thursday a viewing of the various downtown art galleries in downtown San Angelo free trolley service is available

• Angelo State Planetarium

• San Angelo Nature CenterAn educational center open to the public that has many exotic and native animals to see.

• Golfing

  address: 2305 Pulliam St
  San Angelo has almost a dozen places that you can golf at. Some are clubs, but there are some open to the public, such as the Quicksand Golf Course.

• San Angelo Civic Theater

• RanchesSan Angelo has a few ranches that offer bed and breakfast and can also be used for hunting. A lot of them have stocked exotic animals and offer a good time to just relax and enjoy the countryside.

• D'Vine Wine Winery

  phone: +1 325 482-9463
  address: 113 E. Concho Suite 190
  San Angelo's only winery.

• Cinemark Tinseltown

  phone: +1 325 223-2858
  address: 4425 Sherwood Way
  12-screen movie theater that has stadium seating. The only place to see a movie in the city.

• Pearl HuntingSan Angelo is known for what is called Concho pearls. There are 12 varieties. They are found in freshwater mussel shells which live in the area lakes and rivers of San Angelo. They can be pink, purple and lavender pearls. So if you feel adventurous go out and see if you can find some pearls.

• Stadium Lanes Bowling Center

  phone: +1 76904 325 651-2695
  address: 2105 Knickerbocker Rd

Sports

• Angelo State University FootballPart of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference, go see a College football game here in Texas, it's an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the country when it comes to football.

• San Angelo ColtsGo see a baseball game of the United League Baseball, Ticket prices range from $6-9 for adults, they play their games at Foster Field, which seats around 4200 people.

Events

• San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo It's the one of the largest livestock shows in the State of Texas and fourth largest in the United States
• Running of the Sheep, held in September

Downtown, one cannot walk around Chadbourne, Concho, Oakes and other nearby streets in the downtown area without finding numerous small shops selling gifts, clothing, and antiques.

• M.L. Leddy's

  phone: +1 325 653-3397
  address: 222 South Oakes St
  Want an authentic pair of cowboy boots, or a saddle? You can't do much better than Leddy's.

• Sunset Mall

  phone: +1 76904 325 949-1947
  address: 4001 Sunset Dr, Ste 1182
  A typical mall, has stores that are featured in every mall. The Buckle is one of the popular stores in this mall. Has a couple places to eat as well.

Fast food

A variety of fast food restaurants located throughout the city including Burger King, Taco Bell, Sonic Drive-In, Jack in the Box, KFC, Wendys, Quiznos, Arby's, Long John Silver's, Subway, Popeye's, Wienerschnitzel, McDonald's, Denny's and IHOP.

• D-Rays

  phone: +1 325 227-4791
  address: 1101 South Chadbourne St
  Serves some of the best hot dogs in San Angelo, also serves hamburgers, has an old time (1950s) feel to it.

• Chef Jason's Deli & Pastries

  phone: +1 325 227-4432
  address: 23 South Park St
  Excellent locally-owned sandwich shop.

• Steak Express

  address: 4397 Sunset Dr # 400 and 2219 W Ave

• WhataburgerA hamburger restaurant chain known in the South for its large hamburgers freshly cooked and tasty fries. Most meals cost more than $5 but less than $11.

• Roadrunners Burger Deli

  phone: +1 325 947-9462
  address: 2424 Vanderventer
  Known around town for having one of the best burgers around. Has very good beer battered onion rings and waffle fries. Most meals cost from $5-10.

Breakfast

• Donut Shop

  phone: +1 325 944-4238
  address: 3119 Knickerbocker Rd

Pizza

They have some of the national pizza chains like Domino's, Little Caesars, Cici's, Pizza Hut and Papa John's etc. These are some of the more local/regional type of pizza places.

• Double Dave's Pizzaworks

  phone: +1 325 947-3283
  address: 3536 Knickerbocker Rd
  Part of a regional chain of Pizza. They do deliver as well.

• Cork and Pig Tavern

  phone: +1 325 227-6988
  address: 2201 Knickerbocker Rd
  Great Place to get wood fired Pizza, the Pig is their signature Pizza. Also has sandwiches during lunch time and has a pretty decent happy hour with a stocked bar and a late night menu. Also serves Bines which are a dessert and are very delicious. They always have live music playing outside, usually someone playing a guitar, $10-20.

• Joe's Italian Ristorante

  phone: +1 325 486-9339
  address: 1601 S Bryant Blvd
  This is more of a sit-down type of pizza place. It has really great pizza and you can even order pizza by the slice, in addition to a variety of large pasta dishes.

Chinese

• China Garden

  address: 4217 College Hills Blvd

• Lin's Chinese Buffet

  phone: +1 325 949-8882
  address: 4388 Sherwood Way

• Wok & Rice

  address: 435 Bus US Highway 67-J

Japanese

• Bonsai Garden

  phone: +1 325 949-1862
  address: 1801 Knickerbocker Rd
  A hibachi grill-style Japanese food here in San Angelo, they put on a show while they cook your food, very fun times and a good source of entertainment. Prices aren't too bad either and serves sushi as well.

• Shogun

  phone: +1 325 227-4812
  address: 4397 Sunset Drive Suite 100
  Another hibachi grill-style Japanese food, they also put on a show while they cook your food also serves sushi as well.

• Nakamura Sushi House

  phone: +1 325 949-0800
  address: 3222 Sherwood Way
  Serves Japanese and Korean food.

Mexican

Well, if you like Mexican food then you have come to the right place. They have a lot of good mom and pop Mexican restaurants, most of them are very good and aren't too expensive either.

• Henry's Diner

  phone: +1 325 223-0171
  address: 3015 Sherwood Way
  Mexican food with a full bar. Famous for their avocado enchiladas, their great salsa and their white sauce.

• Esperanza

  phone: +1 325 223-0204
  address: 2218 W Avenue M

• Gil's

  phone: +1 325 655-5080
  address: 837 Knickerbocker Rd

• Hidalgo's Restaurant

  phone: +1 325 658-3977
  address: 2020 South Bryant Blvd

• Hidalgo West

  phone: +1 325 949-2251
  address: 3108 Sherwood Way

Casual/sit down

You can find most of the standard American chains of restaurants such as Chili's, Carino's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, TGI Friday's, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden. Beyond this there are other, more local options:

• Miss Hattie's Cafe & Saloon

  phone: +1 325 653-0570
  address: 26 E Concho Ave
  Located in a historic building which functioned as a brothel until the early 1900s. The downstairs houses a cafe which serves good steaks, while tours are available for the small museum upstairs.

• Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

  phone: +1 325 655-2771
  address: 1805 S Bryant Blvd
  A great place to get BBQ, you walk in and there's a grill right there with a worker standing next to it and you can pick your meat to eat right there. Try the brisket, it's some of the best in West Texas. Then you go through the door to your left and you pick your sides like corn on the cob, green beans, and potato salad. They also have bottled beer and some great tasting sweet tea, and you get to sit on long picnic tables inside and has a very Texas feel to the place. Also has an all you can eat special if you are up to it and have a large appetite. Also has high speed internet available. (closed due to fire)

• Buffalo Wild Wings

  phone: +1 325 223-9464
  address: 4251 Sherwood Way
  Part of the chain of restaurants, it is split up into family and bar sections, has a ton of TVs to watch sports and if you're looking for a place to have some drinks with friends to watch the game and have some wings. They offer free Wi-Fi here as well.

• Franco's Cafe

  phone: +1 325 653-8010
  address: 2218 Martin Luther King Blvd

• The Grill

  phone: +1 325 944-2843
  address: 5769 Sherwood Way
  Really great American food with Tex-Mex, also has a stocked bar and outside seating available. Has daily specials available. Their portions are huge; as it is Texas everything including the salads are huge.

• River Valley Cafe & Grill

  phone: +1 325 653-5123
  address: 20 W. Beauregard

• Zentner's Daughter

  phone: +1 325 949-2821
  address: 1901 Knickerbocker Rd
  Great steaks.

Bars and clubs

• Midnight Rodeo

  address: 2581 Sunset Dr.
  A country-western themed night spot. If you want to put on your cowboy boots and Texas two-step around a huge dance floor, this is the place to go.

• Stagecoach Saloon & Dancehall

  phone: +1 325 655-4200
  address: 4205 South Bryant Blvd
  Another country place, where you can drink a cold beer, dance, watch live music, and play some pool.

• The Deadhorse

  address: 210 S. Chadbourne St.
  A great place in San Angelo to catch a great rock show with up and coming bands and other bands, or if you just like the rock atmosphere. Usually it's $5 cover to get in and they have couches to sit on as well. Drinks aren't too expensive--they have beer for $2 on draft.

• Fat Boss's Pub

  phone: +1 325 617-4532
  address: 114 S. Chadbourne
  A pretty happening bar with cheap drinks, great table service, and an area in the back to sit on couches and just chill with friends. It has a pretty good ratio of men and women. Parking is usually the street around it or on the side, or there is also a parking garage in the area as well. The only negative is its small space--on Friday and Saturday nights, it can get so crowded that it feels nearly impossible to move.

• Grinners Daiquiri Bar

  phone: +1 325 655-2062
  address: 217 S. Chadbourne St.
  In addition to the beers and mixed drinks one can find at any bar, here you can sip on an ice-cold Piña Colada or Sangria. On weekends there will usually be a DJ spinning trance and house music.

• Blaine's Pub

  phone: +1 325 653-7074
  address: 10 W Harris Ave

• Lone Wolf Pub

  phone: +1 325 651-5295
  address: 115 Paint Rock Rd

Pool halls

• Fast Eddie's Pool Hall

  phone: +1 325 944-4900
  address: 4509 Sherwood Way
  A fun place to play pool; 18 and up can go and they do serve alcohol there with a fully stocked bar. They have over a dozen pool tables and foosball and dartboards. You pay for the pool table after you're done, so you pay for the time, and not how many games you play. Plenty of parking around the area as well.

• Giz & Hums' Billiards & Brew

  phone: +1 325 655-0099
  address: 1425 West Beauregard Ave

Coffeehouses

• Starbuck'sYour typical run of the mill Starbucks chain but it does have a drive thru with limited parking. Corner of Avenue N & Sherwood Way.

• Days Inn

  phone: +1 325 658-6594
  address: 4613 S. Jackson
  Clean rooms, decent free breakfast. May be unsuitable for large groups, however

• Fairfield Inn

  phone: +1 325 482-8400
  address: 1459 Knickerbocker Rd
  Clean rooms with spacious bathrooms. Helpful staff.

• Hampton Inn

  phone: +1 325 942-9622
  address: 2959 Loop 306
  Nice rooms, some with refrigerator and microwave.

• Hawthorn Inn & Suites

  address: 1355 Knickerbocker Rd
  One of the nicest hotels in town. Suites have full size refrigerators, stove-tops, and dishwashers.

San Angelo is part of the 325 Area Code.

• San Angelo Standard Times the Newspaper that serves San Angelo and the surrounding area

San Angelo does not have a high crime rate just take caution as you would in any other town, they take drunk driving very seriously here in Texas and it is not uncommon to see a DUI checkpoint around so be forewarned, also they are very strict on the speed limit here and will pull you over and ticket you

Water

• Be prepared to buy drinking water, the water is potable but honestly doesn't taste that good. There are water vending machines all over town that you can usually fill a gallon jug for a quarter. Another word of note-- if you ask for water at a restaurant it would be a good idea to ask if its filtered water or not or just buy water in a bottle there.

• Paint Rock, about 35 miles east of town near a small town of the same name. This rock face on the bank of the Concho River has hundreds of pictographs stretching half a mile. Some pictographs were made even after the Spanish began colonization efforts, as pictographs of missions and men with crosses can clearly be seen. The site is open to tourists by reservation only. Contact Paint Rock Excursions, +1 915-732-4376.
• San Antonio, about 212 miles to the South so it could be a 3-4 hour drive depending on the traffic
• Dallas, it is literally an hour plane ride to Dallas and not too expensive on your wallet.
• Abilene is about an hour-and-a-half drive north on US highway 277.
• Odessa (Texas) can be reached by taking US highway 87 to Big Spring, and then Interstate 20 to Odessa.
• Del Rio/Ciudad Acuña is a direct, but long, drive south on US-277.