Help me with San Antonio and Texas Hill country
 

Husband and I are planning a driving trip after flying to San Antonio on Sat. April 5. We have 10 days and want to concentrate on the Hill Country after spending 3 nights in SA (having been there before but wanting to revisit). Even at this early date I could find nothing at any price available near the Riverwalk. I did find a Quality Inn available south of Riverwalk area on I-10. If any of you know of this place (at White Rd) please give me feedback--is it okay, safe? I was told that that weekend is Fiesta and that is why it is sold out, right?

Now this is the rest of the itinerary.

2 nights Fredericksburg,
1 night Marble Falls
2 nights Austin
1 night New Braunfels
1 night at SA airport.

Question is: Is it worthwhile to go to Marble Falls for a night or should we add a night to Fredericksburg or Austin? What is to do/see at Marble Falls?

More questions later--
Thanks, Margo

That weekend is the Final Four men's college basketball championships that's why there are no hotel rooms. Why don't you reverse your trip and head out to the hill country after you arrive and then end up back in San Antonio to avoid the hotel problem?

That is a smart idea from William! I would add the extra night to Austin, especially if you've never been there. I've been to friends' lake houses near Marble Falls, but I'm not sure what other attractions there are.

Not much in Marble Falls proper (except for the Bluebonnet Cafe which shouldn't be missed for a proper Texas meal!) - lotsa granite... Not too far from Marble Falls though is Pedernales Falls State Park which I've enjoyed very much. I'd probably go back to Austin for the night.

While you're in the New Braunfels area, I'd visit Gruene - a great little town where you can eat at the Grist Mill, go to Gruene Hall for live music, and shop at little antique places. The Grist Mill is fun - lots of decks and right on the river, good homemade wine coolers, and they sometimes have live music.

Hey volcanogirl (as long as you're here), what's the dress code at Boudro's on a Friday night?

Not volcanogirl but I've been to Boudros plenty of times. It is casual, in fact most places on the Riverwalk are with a few exceptions.

Oh...I absolutely agree with williamscb13 suggestion to do other areas first and come back to San Antonio when the Final Four is gone. It will be bedlam in the city with oodles of high level corporate types, a la Super Bowl--not the best time to experience the city. I will have to get into that mess for corporate entertaining and am dreading every aspect of it.

Margo, sorry for taking this off-topic (but may it will help you too!)

OO, thanks for the info (and by the way, we ARE staying at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk).

I agree with OO; pretty much everything is casual. We like to sit outside, so wear something that will be cool and comfortable.

Casual as in jeans and top, or casual as in nice slacks and sweater/blouse?

In Texas (and most of the South), casual is whatever you want to wear. Nobody cares what you're wearing. Just be comfortable and wear what you usually wear. For me, casual means jeans or shorts and a top. Trust me, clothes are not something worth worrying over, especially when visiting someplace like San Antonio. It's all good.

Thanks to my Fodor buddies, I was able to avoid a possible disaster (at least crowded restaurants and impossible hotel situation) for the weekend of April 5-6. Who knew that there was to be a BB Tournament on that weekend when I was making vacation plans! Anyway, we were able to flip the 10 days around and end up in SA the following weekend when there were more hotels available. So now we have:
2 nights New Braunfels
3 nights Austin
2 nights Fredericksburg
3 nights San Antonio

I'll have several questions about restaurants and things to see and do but for the moment I would like to ask if I would need reservations in Gruene at The Grist Mill on a Saturday night?
Thanks, Margo

Margo, we've never made reservations ahead, but sometimes you do have to wait. We usually just put our name on the list and then relax with one of their homemade wine coolers - good stuff.

Just got back last week from a week at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk. I would highly recommend calling the hotel in advance and asking for a room with either an Alamo or River view. The atrium view rooms are dark and people can see into them from just about anywhere inside the hotel or even from the elevators since the elevators are all glass walled.

We had a wonderful view of the Alamo and Hemisphere Tower from our 7th floor room. It faced the front of the hotel (Losoya Street). Lower floors on that side of the building will have the view blocked by the parking garage across the street so ask for a higher floor (at least 6th - 11th floor).

We enjoyed the meals we had at Boudro's and Paesanos. Didn't care for the bland Tex-Mex at Rio Rio. Also had a great time at Jim Cullum's Landing, the small jazz club at the Hyatt. Good drinks, great tradtional jazz music.

Margo, what do you plan to do with 2 days in New Braunfels? We passed through last weekend, and there didn't seem to be anything there worth stopping for. We did enjoy a few hours in Gruene, but can't really say an overnight would have been worthwhile.

Margo, since you asked about restaurants, we like the Huisache Grill in New Braunfels. I agree with dm that NB doesn't have much to offer a tourist. It's really popular for tubing on the river and for the world's #1 water park Schlitterbahn, but other than that, we haven't found much to do. I don't think the park opens until the end of April.

I don't think the Grist Mill takes reservations. Here is the website if you want to email:

http://gristmillrestaurant.com/

A little ways outside of Austin on the south side, is The Salt Lick, with TERRIFIC Texas barbecue. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I was in Austin in January...

I don't think New Braunfels needs two nights. I dont' even think it needs one - I'd add another night to Fredericksburg or Austin. NB is about 30 minutes (max) north of SA.

And I second the Salt Lick. Don't forget to BYOB. I always bring a bottle of wine - and my own glass. WHile you wait outside for them to call your name you can enjoy your beverage outside with the others.