The Mrs. and I are going down there for a medical conference. While there, we’ll hit the Riverwalk and probably do the Alamo.
Normally in the summer, we like to follow 5 days of medical conferencing with a week or so of seeing local sights of scenic wonder, doing some 4-8 miles of daily hiking in interesting, out of the way places, and bounce from town to town in between, staying at quaint lodges and checking out local cuisine.
This has worked well for us in such locations as Oregon, Washington state, Arizona, California, and even Ontario and Pennsylvania.
I’m not so sure it will work in Texas in August.
Are there any unique natural features that would be bearable, much less enjoyable, in the vicinity of San Antonio in the hottest part of the summer? We’re willing to travel 100+ miles or so, getting out of urban areas.
Caveats: We’re not into beaches. Been there, done that. Nor do we really want to go down Mexico way.
So what say you, Texas-familiar dopers? Maybe we should go to the conference, then get back on the plane? Or is there some good stuff out there that’s reasonably doable in the warm summer sun?
I would suggest Enchanted Rock in Fredricksburg, about 75 miles from San Antonio.
It’s a short hike to the top, and it even has some caves to walk/crawl through (nothing too technical; there was a line of people waiting to go in when I went on spring break).
The park website notes that parking is limited and that they have to turn people away once capacity is reached for the day.
It’s been over 25 years since I was in San Antone, but I distinctly remember it being very hot and muggy, particularly in the summer. I also remember going to the zoo and riding on an elephant, but I have no idea if they still offer elephant rides. Nor am I sure that you would WANT to go to the Zoo in August.
I was at a conference in San Antonio during the summer. This was during the startup days of my company, so I thought I’d save some money by walking to the convention center. I was soaking fucking wet in sweat in the mile walk by the time I got there. This was in the morning. It was not a good situation. I suppose that if you were dressed appropriately, you might be able to survive hiking, but I doubt it’ll be all that pleasant.
I am a southern Californian pussy, and I cannot tolerate the humidity.
I agree that the middle of summer in Texas can be uncomfortable, especially if you are not used to the heat and/or the humidity. However, if you go out in the early morning and finish by midday it should not be too bad.
Disclaimer: I keep my thermostat at 85 degrees F in the summer (because that’s a comfortable temperature for me). I guess that it’s a good thing I live in Texas.
I was there on business this past summer. It was hot and nasty and this is from someone who is from hot and humid Washington DC.
Riverwalk was nice but you could hit the Alamo, during the day then walk down to the riverwalk and have dinner that evening. I was interested in seeing some other stuff while I was there but couldn’t find anything to lure my cow-orkers away from the air conditioned hotel. They weren’t interested in the toilet seat museum.
But I did see the worlds largest cowboy boots from the highway.
There’s some nice state parks around that area. I live in Austin, so I am in theory used to the heat… but I tend to spend my summers hiding in the AC during direct daylight.
That said, last July I spent a day hiking in Bastrop State Park. It’s covered in pine (i think) trees, and so is actually quite pleasant and shady. I think you can probably find other parks like that, look around for one that has lots of trees. As long as you’re in the shade the heat shouldn’t be as bad.
Depending on your interests, you could also try a day tubing the river in San Marcos, or come up to Austin for a night and catch some music.
I second this. If it’s unique natural features you’re looking for, Enchanted Rock is right up your alley. Texas Monthly also had an article last summer about Texas’ best spring fed swimming holes, some of which I’m sure are within 100 miles of SA.
Agreed. If you’re outside around, say, 3pm, you’ll burst into flames.
And you should definitely check out New Braunsfels. It’s one of the best places to escape the heat. Floating down the river is a great way to cool down, but if you feel like spending some money and want more excitement, you should check out Schlitterbahn, an amazingly huge water park.
New Braunsfels is a pretty neat place to explore, as well. Good barbecue can be had there, and there’s a really good bakery or two.
I grew up in San Antonio. Figure on doing outdoor stuff in the early morning and late evening. It starts cooling off around 6 p.m. Be indoors no later than 11:00 a.m.
The McNay Art Museum is wonderful. The Riverwalk stays cooler during the day because it’s set below the street level and is well shaded. A lot of the downtown structures were built by the WPA during the 30s, and the trees are fully mature. Don’t forget the Tower of Americas, which is a blast.
Alongside New Braunfels, Seguin is very nice and has a lot of history. You could also make a day trip up to Austin.
I recommend the Adam’s Mark - cool, comfy, centrally located, good grub, and an outdoor pool deck. It was 102° the day I went out there and damn, was it pleasant.
Definitely consider New Braunfels, and consider tubing (toobing) the Guadalupe if you have time. Generally it takes at least half a day, but it is truly one of life’s great experiences. I usually use Rockin’ R, but there are plenty of places that offer good tubing in New Braunfels.
Just remember to call ahead, as the Guadalupe can vary widely from year-to-year. Rockin’ R is a great outfitter, and will be able to tell you if the river’s worth running.
Pedernales Falls State Park is pretty and has some easy hiking and places to swim or float the river, depending on water levels. There are links to some other state parks at that link.
But, yeah, it’s going to be hot as hell in August.