Weekend San Antonio trip

April 7, 2009 6:22 AM

Dallas-To-San Antonio Filter: The wife and I are going to San Antonio for a few days this weekend to get away from the kids and relax a bit. Can you recommend any scenic drives along the way other than just taking I-35 the whole time? Also, can you please give recommendations of fun things to do in San Antonio and where to go to have drinks and excellent food? Thanks in advance!!
posted by flipmiester99 to travel & transportation (22 comments total)

BBQ
posted by caddis at 6:41 AM on April 7

My wife loves Jacala for TexMex. They've been around forever, and are pretty much an institution. I'm partial to Rolando's Super Tacos, which are served in burrito wrapper, and are ginormous. The drive right now, even on 35, is gonna be pretty scenic as the bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and other wildflowers are starting to pop up everywhere. The Bonham bills itself as a gay dance club, but I've always had a great time there. Might want to check if they're having any events while you're there you might or might not enjoy.
posted by Bernt Pancreas at 7:07 AM on April 7

I don't know about scenic routes between Dallas and Austin, but once you hit Austin, cut over to 281 and take it down to San Antonio; it's a lovely drive. You could also take a small detour into Fredericksburg--pretty scenery, antiques. If you have an afternoon free and want to do some hiking, check out Enchanted Rock. San Antonio has some nice museums, including the McNay. La Villita downtown is a nice area to wander around in. As for restaurants drinks, I can't think of much off the top of my head. Tip Top cafe maybe--it's an old-fashioned diner famous for their chicken fried steak. There's always the Riverwalk, of course.
posted by aka burlap at 7:13 AM on April 7

Take 67 out of Dallas, pick up 16 in Comanche which will take you to I-10 after passing through Fredricksburg. This will take you much longer than taking I-35 the whole way, but will be a much nicer drive than I-35.
posted by sanko at 7:13 AM on April 7

If you want to get barbecue I recommend going to Smitty's Market or Kreuz Market in Lockhart instead. It is closer to your route and the barbecue is much better. Depart IH-35 at SH-71 east, go south on US 183. If you're willing to pay the toll ($3?), you can leave IH-35 north of Georgetown and take SH-130 to US-183 instead. This will probably be more scenic and less crowded, but it's still a controlled-access road.

If you really want to avoid IH-35 you could take US-281 down, although it seems a bit out of your way. I'm not really familiar with the northern part of that route, but the southern part is nice and there are a couple of good places to eat along the way.

I think I have some qualifications in the barbecue department because I founded the University of Texas Barbecue Club and have been to almost every barbecue joint in central Texas)
posted by grouse at 7:19 AM on April 7

Ooo, San Antonio!!!

Alamo Cafe is a really fun place, a little off the beaten path from downtown but well worth it--their tortillas are LEGENDARY. Here's the website: Alamo Cafe. I'm guessing you'll be staying downtown, but you'll want to take the 281 North up to Bitters Road exit, go along that road for a couple of blocks, and then it'll be to your right at an intersection.

I also highly recommend Main Street Pizza for a great, casual pizza parlor with amazing, cheap pizza. (Seriously. I'm a pizza fan and this one is up there.) There's also outdoor seating, no special view, but nice, especially this time of year in San Antonio. They aren't open Sundays, though. It's on Main right before Ashby, I think.

For an upscale place to eat, you can always try Pesca on the River at the Watermark Hotel. It's a lovely setting, kinda trendy but not too loud at all.

For breakfast, you MUST absolutely hit Taco Taco on Hilldebrand. You'll take 281 North to Hildebrand, exit left, past Trinity University on your left, and it'll be right around McCollough, I think, on your right. It's a hole-in-the-wall place, but the tacos are amazing (as well as dirt cheap). Seriously. The Food Network rated it the best breakfast tacos in America. Do this when you have some time on your hands, though. The line begins outside to the right of the restaurant, and they'll usher you in as places free up. Totally local place.

Fun things to do in San Antonio? I'll be honest. It isn't that scenic, but it's still a crazy fun town. A fun shopping center is the Alamo Quarry Market, and Amy's Ice Cream (right next to Borders) is a great place to taste some local yokel ice cream (well, as local as Austin, but I digress). Also has your run-of-the-mill Victoria's Secret, a nice 24-hour Starbucks with great outdoor seating, Canyon Cafe (not bad, but in San Antonio you can do much better), Office Max, Bed Bath and Beyond, Pottery Barn, etc.

Panchito's is another great Mexican restaurant. There's one near the Olmos Park side of town near Taco Taco on McCollough (with more "atmosphere") and one right across the street from Alamo Quarry on Jones Maltsberger (a bit "trendier").

Brackenridge Park is a really nice place for a walk around the zoo and golf course area, very green (which is unusual in this area), with trees and such.

You also might want to consider looking around at the five missions in San Antonio, and get off the beaten path of the Alamo, etc. They're all quiet, calm, absolutely fantastic to visit and walk around on a pretty day (there a lot of pretty days in San Antonio). You're going at a perfect time of year.

On completely the OPPOSITE side of town from downtown, and a good drive from the Riverwalk area, are the Fiesta Texas/SeaWorld attractions. The Shops at La Cantera are right in the neighborhood, and it's really nice--not much on the outside, but opens up to outdoor shopping on the inside.

Madhatter's in the historic, charming King William District is also a great, kitschy place, with outdoor seatingas well, very fun for an afternoon tea or snack.

I understand The Melting Pot is also fun for an a-traditional, dessert-only restaurant, but I've never been there.

I hope this helps! Not really sure what you like to do, but if you have any questions, don't hesistate to me-mail me! I hope you have a great time!
posted by Dukat at 7:26 AM on April 7

Oh, and I second the 281 drive down to San Antonio from Austin. It's MUCH prettier than I-35, which has its occasional bouts of beauty, but is mostly "SNAKE FARM THIS WAY" and other such junk, and you also drive through San Marcos, hardly scenic.
posted by Dukat at 7:34 AM on April 7

The best Mexican food in San Antonio, close to Sea World and Fiesta Texas, is at El Chapparal.
posted by andlee210 at 8:50 AM on April 7

Schilo's, near the riverwalk. Doesn't matter what you get to eat, you want root beer with it. It's "OMG holy shit so that's what root beer tastes like" good.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:52 AM on April 7

Yeah, I've done the backroads and really they are not that scenic (unless you've never been outside of OK, TX, KS). Lampasas to Ft. Worth took about 7 hours (3 hours on I-35). Fredericksburg is great, though. I highly recommend the brewery there on Main Street.
posted by mattbucher at 8:53 AM on April 7

If you're up for the longer drive, I'd take 67 to Glen Rose, then cut over to 281 and take it to San Antonio. There aren't many pretty parts of Texas, but that stretch is one of them. (To me, anyway.)

Seconding Schilo's, grouse's suggestions, and Dukat's as well. Sadly, the circus museum seem sto have closed in 2001. :(
posted by mudpuppie at 10:22 AM on April 7

I was in SA recently and really enjoyed the riverboat tour. I learned a lot about the history of the city, the World's Fair, etc.
posted by radioamy at 10:31 AM on April 7

Oh also I thought the Alamo was a bit overrated. It's free to go through, so I suggest talking a quick walk through to say you did it, and maybe picking up something from the gift shop.
posted by radioamy at 10:31 AM on April 7

Liberty Bar
posted by kid_dynamite at 11:22 AM on April 7

Here's a list of scenic drives in Texas, but if you plan a trip connecting all the lakes down to San Antonio it will be more pleasant IMO than if you just do a straight shot down. I live in the King William area of downtown and we have a bunch of good restaurants around here that I pretty much exclusively go to. I'm pretty enamored with my neighborhood compared to the rest of San Antonio.

I've planned a day for you in the neighborhood. This is a walking tour. Here's a google maps link with directions, not all stops are noted.

Breakfast - Guenther House - they have an excellent breakfast and an interesting little "museum" on site.

Walk of the breakfast around the neighborhood. - I would go North on King William and look at the beautiful houses, the flowers and starting to bloom right now so it is really fragrant. It really is a lovely historical neighborhood.

Take a left on Turner, walk past the small park on the right and take a left on Washington St. The pretty part of the river walk is just to the west of you right now and it might be pleasant to watch the ducks and the people for a bit.

Turn left on Beaurgard St. two blocks down on the right is Mad Hatters. Stop here for some excellent varieties of ice tea and maybe a dessert. Turn off your cell phone while in here.

Across the street from that is Titos, one of my favorite Tex-Mex food places in the neighborhood. We won't be stopping here now, but this where lunch should be. They have excellent enchiladas.

Time for some window shopping, go north on Alamo St (take a left from Beauregard). There are a variety of shops on both sides of Alamo St up to Saint Marys St.

Time for lunch - head back south on Alamo St. to Titos.

Blue Star Art complex is next - go south on Alamo, cross the river, and it's on the left. There are numerous artists galleries in this complex, and a few on the way there. Most artists I've meet here are unpretentious and very friendly.

For an uncomplicated dinner of American style food, Blue Star Brewery is right in the complex, or across the street on probant is La Tuna - it is the restaurant on this list with the most character I think. The roasted lamb sandwich is very pleasant.

After dinner, go to Joe's Blues for a few drinks, and then walk north on Alamo to Casbeers for some live music (La Tuna may have some live music as well.)
posted by bigmusic at 12:08 PM on April 7

Oh, and you don't want to do this tour on a Sunday, shorter hours and things not being open tend to happen on Sunday.
posted by bigmusic at 12:24 PM on April 7

Seconding taking 281 south from Austin. From 35-S, you can cut west on 290. Just past Dripping Springs, take a left on 165, which will cut over to 281. (290 will intersect with 281, so it's not a big deal if you miss 165, but it's a really fun curvy road with gorgeous views.) Without traffic, it'll take under two hours from Austin to SA. Also nthing Taco Taco, Liberty Bar, La Tuna, Blue Star, and anything King William. Have fun!
posted by paleography at 3:16 PM on April 7

My aunt takes 281 all the way down from, or from near, Ft. Worth. I don't know exactly how she does it.

The McNay Art Museum (6000 N.New Braunfels) is a great afternoon.

Out-of-the-way superior Mexican food at La Fogata (2427 Vance Jackson Rd).

A charming little Hill Country town about 20 miles NW of San Antonio: Boerne, TX. You can also access Boerne via shortcut from 281, if I recall.

I was born in Houston, but my favorite years growing up were spent in San Antonio. Have fun and eat well.
posted by vincele at 5:54 PM on April 7

A couple of notes about food. Everyone has different favorites, so I'm going to generally leave that one alone except to say that the only chain worth going to is the one owned by the Chavez family, who owns La Margarita, Mi Tierra (for the tourists) and Pico de Gallo (for the locals). I believe The Melting Pot and Panchitos are chains so you can hit those in Dallas-- certainly in Houston, at least.

The other thing I will say is about Lockhart. If you are at least 30 and you're native Texans, Lockhart will remind you of old Texas but it's not as big of a deal as it is made out to be. The bbq is very good and so is the atmosphere. As a die-hard Texan I'd say that apart from the nostalgia value it's not really worth the trip out of the way (my apologies to grouse).

La Cantera is on the road to Boerne and Comfort and all those charming little Hill Country towns, if German food is your thing.
posted by vincele at 6:06 PM on April 7

As a die-hard Texan I'd say that apart from the nostalgia value it's not really worth the trip out of the way (my apologies to grouse).

Well, it adds a whopping 31 min to the trip compared to going via IH-35 the whole way, according to Google Maps. And yes, I was recommending it strictly for barbecue purposes. If you love barbecue enough to drive an extra half-hour for the best barbecue within 40 mi of Austin, then you should do it. If not, then you shouldn't—there's nothing else that would draw me there.
posted by grouse at 10:58 PM on April 7

It's actually probably going to be the same drive time or faster to take 281, because I-35 from Roundrock to past US-71 is a godawful stretch of traffic at any time of day.

Friday rush hour starts at 3:30pm on Thursday afternoon.
posted by Thistledown at 4:08 PM on April 8

Put in those terms, grouse, you're right. So much bbq in a one-mile radius can't be a bad thing. Lockhart reminds me of the meat market culture when I was a kid. The only difference is that now they've got Fox News blaring in the background!

I agree with Thistledown et. al. who said to avoid I-35 between Round Rock and SA. Comparing that stretch to the turnpikes of the East Coast, esp. 95 between PA and Boston, driving in Manhattan, Boston, Houston and even tooling around Japan in an SUV (not mine), no stretch of road has ever scared me as much as that I-35 corridor. So fast, so reckless, so...not good. Avoid it at all costs. Or say the rosary as you're driving it.
posted by vincele at 3:30 AM on April 15