San Antonio is a major city in south-central Texas with a rich colonial heritage. My first visit was January, 2012 when my oldest son Jesse was graduating from USAF Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. My daughter Tiffany, my youngest son Dakota and I met my mom at the airport and we did a little sight-seeing the first day since we weren't able to see my son until the next day. We walked through HemisFair Park, built in 1968 in honor of the city's 250th anniversary. It's a large park with water gardens, a kid-designed wood and sand playground, and plenty of places to sit and picnic. The highlight is the 750-foot tall Tower of the Americas, offering a terrific view of the city.
There is a lot to see all within walking distance from this location where we parked the car. Next stop was the River Walk. The Paseo Del Rio is San Antonio's favorite attraction located 20 feet below street level with stone pathways connecting shops, restaurants, hotels, and museums. You can enjoy the culture walking the pathways or while taking a River Walk Cruise, listening to the Mariachis serenading diners on the outdoor patios of the many delicious Tex-Mex restaurants. The blend of historic and modern architecture resonates the depth of this centuries-old metropolis (visitsanantonio.com).
The next day I got to see my son on Lackland's Air Force Base for the Airman's Run and the Coin Ceremony which signifies the transformation of civilians into world-class warrior-Airmen who are ready to serve in the word's greatest Air Force. We spent the day with my son on the base eating at the BX (a mini-mall on base), bowling at Skylark Bowling Alley, and just enjoying his company after not seeing him for 7 weeks.
The following day was graduation day. The Patriotism, the comradery of the "military family", and the pride a parent feels seeing their child become a respectable adult and be honored for it is just an unforgettable moment! The graduates are permitted to leave the base for the day and become tourists with their families for a few hours.
Of course we had to visit The Alamo, one of the south's most iconic destinations, the turning point of the Texas Revolution and a Spanish Mission established nearly 300 years ago. There is a beautiful garden outside with Cactus trees and a fish pond with some very large fish swimming around.
Nearby is the Plaza Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It Or Not which has some interesting exhibits, although some have probably changed since we were there. There are many shops and eateries all within walking distance of these attractions.
If you're interested in finding a restaurant that serves vegan or gluten-free food, Viva Vegeria (1422 Nogalitos Street) is San Antonio's only 100% Vegan and Gluten-free restaurant serving and preserving Tex-Mex and Spanish culture with plant-based cuisine. You can also try Green Vegetarian Cuisine (10003 NW Military Hwy). They will substitute any cheese for non-dairy Daiya cheese and make any meal vegan off of their non-breakfast menus.
Jesse was pretty excited about going to the River Walk and finally have a variety of food to chose from. We stopped at Cafe Ole and had some great Mexican food and Margaritas, and got serenaded by the Mariachi Band while we ate. I ordered vegetable fajitas with guacamole and salsa (hold the cheese and sour cream). After walking off our meals, browsing in and out of the shops, we stopped by the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and walked around before taking him back to Lackland Air Force Base.
In February, 2015 we were back to San Antonio to see my younger son Dakota graduate from USAF Basic Training. FYI...it does get very cold in this part of Texas in January and February, so check the forecast before packing your shorts and sandals. We wore gloves and hats in the morning and were still cold!
On graduation day we found a place to eat called The Guenther House, home of C. H. Guenther who established Pioneer Flour Mills on the San Antonio River.
The house has been turned into a restaurant and museum with the Parlor dating back to 1860 reflecting the late Victorian influence of the period. "Ballroom Style" seating has been chosen for the restaurant, however, there is an outdoor area that we chose to be seated at, although it was still a bit cold outside, it was covered in a heated tent. I especially loved the gift shop which has all sorts of cook books, baking supplies, spices and things I'd love to have if I had my own Bed and Breakfast. I don't recall there being many vegan options, but I was able to get a spinach salad with avocado that was good.
Back to the River Walk we went, and one of Dakota's first requests was for ice cream! We stumbled on Mr Ice Cream, right along the River Walk, and somehow, with all of those choices, he decided on a cup with two different flavors.
It was probably a good thing that they didn't have non-dairy ice cream at the time since I had already been doing a lot of eating and no working out. As if there wasn't enough shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, etc...we came across the Shops At Rivercenter, a mall on the River Walk that includes San Antonio's first Lord & Taylor, an IMAX theater, and is anchored by Macy's, H & M and a 38-story Marriott Hotel. There's an outside area to sit and eat, drink, and listen to musicians perform while people-watching.
The day before we were leaving was a beautiful, sunny day so we decided to visit the San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston Pl.). There are indoor and outdoor gardens and displays, a conservatory, many different classes and programs for adults and children, and a gift shop where I bought a hat and some other souvenirs.
Our last stop was at Rosario's for dinner (they have two locations) which had traditional Tex/Mex food, cocktails, and a friendly atmosphere. Being the only vegan in the whole group, I did not get to try any of the vegan restaurants, but I found that all of the restaurants we visited were very accommodating and would make something to my liking.
There are so many things to see in the area to satisfy the whole family. If you're looking for an amusement park for the kids, there's Six Flags Fiesta Texas. For those more interested in Art and History there is La Villita Historic Arts Village (418 Villita St.), a square-block enclave of art galleries and shops, the Witte Museum (3801 Broad St), or the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum (318 E Houston St) all in San Antonio. One week from today I will see my daughter Tiffany graduating from USAF Basic Training as her brothers have done before her. I am so proud of her and cannot wait to see her! Since the first trip to Texas, my daughter is now vegetarian and my one son tries eating mostly a plant-based diet, so maybe we'll get to check out one of these other restaurants I just wrote about. To be continued...
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