Someone did recommend Lockhart for BBQ. Personally, I wouldn't drive out of my way to go to Lockhart. There is good bbq to be found in SA and Austin. If you are going to drive out of your way, go to The Salt Lick in Driftwood.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Trying to decide betwn Drury Plaza Riverwalk and Drury Inn and Suites Riverwalk...or if anyone has other suggestions for a riverwalk hotel I'm open! Thanks....

Personally, I would not go to the Salt Lick for BBQ even if it were NOT our of my way. Everyone has his own opinion about good BBQ!

Beatle, the only riverwalk hotel I have stayed at is the Marriot.

I always have suggested Salt Lick. It's good, but they have gotten SO HUGE that the last time we were there was a bad experience. They herd you into a huge, cavernous room (to the left) that is SO loud, and we were next to 3 tables of loud, drunk young people. We could barely carry on a conversation. If you must go, INSIST on sitting in the original building on the right. Otherwise, walk away.

Have not stayed at either of these Drury properties, Beatle, but the Drury Plaza is the larger of the two and has an indoor pool if that matters. They are within blocks of each other so location is about equal. Is there a loyalty to Drury? If not, there are other places that might suit.

For barbecue on the Riverwalk, the Hyatt Regency has recently totally redone their restaurant, now named Q and offering all sorts of barbecue. Have not been but hear good things. Further up the museum reach section of the Riverwalk (may be too chilly at that time to walk, but hop on a river taxi) at the Pearl Brewery you will find the Granary, which is getting great reviews for its barbecue. http://thegranarysa.com/

Thanks Seamus, and no loyalty to Drury, it looked good from the reviews, but I'm open to anything...would prefer a central riverwalk location.

No disrespect to the Drury, which is fine in its class, but if you want a little nicer Riverwalk experience there are plenty of other options. Consider the Hyatt Regency - it is smack in the middle of the Riverwalk (and has that barbecue restaurant!).
Hotel Contessa is a smaller property a little further along the river, nice spacious rooms as it was originally built to be an Embassy Suites property. Restaurant there serves good Spanish menu. There are also some larger properties with familiar brand flags - Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk, the "new" Grand Hyatt, the Westin. Hilton Palacio del Rio was the first hotel built using modular architecture, a bit dated but still popular and also right on the river. La Mansion del Rio (now operated by Omni hotels) is also on the river and a lovely historic property with a great restaurant, Las Canarias. Great place for a romantic getaway. Hotel Valencia is a sort of trendy boutique property.

Hotel Contessa is where we stay whenever we go to SA. If you sign up for updates on their website, you might get even better deals. I think it's a great value. All rooms are suites.

Thanks Seamus and Austin, will also look into those..

Another terrific hotel on the Riverwalk is the Mokara, formerly the Watermark Hotel. My husband was a hotel person in San Antonio prior to his retirement, but when we wanted a romantic night out without his staff knowing when, where, who and what we were doing, we went to the Momara. The hotels Seamus and Austin mentioned are all considered to be a cut above the Drury (which seems to be the Trip Advisor's DE pet hotel). I don't think the Westin has been mentioned yet and is also excellent, and in the same class as the aforementioned.

Thanks OO.... I just found a pretty good special rate for the Mokara, definitely in my budget. I welcome any advice...since I can afford it, would this be a good choice?

Absolutely. It's a very upscale hotel. The lobby reminds me of an intimate lobby one might find in a small 4 Seasons. It's location is great too, close to everything.

I wrote a long paragraph in a second thread about F'berg, and posted it I thought, but where it went is anyone's guess. I'm not as keen on F'berg as I was when we first moved there. It's lost some of its enchantment, IMHO, and these days we have more fun in Boerne (pronounced Burnie) or Gruene. I personally wouldn't spend the night. We would drive up for the day, hike Enchanted Rock, a lot of fun, eat at the German restaurant, Altdorf's Biergarten, then head back home. Part of the fun of that was the alfresco dining, which might not be so much fun in January, however!

We go to F'berg the back way, taking 281 to Blanco, where in the center of town is a traffic light...make a left turn (I believe the highway number is 1623) which takes you along the river then through some very pretty Hill Country countryside. It Ts into highway 290, make a left to F'b. Somewhere along the 1623 part there's another turn that could take you to Luchenbach if you should want to see that. It's just a tiny spot, and if it's a weekend you may run into some live music. GPS is definitely your friend!

My favorite restaurant downtown for Tex-Mex is Rosario's. It's not on the river, but a short car or cab ride away. Go for either lunch or dinner. It's is adjacent to the very pretty King William Historic District. I love walking the main street there, King William, and admiring the mid-late 1800s architecture. At the top of King William there is a house for the historical society (I believe it is) which has brochures outside near the street which describe all the homes and their original occupants. It's fun to keep in mind as you go through it, that at one time this had become a slum, properties subdivided into apartments, then someone with vision bought and began restoring them. It's gorgeous today. Also in this area is another good restaurant frequented by locals and tourists alike, Guenther House. It's on the grounds of the Pioneer Flour Mill. Parking is just off S Alamo St. As soon as you cross the river on S Alamo make a right turn into their drive. It's not that clearly marked...until you are right there. They are only open for breakfast or lunch, and both are very popular.

Hope you get nice weather and enjoy a very pretty part of TX!

OO.. Thanks so much! As I was about to reserve a rm at Mokara, a great deal also came in for la maison del rio...have also heard good things about that too!

If you book at la Maison del Rio, ask for a room overlooking the river . .

Thanks for the help. I have lodging in SA for 3 nights, then thinking of going to Fredericksburg, Hill country, LBJ ranch, to Austin, then back to SA and home from there...or I'm open to suggestions if someone would suggest another itinerary. I'm thinking about staying in the Fredericksburg area for 2 nights...am open as far as a B&B or motel, up to around $130/nt. Welcome any suggestions, Thanks!

I personally think one night in Fredericksburg is plenty, especially that time of year. There are dozens of B&Bs. I like the Roadrunner Inn, upstairs on the right. So cool.

I so agree Austin!! One night max, if you even decide to move hotels. It's an easy day trip from San Antonio, and you see some pretty Hill Country scenery going the back way from Blanco. Of course the Johnson ranch is off the road on the way back to Austin, but also an easy day trip from SA.

The first time we did Fredericksburg we stayed in a B&B…decades ago so I no longer recall the name. We'd driven down from Dallas, visited SA, then wanted to stay in F'berg as we'd never been. There was a ice storm, the B&B was absolutely frigid, with a space heater to keep us warm. The kids were bored, and we were wondering what all the hoopla was about. And still do!!

Thanks Austin and OO, While in F'burg, I'm going to LBJ ranch, and also Enchanted Rock...maybe to the Pacific war museum and possibly to Rockbox for some music...would 1 night be rushing it?

I haven't done the museum, but have hiked Enchanted Rock many times. I'd allow a couple of hours for a leisurely hike. It's a granite dome like Stone Mtn, a nice view from the top, but it doesn't take that long. You can do Rockbox in the evening. The ranch would probably be done on your drive to Austin as it's on the way. Remember, one night gives you two days which is more than enough time IMHO. If you are there on a weekday, and change your minds, it shouldn't be an issue getting another night, especially in January. F'berg is pretty much a weekend destination.