Local Getaways
Staycations: Tourism and Travel
By Berit Mason
Civic Park at Hemisfair
Between the pandemic and the sticker shock of inflation, we’ve become a nation of homebodies. Along with food delivery, streaming services, and remote work, this hunkering down has some people vacationing at home. “Staycations” were popular during the 2009 economic crash. The neologism was coined in 2003 by a Myrtle Beach Sun-News writer, describing using vacation time to stay in town and lounge and work around the house. The term has expanded in common parlance to mean exploring your own city like a tourist. If that sounds appealing this year, pull out the old binoculars, scan the horizon and let’s see what’s going on in your own backyard.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum, from the Riverwalk
Things Are Great When You’re Downtown
“For us, staycation is a positive word,” says David Gonzalez, Vice President of Media Relations and Communications for Visit San Antonio. “It’s something we encourage people to do. Explore San Antonio, get outside of your bubble to see what the city has to offer, because it’s a fast-growing city with a lot of great new things.”
Gonzalez suggests excursions to Hemisfair Park. Hemisfair ‘68 put San Antonio on the map, and the 96-acre esplanade is well on its way to becoming a Southwestern New York Central Park. “In 2023, they opened their first part of their new gardens that includes a great new lawn and amphitheater, a great place for kids in the springs area, to splash around on hot summer days. There is a brand new Bombay Bicycle Club and the Box St. All Day Brunch.”
Hemisfair is free, and so are the San Antonio Missions. Gonzalez adds, “What’s really cool is that the National Park Service keeps improving the experience down there. They have the visitor center at Mission San Jose offering free tours, and if you want a deep-dive, SA Sidecars offers tours in sidecars. There’s Mission Kayak and Mission Adventure Tours, so you can kayak right next to the missions.”
Bike around, visit the World Heritage Center, or stroll a pilgrimage route like the one in Spain, the ancient Camino de Santiago. Enjoy nearby craft breweries and restaurants afterwards. “San Antonio is growing out and it is growing up. San Antonio is home and capital of Tex-Mex cuisine, but the culinary scene has changed and diversified. There’s vegan, Ethiopian food, and great fusion restaurants.”
A free electric trolley service, San AntoniGO, makes getting around downtown easier, while city garages are free on Sundays and after 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.
“People can see history in the making as the Alamo [Plan, a State of Texas commission] restores the plaza area, reminiscent of what it was in its mission era.” Behold the $300 million Phil Collins collection of over 400 items of Alamo artifacts and memorabilia! The history lesson continues at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, and when hunger pangs strike, mosey over to our world-class Riverwalk.
Hopscotch is a downtown showcase of immersive art; plus there’s Blue Star art galleries, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the McNay.
COVID-19 shuttered hotels and restaurants, but the sector is sprinting ahead. “In 2024, we anticipate we’ll be back to 2019 levels, for both leisure and convention travelers,” Gonzalez remarked. We were ranked fifth for the best winter place to holiday by WalletHub while the U.S. News & World Report placed us at No. 1 for best places to visit in Texas.
O’Casey’s Boutique Inn Bed and Breakfast is a wonderful bed and breakfast that we highly recommend for anyone who wants to explore San Antonio. This hidden gem was named the “Best Boutique Hotel in San Antonio” by Forbes magazine. Originally built back in 1904, this charming house has been beautifully restored and is conveniently located in the heart of Monte Vista, just a short distance away from downtown. You’ll find that it’s also close to some great local attractions such as the Japanese Tea Garden, restaurants, and the Pearl. Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast and coffee or tea in the lovely courtyard filled with plants.
Wine Not Check Out the Hill Country?
If you want to leave town, why not go “Sideways” ? In the 2004 film, two Los Angeles men take a break from their lives to travel around California wineries, and you can too, among the wineries of the Texas Hill Country. Grapes have joined peaches, cultivated into fine varietals like Tempranillo and Sangiovese, reds; and Viognier and Roussanne, whites. Over 100 wineries sit tidily 1.5 hours north of town. Fredericksburg has the largest concentration of vineyards, followed by Comfort, Johnson City, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, and San Saba.
January Wiese is Executive Director of the 25-year-old Texas Hill Country Wineries association. “It’s been in about the last 25 years that wine tourism has picked up. But with COVID, traffic really increased, as well as staycations,” she says.
Hill Country wineries are among the top ten destinations for wine enthusiasts. “Most of our visitors are Texans, about 90%. For San Antonio, you can get to Fredericksburg to enjoy a world of wine,” Wiese states.
Novices are taught the mysterious wine tasting protocol. “A new thing wineries are focusing on is education in the tasting room … learning about varietals, how to taste,” says Wiese.
Don't Forget the Kids
For the kids, cruise through Brackenridge Park to the San Antonio Zoo. CEO and president Tim Morrow says this year is a “wild” time at the zoo!
“From the awe-inspiring seasonal attractions like Giants of the Ice Age and Dinosaur Adventure Park to the highly anticipated return of fan-favorite events like Zoo La-La! A Taste of San Antonio, Zoo Boo!, and Zoo Lights - all bigger than ever, 2024 promises to be a year that will leave a lasting impression. Guests can also expect new animal residents like capybara and others to join throughout the year. And our savanna expansion is set to be a game-changer! With a staggering 126% increase in habitat space, the expanded savanna will provide a richer experience for the animals and our guests. And that’s not all – I am thrilled to share Spekboom Lodge, a private lodge nestled within the savanna, offering guests an unforgettable overnight stay surrounded by amazing savanna species.”
Other local attractions include San Antonio’s numerous theme parks. SeaWorld San Antonio opened in 1988, and today, promotes a pro-marine life mission. For thrills and chills, Six Flags Fiesta Texas offers hair-raising roller-coaster rides like Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger and Hurricane Force 5, along with fine theatrical entertainment.
Big cats engaged in a staring contest; the San Antonio Zoo has features for every age
Relax, But Not At Home
You don’t have to stay home while staying home for vacation. Stay in town, but let go of your daily worries and stresses at nearby hotels, resorts, and spas.
Southtown hosts the new Plaza San Antonio boutique hotel, which boasts a resort-style swimming pool, new day spa, and two community-focused restaurants and bars – Corinne San Antonio and Anaqua Garden Bar.
Golfers might check in at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. “The resort features world-class amenities, such as TPC San Antonio’s 36-hole PGA TOUR golf facility, the 26,000-square-foot Lantana Spa, and the 9-acre River Bluff Water Experience,” says Director of Sales and Marketing, Brian Morris. “With multiple pools, a meandering lazy river, thrilling water slides, and private cabanas, guests can bask in luxury without ever leaving the 600-acre property.”
There’s the equally luxurious Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, and both are far outside of town for real getaways.
Venture Out to Sea
In less than a day, you can breathe the salty air at the Corpus Christi Bay. “The USS Lexington Museum and the Texas State Aquarium stand as emblematic landmarks, epitomizing the essence of the Gulf Coast Capital identity. These iconic gems not only captivate with their historical significance and marine marvels, but also showcase the diverse and vibrant spirit of our destination,” says America Segura, Brand Manager of Visit Corpus Christi.
And on the USS Lexington, you might see a ghost! “A trained paranormal guide leads tours through spaces around the ship with reported unexplained sightings or activity. Our ghost tours normally commence in the evening after the ship has closed, at 6p.m.” Semi and professional “ghost hunters” are welcome to bring their own equipment.
The Texas State Aquarium includes a free new 20,000-square-foot Wildlife Rescue Center, with state-of-the-art tools and a multimedia theater teaching visitors about marine life rehabilitation and conservation. ■
Travel broadens our minds and our perspectives, but visiting the local sights and sounds, you’ll be as pleasantly exhausted and utterly cultured as any world traveler.
