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One of the ten best river walks in the U.S. is in San Antonio. I have never traveled to San Antonio, and Parris did not want to celebrate her birthday in St. Louis. Of course, there is a river walk in Chicago. Is there a River Walk in your city?
Just so you are aware, Parris and I have traveled to Sandusky, Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, and Washington. I always remember her birthday because it is the same day as my mom’s. I knew Parris was excited when she sent a text stating she could not check in on Southwest. Parris was a day early. When she finally checked in, she discovered a flight change. If you have never flown on this airline, SW can change your flight. Do not dismiss notifications when you receive an email or notice an alert on your account. You can change your flight, and sometimes you will find a better flight at no additional cost. I always book the less expensive flights and take advantage of the changes.
By the way, I am an Amex Marriott Bonvoy cardholder. I used my free night award to book the first night and points for the second night at the St. Anthony Hotel. I could have booked at a different brand, but I liked the amenities at St. Anthony. The location was perfect. Access to the River Walk and Alamo was less than 10 minutes away. There is a restaurant (Rebelle) and specialty bar (The Haunt) on the 1st floor, a rooftop pool on the 6th floor, and live entertainment on the 10th floor. Although it was noon, our room was ready. Check-in was quick. The front desk clerk provided us with a map of the River Walk. She also told us about the Sunday Farmers Market. We headed to the room to drop off our luggage.
We had a great view of Travis Park and the laser show. Yes, I requested a city view. Although I did not use the bathrobe or slippers, the items were available in the room. The bed linens looked new. There was a box on the nightstand to control the lights and air conditioner. When I opened the dresser drawer, there was a compartment to store refreshments. I still do not know if this was a refrigerator. We also turned on the privacy light when we left the room. There are no Do Not Disturb signs.
I went to the pool around 6:00PM. No one had on a mask, and the crowd was huge. The next day, I woke up early to get a head start on the pool-goers, but housekeeping never cleaned. From a distance, the water was crystal clear. As I walked into the pool, the water appeared murky. We missed the live DJ on both days. The St. Anthony Club on the 10th floor was clean, and the view was spectacular. The staff was professional but super friendly. Joe called me by name when I went back the next night. Try the cheese board and a specialty cocktail. We enjoyed street tacos as we listened to live entertainment. The food, drinks, and live music helped close the evening.
Two days is not enough time. We only walked to one end of the River Walk. First, I will start with Del Mar. If you want a margarita, stop by the mini-market. You will not be disappointed, and the cocktail was only $7. The River Walk was less crowded in the morning. However, at night the River Walk is bustling with people. On Sunday, we headed to the Farmers Market at the Pearl. Let me tell you now, it is not a 20-minute walk from The St. Anthony Hotel, but it was worth the trip. You can enjoy great food and see what San Antonio has to offer. I tried an organic tamale and organic lemonade and purchased macarons.
Go Rio San Antonio River CruisesThere are times when I do not want to resemble a tourist. However, I am glad I took the riverboat cruise, but those boats did not adjust their seating capacity. Even though we were outdoors, everyone wore a mask. During the cruise, we learned Alex Haley lived on the River Walk. I saw the Ben Milam Bald Cypress, Marriage Island, and RiverCenter Mall. Our tour guide was entertaining and made the ride enjoyable. When I travel to San Antonio again, I want to visit the mall and enjoy a cocktail at the Esquire. If you are in San Antonio, take a walk and ride around the River Walk. Make sure to bring a comfortable pair of shoes.
Parris had never been to Joe’s. I selected County Line. The restaurant is famous for loaves of bread, but they sold the last loaf minutes before we ordered. I tried a half slab of ribs and a root beer float. The server left a mug with ice cream and a bottle of root beer on the table. Oh, I had to pour the root beer into the glass. My ribs were tasty, and the root beer float hit the spot. The best meal of the trip was at the airport. No, I was not in an airport lounge. The San Antonio airport is a lounge desert. However, the breakfast at Smoke Shack made my stomach happy. Try the pancakes, bacon, potatoes, and unsweetened tea.
Although I told Parris I would pay for the accommodations, she was determined to pay a portion of the bill. Even though this trip was a birthday celebration, Parris only let me pay for one meal. I know I said this about Virginia Beach, but I want to travel to San Antonio again and tour the other side of the River Walk. For more travel ideas, visit my website.
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