Texas: Land in San Antonio or Austin
 

Hi All,

My GF and I will be visiting Texas for 4 nights for NYE this year! We're in our mid 20s and enjoy hiking, museums, exploring, partying, bars and FOOD(bbq)!! So my question is should i fly into San Antonio or Austin? Which ever city we fly into is where we will spend 3 days at and the other city will be a One day trip. Any input will be helpful! Please note that San Antonio is a little bit pricier.

Austin

Yes, Austin. You will love it.

Austin. No contest.

Thanks for the responses! But any reason why Austin over San Antonio for us?

I've only been to Austin, not San Antonio, but probably because of your ages and the interests you listed--it's a young, fun city. I'm more than twice your age and I visit every chance I get.

The main reason we are all recommending Austin over San Antonio is that Austin will have a lot more in the way of partying and bars for someone in their mid-20's. (There's a good reason people like to go to the University of Texas!)

You'll also find some great museums--Blanton Museum of Art, Texas Memorial Museum (natural history) and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. (These museums are all located on or adjacent to the UT campus, which makes things easy.)

You'll find some great hiking near Austin as well. You could hike at Mt. Bonnell if you want to stay in the city or go to Pedernales Falls State Park (about 1 hour from Austin) or Enchanted Rock State Park (just a little less than 2 hours from Austin) for better hiking.

And as I don't want to start a BBQ war here, I won't mention my favorite place (but it starts with an "I"). I'm sure you'll enjoy any BBQ spot you choose.

Have I convinced you that Austin is the place to go?

<<We're in our mid 20s and enjoy hiking, museums, exploring, partying, bars and FOOD(bbq)>>

<<But any reason why Austin over San Antonio for us>>

Yeah: Austin is better for each of your stated interests than San Antonio, that's why.

San Antonio gets a lot of families with children, conventioneers, and older couples. It doesn't excel in any of the things on your list. It's a place my parents really enjoyed. Austin, on the other hand, is the live music capital of Texas (and not just country but all kinds of music). It has some of the state's best restaurants.

In fact, I'm not even sure I'd recommend San Antonio for you for your day-trip. You might consider Lockhart (for bbq) or the Hill Country (for hiking or just scenic drives). I realize that there is a tendency to head for San Antonio because that's where the Alamo is, but you might find it a bit disappointing.

We loved both cities, but we found San Antonio has more to offer than Austin. San Antonio has the riverwalk, a very picturesque boardwalk along the river with tons of restaurants and bars and tropical vegetation. Also, San Antonio has a Mexican neighborhood and a German neighborhood. The Museum of Seven Nations is outstanding and there is an excellent art museum. And you have the five missions. Lots of restaurants of all kinds. A most charming city.

Austin is strong in music. You have a dozen or so blues music clubs. Antone's is strong and also the Continental Blues Club.

Finally, it is a hard choice.

In any case, look for the program of Gruene's Dance Hall. It is an amazing place where all the celebrity's have performed.

Austin should be a blast on New Year's Eve. The live music, which is always great, will be amazing.

I think San Antonio is worth a day trip, if just to see the Alamo and do the Riverwalk. The city has its own special charms.

longhorn55: Thank you for your response! It looks like Austin it is! I'll definitely research up those museums and hiking trails you mentioned. We still have 3 months to plan=).
Doug_Stallings: Thanks for your input but I think i will have to visit San Antonio since it'll probably be the only chance I get to visit it. I really want to check out the Alamo as well as the River Walk and the drive isn't bad to SA.
traveller1959: Thanks! I'll look into the Dance Hall!
jayne1973: Yep! Sounds like Austin it is!

Boudro's on the River Walk is a fun place to eat - good tableside guacamole and prickly pear margaritas. SA feels more touristy than Austin, but the Alamo and River Walk are worth a day trip.

http://boudros.com/

We also really like Gruene - lots of little shops, Texas' oldest dance hall mentioned above, and the Grist Mill restaurant right on the river - good homemade wine coolers and sometimes they have live music.


http://gristmillrestaurant.com/

The Salt Lick is good for bbq or Black's if you make it to Lockhart.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Driftwood.html

http://blacksbbq.com/

If the weather is nice, you can head out to the lake and get some drinks at The Oasis. It's a good place to enjoy the sunset.

http://oasis-austin.com/

Also like Mt. Bonnell - great views. The bats are fun to see too, but looks like you'll miss bat season.

VolcanoGirl. Grene sounds awesome! We love little boutique type shops. They always have the most interesting items. I think we will have to visit Salt Lick. I keep reading that name through my google searches and it also has awesome Yelp reviews.

If you are spending an evening at the dance hall in Gruene, please make a reservation to stay in Gruene that night. Unless you do not drink alcohol at all, you will b dancing your butts of at the hall, and drinking beer in true TX fashion. Do not try to drive back to SA or Austin after a night at Gruene, unless you are really wanting a night in a real TX jail. Book a hotel or B&B Rm ASAP. There are not a plethora of places to stay.

Everyone has different BBQ places they like in Austin. Since you like BBQ and live music, look into who is playing at Stubbs BBQ in their big basement music club during your time there. I like the BBQ there.

San Antonio is wonderful for a day trip. It is a completely different vibe and a lot different culturally from Austin. The art museum there often has great exhibits. I saw a fantastic Dale Chihuly exhibit there a few yrs ago. There is so much more than the Alamo! San Antonio has the best Tex Mex food in TX, IMO, and I lived in TX. for 30 yrs. Drive through the lovely King George area with spectacular Victorian homes.

If you stay in S.A. Guenther House is a nice spot for breakfast. I agree about the King George area - very pretty.

emd3: Thank you for your responses! No plans for TX jail here... =).

We book our trip already and definitely will do a day trip in SA. Guenther looks really good! We might check that out also!

And if you like beer, buy local. Texas's craft brewers are making some good stuff - fish, barrel, shotgun as to what to get.

http://www.craftbeeraustin.com/

No, I'm not affiliated with any of them.

BigRuss: I'm more of a Wine guy but can still enjoy a good beer! Thank you.