Hill Country Trip! San Antonio and Austin area (Fort Worth, New Braunfels: amusement parks, college)

[Rob.]

Howdy!

My wife and I live in Fort Worth and are looking to drive down the I-35 corridor to Austin and San Antonio during July 4 weekend.

We would LOVE some suggestions on some great and unique places to visit. We will be staying in Austin for one night, and San Antonio for 2 nights.

Currently we plan to visit:

Inner Space Caverns
Bats @ Congress Ave Bridge
SA Riverwalk
Alamo (went in 2009 but it was closed!)

Anything worth checking out on 6th st in Austin? We are in our 20s, but not really big on the party lifestyle.

I've heard great things about Fredericksburg too!

[DanielWayne]

To much to list for Fredericksburg. A few things to see are the old tunnel bat cave, the naval museum (its big), bakeries and good restaurants on every block, wildseed farms... Also look up Luckenbach and try to visit Gruene near New Braunfels if you like things that are unique to Tx.

[Rob.]

We might make the day trip to Fredericksburg from SA. Still undecided

[ChristieP]

You MUST see the July 4th Parade in Fredericksburg!!! Bring chairs, and get there early to grab a good spot. The parade is one of the best I've ever seen! WW2 military vehicles from the Nimitz Museum, floats from local businesses and organizations, antique autos and tractors, horses, fire trucks, etc... It's a lot of fun!

You really could spend the whole July 4the weekend in FBG. They will be doing horse races during the day and fireworks at night at the Fairgrounds, and the Nimitz will be doing battle reenactments on the weekend. The 27 area wineries will be open, as will Wildseed Farms and Das Peach Haus. Find a cute B&B on http://www.fredericksburglodging.com and have a blast!!!

Honestly, you couldn't pay me to drive I35 on a holiday weekend. Nope. We take 281 when we head to the Hill Country. Sure, it's a little longer drive, but it's so less stressful than I35!!

[biscuitmom]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Honestly, you couldn't pay me to drive I35 on a holiday weekend. Nope. We take 281 when we head to the Hill Country. Sure, it's a little longer drive, but it's so less stressful than I35!!

+1

[Slowpoke_TX]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Honestly, you couldn't pay me to drive I35 on a holiday weekend. Nope. We take 281 when we head to the Hill Country. Sure, it's a little longer drive, but it's so less stressful than I35!!

Amen to that!




To the OP:

I could suggest dozens of things...what kinds of things do y'all like to do?

[Rob.]

I'm not a HUGE fan of amusement parks, and we've gone to Seaworld. Natural Bridge Caverns is on the list. My wife is all about some shopping, and we LOVE some good local food. We are pretty open to any suggestions!

We were considering going to Inner Space Caverns, but I think we will abort that plan and take the backroads down to Austin (US281-US183).

[Westerntraveler]

The daytripper did a episode on F-Burg....maybe you could watch it and get some ideas.I thought that episode was really neat.

[EntropyGuardian]

As far as 6th street goes... it is a bunch of dirty college bars. I'm 29 and I live in San Antonio. Every time I go to Austin I struggle to find anything to do. There's like a weird museum near there that's cute for a diversion. The alamo drafthouse is always great but there are three in San Antonio. Other than that your guess is as good as mine.

I would suggest checking out Gruene if you like drinking wine at all. It's a nice spot and it is on your way assuming you are actually going 35 from Austin to SA.

Obviously if you like amusement parks Six Flags is there. And as far as shopping my fiance never turns down a chance to visit the huge outlet mall in San Marcos.

Here's my favorite thing though: have a bite at La Gloria's in the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio. There are lots of restaurants in that area but I like La Gloria. Have something light and a few drinks. Then walk down to the river and walk south. This is the museum reach area of the River and it doesn't have the throng of tourists like the inner river does. People bike up and down the river here even. There are several sculptures and art like the FISH installation under 35. There is supposedly a bat nest down there too but I've never seen any. There are river taxi stops around here too when you're done. It is a quiet, peaceful and beautiful walk and my favorite part of the river. Afterwards you can go downtown, downtown to the river and experience that part of it for comparison.

[RooCeleste]

Esthers Follies in downtown Austin is always good for a huge laugh! Everyone we've taken there has loved it; my jaws hurt from laughing when the show is over. It isn't just a comedy show and if you're a native Texan, it is a must!