Last weekend, I took off for a long weekend trip, not to the Hamptons or the Jersey shore or any of the other typical get-out-of-the-city-for-the-weekend jaunts that one is likely to hear about now that we’re well into the post-Memorial Day summer season. Instead of hopping on the Hamptons Jitney or the Garden State Parkway, I hopped on a plane to Texas.
Now, the great state of Texas is not necessarily the first place that comes to mind when considering a long weekend—but, after my visit, I’m convinced that it should be. The destination of this particular long weekend was San Antonio, the city in south Texas known for its Mexican heritage, its restaurant-riddled River Walk, and—who can forget?—the Alamo.
When I landed in San Antonio, I received a warm greeting from the locals and an even warmer greeting from the weather. Though it was only early afternoon, temperatures were already in the mid-80s and were expected to climb to 100 later in the day, a welcome respite from the chilly and rainy weather that has plagued New York this spring. I happily shed the sweater I had been wearing on the plane and headed to San Antonio’s downtown area, where I checked into the historic Gunter Hotel before setting out to explore the area.
As I mentioned, one of San Antonio’s most well-known attractions is the River Walk, and for good reason. The River Walk consists of a series of walkways that run along both sides of the San Antonio River one level below the city’s main streets. Connected by footbridges and open only to pedestrians, the River Walk is a picturesque slice of San Antonio, with lush flowering plants dotting the winding paths and towering trees reaching across the lazy river, giving the area a quaint, almost Mediterranean feel in spots. The River Walk is home to dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops, making it popular among tourists and locals alike and the perfect place for outdoor dining—especially if you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex and margaritas, which I certainly was.
While some might tire of Mexican food after a few days, that problem does not apply to me. Over the course of the weekend, I had Grand Marnier margaritas and sizzling fajitas on an upstairs balcony at Café Ole, a River Walk staple whose claim to fame is—no surprise here—margaritas and fajitas. I munched on chips and salsa at most every meal. And I had more margaritas and amazing enchiladas at Mi Tierra, a restaurant/bakery/café in downtown San Antonio that is open 24 hours and features a tequila bar and a display case full of tantalizing Mexican treats, including pastries, sweet breads, and heaps of assorted cookies.
In between eating and strolling the River Walk, we managed to squeeze in a road trip to Austin. Only an hour away from San Antonio, the state capital is a lively city with a vibrant music scene and a hip country feel. Austin also boasts a gorgeous capitol building, and last weekend it featured some sort of biker fest, with gleaming, muscled-up motorcycles and their very colorful riders all over the downtown area. Or maybe that was just typical Austin.
Surrounding San Antonio and Austin is the Texas Hill Country, which is full not only of cattle ranches and family farms, but of crops of wineries as well. On the way back to San Antonio, we first stopped at a farm stand to sample some homemade peach cobbler. Heaped on a paper plate and topped with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream, it was rich and gooey and utterly delicious.
Our fingers still a bit sticky, we then managed to visit two or three wineries to do some tasting. There were Reislings and Chenin Blancs, Muscats and Merlots, which we sampled to the backdrop of the rolling Texas hills and sun-drenched fields. We spotted plenty of cattle and various other forms of livestock, and even sipped glasses of wine while spying on a nearby family of cows.
Back in San Antonio, the sun-soaked days gave way to warm, breezy nights, and the sounds of live jazz and roaming mariachi bands brought the River Walk to life. Each night we strolled up and down the meandering walkway before stopping for drinks and jazz at the legendary Jim Cullum’s Landing, founded in 1963 by—you guessed it—jazz great Jim Cullum. It was the perfect way to end a day full of sun, sightseeing, and lots and lots of food.
And Texas, from the San Antonio River Walk and the Hill Country wineries to the bustling streets of Austin and the welcoming heat, proved the perfect way to get away for a weekend—or maybe even longer.
Now, the great state of Texas is not necessarily the first place that comes to mind when considering a long weekend—but, after my visit, I’m convinced that it should be. The destination of this particular long weekend was San Antonio, the city in south Texas known for its Mexican heritage, its restaurant-riddled River Walk, and—who can forget?—the Alamo.
When I landed in San Antonio, I received a warm greeting from the locals and an even warmer greeting from the weather. Though it was only early afternoon, temperatures were already in the mid-80s and were expected to climb to 100 later in the day, a welcome respite from the chilly and rainy weather that has plagued New York this spring. I happily shed the sweater I had been wearing on the plane and headed to San Antonio’s downtown area, where I checked into the historic Gunter Hotel before setting out to explore the area.
As I mentioned, one of San Antonio’s most well-known attractions is the River Walk, and for good reason. The River Walk consists of a series of walkways that run along both sides of the San Antonio River one level below the city’s main streets. Connected by footbridges and open only to pedestrians, the River Walk is a picturesque slice of San Antonio, with lush flowering plants dotting the winding paths and towering trees reaching across the lazy river, giving the area a quaint, almost Mediterranean feel in spots. The River Walk is home to dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops, making it popular among tourists and locals alike and the perfect place for outdoor dining—especially if you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex and margaritas, which I certainly was.
While some might tire of Mexican food after a few days, that problem does not apply to me. Over the course of the weekend, I had Grand Marnier margaritas and sizzling fajitas on an upstairs balcony at Café Ole, a River Walk staple whose claim to fame is—no surprise here—margaritas and fajitas. I munched on chips and salsa at most every meal. And I had more margaritas and amazing enchiladas at Mi Tierra, a restaurant/bakery/café in downtown San Antonio that is open 24 hours and features a tequila bar and a display case full of tantalizing Mexican treats, including pastries, sweet breads, and heaps of assorted cookies.
In between eating and strolling the River Walk, we managed to squeeze in a road trip to Austin. Only an hour away from San Antonio, the state capital is a lively city with a vibrant music scene and a hip country feel. Austin also boasts a gorgeous capitol building, and last weekend it featured some sort of biker fest, with gleaming, muscled-up motorcycles and their very colorful riders all over the downtown area. Or maybe that was just typical Austin.Surrounding San Antonio and Austin is the Texas Hill Country, which is full not only of cattle ranches and family farms, but of crops of wineries as well. On the way back to San Antonio, we first stopped at a farm stand to sample some homemade peach cobbler. Heaped on a paper plate and topped with a large dollop of vanilla ice cream, it was rich and gooey and utterly delicious.
Our fingers still a bit sticky, we then managed to visit two or three wineries to do some tasting. There were Reislings and Chenin Blancs, Muscats and Merlots, which we sampled to the backdrop of the rolling Texas hills and sun-drenched fields. We spotted plenty of cattle and various other forms of livestock, and even sipped glasses of wine while spying on a nearby family of cows.Back in San Antonio, the sun-soaked days gave way to warm, breezy nights, and the sounds of live jazz and roaming mariachi bands brought the River Walk to life. Each night we strolled up and down the meandering walkway before stopping for drinks and jazz at the legendary Jim Cullum’s Landing, founded in 1963 by—you guessed it—jazz great Jim Cullum. It was the perfect way to end a day full of sun, sightseeing, and lots and lots of food.
And Texas, from the San Antonio River Walk and the Hill Country wineries to the bustling streets of Austin and the welcoming heat, proved the perfect way to get away for a weekend—or maybe even longer.
