Malesherbes---sheesh we keep responding at the same time--I have read about the Guenther House and I too thot it would be a great place for breakfast or lunch depending on what time we get up!!I do think the walk is aok for us especially now that you told me you start from the Hyatt cuz I am pretty sure that is where we are staying.

You are a peach--thanks soooo much.

OMG Malesherbes--a dead fordorite what can I say--toooooo funny--you know I lurk on the other site have not posted anything yet--but miss everyone and I still look--hope everyone over there is well--as you can guess I am Siesta Key Florida--you guys are always so helpful--love you all and miss Patrick--Patash

Lots of good SA info. here.

We had family come and said Natural Bridge Caverns are wonderful. They also went to a wine tasting on way to Fredericksburg.

I always enjoy a trip to Frederickburg. I just like walking around there. I like Boerne, but it's not a big, not as many shops. You could do both is you want to. You will pass by Boerne on the way to Fredericksburg if you go on 10.

You could also go to Austin for a day trip. TX history museum. LBJ library. Different culture from SA or Fredericksburg.

I will also suggest the McNay art museum. It's free, beautiful grounds, built in an old house, has a historical movie to watch. On Broadway not far from downtown SA.

I'm not sure of the dates for Fiesta this year, sometime in April, but downtown gets busy.

We love King William area. Fun to walk around.

I've lived in D.C. and been to other places with much better public transp. SA has options, but don't expect a lot.

malesherbes-does the lavender farm have a tour for visitors or a gift shop?

We too will be going to Boerne to visit some old friends that live there. Is there anything else there or along the way worth stopping for? I promise not to tell either.

Also, has anyone been to Smittyville in Boerne?

No, someone please enlighten me what is Smittyville?

I don't think the shopping in Fredericksburg is as good as it once was. The number of quality shops have gone down the tubes and the roar of the 18 cruising down Main Street is offensive--where on earth are they coming from and where are they going I wonder?!? Boerne on the other hand is enjoying an upswing.

The National Museum of the Pacific War (formerly known as the Nimitiz Museum) in Fredericksburg is excellent.

Howdy malesherbes! :-)

AnnMarie_C: Do you mean "18-wheelers" coming down on main street?

If so, then I can tell you I've driven a 18-wheeler through Federicksburg. It's US290, a main route from Austin and central Texas to all points west, so it's a major trucking route. They have not built any bypass around the city.

AnnMarie (howdy back attcha!) is right about the upswing in Boerne and downturn in Fredericksburg. My two shopping buddies here with whom I do my "Boerne Shops" are native San Antonians and one's husband runs an inn in Fredericksburg. They were saying that Boerne and Fredericksburg tend to swing back and forth as to which has the better shops, and currently it's Boerne that's up and Fredericksburg is down. It has to do with the high cost of leasing space in Fredericksburg, and that retailers just can't pay it and make the profit they need, so look elsewhere...Boerne, in this case, to relocate. Then sooner or later Boerne will get expensive and the pendulum will swing again. Fredericksburg does have the Homestead, a fabulous shop with some terrific and pricey items. I still salivate thinking of the $500+ French duvet cover I saw, and left, :), there. It was gorgeous!

Linda, yes, a dead Fodorite. :) There are a few of us. Join in "over there"...many of us are "bi-boardal" and we'd love to have you too. My previous ID had a long happy life, but she is gone for good. (And this one will be too if I don't behave!--I'm such a rabble rouser! LOL not!) I knew you were Siesta Key, not Sleeping Linda as we posted about some of the same places, especially for the Sarasota area, which I loved too. We miss it, really miss the water, and our boat, still there, but I'm determined to find and hang onto the good in this area as long as we have to be here...and who knows, this might be it for us and moving! Radical thought...

The lavender farm was past bloom when we came across it so I'm not sure about tours, but the fields are right there to be enjoyed if you hit it at the right season. There is a gift shop too where you can buy dried bunches, live plants, and some other lavender products. I picked up a couple of plants and promptly killed them...

I'm not familiar with Smittyville either offlady, but we are still finding new places with each trip. Where and what is it?

Boerne had a little write up in Southern Living a couple of months ago if anyone has kept back issues.

rkkwan--yes, I meant to write 18 wheelers. Thank you so much for the insight, I had no idea.

And Malesherbes, thank you so much for the Fred vs. Boerne economic lesson ;-) The duvet cover must be delicious--I love Homestead!!

Buy Buy Birdie on Main Street in Boerne (try saying that 3 times fast!) has been in Southern Living two times that I know of within a short period of time. Word is getting out....

Have you been to Buy Buy Birdie, AM? The jury is still out for me. They've got some seriously funky stuff there!! I'm not sure that it'd ever fit my decor. Same actually is true for one of my favorites, Calamity Jane's, but I've found terrific things ($$$, but what the hey :() for our screened porch there. Viva Rouge too, with its MacKenzie-Childs collections, but I love it anyway. I <i>make</i> it fit.

I meant to add, if anyone wants to go to Boerne, don't go on a Monday...many of the shops, as well as our favorite restaurant, are closed after being open both Saturday and Sunday. We were surprised the one day we did this by mistake. We still managed to eke out things we had to have, but it was lots harder than normal. :)

I think lavender blooms in spring, peaking in May.

Smittyville is a fairly new addition to Boerne. I stumbled across this while researching on Boerne which got me interested.

http://www.sanantonioweddings.com/sp...otlight_id=129

I'm especially curious about the Victorian store. There are other shops such as a red hat club shop, and wedding facilites including a butterfly house. Sounds like a beautiful place.

Malesherbes, I have been to Buy Buy and on occassion have bought bought ;-) ...they sold a fabulous body powder from France at one time and I've picked up other other small items here and there that I've been very happy with. But my favorite reason for visiting that store is petting the kitties ((@))

Someone mentioned Luckenbach...but Siesta Linda was not told to put it on her 'must stop' list. Howzat?? (lol. it is someplace you have to go, just to say you've done it..&quot; And especially if you are a Willie fan.

Thanks everyone for all of your great info. Have the hill country drive figured out--will go to Boerne, then drive up to hellooo Luckenbach (knock back a Lone Star beer at least) then on to Fredricksburg and take the country road back thru the Lavender fields, if not in bloom, ok will at least buy some dried ones, ours from France are pretty much history.

Malesherbes--I think I figured out &quot;who you are&quot; so is the Hyatt a good place to stay in SA??--lol

Hubby and I talk about moving once in ahwile but I know I would miss the water--and we have been here over 20 years! So I know how you feel about the water so beautiful and hard to find elsewhere.

Again, thanks everyone will keep you posted on our progress---most important have to find someone to &quot;doggie sit&quot; the week we want to go--ugh animals--but could not live without.

I think two days exploring Riverwalk area is plenty.

And then probably one day for the mission trail. Will probably skit the caverns and such this trip.

SiestaLinda: This post seems to have been all over the map, but some interesting tidbits. If you happen to get to Boerne on the 2nd Saturday of the month, they set up their flea market in the center of town, which we always seem to find some pretty interesting items to pick up. If you go with the Hyatt on the Riverwalk, you won't be disappointed.

lbaboyd - So you prefer the Hyatt. I'm tossing between the Maison and the Hyatt. Maison is a little more expensive, but it seems to have more character, more flavor. Checking the Hyatt website it looks like a big corp hotel. Can you give me your opinion? Thanks a bunch!

Hyatt is, in fact, a big corporate hotel. I stay there frequently and don't use the hotel for anything but the room and rooftop pool.

Location can't be beat, and rooms and beds are very nice.

cjackson - assume you are referring to La Mansion. It is indeed a less corporate feeling property, though it was recently sold to the Omni hotel chain after years of being privately held. That said, the Hyatt is quite nicely done, and I beleive there was even a recent renovation, so you needn't worry about staying there. As several folks have mentioned, it is probably the best located hotel on the Riverwalk, smack in the center of everything.

We stayed at the Marriott Riverwalk (I think that was the one--) It is at one end of the 'river' don't remember which as it has been years since we were there.
Anyway, check out these links--alot of good info. and some webcams.


http://thesanantonioriverwalk.com/

http://heartofsanantonio.com/

http://heartofsanantonio.com/tourcity/index.asp

I haven't stayed in either hotel but spent time with friends who did when we were all at the Alamo Bowl in December. The Hyatt is a corporate Hotel but the location is unbeatable and the rooms/public areas are warm and inviting. You are literally steps away from the Alamo, the downtown shopping mall and are right on the Riverwalk.

The people we knew who stayed at La Mansion were, frankly, a little disappointed. They expected better in the way of updated room furnishings, etc. They made the comment that it wasn't worth the inflated prices. Ont he other hand, if you're considering a suite, you would probably enjoy the hotel--my son visited some friends who stayed in a suite and he said it was 'awesome.' (he's 16 :-) )

I guess if these are the only two hotels you're considering, I'd go with the Hyatt--JMHO.