Living in Texas, whenever we need a weekend away San Antonio is our go to destination.

It’s drivable, there are things to do, and of course there is great food!

I’ve been there with the whole family and I’ve also been there for a weekend away with just the hubs, and if I’ve learned one thing it’s that San Antonio has something for everyone.

Where to Stay

If you are planning a trip to San Antonio I highly suggest picking one of the many hotels on the riverwalk, or at least nearby! Part of what makes a weekend away in San Antonio so great is the ability to walk to dinner and have a margarita or two.

I’ve stayed in more than a few hotels but the two that stand out are the Menger Hotel and the Omni La Mansion del Rio Riverwalk.

The Menger hotel has been open since 1859, and while our room was a little small, my husband loved the historical aspects. It is located a 3 minute walk from the Alamo,  and while not actually on the riverwalk it is a mere 8 minute walk and a stair case away.

For any of the adults on the trip, the Menger Bar has a unique and cozy atmosphere definitely worth checking out. Be warned while we didn’t experience any supernatural experiences ( much to my husband’s disappointment), rumor has it that this hotel is haunted.

The Omni La Mansion del Rio Riverwalk has gorgeous rooms and wonderful staff. They do offer adjoining rooms which is helpful if traveling with kids and the patios are a wonderful place to sit and soak in the ambience of San Antonio. Hands down, the best perk of staying here is the direct back door that leads to the Riverwalk.

Where to Eat

As much as I have espoused eating on the riverwalk my favorite restaurant is actually an 11 minute drive away.

Visiting Chris Madrid’s has been a family tradition since before I was born. It is a family-friendly restaurant with some of the best burgers on this planet. Personally I love the Tostada Burger which is the tastiest marriage between Tex-Mex and Burgers that this girl has ever had.

On the Riverwalk there are an assortment of great restaurants.

Rita’s on the River is my favorite place for Mexican and margarita’s, so we visit at least once on every trip.

The Original Mexican Restaurant has one of the best Tex-Mex brunches around (seriously the Migas are amazing).

If you need a break from Tex-Mex, Zocca Cuisine D’Italia offers some scrumptious pastas and pizzas. This one is a little nicer than the others but on our last trip I brought my 4 year old along for an early dinner and there were no issues.

If you are on a adult-weekend getaway be sure to head down to The Esquire Tavern for late night drinks on the river. This bar has been open since 1933 (although you can’t tell from looking at it) and is by far my favorite bar on the water.

What To Do

I’m not sure you can actually say that you’ve been to San Antonio if you haven’t visited the Alamo.

For those of you Texans who slept through Texas history, this is where the battle of the Alamo occurred in 1836. Now the Alamo houses quite a few amazing artifacts and even has a Young Texans Tour to keep the kids engaged!

My husband (the history buff) can spend hours at the Alamo reading every single placard and basking in the significance of the site, to me (the very much non-history buff) the gardens are at least worth the trip.

I know that the ethics on my next “what to do” item are currently hotly debated.

So if you are offended by animals in captivity, I apologize and would like to say I sympathize with your views and am amazed at the significant progress the movement has made.

But to me few places inspire a love of marine life in children as much as Sea World. I went there many times as a child and can say it is pretty much solely responsible for dolphins being the focus of my obsession for the better part of two decades.

When we went last summer I was amazed at some of the additions to the park. They have a Sesame Street play area for the children which is perfect to cool off in on a hot summer day (just be sure to keep a close eye on your kids because running+ water+ gymnasium is enough to put any parent on high alert).

We also went to Aquatica and while I was banned from riding the rides due to being heavily pregnant, I was more than happy to lounge in the poolside Cabana we rented (and it even included lunch)!

Personally I love everything that is San Antonio and have always returned to my normal life feeling energized and rested after a weekend away.

Few places in Texas allow you to take a break from driving from place to place and it is extremely easy to do in good ole’ San Antone. I’m always looking for new places to check out, so if I missed any of your favorite spots be sure to let me know!