An empty nester day in your kid’s city
- EmptyNesterVibes
- Nov 13
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 14
San Antonio, Texas version
Getting our drink on at the Buckhorn.
When our daughter flew the coop two years ago, she flew pretty far away. Visiting her requires a 45-minute drive to the airport and two planes. The best part of the trip is that she picks us up on the other side. It’s always a joy to see her driving up in her all-too-familiar Honda CR-V, but with Texas plates instead of Ohio. But boy do we enjoy San Antonio. Friendly, foodie, and fun. Saddle up partner and come for a ride!
Because our daughter doesn’t have a ton of vacation days to spare when we visit, we often get a day to ourselves while she is “toiling for the man,” as my husband always says. If you have a day to explore the town where your kid now lives, read here for a few tips to make the day special, then get some deets on what you can do in San Antonio for a day if you’re visiting.
What to do while your kid is working or in class
· Before the day begins, plan to meet your kid for lunch or pick them up for lunch, if possible (if you have a car or can drive theirs). Make sure they choose the locale--they will be eager to share what local places they have discovered with their co-workers and friends.
· Plan where to meet them after their day ends--is it a happy hour spot they like to hang out at with friends or a trendy joint they want to share with you?
· Find something to tackle in the morning. Do you like museums? Would you prefer a hike in a state park? What about perusing books stores, coffee shops and other unique stores? Pick one thing and stick to it.
· In the afternoon, pick something a little bit more fun. Is it an interactive museum, a hop-on/hop-off bus tour, a boat cruise, a trip to the top of a skyscraper or world fair monument. You get the picture.
· Make time for a pick-me-up coffee, tea or even an Aperol spritz or other cocktail. After all, you’re footloose and fancy free!
San Antonio in a day
San Antonio is a big, sprawling city so it’s impossible to see all of it in one day. But here are several options to get a flavor for all the city has to offer. And speaking of flavor, plan your meals carefully as San Antonio is a foodie city. Not trying the Mexican, Tex-Mex and BBQ here would be a travesty. Don’t. Miss. It.
Itinerary 1:
· The Alamo: About to undergo a major renovation, but they now also now have Pee-wee Herman’s bike on display. So for that reason alone, it’s a must. But remember, there's no basement at the Alamo!
· Governor’s Palace: Best example of Spanish colonial architecture in the city. You can tour the entire palace inside and out.
· San Fernando Cathedral: Haunted by Alamo spirits, it also has the grave site of Davy Crockett (now debunked, but cool nonetheless).
· Lunch at Mi Tierra: Darn good Mexican food and bakery. Table side mariachi music for tips. The nachos are not like nachos elsewhere. Each individual chip is laced with ingredients so no chips is left naked.
· Buckhorn Museum: A large kitschy museum with more taxidermy than a taxidermist BUT home to the same bar where Teddy Roosevelt gathered all his rough riders for the Spanish-American war. Getting a drink at this famed bar and walking throughout the museum is encouraged. Plus, who wouldn’t want to take a photo on their green screen for $10? Ours was priceless. See the photo below.
· The McNay Museum: First modern art museum in Texas in a Spanish colonial home once owned by Marion Koogler McNay. Quite impressive collection and the architecture alone is worth a look.
· Tower of the Americas: Go during Happy Hour 4-7 to take advantage of the Bar 601 menu, unless you have made reservations at the rotating restaurant, Chart House. At Bar 601 you sit right above Chart House and can order drinks and food overlooking the San Antonio skyline. At 7 you can order off the same menu as the Chart House. Be aware you have to pay $20 per person to get up the tower, in addition to the bar and restaurant.
Great views and great booze at the Tower of the Americas.
Itinerary 2:
· Lunch at Shilo’s: Oldest restaurant in San Antonio. Serves delicious German food. This is a serious compliment coming from Cincinnati--rooted in strong German history and culture. There is always a wait, so go early.
· San Antonio’s missions. You can’t come to San Antonio without seeing at least one of the missions (besides the Alamo). Pick one or two of the following:
o San Juan
o San José
o Espada
· Dinner at Boudro’s on the Riverwalk: The most amazing Tex-Mex food served right on the Riverwalk. Order a prickly pear margarita and tableside guac. You’ll have a religious experience those visiting the missions would envy. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, trust me, but our favorites are the shrimp and grits, the blue crab tostada, the enchiladas and the Cajun prime rib. Reservations are needed. Ask for a table alongside the river if available. You won’t regret it.
· Riverwalk cruise: Book this ahead of time with Go Rio cruises.
You won't regret dinner at Boudro's!
Itinerary 3:
· The missions: Spend the morning at one or two of the missions listed above.
· The Pearl: Spend the afternoon at this attractive outdoor area reminiscent of the great Italian piazze with historic Hotel Emma overlooking the Riverwalk. Built in the old Can Plant of yesteryear.
o Pop into the fun shops built around the area.
o On Saturdays and Sundays you can enjoy The Pearle open air market with tons of local vendors.
o Pullman market is a strip of high-end grocery shops strung together with a Michelin-star dessert shop, Nicosi, where you aren’t allowed to use your phone and a highfalutin Italian restaurant, Fife and Farro.
o The Pearle Food Hall has some amazing choices including Chilaquil, which surprisingly specializes in chilaquiles. If you have never eaten this tasty dish, put it your list. You’ll never know you needed this in your life.
o Order a margarita from their outside bar and sip it while you watch all the kids playing soccer on the astroturf.
o High Street Wine Company: Cool off here with a fancy glass of wine inside or outside.
o The Bar at Hotel Emma: Grab a fancy drink and some of dem spicy peanuts and soak up the bougie ambiance. Our daughter has seen Drake come out of this hotel. So the people watching here is next level.
o They have a plethora of seriously diverse dining experiences at The Pearl, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the following establishments:
§ Best Quality Daughter: Some of the most extravagant Asian dishes we’ve ever tasted.
§ Mon Chou Chou: Between the “cheese dome,” as my family calls it, and the raclette sandwich, I have probably reached the pearly gates and seen Jesus.
§ Bakery Lorraine: Great place for breakfast or brunch. Their pain au chocolate are double the size of those in France. There, I said it.
· Elsewhere: Some time during the day, fit a stop into this outdoor bar. Only in San Antonio do they have a year-round outdoor bar with hookah’s available, right on the Riverwalk. This place is truly like no other…dare I say like ‘no where else.’ One of our favorite spots ever.
We hope this gives you a few ideas of things you can do in San Antonio. The city has so many things to offer and we can’t seem to make a dent in the hundreds of restaurants we want to try. Get your cowboy hats and boots ready and two-step it on over to Texas.
We barely had time to unpack and do laundry from our trip there last week, but we’re packing up again and heading north to Detroit to see our son this weekend. He turned 21 his week and we’re celebrating big with all-you-can-eat steak! Stay tuned for our Detroit, Michigan version of An empty nester day in your kid’s city next week.
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