Yippee! Only 2 days until vacation! (San Antonio)

[Shrek]

The boy wanted a ski trip, but the wife wanted San Antonio because some of her friends recommended it. They fought a pitched battle, but the boy was badly overmatched and the wife prevailed (I myself am not allowed an opinion and am expected only to keep quiet and drive the van :) ).

We've never been there, so I'd appreciate suggestions from anyone who lives nearby or has visited before. We're staying at a hotel on the Riverwalk, and we plan to do Seaworld and The Alamo.

Anything else that's a must-see? Anything to avoid at all cost? We'll be in town for about a week.

I checked the extended forecast and next week looks fabulous -- highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. I can't wait!

[GOPisEvil]

1. Let's see (former San Antonian here)

If you like theme parks, there's Fiesta Texas. Rides, etc. to assuage the young one.

See ALL the Missions. The Alamo is sort of...well...boring in a way. But the other missions are much better preserved and some are a living history. Seriously, go to the HQ of Missions National Park, get the maps to all the Missions and see them. (Pay no attention to the neighborhoods surrounding the missions, they're not the best.) But, the missions are MUST SEE. Make it to all of them. My favorite is Espada...no crowds, and it's beautiful.

If you have time for a day trip, there's the LBJ home and LBJ ranch in Johnson City.

Go to El Mercado, the Mexican market. Lots of interesting things there.

I'll have to think some more...

[Shrek]

2. I know you'll know this

What about good public golf courses?

[GOPisEvil]

6. Ahhh...one of my favorite subjects

1. Brackenridge (old, but lots of history. The Texas Open used to be played there in 50s and 60s. Arnie won there...then the freeway changed the course...yada, yada...the front nine is pretty much as it was though.) It's a city course and not expensive.

2. Olmos Park another city course. Not one of my personal favorites, but an OK course.

3. The best city course, in terms of value and "niceness" is Cedar Creek. It's up in the hills, really pretty. It's on the other side of the hill from La Cantera, which is PRICEY!

http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapar/golf.asp?res=800&ver=true

Brack was my old favorite - I played there maybe 100 times.


Edit - lemme know if you want the EXPENSIVE public courses - there are plenty of those around town too.

[GOPisEvil]

3. Oh yeah...EAT...If you can't find AWESOME Mexican food in SA...

...you aren't looking!

Also downtown - a great German deli - Schilo's. On Commerce, I think. :9

Take a riverboat ride on the SA River.

[elfwitch]

11. I agree EAT A LOT!!

There are so many good places to eat in SA.
Grady's BBQ, Taco Cabana (for fast food tex-mex), Alamo Cafe, 410 Diner, Chester's (the best burger joint in the world).

[pmbryant]

16. More dining recommendations... (Rosario's!)

One of my favorite Tex-Mex places is La Fogata. Los Barrios is also excellent. Both are on the near northwest side.

There are lots of others, though. For Tex-Mex breakfast or lunch, try Taco Taco on Hildebrand, a couple miles north of downtown.

But the best food in the city is probably at Rosario's in southtown, just a few blocks south of downtown.

I'm feeling like taking a trip down there now, just thinking about it.

:9

Peter

[elfwitch]

13. He's right about the Alamo...

Not worth the time. Many parts of downtown San Antonio are really pretty. Some of the old hotels downtown are great architectural treasures.

I'd recommend the trip to anyone. I miss my home. I'd go more often if I could.

[Shrek]

18. Sorry you miss it so much

Allow me to take you down memory lane, if you don't mind.

We all love to walk -- is there enough stuff downtown to justify an all-day walking tour, where we just sort of stroll along and enjoy whatever we happen to find? Any particular route we should be sure not to miss?

Thanks for all the feedback!

[elfwitch]

19. You could spend all day in the downtown area...

The best stuff isn't in the downtown area. Depending on how many days you plan on being there I'd say do a downtown day. Do a Brackenridge Park/Zoo/Witte Museum/McNay day. (they are all in the same general area) Do a Fiesta Texas day. Do a Sea World day.

You pretty much have to rent a car if you are going to do anything outside the downtown/281 area. Luckily Fiesta Texas and Sea World are pretty close to each other. I used to live almost exactly halfway in between the two.

[pmbryant]

15. The Missions are, indeed, a must-see. And don't forget the wildflowers!

My favorite of the missions are Concepcion and Espada. But San Jose is where the visitor center is at and is also partially reconstructed. So it's the place where one can best get a feel for what the missions were like back in the 1700s.

The Alamo is also technically one of the missions, but, of course, its history is remembered rather differently. It's also right downtown and very touristy, so the feel is extremely different from the others.

I've lived in San Antonio for over five years now, and it's odd for me to try to think of this place from a tourist's perspective.

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens is a spectacular place, in my opinion, and should also be a must-see.

The tower downtown is an obvious tourist attraction. I haven't been there since 1999, and, while the view was great, the facilities seemed rather beat up and run down at the time. I don't know if it has been renovated since then, but I sure hope so.

Definitely get out into the country to see the Texas wildflowers, which should be starting to bloom all over very soon, if they aren't already.

They are a prime attraction here in the spring, so try not to miss them!

:bounce:

--Peter

[Shrek]

17. This is great info!

My wife is a hard-core gardener, so I'll be adding the wildflower tour and the Botanical Gardens to our itinerary.

Maybe we can ditch her there while the boy and I sneak off to the golf course :evilgrin:.

[bearfan454]

4. Mi Tierra restaurant in Market Square is pretty good.

Another is the Alamo Cafe on San Pedro exit off of 410. The Alamo too if you guys have time. I hope you like it.

[Intelsucks]

5. Plenty to do downtown

The Alamo, The Tower, more Tex-Mex restaurants than you can shake a stick at. Guided boat tours on the river walk. Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, The Zoo, Missions all over town.

Pick up the brochures in the hotel lobby... You'll find plenty to do. Also, you're going during the perfect time of the year. It's hotter than hell during the Summer... Almost unbearable.

[GOPisEvil]

7. San Antonio Zoo is one of the best in the nation!

Good call!

[bearfan454]

8. Take the Broadway exit !

We are going to take Amanda pretty soon.

[GOPisEvil]

9. Good ol' Brackenridge Park

IF you're coming down 281, it's the St. Mary's Exit. ;-)

[elfwitch]

12. It used to be...

Not so much any more. I can say this from experience. My mother worked at the zoo for 13 years, from 1978-1991. During those years, the zoo had a more varied (more number of species) collection than San Diego. The were tops on the world on getting endangered species to breed in captivity. Their breeding programs were able to repopulate certain animals back in to their natural habitats.

In late 2000, my hubby and I went to visit after not going there for about 4 years. Boy what a difference. If my mother wasn't already deceased, she would have dropped dead at seeing how far the zoo had sunk in her absence. They didn't even have fricken polar bears anymore!!!

So, I'd have to say, it ain't what it used to be. I grew up there. I know.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. I second Mi Tierra- delicious! ('nother ex-native). More suggestions...

The market is a lot of fun. Interesting Mexican curiosities and doo-dads.

Try to see a folklorico (the Mexican dancers with the swirling colorful skirts) show at the Arneson River Theater. I still remember seeing on when I was little and loved it. The stage is on one side of the river, and the seats are on the other side, built into the hill. Very entertaining if you haven't seen one before. (It's just around the corner from the Palacio del Rio)

If you and the wife get any time to do alone things, Durty Nellie's on the Riverwalk is a fun, lively Irish pub. (Toss your peanut shells on the floor).

If you like art, the Marion Koogler McNay Museum is wonderful. (http://www.mcnayart.org/index2.html)

If your wife wants to do a little shopping for Spanish style items, Los Patios used to be really cool for that. I haven't been in awhile. (it's a bunch of little shops off of 410, between Perrin-Beitel and Broadway off the north side of the highway). If she just wants to shop, Northstar Mall is at 410 and San Pedro.

For more family fun, the "Schlitterbahn" is in New Braunfels just north of San Antonio. It's a ton of water flumes, water slides, and other water related activites that's great for beautiful weather like now. Don't forget the sunscreen!

[elfwitch]

14. The McNay is great !!!

Just the grounds are worth the trip. They have some pretty high profile art on permanent display.

[CO Liberal]

20. My Wife and I Tried to Find The Alamo Once in 1996

We were passing thru San Antonio on our way to a weekend conference in Houston. We tried to find the Alamo, but kept going around in circles. Finally we gave up, since we had to be in Houston by five.

Chances are we drove right by it without noticing it......

[Bridget Burke]

21. It's easy to get lost in San Antonio.

The downtown streets were laid out for oxcarts. But it's fun if you're not in a hurry. The Alamo is right downtown next to the Menger Hotel.

Also downtown is Hemisfair Park, home to the Institute of Texan Cultures www.texancultures.utsa.edu/public/ & The Mexican Cultural Institute, worth at least a walk-by (for the architecture & pre-Columbian reproductions).

The San Antonio Museum of Art www.samuseum.org/ is in a beautiful old brewery building with a lovely view of the city. Their collection includes wonderful Mexican folk art. A pleasant place to visit even if your party includes some not-too-arty folks. The McNay Museum is in an old mansion & also has charms beyond its collection.

All the others suggestions are good. Definitely, hit the Mission Trail. www.nps.gov/saan/

And you're coming at a the right time of year. Not too hot yet.