The next day we headed for San Antonio, which is about an hour and half south from Austin. Since it was another rainy day, we decided to go see Wonder Woman 1984 at the movie theater. We got Chinese food after the movie, and then celebrated NYE with sparkling wine. Our hotel was in downtown San Antonio so got to watch fireworks shows from the rooftop. It was pretty spectacular, and a great way to ring in the new year.
The next day after the most amazing latte at Revolutcion Coffee, we set off the Riverwalk. Words do not do the San Antonio Riverwalk justice. I saw someone post that they told their husband that they were so happy there that if they died there it would be fine. I understand the sentiment. The place is beautiful and magical. The Riverwalk is one of the most popular tourist attractions for a reason. It is one level down from the main street, and connects both sides with bridges (it is 2.5 miles long). The plans were developed in 1929 by architect Robert Hugman, and funds were raised by mayor Jack White in 1939 to beautify the Riverwalk. We walked around the River Walk pretty early so we could explore. We walked to the Love Lock Bridge, which has lockets like Lovers’ Bridge in Paris, France. The Bear County Courthouse is near, which is a beautiful old building.
Afterwards we got a beer at the Buckhorn Saloon where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the Rough Riders. The place was owned by Albert Friedrich, and housed his unique collection, which is now a museum. The museum contains mounted wildlife from all over the world, and has a Texas Ranger Museum. There is a recreation of San Antonio at the turn of the century. The place serves good beer, and you can take in some of the oddities there.
We headed out of downtown to continue exploring the city. When in San Antonio, I recommend you visit the Japanese Gardens since they are a beautiful and peaceful place you can take a nice hike through. The Japanese Tea Garden was originally an abandoned stone quarry that was turned into a garden, and opened in 1942.
You can take a trail to get a great view of the gardens if you should so desire (just continue hiking up the trail). The Gardens sell bubble or iced tea to help enhance your visit there, or if you simply get thirsty. The San Antonio Zoo is next door if you want to combine both places.
That evening we headed back to the Riverwalk to experience it at night. We were there when the Christmas Lights were up so it looked magical. I posted a video you can see on the Wayfaring Gals Facebook page. You can grab a drink and stroll, or sit at one of the many bars or restaurants along the Riverwalk, and just take in the scenery. You have to enjoy the Riverwalk as much you can when in San Antonio.
The next day we visited the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which preserves four Spanish frontier missions, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These missions were part of the Spanish colonization that stretched across the Southwest from the 17th -19th centuries. We visited the Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, which was founded in 1720. The arched exterior of the church is particularly beautiful. You can go inside the church as this is an active parish. The grounds are peaceful and I recommend you visit them when in San Antonio since they are unique to the area.
I also recommend you visit Market Square in San Antonio, which is the largest Mexican market in the US. There’s restaurants, shops filled with Mexican goods, food stands, and people selling unique and handmade wares. I couldn’t resist some of the fun clothing items there either. It’s such a colorful and vibrant place. We walked there from the Riverwalk.
In the evening during certain days and times, San Fernando Cathedral hosts a light show which depicts the history of San Antonio, giving you a visual journey from discovery, to settlement to current development. It’s about 20 minutes long, and you want to get there early enough to grab a good seat. I’ve never seen anything like it, and thinks it great that the church hosts this unique event.
The last place I visited before leaving San Antonio was the most famous, the Alamo; made famous by the Battle of the Alamo which occurred from Feb. 23- March 6,1836. The famous battle was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. The Mexican general Santa Anna’s cruelty during the battle inspired many to join the Texan army.
The Alamo is free to get in, but you have to pay for guided tour, which I recommend you take. At the entrance, there’s a memorial to the famous men that fought in the battle. There are maps and dioramas to show you how the site used to look since it is much smaller now. The guided tour included a ticket to the church, and the tour went through it. You can see where the women and children were during the battle. There is an exhibit that I recommend you see before leaving the site that contains artifacts, weapons, and uniforms from the battle. The grounds contain sculptures, artwork, and people dressed from the time period explaining various interesting tidbits, or showing maps of what the world and country looked like in 1836. The Alamo is a must see when in San Antonio and I can’t imagine a person that would not enjoy a visit there. You will have a better understanding of the fight for Texas’ freedom.
After leaving San Antonio, we headed north, and stopped at Fredericksburg, a small and charming town known for the wineries in the area. We had lunch a Fredericksburg Brewing Company, and sampled some the beer, which was good. We had a good lunch there (we were simple and got pizza). The brewery contains flags from all over the world and is fun place.
Main Street in Fredericksburg has a lot of shops, bars, galleries and other small businesses you can stroll through. I even heard live music for the first time in a long time. There is a park, Marktplatz von Fredericksburg, near downtown that was decorated in German style Christmas decorations. The park also has gardens, picnic and play areas. The Vereins Kirche Museum (Pioneer Museum) is there. It is a historical landmark. Fredericksburg is a nice town to spend a day or weekend in to get away from city life.
Afterwards, we headed up north to spend the night in Fort Worth, since we loved the Stockyards and wanted one last look before heading home. We took another trip there in the evening to have a spicy margarita at Lil Red’s Longhorn Saloon at the Stockyards. You can sit in saddles or regular bar stools. You can have Buffalo Butt Beer (see the pic). We had a fun time before heading back to our hotel.
We were able to make it back home in a day. We had a great time in Texas so I hope the posts help you plan your getaway to some of the cities there. If you like our Facebook page, there are videos from the trip posted that you can check out as well. I also update the Instagram WayfaringGal page (which has more photos from the trip) with new posts. Thank you for reading, and comments and feedback are always welcome since that is how we learn and grow.
