Help me vacation in San Antonio

[BensMom]

It is my second trip To San Antonio.

Help me find some cool things to do with 2 teens in tow. We have already done the usual on the previous trip. Looking for music, shopping, art, funky and fun.

Take me away and show me the town.

THANK YOU!

[pop goes the weasel]

1. when will you be there and where are you from?

Are you already in SA?

Which museums have you been to? If you haven't been to the McNay, you are missing a treat. It's at 6000 N. New Braunfels. Call 210-824-5368 for info. And there's the San Antonio Museum of Arts, at 200 W. Jones Avenue (210-975-8136). There are a bunch more. Oh, go to Blue Star. If anything controversial and leftish is being shown, it's probably being shown there: 116 Blue Star (210-227-6960).

Have you been to the King William District? If not, you really must. It's where the wealthy merchants of the late 19th century lived. Call 210-207-7378 or 210-207-7379 for tour info.

Have you been to the botanical gardens? This is the month for blooming things in Texas. Call 210-207-3255 for info.

Have you really done all the missions? Are you able to travel outside of San Antonio?

[BensMom]

2. San Antonio

I will be in San Antonio in about a week - from cold Nebraska. I'll try to get to the McNay this time. And what about local shopping? I would like to find local artsy - jazzy - funky - stuff.....thrift shops are just fine, too. I'll have the teen DD and DS in tow and they have a good spirit for adventure...it's their school break so I want them to remember this trip.

Never spent any time in the King William District. Must do that.
And yes if we can afford the gas I'll have a vehicle.

Is it just a jump to Austin?

[Longhorn]

3. About 90 miles to Austin.

You can go up the interstate (35) or take a more scenic route up 281 and then east on 290 through Dripping Springs (my town) and on into Austin.

Have you ever gone to the mercado? It's an indoor/outdoor plaza of mostly Mexican imports and restaurants about a dozen(?) blocks north of downtown. There's a parking garage across the street and you can also take a bus from downtown.

My husband and I did a walking tour of the King William district (in August, no less!) and really enjoyed it. I've also done an open bus tour with my kids that we picked up at the Alamo.

[pop goes the weasel]

4. Hill country

Consider a side trip out to Johnson City--see the LBJ ranch national park. The bluebonnets will be blooming like mad. If your kids are into rock climbing, then a visit to Enchanted Rock is a must. It's actually a giant hill-sized rock. And Fredericksberg is known for its arts and crafts shops

If your kids share your interest in politics, you may enjoy going to Earl Abel's. You can tell the kids that it is the restaurant where the legendary Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez decked a man who called him a communist. They ain't a-making liberals like Henry B. anymore.

And I second the idea of going to El Mercado on Commerce Street (near downtown San Antonio). Lots of inexpensive crafts and Mexican imports.

[Longhorn]

5. Good suggestions!

And just so you know, climbing Enchanted Rock isn't "rock climbing" in the traditional sense. You don't need ropes and pins! :D It's a fairly level climb that just about anyone can do -- I did it a year ago and I'm no athlete.

There's also a cave near New Braunfels (just north of San Antonio) called Natural Bridge Caverns that's pretty cool if you like caves: http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com/map.asp?w=1280

[pop goes the weasel]

7. No way is it level!

But it doesn't take special equipment, either. There are two routes up it--one is comparatively easy and the other provides a few opportunities for a harder climb coming down.

Natural Bridge is good too (some really steep places also). Wear good shoes, because the ground is always slippery.

It's necessary to be in moderate good health and fitness for either of those activities.

[Longhorn]

8. I believe I said "fairly level"

as opposed to "fairly steep." I climbed it in 1981 while eight months pregnant with twins and a toddler on my back so it can't be that steep! As I said, I'm no athlete, though that was also 24 years ago. My dad, who was 57 at the time and had already had a quadruple bypass, was a smoker, and was always somewhat sedentary, went with us. Obviously, we took the "easy" route. :D

[outraged2]

16. Another cave system near Llano/Burnet

Longhorn Cavern. It may be too far away, but its fun and easy. The cave has a long history that is interesting... Used by Comanches as workshop/tribal council metting place, bandits' lair, civil war ammo dump, restaurant/speakeasy/nightclub.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Art and funky, you say?

Go to the Blue Star Art Complex. It's south of downtown, near King William Area. Lots of little galleries, studios and a decent restaurant/brew pub.

[bearfan454]

9. Eat at Mi Tierra.

It's pretty good.

[Paladin]

12. La Margarita's Food Is Better......

...it's adjacent to Mi Tierra, and they're both owned by the same family. Get their enormous seafood cocktail---shrimp and oysters (or just shrimp, if you wish) in a spicy salsa. That and a few beers will definitely set you up......

[BensMom]

10. I love DU

You guys really know me!
This is just what the Dr. Feelgood has ordered.

It's a blustery 30 degrees in Nebraska.

[fleabert]

11. Look up La Fogata for great mexican food...

I miss San Antonio so much (that's where I spent 12 wonderful years of my late childhood and early adulthood). I mostly remember the food these days, since I can't get hold of anything like it now!)

Aside from food, your teenagers might like to go to 'the tracks', it's on the southside...you park your car in neutral on what looks like an uphill road on the railroad tracks, and then slowly your car will roll up and past the tracks. Very creepy effect, the legend is that a school bus full of kids got killed on the tracks and their ghosts push you over to save you. More likely an optical illusion and it's actually downhill, but that's the party pooper answer. All the streets in the area were named after the kids, so that part is true. Ask around to get directions, it's far out there. Every teenager goes there at least once in their life. It's more fun at night, and some people dust the trunk with baby powder and swear there are fingerprints after going over the tracks.

Check www.niosa.org to see if your trip coincides with Fiesta week, a city-wide party that can't be beat. Family oriented at times, more adult on weekend nights, but fun nonetheless. Crazy and crowded, but fun. I don't know if you missed Cowboy Breakfast, but that's fun too. Ask your hotel concierge about that one, or maybe a local can tell you here if it's still going on...

Last time I went to the Tower, the food sucked, but the view is awesome.

I strongly second going to the McNay, I spent a lot of time there in high school, and it's in a beautiful neighborhood, my grandfather owns a business near there. If you want to know the name and location, let me know in a PM and I'll give it to you. A great local small business and he's a great guy! (I will bet he'll give you a discount if you mention my name!)

everyone should go on a Riverwalk barge at least once, great tour guides give a history of the area and it's beautiful. Touristy, but locals do it too. You'll learn where the sniper tree is!

A Mission tour is awesome, I got my bridal pics at Mission Concepcion. Southwest Arts and Crafts Center is great too, an old nunnery on the river that is an art school now. (I got married there) It's gorgeous!

Can you tell I miss it? LOL. I am done with my novel. :-) Have a great time for me.

I have to add, I second the trip to Enchanted Rock, go the hard way, if you are up to it, it's much harder, but cooler temps than on the Rock.

I second all the recommendations others have made really!

(edited for grammar and to add content)

[GOPisEvil]

15. Sigh...fleabert, I should have married you!

You're a woman after my own heart. Sigh...always a bridesmaid. ;-)

[fleabert]

17. you are too sweet, I am so blushing over here! ;-)

I miss Austin too, that's where we lived before moving here. :-) Guero's sounds so good right now, or El Sol e Luna...mmmmmmmm yummy.

[GOPisEvil]

20. I had BBQ in Lockhart today.

Black's to be specific. Kreuz Market was closed.

Do you have a clone? Twin sister? ANY sister? :D

[fleabert]

21. Brisket or shredded sounds good too, color me green!

No clones, no twins, no sister at all. sorry! I am pissed at the dh tonight, but I am pretty sure I will get over it soon, but I will let you know. ;-) all I have is three half brothers, I am an only child on my mother's side, daddy was prolific though. :-) My best friend is the closest thing to my clone there is, but she's married as well. I guess we'll have to settle for friends!

[GOPisEvil]

22. OK, then as friends I won't feel too bad about mentioning

the pecan pie!

:9

[fleabert]

23. you shit. you should feel bad about mentioning it, now I'm crying.

Sac does have it's positives...I skied Tahoe all last week (hour and half away), yet it's in the 70's at home, went to Napa (45 mns from my house) and did tastings on Saturday, and San Francisico is less than two hours away! And there is a great Spanish Tapas bar three blocks from my house! I can walk to bars, shopping, and restaurants! Something Texas is severely lacking: urban residential living! :-P I can go a week without driving- easily!

flea wants a piece of pie!

[BensMom]

13. San Antonio

Thanks for all the wonderful help.

Now where can I get the local music listings...the newspaper seems a little dry...?

[GOPisEvil]

14. Look up the San Antonio Current.

It's the alternative weekly.

[fleabert]

18. GOP is evil is correct...here's a link

http://www.sacurrent.com/site/news.asp?brd=2318

have fun! Give SA a kiss for me!

[Justitia]

19. When are you going? It's almost FIESTA time!

The Starving Artist Show on the Riverwalk is April 2 & 3, I'm going for that.

This time of yr SA is very busy w/loads of events (and just beautiful too).

The spring calendar could definitely add to your trip or make you nuts with driving and parking, etc.