As part of a conference I'll be attending in San Antonio in September, I have the option to spend a day either on the Mission Trail or in the Hill Country (including the LBJ Ranch and Fredericksburg). I don't know a thing about either, so I'm curious - which would you recommend?

Thanks!
Meredith

I'm not sure what the "Mission Trail" is. Where are they putting you up? If you stay in the hill country you are really isolated. If you like to see farm land and a few antique stores you could stay there, but there is really nothing to do at night but listen to the wolves cry. Some of the hill country towns are very nice, but tiresome.

Hill Country is a pretty far drive, buth the LBJ Ranch MAY be worth it, depending on your tastes.

The Mission Trail might be associated with the 5 to 7 old world missions that are part of the National Parks System. We did a great photo study at these in the early morning/early evening lights. If you like Spanish architecture and you want to drive the 30(?) mile stretch and back, check out www.nps.gov under national monuments.

PS: watch out for guacamole on the River Walk in San Antonio! My wife got food poisoning in '96!

I just did the Mission Trail a couple of weeks ago. Very enjoyable. We'd done the Alamo on previous visits so didn't do that again, but saw both Mission San Jose and Concepcion this trip. Toured them well, taking our time, and spent several hours at it, but those two were enough and we were ready to pack it in after that.

I've never done the LBJ tour but hear it's fascinating. Fredericksburg, IMHO, is a "has been". It was cute and fun 10-15 years ago, then discovered, and now doesn't look near as cute and fun as it used to. We just drove through on this trip on our way to hiking Enchanted Rock. You may love it, but it's become very touristy. It all depends on the types of things you prefer...if you like folksy sorts of shops do Fredericksburg, if you prefer museums and historic sites, the Mission Trail won't disappoint you.

A sense of foreboding tells me that the Alamo would be the best place to go. As the outnumbered Texans were crushed by superior numbers of Mexicans in 1836, so will the modern Texans in the 21st Century. The past can repeat itself, ever imperfectly.

The Mission Trail (in San Antonio) is interesting and, if you are there on a Sunday, go to Mariachi Mass at Mission San Jose at noon. The Hill Country (LBJ ranch) is about an hour north. If you like scenery, then go up to Johnson City and take 190 to Texas 1 (goes by LBJ ranch). You can get a tour or see it yourself (can't go into the house but near it). Then continue on 190 west to Fredericksburg (a little touristy but if you have never been), take the Willow City Loop for some nice scenery and animals(dirt road thru people's property and you cross real cattle guards), then come back to I10 and go east to SA. Check out mysanantonio.com, traveltex.com or savisit.com

Oh, yes. For food try Paisiano's on the Riverwalk for Italian and Mi Tierra (SA institution) or Margarita's in the Mercado (Market) for Mexican, The Landing for jazz and drinks.

Wow, that is a tough choice! I'm a fairly frequent visitor to San Antone, and I have done both of these activities and enjoyed them immensely. The weather in September is usually mild, so being outside in the heat won't be a factor.

I guess it comes down to what type of activity do you enjoy more: shopping or historical sightseeing? Fredricksburg has lots of cute, fun shops to browse, and the mission trail is more history and architecture.

I hope I helped a little! Seriously, you'll have fun on either activity!

Meredith-
You got mostly good advice from the above posts. Fredricksburg has become overdone wiht the typical touristy tacky touch, but the LBJ library is cool. The mission trail woould be my choice, because it is historic and quite neat.
BTW, is I can't in good conscience recommend Mi Tierra - it is a local institution, but mostly as a tourist trap. The same is even more true of Casa Rio - great location, lousy food. If you want good Mexican food, try Paloma Blanca on Broadway or El Mirador; on the RIverwlak there's great American bistro at Boudro's (reserve ahead if posible and do not miss the prepared at tableside guacamole salad) or Presidio, Italian at Paesano's, and of course there are the cookie-cutter overpriced but consistent chains like Ruth's Chris and The Palm if you crave a good steak.
Enjoy!

I highly recommend Paesano's also. It was our favorite restaurant and we ate there twice. Late one night, after having a late lunch, we had their appetizers for our meal(there were three of us and we shared.) They were wonderful and very economical. Don't get a margarita there though. Get a "Prickly Pear Margarita" at Boudro's. Delicious and do get the table side prepared guacamole salad. It was wonderful. (though in our opinion the rest of dinner there was just average.) Didn't get around to doing the Mission Trail or Hill Country so can't help you there. Do enjoy your trip. Last night was so pretty here, that we were just commenting how we'd love to be strolling along Riverwalk and eating under the stars. Alas there is nowhere in town to do that here.

The weather in Sept. is only mild to those have lived there thru the summer. In Sept. it starts to drop below the 100's/