RP: Vaca!

MrsT082705

Happy Sunday ladies - I'm hoping for a little help with my Texas vaca initerary... Monday night - arrive in Houston, stay at a hotel near the airport, p/u a rental car Tuesday - drive to Austin (anything to see along the way?) Tuesday night - stay in Austin (i'd like to do dinner at a nice, but not stuffy, restaurant?) Wednesday - all day in Austin (what to do?!) Thursday - up and off to San Antonio (stops along the way? wineries?) Friday - all day San Antonio (dinner recs?) Saturday - fly back to Jersey! We like to be active and busy - biking, walking, hiking, sightseeing, etc...and I'm struggling with this vacation. Thanks for your help (or just reading this and thinking about it :-)

salbert79

I'm not sure about the drive from Houston to Austin because I've never done it, but I'm sure you can find something. Since you like to be active, there's a kayaking place in Austin that I thought was really fun. For wineries, check www.texaswinetrail.com and www.gotexanwine.org and you can map out your drive from there. Since you're not from SA, go downtown to the Riverwalk and have some fun. I personally don't think that some of the mexican restaurants on the  Riverwalk are the best in town, but they are fun and nice for out-of-towners to see the city. Most people seem to enjoy Casa Rio, but there's a ton of restaurants to choose from down there. Afterward, you can walk to all the bars. Hope this helps and you have fun!

*GregsGirl*

MrsT082705:

Happy Sunday ladies - I'm hoping for a little help with my Texas vaca initerary... Monday night - arrive in Houston, stay at a hotel near the airport, p/u a rental car Tuesday - drive to Austin (anything to see along the way?) Tuesday night - stay in Austin (i'd like to do dinner at a nice, but not stuffy, restaurant?) Wednesday - all day in Austin (what to do?!) Thursday - up and off to San Antonio (stops along the way? wineries?) Friday - all day San Antonio (dinner recs?) Saturday - fly back to Jersey! We like to be active and busy - biking, walking, hiking, sightseeing, etc...and I'm struggling with this vacation. Thanks for your help (or just reading this and thinking about it :-)

 

There's nothing really to see between Houston and Austin...I'm guessing you'll be taking 290. Just a lot of open road really. Restaurants in Austin...the drafthouse is always fun...not really a dress up sort of thing but its a good time: http://www.drafthouse.com....The Driskill Grill, Hudsons on the Bend, and Finn & Porter or all nice places with great food.  

Things to do while in Austin...if you have a chance go to Speak Easy's (in the evening). You can take a boat out Lake Travis...or ride one of the "ducks". Its a sightseeing tour that takes you around town and on the lake all in one boat. Of course there's always shopping, but who really wants to do that on vacation. Speaking of shopping, the world famous outlet malls in San Marcos are a 30 min drive away and you MUST go to Lockhart (also about a 30 min drive from austin) and have barbeque at Black's or Kritz's. It's *the* best.

Also, Austin is live music capital of the world, so check out the events page on citysearch and see if anything peaks your interest. Esther's Folly's is a fun outing at night as well. Take a walk down SoCo (South Congress) and visit the shops. 

On the way to San Antonio you can stop in San Marcos for the outlets or the small winery in New Braunfels (cant remember the name off the top of my head). Otherwise there's not much else along the way.

San Antonio, obviously downtown and the Riverwalk/Alamo. Botanical/Japenese gardens would be a great place to walk/hike around.  

I know the other girls will chime in with some better recs but that should get you started.