Mini trip report for a mini trip to San Antonio
Mar 23rd, 2005, 07:04 PM
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Mini trip report for a mini trip to San Antonio
Hi! Please excuse typ-os and grammar-os as it's been a long travel day...
DH, kids and I got back today from a quick 3 day visit to San Antonio. This was our first time to the area. We stayed with long time friends in Helotes. It's so pretty out there! I love all the live oaks. We did a day at Sea World for the kids, a day on the Riverwalk, and a second trip downtown.
Okay, impressions:
About a year ago, we moved from San Diego to Tulsa, and we were amazed at how much San Antonio reminded us of San Diego! The landscape and vegetation, the Spanish architecture, Sea World, the influences of Mexican culture, and the tourists (lol) all made us think of our previous hometown. We had a grand time, and even our kids, 2 and 4, enjoyed the heck out of the Riverwalk.
Restaurants:
We went to kid-friendly places only.
Mi Tierra
Fun and festive, a big hit with the kids. The food was okay, except that my daughter's quesadilla was swimming in oil.
Rudy's in Leon Springs
What a treat this was! We came home smelling like mesquite wood. Favorites were the brisket and creamed corn.
Rio Rio on the Riverwalk
We really liked the food here. It's right next to Boudros, which I see now gets rave reviews, but we were happy with Rio Rio. The chicken tacos were especially yummy.
Other:
After emailing back and forth for about a year, I finally got to meet fodorite dcespedes! Our DHs are in the same field, and I've met her DH and she's met mine, but this was the first time AnneMarie and I had met face-to-face. We had a blast at our mini fodorite GTG and hope to meet up again soon.
San Antonio or Dallas?
Not that long ago there was a big bru-ha-ha about which city would be a better place to visit. We went to Dallas for the first time on a 3 day trip in December, so I feel somewhat qualified to comment as a relative newcomer to traveling in Texas. I found both cities interesting, but for different reasons. SA seemed less "foreign" to me personally, with it's similarities to San Diego, but I can see how it would be such an exciting and novel experience for most visitors. Dallas strikes me as more of a generic big city, albeit more glamorous. For me, bottom line, it would depend on what you wanted in a vacation. I'm sure we'll be returning to both.
DH, kids and I got back today from a quick 3 day visit to San Antonio. This was our first time to the area. We stayed with long time friends in Helotes. It's so pretty out there! I love all the live oaks. We did a day at Sea World for the kids, a day on the Riverwalk, and a second trip downtown.
Okay, impressions:
About a year ago, we moved from San Diego to Tulsa, and we were amazed at how much San Antonio reminded us of San Diego! The landscape and vegetation, the Spanish architecture, Sea World, the influences of Mexican culture, and the tourists (lol) all made us think of our previous hometown. We had a grand time, and even our kids, 2 and 4, enjoyed the heck out of the Riverwalk.
Restaurants:
We went to kid-friendly places only.
Mi Tierra
Fun and festive, a big hit with the kids. The food was okay, except that my daughter's quesadilla was swimming in oil.
Rudy's in Leon Springs
What a treat this was! We came home smelling like mesquite wood. Favorites were the brisket and creamed corn.
Rio Rio on the Riverwalk
We really liked the food here. It's right next to Boudros, which I see now gets rave reviews, but we were happy with Rio Rio. The chicken tacos were especially yummy.
Other:
After emailing back and forth for about a year, I finally got to meet fodorite dcespedes! Our DHs are in the same field, and I've met her DH and she's met mine, but this was the first time AnneMarie and I had met face-to-face. We had a blast at our mini fodorite GTG and hope to meet up again soon.
San Antonio or Dallas?
Not that long ago there was a big bru-ha-ha about which city would be a better place to visit. We went to Dallas for the first time on a 3 day trip in December, so I feel somewhat qualified to comment as a relative newcomer to traveling in Texas. I found both cities interesting, but for different reasons. SA seemed less "foreign" to me personally, with it's similarities to San Diego, but I can see how it would be such an exciting and novel experience for most visitors. Dallas strikes me as more of a generic big city, albeit more glamorous. For me, bottom line, it would depend on what you wanted in a vacation. I'm sure we'll be returning to both.
Mar 23rd, 2005, 10:53 PM
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Jocelyn - I am glad you liked San Antonio. Many years ago I went to college there at Trinity University. Have been back to visit a few times, the last time was about 4 years ago.
I now live in San Diego county, never really thought that much about the similarities between the two cities but you are absolutely right. I think the Mexican influence has a lot to do with it. The hill country around SA is one of my favorite places-it is very beautiful.
Talking about Mi Tiera brings back so many memories. When I was in college, 3-4 or us would go down there about midnight or 1 am (the place is open 24 hrs) and share a plate of nachos and drink coffee. We had no money so that's all we could afford. We'd sit there in the booth for hours, they didn't really mind because there was usually empty tables. Then we'd buy a Mexican pastry to take home for the morning. I did go there last time I visited. It didn't quite look the same as I remembered but after years memories tend to fade a little. I had a good dinner there as this time I could afford it. LOL.
I now live in San Diego county, never really thought that much about the similarities between the two cities but you are absolutely right. I think the Mexican influence has a lot to do with it. The hill country around SA is one of my favorite places-it is very beautiful.
Talking about Mi Tiera brings back so many memories. When I was in college, 3-4 or us would go down there about midnight or 1 am (the place is open 24 hrs) and share a plate of nachos and drink coffee. We had no money so that's all we could afford. We'd sit there in the booth for hours, they didn't really mind because there was usually empty tables. Then we'd buy a Mexican pastry to take home for the morning. I did go there last time I visited. It didn't quite look the same as I remembered but after years memories tend to fade a little. I had a good dinner there as this time I could afford it. LOL.
Mar 24th, 2005, 04:59 PM
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Oooh a mini GTG with dcespedes!
I am jealous
You make a trip to San Antonio sound very tempting and I still remember how lovely San Diego is. Now we have our dear Fodorite OO living near Riverwalk, we can add her to the next GTG
Glad you had such a good time, Joc!
I am jealous
You make a trip to San Antonio sound very tempting and I still remember how lovely San Diego is. Now we have our dear Fodorite OO living near Riverwalk, we can add her to the next GTG
Glad you had such a good time, Joc!
Mar 24th, 2005, 05:04 PM
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Thanks for the report. We loved San Antonio too, and remember fondly our dinner at Mi Tierra. Are they still making floral tiarras for the little girls? Our DD was thrilled to have one made and still has it perched on one of her bedroom lamps.
Mar 24th, 2005, 08:50 PM
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Thanks for the trip report. My sister and I have been mulling over places to visit for our next girls' weekend and thought of San Antonio. I live in San Diego and after that trip report wonder if it will be different enough to appreciate. Hmmmm. Some food for thought.
Mar 25th, 2005, 06:56 PM
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ellen,
No, no tiara for my little princess.
That would have been fun, although my 2 year old boy would have wanted one, too, lol.
Hi Sandy,
San Antonio and San Diego are not EXACTLY alike; you do have the Texas culture and some great bbq in San Antonio. Have a great time wherever you end up; girls' weekends are the best!
No, no tiara for my little princess.
That would have been fun, although my 2 year old boy would have wanted one, too, lol.Hi Sandy,
San Antonio and San Diego are not EXACTLY alike; you do have the Texas culture and some great bbq in San Antonio. Have a great time wherever you end up; girls' weekends are the best!
Mar 26th, 2005, 05:29 AM
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At the Mexican market there (I don't remember the name), you can still find the paper flower tiaras for girls. Kids also like the hand painted eggshells filled with confetti to break on their head.
I also suggest you call the Witte Museum to see when their Fiesta exhibit is on display. Little girls just LOVE to dress up in the ballgowns and tiaras in the dressup area next to the actual prior costumes. Oo la la.
I also suggest you call the Witte Museum to see when their Fiesta exhibit is on display. Little girls just LOVE to dress up in the ballgowns and tiaras in the dressup area next to the actual prior costumes. Oo la la.
