An Epic Two Night Stay In San Antonio Texas
What To Do In San Antonio For A Weekend
Before driving to Texas I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect of San Antonio. I just kept hearing my moms voice telling me “Oh the Riverwalk”, “Let’s see the Riverwalk”. I could hear her voice because she was along for our road trip from California to Houston. For us, the best part of visiting new places is of course, sharing it with family.
So Let’s Plan A Trip To San Antonio.
Suggested hotel: Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk. Make sure it is the Plaza Hotel. This one had a better rooftop pool/spa and beautiful views of the downtown city. A little pricey, but it has a gym, rooftop pool, two rooftop spas and gorgeous views of the city at night. Also included was a happy hour with 3 complimentary drinks and multiple snacks to choose from as well as full free breakfast. San Antonio is huge, so there are multiple options you can make work with any budget. If you aren’t staying at the Drury Plaza Hotel, I would recommend searching and selecting a hotel in the area. This will provide you with close/ easy access onto the Riverwalk, which is key to all the souvenir shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Also, if you are a lover of history, the Drury Plaza Hotel does not disappoint.
The building is 24 stories tall, and spans an entire city block. It was originally completed in 1929 and has elegant marble and granite inside the lobby. Once home to The Alamo Nation Bank, this building now includes a parking garage and in 2005 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2007, it re-opened as the Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk.
Now Lets Get Back to Planning Your Weekend
Kari Enjoying A Few (but actually included 3 other people’s drinks including non alcoholic)
Friday: Arrive early. Try earlier than 5:30pm so you are in time for the complimentary happy hour. This includes baked potatoes, chili, chips, hot dogs, nachos and several other snacks, as well as several adult (and non alcoholic) beverages (see picture of Kari enjoying a few). Quite the good time! For those of you who are celiac or gluten intolerant , there were not as many options, but I love baked potatoes and downed a few of those. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, providing a cheat sheet of gluten free items at the happy hour.
After the happy hour, we enjoyed a brief stroll on the Riverwalk, just a block or two from the hotel. This included a few shops, ice cream parlors and several bars. We opted for the scenery and an enjoyable walk after driving all day. We did manage to return early enough for some fun at the rooftop spa. A beautiful 360 degree view of the city.
Rooftop Spa (Tammy, Tyler, Kari)
Saturday: Get up and ready for your tour of The Alamo. “COME AND TAKE IT”. If you’re capable, it’s only a short walk and free entry into the Alamo. Within 15 minutes you can walk from your hotel after enjoying the complimentary breakfast. No pets allowed, so we had to take turns touring with our family while the others waited with our yorkie. The Alamo provides a short but informative history lesson and a nice video detailing events that led up to and included the battle. The Alamo was much smaller in person compared to the huge buildings that now surround it, but it was an excellent history lesson. An if history isn’t your thing, well, you can visit the shops across the street. Something for everyone!
After the Alamo, lets get back to the Riverwalk. If you can’t tell by now, we are not big drinkers, but we do like to walk! This time on the Riverwalk, it’s daylight, many more shops are open and you can find a good spot for lunch. We went with Joe’s Crab Shack. I know, I know. Why there? Of all places! Well, because it was the one that let our Yorkie in with us, and had some gluten free options. However, I can’t even begin to list the options you have. Once you’re done eating, don’t walk anymore. We are done with that! Catch the boat tour with Go Rio.
The Alamo: Come And Take It
Go Rio Boat Preparing To Get Passengers
A Cruise Down The Riverwalk
Spencer checking out the boats from above.
You can hop in. Sit down. And enjoy a narrated cruise detailing San Antonio’s rich history. This includes where General Santa Anna placed his cannon line in the Battle of the Alamo, as well as learning about the city’s architecture and points of interest. There is Selena’s Bridge, where her husband proposed to her as depicted in the movie, and you will also see the Hyatt Regency Hotel, specifically designed to avoid not casting a shadow on The Alamo. There are several other historical points of interest as well as enjoying the canal system that makes up the Riverwalk. Great time for photos!
By now it may be getting close to happy hour at the Drury. Get some snacks, an orange juice, and relax before heading out again. We concluded our evening with a dinner at Rio Rio Mexican Grill to have a taste of Tex Mex. Great Mexican food according to my wife, who loves to judge based on a bean and cheese burritos. So if that’s your thing, then head there. Outdoor seating along the river walk is available. If you have gluten issues, you can go with the chicken fajitas and avoid the tortillas, since they come on the side, its perfect! Just let your waiter know to to avoid cross-contamination!
Appetizer at Rio Rio
A Shot From Inside The Go Rio Boats
As it was our last night in the city, we reflected on our trip...
Historic Hotel
Rooftop Pool/Spa
The Riverwalk
Narrated River Cruise
The Alamo
Rio Rio Mexican Grill
So how to end your last evening. It was simple for us. We chose the hotel rooftop spa. With 360 degree views of the city, and relaxation on our mind, there was nothing better. We just completed our week of travel from California, and had a few more driving hours to reach Houston. We were too exhausted for anything else. If you have more time, I would recommend visiting the Natural Bridge Caverns near by, on our list but missed due to time constraint, or some of the other bars and shops along the Riverwalk. Otherwise, hope you enjoyed the quick weekend trip in San Antonio.