Good Old San Antonio

On New Years Eve, one of the best things to do is to stay downtown off the river walk. The clubs are booming, there are bands playing downtown, and then at midnight there is an elaborate fireworks display.

During the day, down the river walk, there are vendors and artists. There are several gift shops with unique items and several restaurants to choose from. One of my favorite restaurants is La Margarita, which is downtown, in the Market Square. On weekends, there are usually mariachis, and live bands.

Quick Tips:

If you are going to visit San Antonio, you will need at least a week to see and take everything in. A rental car is a must! The best time to visit San Antonio is in the Spring, or in the Fall. The summer months are pretty hot and humid. However, if you can bare the heat, the sights are still beautiful. Don't forget your camera, and plenty of film, becaue San Antonio unique, and no other city can compare to it.

Best Way To Get Around:

A rental vehicle is the best way to get all the sights in. If you plan to be there just for a weekend, and are staying downtown, then I recommend walking and/or a taxi. There is a public bus system called the Via Via, and it goes through out San Antonio also.

We had a suite with a one bedroom. It had a little bar area that included a granite counter top, sink and small refrigerator, microwave, and a coffee maker. Its living room had simple furniture in it. The bedroom had two queen size beds and a balcony that overlooked the river walk, which is real nice. The hotel is within walking distance to the night clubs on the river walk and to the restaurants. The Drury Inn served us a continental breakfast in the morning.

Mi Tierra's is located downtown. It is open 24 hours. Whatever kind of Mexican food and some American food can be ordered there. They also have a little Mexican bakery with fresh Mexican pastries and homemade Mexican candy with pecans in it. I like to order one of the combination plates because I can never choose from all the delicious food there. They also sell mixed drinks and beer there. It is an atmosphere the whole family can enjoy.

Fiesta Texas is uniquely designed architecturally. It has a large, beautiful waterfall as you approach Fiesta Texas that deserves a Kodak Moment. As you enter Fiesta Texas, the entryway is paved in a Spanish Tile, and there are Spanish-looking shops, restaurants, and gift stores in the entry. They have a nice Western show and a variety of other shows.

There is a real large water park that my kids enjoy going to. They have plenty of chairs, but not a whole lot of shade. You will need to have your bathing suit and own towels. There are lockers that you can rent to put your personal belongings in.

At night, they have a real nice fireworks and laser light show that shouldn't be missed. If you are taking an older loved one, they do have wheelchairs available that can be checked out.

The landscaping is very nice. They have been remodeling and adding a whole lot to the San Antonio zoo. It is always very well kept. It is clean. There are several spots to sit down and rest in the shade.

The Cowboy Bar is located in Helotes, TX, a little town (suburb) right outside San Antonio, outside loop 1604. The Cowboy Bar is like a little club, not a bar. It has a live band everyday except Thursdays, which is karaoke night. The bands they hire are always fantastic. The drinks are cheap. They have plenty of high tables and bar stools to sit on. The age of people that go there ranges from 23 years to 55/60 years old. Of course, the majority is around 30 to 45 years old. In between country music, they play a little bit of classic rock, disco, etc.

The San Antonio Rodeo comes every year and lasts for about 2 weeks. It is always in February around Valentine’s Day. It is held at the SBC Center, off Coloseum Road. During the day, you can go to the rodeo and see all the livestock up for auction. A lot of students are usually involved with different kinds of competitions on raising their animals.

You can get in the gate for about $5. There is always a carnival adjacent to the rodeo grounds where the kids can ride the rides. My kid's favorite are seeing the animals and eating from one of the food vendors there.

At night during the week, the rodeo usually starts around 7pm, and there are all kinds of famous bands that play live in concert. There is a different one every night. You will need to purchase a ticket for the actual rodeo, and the price depends on which seat you want to sit in. There are a variety of events that take place at the rodeo. The bull-riding is my favorite.

There are plenty of little stores inside the SBC Center, where you can purchase souvenirs and snacks.

This particular event, is when everyone, whether you are a cowboy or not, can wear your jeans, cowboy hat, and boots and blend right in.