Remind yourself that school is still out for summer when you read this issue of Southlake Style in early August, and it’s not too late to take a quick trip within the Texas borders. Make plans to head south – but not too far – to San Antonio, located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. From caves and orchards to sky-high dining, we literally searched high and low for some unique things to see and do in the Alamo City. Pack your bags and load the kids in the car; it’s time for a San Antonio stroll.
Your New “High”–deout
Let’s start at the top. Your quick trip to San Antonio is just that – quick. So you don’t really have time to experience everything. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have the time to see everything. Tower of the Americas puts you 750 feet above street level and gives you a panoramic view of the city. When your relatives or friends ask you if you saw the Alamo on your trip, you can honestly say “yes.” They don’t have to know it was while you were eating at the revolving restaurant Chart House located in the Tower. Landry’s does its best to treat you to some exquisite cuisine. No Tower visit is complete without the 4D theater ride, Skies Over Texas. ToweroftheAmericas.com
Not Just for Grapes
Just south of San Antonio is Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard. Owned and operated by Saundra C. (Sandy) Winokur, the orchard is best known for its olive trees, olive oil and the various olive oil and olive leaf-based skincare products. With 11,000 olive trees planted among the massive live oaks dotting the property, the main orchard covers a 40-acre tract of the ranch.
In the mood to plant your own orchard? Holding up to 10,000 or more olive seedlings and shoots at any one time, the nursery is full of olive seedlings and shoots available for purchase. One of the first commercial olive orchards in Texas, Sandy Oaks Orchards is not just focused on olive growing, but education as well. The orchard holds educational seminars and tastings of olive oils from olive-growing regions of the world. SandyOaks.com
Hold On (Stalac)—tite
Now we are sending you far below the earth’s surface to underground caverns. Located just north
of San Antonio, Natural Bridge Caverns offers something for everyone including a maze and mining experience that are fun for all ages. But the cavedwelling experiences are what they are known for. Natural Bridge Caverns has two caves to explore, and a variety of tours exist that allow you to see stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over time as water ebbed and flowed within the caves. We suggest the Hidden Passages tour. It takes around 70 minutes to complete, and you’ll explore huge, underground chambers decorated with some of the most rare and delicate formations.
The Aquifer Tour allows guests to experience a natural phenomenon thanks to the vast amount of rain Texas has experienced. The Glen Rose Aquifer is the local underground water reservoir, and it lies beneath the caverns. The water table has risen, and as a result, it is visible to tourists. However, there is no way to predict how long the water will remain visible – so this is a must-see tour before it’s too late. NaturalBridgeCaverns.com
Hit the Links
Founded in 1998, Canyon Springs Golf Club is an award-winning club offering an 18-hole
championship course. In addition to the club’s course, Canyon Springs offers instruction for all levels of play – including kids – and golf events. Located on the Classen Homestead in San Antonio, this golf club has an interesting backstory.
The club resides on the 54,000-square-acres of land claimed by the Classen family a decade prior to the Civil War. Canyon Springs has preserved the rich history of the land in many ways. The club is located on what is believed to be the second stop on the old stagecoach trail out of San Antonio, and a watering trough for the stagecoach horses still stands in the dry creek bed to the east of the Pro Shop. In fact, you might be just as likely to see historical markers speckled amidst the grounds as you are to see hole markers. CanyonSpringsGC.com
Boudro’s Texas Bistro on the Riverwalk
We couldn’t let you travel to San Antonio without at least one visit to the Riverwalk. Plan to make a stop at Boudro’s Texas Bistro for great food and great service. Ranked among the top 25 places to eat in San Antonio by TripAdvisor.com, Boudro’s offers a cuisine featuring Texas and southwestern specialties. Stop in for lunch for Texas Tapas, made with a skewer of pork tenderloin al pastor with pineapple, grilled Hill Country Jalapeño sausage, smoked duck, spicy marinated vegetables, corn pudding and barbecue sauce. With both inside and outside dining (can you say patio with a view!), be sure to enjoy an adult beverage or two while you’re there, including Boudro’s Texas Tea or Prickly Pear Margarita. Boudros.com
