My son is graduating training at Lackland AFB this coming weekend. Looking at the schedule, he will have a day pass on Friday fm 2-730 and on Sat fm 9-730.
It indicates that he must remain inside Loop 1604 with the exception of Six Flags.
Six Flags is closed so there goes that idea (not that it breaks my heart anyways).
Any ideas from all you locals would be much appreciated. Also, any other ideas for me and my 16yo to do after 7:30pm would also be appreciated.
We will be there sometime Thurs afternoon (but I will probably sleep since I am leaving as soon as I get off work and it’s apx 7hr drive) and leave sometime Sat afternoon/early evening.
Very short trip, so I want to make the best of it.
There’s lots to do in San Antonio. You could go to El Mercado and poke around all the shop/stores there and pick up a few bargains. Be sure to stop at Mi Tierra and eat some barbacoa. La Villita is the art place so you could do that. From there you can walk to the Tower of the Americas. Don’t eat there, it’s expensive.
I don’t know if the missions are in the loop or not, but you can also take a bus tour of the five Spanish missions. The Alamo is one of them. It’s small, but important in our state’s history so it’s a must-do for a San Antonio trip. Then, maybe you can go to the San Fernando Cathedral which is the oldest Cathedral in the US. It had some pretty stained glass work and houses the remains of William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett. Although I think there’s some doubt as to that being true or not.
I’m not from San Antonio, but I have been there many, many, MANY, times. In fact, I’m headed there in just two weeks. Anyway, Mi Tierra is a must-do. It’s open 24/7 and a great place for Tex-Mex. While in the area, check out El Mercado right next door. This is a Mexican market and shops sort of thing. At the other end of downtown is the Alamo and RiverCenter. I am a native born Texan and I firmly believe that a visit to the Alamo should be mandatory for anyone visiting Texas for the first time. You will get a sense of Texas history and the role that the United States and other countries had in its development. While at Alamo Plaza, you can check out the other touristy things like the Wax Museum and Ripley’s. Adjacent to the Alamo is RiverCenter Mall, with all the usual mall stuff. While the shops aren’t anything unusual, RiverCenter is a very pretty mall. From RiverCenter, go down to the river level and walk along the RiverWalk. There’s plenty to eat down there. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy a very nice outdoor dinner on a patio somewhere. Pretty much anything you want in San Antonio will be inside Loop 1604, except FiestaTexas and SeaWorld. Have a great trip. And thanks to your son for his service to our nation during these trying times.
If you go to the Alamo, don’t touch it. They are quite serious about this, and tho’ I warned some dumb-ass friends of friends from back home not to touch it… well, when the really big park ranger dude showed up, they done KNEW I was not kidding.
Oh, and I think you should try the original Taco Cabana.
They drain the San Antonio River (the part that runs through the Riverwalk, that is) every January. But they finished by the 9th this year, so it should be OK.
Yes, the Riverwalk is touristy. But why not be tourists for a short trip? There are places to eat, drink & shop along the Riverwalk; maybe not the very best in the City, but centrally located. (Although there’s other interesting stuff Downtown.)
The Institute of Texan Cultures is in Hemisfair Plaza (Downtown). It’s a “lite” museum experience: Lots of interesting stuff to look at, used by early Texans. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 with a military ID. (San Antonio has an old military history. Fort Sam’swebsite claims a US Army presence since 1845. But Alamo De Parras tells about the Spaniards & Mexicans who served long before. The Alamo’s definitely worth a visit. Right Downtown, too–next door to The Menger; walk through the old lobby & imagine the guys from Lonesome Dove dropping by for a drink in their way north.)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is near Downtown, in a beautiful old brewery. The building alone is worth a visit & the very large collection includes some amusing Latin American folk art.
Another recommendation for The Mercado. Light shopping & Mi Tierra. Yes, be tourists!
Ah, okay, the Chapel and original structures. Yeah, definitely don’t touch those. I was thinking of the modern outside wall the original structures are inside of. That part’s facing the street and unwatched.
Ah, I forgot the Institute. Yes, certainly go check that out. Some interesting stuff there. On my aforementioned trip to San Antonio in February, I’ll be staying at the Menger. I’ve stayed there before. It’s an interesting place. They say that Teddy Roosevelt gathered up his Roughriders there.
I’ve stayed at the Menger before and I don’t think the rooms are that great. It’s got the history, but the lobby is the nicest part of the hotel. I think the Emily Morgan on the other side of the Alamo is nicer.
My wife and I stayed at the Emily Morgan for New Years Eve with another couple a few years ago. I was hugely impressed. It was one of the nicest hotels I’d ever been in.
Thanks everyone for the ideas & blessings. I made it to SA after a long long long drive. The hotel room smells like smoke? or mold, I dont know which so I got a vicks plug in thing and it’s helped.
Found out I couldve spent some time with my son today, had I gotten in a little bit sooner. Stupid f’n assburger ex husband for not telling me.
Anyways, I look forward to tomorrow - another long day starting at 7am. fun fun (I’m not a morning person) and putting up with the ex-laws… but my son is so worth it! =)
got up very very early, went to the orientation at Lackland, saw the graduation parade/ceremony, spent time with my son (toured the base) and sigh the ex and his side of the family. At least they had a Starbucks on base and - a TACO JOHNS! We took some pics and got some t-shirts on base. I also found out that he leaves for another base for F-15 maintainance training in NW TX and then to Florida. From there he might get stationed in Japan or Europe.
Oh, also got some stories on my son… he’s quit the character, I guess. For example, after doing some blood-work-stuff (donating?) he asked his bunk neighbor what his blood type was. His neighbor, caught off guard by such a strange question, answered him to the best of his knowledge. MJ’s reply: ‘Yup. That will do’ :smack:
The young man who told me the story, praised MJ for his ability to say funny things at the drop of a hat and gave me kudos for raising him.
Also noticed that his comrades would call out his name when passing and give him a big cheesy grin. At first, I didnt think anything of it but after the 4th one, I KNEW there had to be a story behind it… and he should know Mom always finds out! The story?
During the first couple of days one of the DI’s - oops, they changed it to something else now - asked him if he liked girls.
MJ: 'No, sir… (changes tone to a funny one) I like sexy bitches!" :eek: :smack:
Now I wonder if that kudos was a sarcasm at its best!
MJ is a very very very quiet kid, so I’m certain he shocked the hell out of all of them, including his DI.
I cut the day short so he could spend some time with his dad and that side of the family. I was too damn tired to venture into traffic so i went back to the room, called the SO, and then did some blogging. I get him tomorrow bright and early and we’ll be taking the bus to the Riverwalk. Or driving, depending on what he wants to do for breakfast. From there we’ll probably see the Alamo and do a little shopping before heading back home (another 8 hr drive - yippee!).
So I pick up my son and we go for breakfast at IHOP (blah), but it’s what he wanted. From there we hopped over to Big Apple Bagels so I could bring some home (I hadnt had them since I left Nebraska, many years ago!) - and I’m still enjoying them!
After that we went to the Riverwalk and walked around the downtown area, saw the Alamo, etc etc.
I really wanted to take him to the Wax museum and Ripley’s but our time was cut short
I’ll get to (hopefully) see him at Shephard in Wichita Falls, though , and all to myself!
The drive back home really sucked - I was told going to Houston and heading north on 59 was faster… it took me 30 min longer and I had severe anxiety attacks driving through with all that damn traffic - it was not pretty!
:smack: