For spring break this year, I'm taking the whole fam damily to either Washington DC or San Antonio. If we go to SA we will likely stay on (or close) to The Riverwalk, any suggestions of activities that hopefully don't involve renting a car? 6 people total: wife, me, 4 daughters age 11 to 17. Thanks! P.S. We have ordered the "visitor's guide" but personal advice sometimes is better. .
Thanks. I just noticed the way I worded the title will prob get a lot of hits, looking for spring break piccies! Sorry!
There are a couple of nice water theme parks that are a lot of fun (e.g. Sea World), but it will be too cold at Spring Break time for that. The River Walk is okay, but not really for kids. Basically, it's a nice place to get drunk and eat. You should also know that it is probably against the law (if it isn't, it probably should be) not to have your own car in Texas. Besides, most of the really neat places are outside of San Antonio (the drive to Upotia is not Deals Gap, but it is fun). Hope this helps.
San Antonio is a great family town. Stay on the riverwalk, and the kids can wander to close by shopping, movies etc. Do the Alamo ( 1 hr max), market area -a few blocks off river-don't miss Mi Tierra restaurant there. Great at all times, but especially good mexican breakfast. San Antonio Zoo is in a great wooded setting, and fun for all, with close by botanical garden and Brackenridge park. On north side of town you have Sea World, Fiesta Texas theme park, and several upscale shopping areas. On river, try Casa Rio (oldest mexican food on river), Shillo's german deli with homemade root beer, and at the Hyatt Regency Hotel bar, see my cousin, Jim Cullum's dixiland jazz band. These guys have their own public broadcasting radio show, and can really cook! There are several 4-5 star hotels on the river, but for a great deal try the Marriott Residence Inn just behind the Alamo. 2 bedroom suite with fold out couch and hot breakfast for around $200/nt. Do the hokey riverboat tour, as you learn a lot of San Antonio history. Enjoy one of the truly different cities in this part of the US. All this from a Dallas guy.
The National Parks service offers a tour of six Spanish Missions in SA, including the one with the famous Rose Window.... Then, well .............forget it man, call me. Valeria and I will bring the Ferraris over and we'll head for Flores Country Store in Helotes, looking for Charlie Robison and his Dixie Chick wife, after that there's Gruene Hall in New Bransfels, where they'll ALL find dance padners, and Valeria and I will help them get tubes and float the river in New B.!!!!!! Probably end up in Austin....at Stubb's Bar B Que....LOL! Pick up some UT applications........hook 'em!
Don't forget 'toobing down the Guadalupe River! This also depends on the weather, and river flow rates, and you WILL need a car to get there. I suggest renting an extra toob for the beer cooler. http://www.river-fun.com/ edit: I've used Abbotts, but, a toob is a toob.
Approximately what dates? Probably need to check some of this stuff out first.... Fiesta TX is shut down until sometime in March and I think Sea World is also. For the tubing you might need wet suits as it may be a bit chilly. I went in August/September when it was upper 90s which made the water very comfortable, I can't imagine it would be fun if it was much cooler out. I get a season parking pass for Fiesta TX so if it's open by then I would be happy to loan it to you.
Stay at the Hilton on the Riverwalk. It's one of the few hotels that is truly ON the Riverwalk. It's a little worn down, but the rates are usually good and it's centrally located. Best of all, when the kids go to sleep you and the wife can go downstairs to Dirty Nellies and drink beer and sing raunchy songs with the piano player. While there, eat at Boudros on the walk. I'm in SA now, at the Hyatt Hill Country. Damn nice place, wish I had time to play.
URO I SERVICE THE HOLIDAY INN- RIVERWALK... IF YOU LIKE IT, I MAYBE CAN GET YOU EMPLOYEE RATES AND SAVE YOU MUCHO $$$$$$ LET ME KNOW........ B
Thanks to all, plenty of good suggestions. BTW, we were there last in 1986 while in residency in Galveston (from 1984-1989).
Clifford, The kids actually agreed to go on spring break with their parents? Man you should write a book on parenting or something! On a serious note, hope you and the family have fun in San Antonio, one of the most boring places in the world. BTW why don't you want to rent a car? I say come to the west coast. Stay at my place. You can use the cars (don't have to rent), and scoots and you guys can all stay for free. -Ryan
One of the "If it's not NYC (or LA) you are camping out" crowd eh? FWIW I checked it out and Sea World opens back up March 5 and Six Flags is March 15 IIRC
Completely incorrect. I go to Houston about 7-8 times a year. I talked to Ralph and few other TX people when I am there. Great place. If you recall, I also started a thread a while back about texas law schools, as I applied to UT Austin. I have talked to and traveled to Austin many times, and hope to meet fellow F chatter Alen Henson on lake Travis sometime this year. I love the Dallas area. I consider Frances a good friend, and she has invited me to hang out when I am in town, as we were talking about real estate the last time. I have spent considerable time in TX and have many relatives and friends who live there. I consider it anything but a flyover state. Look at all the conversations I have with Speedy308 (bigTex now) about TX. It is a great state, and one of my most favorite places to be. I have visited San Antonio, and quite frankly find it the most boring place in the USA. Kinda fitting Tim Duncan, the softest placer in the NBA plays for the Spurs. I put my money where my mouth is. I gave an opinion which was based on my own travel experiences. Also I know UROTRASH and his kids well, thus I felt for them SA might be boring. You on the other hand have made comments based on total false assumptions. Maybe you can search my posts and other stuff I have said, before telling me what I think of TX?
Relax.......no need for all that. 'Twas just a random comment, no foul intended. I apologize for using the wrong smiley
Back on topic There's an Imax theatre in the Riverwalk that usually has a pretty decent flicks, including some Texas based things. The Alamo, of course, is right there. When the father-in-law hauled us all down there, we had lunch catered on one of the river taxis. That was fun for the whole family.
I second (or third) that. This is a great place to take the family for a few days... love the lazy river... and cab into SA for the Riverwalk scene. We were at Hyatt Hill Country a couple of years ago during our kids' spring break, eating outside when I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and it was James from Norwood! He was there with his family too.
Sounds like a helluva good time, get drunk Texas style! By the way, I thought the river was 70 degrees year round?
I stayed at the Hotel next to The Majestic Theatre...One of the nicest hotels on the riverwalk IMO. Can not remember the name since I have been in about 30 other hotels since then but it was very very VERY nice Right on the riverwalk, walk out the back door and you have the finest tex mex around I lived on margaritas and fajitas for the first week
