visiting San Antonio

[wld]

I'm visiting San Antonio in early June for a convention. I'll have some evenings/late afternoons free as well as all day Sunday. Staying at the Menger. Any suggestions on some good food for lunch or dinner? Great shopping? Local sites not to miss. Wish I had time to absorb it all and really looking forward to it. I'm guessing San Antonio is much different then my native MI. Love tex mex, different types of food. Do I need a car?
Appreciate any help
Thanks

 

[dianeschlicht]

There are a lot of great places to eat and shop at the River Walk! The Alamo is nearby too, and very interesting. It will be hot!
PS, be sure to have ribs at Dirty Dick's on the River Walk!

 

[cajungirl]

I live in SA and think it's great. The Menger is a great old hotel right by the Alamo. If you're staying in the downtown area you won't need a car, but to visit outlying areas you will. The Rivercenter Mall is downtown. There is an IMAX theatre and you can take a barge tour of the river from the mall. If you like seafood, Landry's on the Riverwalk is wonderful. As the previous poster mentioned Dick's is good & alot of fun. Please let me know if you have any other specific questions. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Toodles524]

Oh, I used to love the Menger Hotel. Don't forget to stop in at the bar in the hotel and read about Hatchet Molly and the history of the bar. It has the most beautiful woodwork. There is so much history in the hotel and the whole area downtown. Eat some Tex-Mex for me! Or better yet, send me a care package. That's the thing I miss most about Texas!
And have lot's of fun!

 

[Wendy]

If you want some really good Mexican food, venture off the river walk and try La Fogata. You would need a car to get there though, as it's near loop 410 north, I believe. Mmmmm.... It has a fantastic atmosphere, great food, and some of the best margaritas anywhere!

If you're into zoos at all, San Antonio has a fantastic zoo. We love to go there when we're in town.

For shopping, try El Mercado for touristy Mexican wares and La Villita for local artisan shops.

 

[Planogirl]

We were at the Menger just last weekend. It's currently being painted but should be finished by the time you go. The old section is lovely and has some fascinating ghost stories associated with it.

Fun things to do in San Antonio? There's a lot to do even if you don't have a car since there's a lot of attractions downtown. Explore the Riverwalk, visit the Alamo, go to the IMAX which has several movie choices including a great film about the Alamo. A lot of people enjoy the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum and the Institute of Texan Cultures among other museums. Don't bother with the Hertzberg Circus Collection which unfortunately has recently been shut down.

I like old churches so I enjoy walking to the old San Fernando Cathedral and then visiting the Spanish Governor's Palace on the same walking tour.

You can drive along the mission trail and tour the old missions if you have a car. There's also a Sea World, Splashtown and a Six Flags park in the area. A short drive (actually in New Braunfels) gets you to the best waterpark anywhere in my opinion, the Schlitterbahn. Gruene, which is now part of New Braunfels, is a neat old town with lots of shopping and exploring to do.

The Menger Hotel is right next to the Alamo and Rivercenter. Just across from the hotel is an entrance to the Riverwalk which goes through the Hyatt. There's also a Ripley's/Wax Museum just across from you and just down the street a new Ripley's haunted house which no one was willing to try with me.

As for food, there's many places along the Riverwalk. I haven't been for a while but Boudro's used to be good and County Line is good for barbecue. You can hop on a trolley and ride to Market Square for 50 cents. My husband loves Mi Tierra, a San Antonio institution but I personally prefer La Margarita for Tex Mex.

Good luck! You may want a guide book.

 

[wld]

Wow...I appreciate the input, and can't wait to go. Too bad I have to spend alot of my time at that pesky convention. But since the hospital is paying for me to go, they get first dibs on my time. My sister is going down too and will have the free time to explore. I'm thinking maybe a car would be a good idea since we have all day Sunday and quite a bit of time on Tuesday. We were thinking Sea World because they closed down the one 4 hours from us but....the mission drive sounds good, the other town, the church walking tour, and we could hit the Riverwalk on our shorter days.
I may have some more questions later for you San Antonioians (If that's what you're called) When we went to Nashville last year we found the best restaurants were ones recommended by locals, or people that had been there.
Thanks