Hello

I am looking for a place to visit for a long weekend (maybe 3 or 4 days) in mid-November from my home in Washington, DC.

There are pretty good airfare deals currently running to Austin and San Antonio. I have been to neither city, and both sound nice. My primary question is whcih one might make for a better trip?

In reading about them, Austin sounds like a nicer city for a long stay, while San Antonio maybe has more intersting "sights" suited for a short visit.

If anyone has other suggestions, I'd consider those also!

Howard

It depends on what you're looking for! If you just want some R & R and WON'T have a car, I'd say go to San Antonio, get a place near the Riverwalk and just hang out - great restaurants, shopping, The Alamo and other stunning Missions are nearby.

If you have a car, why not do both? Austin, the State Capitol, has a great Capitol tour, very interesting Lyndon B. Johnson Library and his ranch is also close by with an excellent tour. And if your REALLY want to pack it in, drive to College Station and visit Pres. Bush's Library. Check out George W's Mansion while you're there - not too shabby!

Again, it all depends on what you WANT to do, whether you want to see and do EVERYTHING possible, or if you just want to veg out. Whatever you choose, you're certain to have fun!

OOP ~ My previous post makes it sound like George W's Governor's Mansion is in College Station; obviously, it's not. It's within walking distance of the State Capitol Building in Austin.

Hello again,

I should have added that I will not have a car on the trip. Even if I did, I would not want to cram in two major cities in one short vist. Since there will be no car, I'm looking for a place that is walker friendly - things to do within walking distance. For something interesting, I'm not averse to cab/bus.

looking more for sightseeing, than simply R&R.

Ellen - thanx for your quick responses!

Howard

I love Austin and have visited it numerous times. This year I also visited San Antonio for the first time. (BTW, I'm from DC too -- good idea to grab a good fare when you can because they don't come around that often.) If you do a search you can find a trip report I wrote in May or June from my trip to Austin & San Antonio earlier this year, which has a lot of details on restaurants, etc. Both cities have a lot to offer. However, San Antonio seems a lot easier to get around without a car than Austin -- I found it very walkable. I do think that in a 3 or 4-day trip you could definitely do both; they are only about an hour apart -- but you said you didn't want to do that so if you have to choose one and won't have a car, I say choose San Antonio. However, even San Antonio would be a lot easier with a car -- e.g. for exploring some of the missions outside of town at your leisure, which I definitely recommend.

hi, the weather should be beautiful that time of year. If you don't have a car, san antonio is probably a safer bet. i love austin but its interesting sights are more spread out (however, if you're really into music and nightlife, i think austin is still your better bet.)

in san antonio, stay somewhere on or near the riverwalk _ maybe la mansion or the menger or the fairmount_ and you'll have plenty of places to eat, shop and wander around. if it's possible, though, i would really recommend getting a car for at least one day, to see the mission trail or one of the little hill country towns like boerne. have fun...

I agree that San Antonio is a much better city to do without a car. I do second the recommendation to at least get a car for one day to see the Hill Country and the Missions. If you are an outdoorsy type, the Enchanted Rock State Park is a great place to spend the day!

Any of the big hotels on/near the Riverwalk will be ideal. We loved the St. Anthony, which is a Wyndham Grand Heritage property, and it is a block off the Riverwalk.

Howdy, Never been to Austin (tho we love to watch Austin City Limits on PBS) but I've been to San Anronio 2x this year. Once on business and the other with my wife since I liked the town so much.

Stayed at the Menger the first trip. Great, old hotel...Haunted, too.
Next door to the Alamo and about a block from the Riverwalk.

Second time we stayed on the other side of the Alamo at the Emily Morgan, another haunted hotel!
Both hotels were nice but if we go back, I'd choose the Menger.

The Riverwalk is like Bourbon St./New Orleans with boats...but no "Go cups". Great restaurants, music, shopping and people.

Good transportation system, too. Took the trolley out to El Mercado. Walked down to the Tower of the Americas and had the Spurs went further in the NBA playoffs we could have walked to the Alamodome.

Hit a dude ranch out in the Bandera area for a BBQ and some singin' around the campfire. Beautiful area...

I can just taste the carne asada at the Casa Rio!
Good luck