First Time at the Rodeo - San Antonio Advice, Anyone?

[hilary1617]

Long story, but my husband and our two kids (ages 13 and 10) are going to spend a week in San Antonio, where none of us have ever been. We are splitting time between a resort with a lazy river in the "Hill Country" for the kids and a place along the Riverwalk for the grown-ups. I've had no time to plan anything other than hotels and planes, but we will, of couse, check out the Alamo and have heard we should head to see the rodeo in Tejas Rodeo in Bulverde. Any Texans or prior Texas visitors with tips on activities?

 

[k9ophile]

I did my basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. I got one day to go into town. The October Fest was going on at the Riverwalk. Beer, good! (I remember an unfortunate wig purchase. LOL)

I usually check out the Chamber of Commerce and Trip Advisor when going to a new place. I'm drooling over all the Tex-Mex restaurants you'll be able to visit.

 

[bearmom]

I'm glad you asked this, because I'm also going to San Antonio for the first time at the end of this month, and other than river walk and the Alamo, I haven't nailed down many plans. We usually check out whatever museums are around, and historic buildings and missions, but that can get tiring for kids. There is a Six Flags a few minutes from there, which I always think is good fun, if it's not spring break or some exceptionally busy time.

I was also hoping to get good ideas when I saw your post because it seems like there aren't that many suggestions other than a few repeated things when I look up what to do there.

 

[hilary1617]

I did my basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. I got one day to go into town. The October Fest was going on at the Riverwalk. Beer, good! (I remember an unfortunate wig purchase. LOL)

I usually check out the Chamber of Commerce and Trip Advisor when going to a new place. I'm drooling over all the Tex-Mex restaurants you'll be able to visit.

Sounds like you chose the right day to go into town! Food should be great, I'm hoping for some fabulous steaks.

My dad underwent some training at Lackland back in the day, well before I was a twinkle in his eye. He always repeats a stories about how his CO woud tell him to "reach for Texas"... I suspect that was a local translation for "drop and give me 20".

 

[hilary1617]

I'm glad you asked this, because I'm also going to San Antonio for the first time at the end of this month, and other than river walk and the Alamo, I haven't nailed down many plans. We usually check out whatever museums are around, and historic buildings and missions, but that can get tiring for kids. There is a Six Flags a few minutes from there, which I always think is good fun, if it's not spring break or some exceptionally busy time.

I was also hoping to get good ideas when I saw your post because it seems like there aren't that many suggestions other than a few repeated things when I look up what to do there.

I've heard great things, but in terms of planning haven't had enough time and haven't seen anything absolutely compelling. I'm still debating whether or not to rent a car or just hire rides as needed.

I was torn between the Contessa and the Emma for the river walk portion of our stay. The Contessa won by dint of walkable location for travelling with kids, though I personally would much prefer the atmosphere and amenities of the Emma (at least as pictured and described in reviews).

We will definitely take a boat trip and head to a rodeo. Other than that, we'll have to see where the days take us, I guess! Will post if I encounter anything of particular interest once there.

 

[k9ophile]

Sounds like you chose the right day to go into town! Food should be great, I'm hoping for some fabulous steaks.

My dad underwent some training at Lackland back in the day, well before I was a twinkle in his eye. He always repeats a stories about how his CO woud tell him to "reach for Texas"... I suspect that was a local translation for "drop and give me 20".

I never heard that and I was never asked to "drop and give me 20". This was in 1973, and I-kid-you-not, I had Beauty School. I had to pluck my eyebrows and learn to put on make-up. I learned that green can tone done ruddiness and purple can make one look less sallow. In our little bags that held our money, pens, whatever we always had to have a lipstick in it. They did allow that "lipstick" to be Chapstick.

I'm sure that every one could sleep at night knowing we were not only keeping our skies safe, we were beautifully made up.

 

[hilary1617]

I never heard that and I was never asked to "drop and give me 20". This was in 1973, and I-kid-you-not, I had Beauty School. I had to pluck my eyebrows and learn to put on make-up. I learned that green can tone done ruddiness and purple can make one look less sallow. In our little bags that held our money, pens, whatever we always had to have a lipstick in it. They did allow that "lipstick" to be Chapstick.

I'm sure that every one could sleep at night knowing we were not only keeping our skies safe, we were beautifully made up.

My dad was there way before you in 1952 for pre-flight training - before moving onward to Hondo and eventually to Foster in Victoria - the latter two of which I think have long since closed.

It seems so absurd to me that our military would have held beauty classes. Had I been there, I would definitely have opted for chapstick too!

All the best!

 

[hilary1617]

@bearmom

(1) The most fun we had was at the rodeo in Bulverde. It was great for the family and probably would have been even more fun as an adults-only outing, because the party really gets started when the rodeo ends and sleepy kids depart. Really great time: http://tejasrodeo.com/

(2) JW Marriott Hill Country was nice spacious resort facility with lots to do, both adults-only and for kids. Delicious restaurants - best meals of the trip on property. I'd stay there again.

(3) Hotel Contessa was Meh - like a dressed up Marriott Courtyard, but location right on the riverwalk was great. Food and service were mediocre. Plenty of restaurants steps away, worth stepping.

(4) Boat tour would best be done at sunset.

(5) People raved about Mi Tierra, but we weren't overly impressed. Fun atmosphere, but average Tex Mex food.

(6) Schilo's Deli - delicious for breakfast and lunch. We dined there twice.

(7) Alamo - we all know how it ended. Half hour to 45 minute visit. Surrounded by tourist traps.

(8) Only tourist trap definitely worth visiting - Amazing Mirror Maze - even for grown-ups .

(9) Avoid Ripley's Museum - hasn't been updated since 19802'/90's

(10) Briscoe Western Art Museum - small, but nice - very cool decorative tack - near Riverwalk

(11) Witte Museum - small, and not near Riverwalk but well done Really liked the display on the people of the Pecos River Valley and also the Boeing exhibit - worth the drive

(12) Japanese gardens - lovely and near the Witte...

 

[k9ophile]

My dad was there way before you in 1952 for pre-flight training - before moving onward to Hondo and eventually to Foster in Victoria - the latter two of which I think have long since closed.

It seems so absurd to me that our military would have held beauty classes. Had I been there, I would definitely have opted for chapstick too!

All the best!

Actually, there was a time that women who wanted to enlist had to submit a picture before being accepted. Apparently butt ugly men were okay. While I didn't have to submit a picture to be there in the first place, I did have to submit one to be considered as an instructor in my training program. The latter didn't bother me as men were also required to submit one. I can understand them wanting a certain image to present to incoming airman.

(Rumor had it that those who wanted to in the elite Thunderbirds/Blue Angels were not only required to submit their picture, but also one of their family. No interracial marriages or children with conditions such as Down's or other seeming physical "defects" were allowed due to the massive exposure to the public and press. Considering the brouhaha that arose because of the interracial family eating Cheerios, it wouldn't surprise me if that was in fact the case today. And despite "don't ask, don't tell" we will never see a same sex couple.)

 

[hilary1617]

Actually, there was a time that women who wanted to enlist had to submit a picture before being accepted. Apparently butt ugly men were okay. While I didn't have to submit a picture to be there in the first place, I did have to submit one to be considered as an instructor in my training program. The latter didn't bother me as men were also required to submit one. I can understand them wanting a certain image to present to incoming airman.

(Rumor had it that those who wanted to in the elite Thunderbirds/Blue Angels were not only required to submit their picture, but also one of their family. No interracial marriages or children with conditions such as Down's or other seeming physical "defects" were allowed due to the massive exposure to the public and press. Considering the brouhaha that arose because of the interracial family eating Cheerios, it wouldn't surprise me if that was in fact the case today. And despite "don't ask, don't tell" we will never see a same sex couple.)

Arrrgh! That's the kind of small-minded policy that keeps us from advancing as a society.

And it runs both ways. My sister was a professional model for a big Paris-based agency - she traveled the world and it paid her rent in Paris for 12 years until she looked 20 something instead of 14. The cost of being a classic beauty was high. She suffered frequent unwanted advances and at times scary/extreme harassment and stalking behavior from men. I considered myself lucky to be average and able to fly under the radar.

I wish humans would move forward to a place where looks weren't even a thought...

 

[Spiky Bugger]

I never heard that and I was never asked to "drop and give me 20". This was in 1973, and I-kid-you-not, I had Beauty School. I had to pluck my eyebrows and learn to put on make-up. I learned that green can tone done ruddiness and purple can make one look less sallow. In our little bags that held our money, pens, whatever we always had to have a lipstick in it. They did allow that "lipstick" to be Chapstick.

I'm sure that every one could sleep at night knowing we were not only keeping our skies safe, we were beautifully made up.

Hmpf...that's when I was at Ft. McClellan for basic training and then Presidio of Monterey for...drunken revelry and ...I mean AIT.

 

[Duckman]

I was at Ft. McClellan for basic training and then Presidio of Monterey

lovely area

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Arrrgh! That's the kind of small-minded policy that keeps us from advancing as a society.

And it runs both ways. My sister was a professional model for a big Paris-based agency - she traveled the world and it paid her rent in Paris for 12 years until she looked 20 something instead of 14. The cost of being a classic beauty was high. She suffered frequent unwanted advances and at times scary/extreme harassment and stalking behavior from men. I considered myself lucky to be average and able to fly under the radar.

I wish humans would move forward to a place where looks weren't even a thought...

But would we then vanish from the earth?
https://www.nasw.org/users/sibylle/prettiest.html

 

[Spiky Bugger]

lovely area

And, imho, the view from the NCO Club was better than the view from the Officers' Club. (I somehow managed to get into both.)

 

[bearmom]

@bearmom

(1) The most fun we had was at the rodeo in Bulverde. It was great for the family and probably would have been even more fun as an adults-only outing, because the party really gets started when the rodeo ends and sleepy kids depart. Really great time: http://tejasrodeo.com/

(2) JW Marriott Hill Country was nice spacious resort facility with lots to do, both adults-only and for kids. Delicious restaurants - best meals of the trip on property. I'd stay there again.

(3) Hotel Contessa was Meh - like a dressed up Marriott Courtyard, but location right on the riverwalk was great. Food and service were mediocre. Plenty of restaurants steps away, worth stepping.

(4) Boat tour would best be done at sunset.

(5) People raved about Mi Tierra, but we weren't overly impressed. Fun atmosphere, but average Tex Mex food.

(6) Schilo's Deli - delicious for breakfast and lunch. We dined there twice.

(7) Alamo - we all know how it ended. Half hour to 45 minute visit. Surrounded by tourist traps.

(8) Only tourist trap definitely worth visiting - Amazing Mirror Maze - even for grown-ups .

(9) Avoid Ripley's Museum - hasn't been updated since 19802'/90's

(10) Briscoe Western Art Museum - small, but nice - very cool decorative tack - near Riverwalk

(11) Witte Museum - small, and not near Riverwalk but well done Really liked the display on the people of the Pecos River Valley and also the Boeing exhibit - worth the drive

(12) Japanese gardens - lovely and near the Witte...

We're kidless, so we enjoyed the nightlife more than we thought we would, and even got lucky and got a freebie night at the Witte museum. Thanks for the suggestions, they were better than the guidebook I have.