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San Antonio help family not enjoying trip
My son is in San Antonio with my parents right now. I feel really bad they are not enjoying this trip like they thought they would. The Riverwalk is insanely crowded, overpriced, and sounds like the food has been disappointing. They had heard and I had read that the Hill Country was beautiful and they should ride out there to see it. That too was a bust. My parents usually enjoy the heck out of their trips and can't wait to go back to nearly every place they've ever been (Vegas, Quebec/Montreal, Alaska, New Mexico, Orlando, Chicago, etc.). These are twice a year business trips they tack a few extra days on to also vacation only for a few days when my Dad's conferences are over. This is the first time I can remember them being disappointed and I think my Mom's more upset that it's not quite as exciting for our son as she thought it would be since it's the first time they've taken him with them. Don't get me wrong, they're still having good one on one time with him, but I think the crowds, heat, and disappointing scenery and food are bumming them out.
They have been to Sea World twice now, but they were told by someone in town yesterday not to bother with Dinosaur Quest which we had thought would be super fun for my son. Is the Children's Museum worth a visit, should they make the drive to Austin? I don't think they've done the Alamo or any other missions yet so hopefully that will prove a little more exciting. What about the Tower of the Americas, worth the trip to the top? Has anyone dined @ that Chart House location? My husband and I love Chart House in Hilton Head, SC, but know even chains can vary in quality in food and service.
I made a Pinterest board and sent emails with many suggestions for them before their trip but even some of those have flopped. It's not like my family to not enjoy destinations like this so I really don't think it's just them.
Can anyone point us in the right direction entertainment/food wise to help them enjoy their last few days in San Antonio? They fly back home on Wednesday.
Re: San Antonio help family not enjoying trip
What do they normally do on their trips? Are they outdorsey people? Do they like history?
I wouldn't consider San Antonio super fun and exciting. Going along the Mission trail is nice. Nothing fancy to see. It has always been quiet and strictly history oriented (No frills). People I know in San Antonio prefer to get out and go other places in Texas. Like Fredericksburg, Austin, San Macros/ New Braunfels.
Fredericksburg has antiquing, good german food and wineries in the area. Austin has the state capitol, kayaking, boating and other water activities. The state history museum is also located here and is walking distance from an art museum. San Marcos is a college town and has a large outlet mall and New Braunfels has Schlitterbahn. It is the original Schlitterbahn and is worth a visit if you like water parks. It is the best water park I have been to. FYI river water is used.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
Mark Twain
My Travel Blog
Yes, the river walk is very touristy and the reason it feels fake is because it is fake. It isn't a natural river and apparently wasn't made well.
If they like drives going away from San Antonio towards Burnet, North Austin, Marble Falls, Fredricksburg area gives the driver a good view of the Hill Country. But getting anyplace in Texas takes lot's of time due to it's size.
I am with your parents, SA isn't interesting or exciting.
I would recommend - Slitterbahn. It is around 30 minutes north of San Antonio near New Brunsfels, Texas. It is absolutely ginormous and so much fun. I believe it is the largest water park in the world? There is also an outlet mall near there that is pretty large. Also in New Brunsfels is a really great restaurant called "The Grist Mill" - IMO, Slitterbahn, the outlet, and the Grist Mill is the only reason to travel south of Austin.
I too was disappointed by San Antonio.
That said, I really enjoyed the tour we took of the nearby Natural Bridge Caverns. Maybe they would enjoy this too?
I was just in SA visiting my husband. I second Fredricksburg, are your parents in to outdoorsey things? We went to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. It's this giant granite dome you can walk up, gorgeous views, but it is a little steep. In Fredricksburg we ate at Rathskeller for lunch, delicious. It's a great town to walk around.
In SA my favorite restaraunt we ate at was Pasha Mediterranean grill. Their food was really good and I thought very authentic.
There's Brackenridge park, zoo and the Japanese Tea Gardens, if you go early before it gets too hot I thought that was a pretty place.
We also drove down to Corpus Christi (about 2 hours) and spent the day at the beach, Padre Island National Seashore and Mustang Island. At Padre Island there are a lot of sea birds and chances for seeing sea turtles.