Recently we returned from my first trip to San Antonio, Texas, since 2017, primarily so I could see my parents, and my brother and his family!
Meanwhile, we managed a few excursions to some of my favorite places, where I got to relive many happy memories.
ALAMO CAFE
Since I hadn’t eaten at Alamo Cafe since 2009, when we moved to Virginia, I was thrilled to see the fun sites and enjoy the great Tex-Mex again.
Love this unique night sky when entering the restaurant…
Meanwhile a creek runs through the restaurant…
…to a little pond beyond the patio, which is located in the back, away from all the noise of the traffic.
How I wish Virginia would design outdoor seating like this, instead of on the street with all the cars.
Homage to the Alamo on the far wall…
My favorite plate, chalupas with smoky fajitas and a side of queso!
WILDSEED FARMS – FREDERICKSBURG
The next morning we drove to one of my favorite Texas Hill Country towns, Fredericksburg.
Outside Fredericksburg is a farm that harvests wild flower seeds to sell across the nation…Wildseed Farms.
While lots of great garden and seasonal shopping is outside, indoors is a huge array of gorgeous Texas themed items, some of the best anywhere.
I did lots of souvenir shopping here, including buying a pack of bluebonnet seeds to attempt back in Virginia.
BACKWOODS BBQ – FREDERICKSBURG
Since I was hungry for real Texas BBQ, I looked for such a spot in Fredericksburg.
Finding Backwoods BBQ, we enjoyed their smokey flavors!
NIMITZ HOTEL AND WORLD WAR II MUSEUM
Then we visited the Nimitz Hotel and World War II Museum.
Back in the day this site was a popular hotel at the crossroads between San Antonio and the West, it was the boyhood home of Admiral Chester Nimitz, who led the Pacific fleet in WWII.
This was my first time to tour the newly renovated hotel section, full of the life story of Nimitz and his ancestors who ran the hotel, which was excellent.
While my husband looked around the WWII gallery, which is massive, I considered the short amount of time we had left.
Since I had visited this amazing gallery years ago with my kids when we were homeschooling, I decided to shop in the gift shop, where I found great WWII souvenirs for homeschool and historical sewing.
When we had to leave before either of us were done, my husband woefully exclaimed we had to come back.
Now he understood why I kept saying we should do a couple of days here, just for the two of us, since it’s such a romantic town with tons to do.
Hopefully next time.
AQUARENA SPRINGS – SAN MARCOS
A few days later my son and his wife (who arrived the day we were in Fredericksburg) joined us in San Marcos, to ride the glass bottom boats at Aquarena Springs.
How I miss the old Aquarena Springs, that sold to SWT (as it was called back when I attended) for a research site.
The glass bottom boats, which date back to the 1920s, allow one to see the natural springs that come from the aquifer below.
GRUENE
Afterwards we drove to Gruene, for shopping and eating!
First we put in our reservations at the Gristmill, then walked around while I awaited my text alert that our table was ready.
Famed for the best food in Texas, the Gristmill is known as far as Virginia.
Meeting someone for the first time who raved about an amazing restaurant outside San Antonio, I asked if it was the Gristmill in Guene, he looked at me in shock. How did I know that? 😉
Then my kids and I shopped for the best souvenirs with Texas themes!
This trip was mostly a tease about what I did not get to do. Hopefully I’ll get to do more Texas-styled stuff on the next trip!
