San Antonio Advice - parents coming down
 

Yes, i've lived in San Antonio for 6 months now, but still don't know anything, as I haven't played tourist, and i've been cheap :)

My parents are coming down to visit next week wednesday-saturday and want to play tourist as their bringing a family friend from Germany who has never been here. I know they want to do the Riverwalk/downtown, and visit the outlets in New Braunfels but otherwise it's wide open. What's other stuff to do? Is Sea World worth it this early in the season? I'm thinking they would probably like a movie at the Drafthouse. The family friend would like to do something country-music related it sounds like, and Austin is not out of the question if you can point me to something up there.

What are good resteraunts? The most i've really been to is chili's/olive garden types, I want to take them to some good local places in price ranges I usually wouldn't go to. Need both riverwalk and around-town suggestions...we went to Casa Rio when I graduated boot camp last April and enjoyed it. I've been told the family friend likes BBQ, but would need somewhere that also has good catfish as my dad's vegetarian.

I know there's a lot of people that know the town on the board, so speak up! And SATX-APhi, I did get your PM, just haven't responded yet :)

BTW, I turn 21 in september....if I don't leave TX (to either Vegas, Omaha, or Chicago...), can I count on GCers to show me a good time?



Your favorite airman....

Here’s the locals guide to SA.

Mexican - El Chaparral in Helotes (about 20 mins from downtown)
www.elchaparral.com (the pict is of their old building, which was torn down and rebuilt in 2002.) The best mexican food in town. Mi Tierra (In market square) is OK, but way too expensive for Mexican. Pappasito’s is fun. www.pappasitos.com But its really white people Mexican food.

BBQ – Look no further than Rudy’s BBQ. http://www.rudys.com There is no other. Don’t try that Bill Miller crap. That’s shit you’d get at a church BBQ. Bill Millers is generic BBQ and their sauce is terrible. Its like taking your family to McDonalds. It’s the McDonalds of BBQ. The Rudy’s by sea world is closest to you, but the one in Leon Springs has the most character. At Rudy's you order by weight and heres an insiders tip. When you order the brisket, and you will, get the lean. Its mcuh better. Dont forget the sausage, and turkey. For sides try the mustard potato salad, and beans. For those freaks of nature who enjoy creamed corn, I hear its pretty good. I think the concept of creamed corn is disgusting.

For catfish, try Clear Springs Catfish www.clearspringscafe.com/aboutus.html They have a location near 281 and 1604 North. Be sure to order the onion rings.

Italian – Paisano’s (no website found) with two locations; one on the ‘south bank’ of the river walk (just ask and people will tell you where the south bank is) and the other is in Alamo Heights just off 281, about 8 minutes north of downtown. They both are great. Do SouthBank to see tourists and eat on the rivers edge. Do Alamo Heights if you want to eta a little cheaper and see a few local stars (Tim Duncan & Wife, Tommy Lee Jones & Wife are frequently seen there). AH also has a classier location.

Texan/Southwestern – Scenic Loop Café. www.scenicloopcafe.com Great food, true Texas atmosphere. They’ll take great care of ya. Rumor has it that its owned by George Strait. It is on his land. (He owns the show stables property it sits on). Its only a few years old, but has a huge local following and you’re guaranteed to not see any touristas.

Breakfast – Guenther house on the property of the Pioneer Flour Mills www.guentherhouse.com/Main.aspx really good food. Busy as hell on the weekends. Great to sit outside and eat if the weather is nice. Good coffee.

Events –

Alamo – Obviously.

King William Tour in Southtown – Tour of turn of the century homes south of town.

Gruene Hall/Gruene Texas – A great way to kill an afternoon / evening. Lots of cool old shops (it’s a historic area, a town frozen in time - think the little old town from Fried Green Tomatoes) that has a great Restaurant called the Gristmill (once a working mill) and lots of neat bars to have a beer and catch some live Texas music. Something for everyone and your German friend can get the Texas experience without the kitsch. Save it for a friday or saturday afternoon. Roger Creager is playing both Friday and Saturday nights. He puts on a great show and they have a great patio area to chill outside, enjoy the weather and listen to the music... He'll go on about 10 PM. So an idea is to get there around 5 or 6, walk around for awhile, eat at the gristmill, then catch the show next door at Gruene Hall. www.gruene.net/index.asp www.gruenehall.com www.gristmillrestaurant.com. Also theres something called Gruene Market Days that Saturday. Dont know what the hell it is but heres the link www.gruenemarketdays.com

Cowboys Dance Hall – A big loud bar that is Texas with the kitsch. Its everything hes probably ever imagined about Texas. Including the mechanical bull. Ugh.

San Marcos Outlet Shops. About 500 outlet shops.

North Star Mall – San Antonio’s largest mall

Boerne – (half hour NW of SA on I-10) Antiquing on the haupstrasse (mainstreet).

Fredericksburg – (hour NW of SA on I-10) 10X the antiquing and cool shops of Boerne. Its an old German city that has the Admiral Nimitz museum and about 100 Biergartens.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum – Really Cool and has an IMAX Texas history show. (in Austin)

Sea World – Cool but only open on a limited schedule. Family went today and had a blast. Said hardly anyone was there and there was no wait. Check their site at www.seaworld.com

Fiesta Texas – Same as sea world. Can be a bit tiring, cause its so spread out.

San Antonio Missions National Historic Park – Visit some of the old missions in SA beside the touristy Alamo and San Fernando (downtown). The others Espada, San Juan, San Jose and Conception. http://www.nps.gov/saan/ Absolutely AMAZING. Like stepping back 300 years in time. You will feel like you are in colonial mexico.

Hope this helps. Its what id consider if I had peeps coming to visit.

dayyyum Life, S.A. should hire you as a tour guide.

I like to take long drives on 281 north to look at the wildflowers which should be blooming soon.

All sound like good ideas! I have found that most out of state visitors enjoy seeing the wildflowers.

what is the name of the mexican restaurant near mi tierra that serves wonderful fajitas? there is always a line to get in.

My husband and I went to Howl at the Moon. I had such a good time. It is a piano bar and they have you sing along. It is all good old classic rock songs. I was singing at the top of my lungs. I think I may have embarassed hubby. He is used to it by now:D

I also LOVED the prickly pear margaritas at the Zuni Grill. They are a beautiful shade of pink. Wierd in a margarita but yummy! i had several!

Lifesaver - thanks, will keep everything in mind. You're right about Bill Millers - i've had it a few times, but of course, i've always been in a mcdonalds type mood and wanted something other than a burger. The 20,000,000 locations screams fast food.

I've heard for St. Pat's day the river gets dyed green chicago-style...is stuff busy then? Parents are asking about reservations, i'm thinking probably not.

Ooo, St. Patrick's Day, Durty Nelly's Pub. I know you aren't 21 yet, but when I was in HS, we were allowed in during the day with my mom on the 17. It will be packed there that night! But I don't think things will be too busy, but you never know what convention may be in town taking up all the rooms downtown! Have fun. I agree with Lifesaver. I have been told that George Strait's wife runs Scenic Loop Cafe, the friend who told me lives in the Dominion and knows all the scoop out there. That place is really cool. I am going to take my parents there when the come in to town, if the weather is nice, sit outside!

I'm more of a Babcock Road to Scenic Loop Road To bandera Road then Hwy 16 and a Right on 46 across to I-35 in New Braunfels for the wildflowers. Should be on in 2 weeks or so. Sis said she saw some today (bluenonnets) out by the hotel at La Cantera.

FSU- Theres not any other Mexican joint in Market Square other than Mi Tierra. There's one on the other side of the freeway called Pico de Gallo. Was that it?

roq- I spent most of my college carrear at Howl. I think I paid there mortgage some months. One night they gave me a brick as I was leaving. They were redoing the outside of the building and the bouncer said, "You paid for this about 10 times over." Its now a doorstop int he apartment. lol. Funny too because when I went to Indy thi ssummer for a conference, we ended up at Howl. I felt liek I was cheating on the one here. lol.

Docet - I dont knwo if they do the river on the 17th. They do it the weekend before tho. They might. St. Pattys downtown is ususally no more wild than your avg weekend night down there.

you never need reservations in SA. its just not that urban, lol. Plus, we cant even get the locals used to the concept of paying tolls to drive on a freeway. We definately wont get them used to making reservations.

Too bad they wont be here during the last half of April. Fiesta is INSANE. Two weeks of drinking, eating and partying your ass off. I always tell people there are two times to come to SA. Holiday season to see the lights on the riverwalk and Fiesta to FEEL the spirit of the town. (Or if youre at NIOSA on College night, to have the spirit of the town feel you.)

I didnt hit on any of the bars. Didnt know if ya'll would be up for that. have a whole 'nother list for bars in town....

Having once been a resident of the Alamo City I recommend many of the places mentioned in this thread.

As for 'cue, I'm partial to Casey's on Nakoma and 281, right under the flight path for Runway 12L/R at San Antonio International.

Nothing like San Antonio's own breakfast tacos exists out here in Dull-ass.

Sig, you're right about the breakfast taco's.

For the sake of people googling this in the future, Roy's Taco Hut on Old Military Drive has the best breakfast taco's - they cost $3 each, but are worth every penny and are huge

Maybe La Margarita or Cadillac Bar?

Docet, it seems that Life has covered it all pretty well. Great job, Andy!

hooray!!!thanks satxaphi, it is la margarita!! it's been quite some time since i lived in san antonio, but i really enjoyed my time there. and i really miss the breakfast tacos and burritos.

Sorry Dude. Casey's has been closed for about 5 months now. Something about not paying their sales and property taxes. I dont know if its all locations, or just that one. But not only is it closed, someone else owns it and it has a different name now.

(howls in mourning... :()

Come on dude. The BBQ wasnt that good there. If it was more about the atmosphere (right under the runway) the joint is still there, just with a new name and different food.

Seriously, Rudy's BBQ is about 100 times better tho.

True dat... I liked it mostly for the atmosphere... and it was conveniently on the way to work (off Bitters and Jones-Maltsberger) and home (Braesview and Military Highway). :D

Took the 'rents to Rudy's by Sea World tonight. As we drive up and see it's also a gas station, I get asked if the friends who recommended me here liked me or hated me. By the time we figured out how to order, and ate the turkey and brisket, everyone was singing a different tune. GREAT STUFF.

I don't eat meat but I love Rudy's breakfast tacos-I highly recommend them

Karen

I am going to a Spurs game Friday-woohoo!!!!!!!!:D

Glad they enjoyed it! I love their turkey and try to make it out to Rudy's every visit to San Antonio. Yum yum!

hahhaha. I should have warned you about that. Its only in the south that you can go to a great restaurant and put the entire meal on your Shell Gas Card.

I never get gas there, because they tend to be more expensive than other stations, but the food is amazing.

Really glad everyone liked it. Its real San Antonio. Real better than Bill Miller's too.

Keep us up to date on what they think of their visit and what ya'll do while they are here.

Today we went downtown, and did the Alamo and Riverwalk. Did a boat tour then had lunch at Casa Rio's as my parents enjoyed it last year. Walked around the Riverwalk and the mall, got myself a Pilsner glass from Hard Rock and some cool political hot sauce bottles (http://www.hotchili.st/0museum/suzies_sauces.html, though I got different ones featuring the Bush trio, Martha, and John Kerry). Went over to the mexican market and walked around a little bit. Then drove up to North Star mall where we walked around and the german friend bought me some cheesecake slices from the Cheesecake factory that's sitting in my fridge right now, then went to a greek resteraunt near the base at SW Military/Hwy 90 where the details of which for everyone's sake will go unheard, and I will try to forget (not the food, the people I was with..........)

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially the german friend who is experiencing Texas for the first time.

All in all, a good day. A few notes:
--Rudy's BBQ smells so good, it turns vegetarian's into a meat-eater for a day (my dad doesn't eat meat for health reasons, cholesterol or something, but had Rudy's anyway and loved it)

--You know San Antonio roads are bad when the friend from germany, whose family used to own an Opel Dealership, says she would be afraid to drive - mainly because of the Texas turnarounds and one-way frontage roads, and how noone knows how to drive)

I believe tomorrow is Sea World, if the weather stays nice like today.

The bad thing about Rudy's is that the smell stays on you for a while. Its the Oak they use to smoke with. A lot of people think it the cedar, but its the oak that has a lot of moisture in it that smokes a lot. Any bonfire ya go to here will undoubtedly leave you smelling like Rudys BBQ.

Seriously, take them to Gruene on Saturday afternoon/evening. IH-35 to New Braunfels, exit 188 (normally its 189, but its closed for construction, so ya have to exit 188 and stay on the frontage for a mile.) Make a left on Loop 337 and stay on it for about 2 miles. Make a right at the New Braunfels Rudys' (Common Street) and make the first left ya can at the 4 -way stop sign. Take it (its an old 2 lane narrow road) for about 2 miles. Park in the big parking lot on the right as soon as ya get into gruene. Its free parking and convienient. You wont regret the trip.