Hiking in San Antonio

In spite of being Texas’ second largest city, San Antonio and its surrounding areas are not short of beautiful and diverse trails to hike. Whether you are a history buff, a nature lover or you just enjoy the exercise, you won’t be disappointed with what this area has to offer.

Government Canyon State Natural Area

Government Canyon State Park has more than 40 miles of biking and hiking trails ranging from gently sloping grasslands to rugged canyons. This area is open only during the day time but provides a number of monthly guided hiking programs including Hike the Canyon, Haiku Hike and Family Fun days. The trails are home to a diverse array of nature including the endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler.

Comanche Lookout Loop

If you’re looking for a somewhat shorter hike, then this may be the one for you. The moderate trail is only 1.7 miles long and will take about 1.3 hours. It starts from Nacogdoches Road then winds up around an historic hill in Comanche Lookout Park to a stone tower that provides a stunning view of the San Antonio area.

The Alamo Ghost Hunt Walk

This is a must for San Antonio history aficionados who are curious about the supernatural. The tour will allow you a glimpse of San Antonio and the Alamo after dark, when the specters of the past walk the shadowy streets. The walk visits 13 separate locations where the spirits of murders, heroes and regular men women and children linger. The locations include old cemeteries, hanging trees, haunted hotels and walls where people where entombed while still alive. All participants get to use ghost hunting equipment such as EMF recorders and thermal meters to add to the fun.

San Antonio Falls

The best time to visit this 100 feet waterfall is during the spring after the snow melts and the water cascades over the three tiers offering an impressive show. During the later spring and early summer it’s best to visit after a hardy rain fall to avoid disappointment. The falls are relatively easy to reach. After a steady pace of a little over half a mile on a paved surface, you will reach the overlook. From there it’s just a brief trek down a short dirt path to reach the foot of the falls.

Duveneck Windmill Trailhead
This trailhead is located at the rear of Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. This area has over 23 miles of trails which are suitable for hiking, horseback riding and biking, though no dogs are allowed. The area has numerous hiking trails but this trailhead is perfect if you want to avoid the crowds that frequent the trails at the weekends. Just off the trail is a secluded area of meadow which is perfect for a peaceful picnic.

Corinna Underwood - Born and raised in the U.K has been living in the United States for 12 years. As a freelance writer she spreads the word about sustainable living and improving the environment once step at a time through simple means, such as using water softener in San Antonio.

San Antonio’s Texas Folklife Festival

Whether you’re a long-time resident of San Antonio, or just passing through on vacation, the city is always alive with exciting things for you and your family to do in your spare time. One event not to miss is the annual Texas Folklife Festival in June. Modeled after Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival the Texas Folklife began in 1972 for the Institute of Texan Cultures, and is a vibrant celebration of more than 40 diverse ethnicities represented throughout the Texas population.

The culture of the Lone Star State is woven into a rich tapestry and for the past 40 years, the festival has been bringing together a unique collection of arts, music costume, crafts and food, not only to entertain but also to educate, and you won’t be bored. This year the festival begins on Friday, June 8^th at 5 p.m. and doesn’t stop swinging until 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 10^th.  It takes place in downtown San Antonio at the 22-acre Institute for Texan Cultures and the surrounding grounds, which is located at the corner of Durango and Bowie.

Sun-drenched visitors can expect to see and hear an eclectic range of live music, dancers and visual performances from the six stages set up throughout the area. You can also catch many musicians and performers wandering through the grounds. From German Folk Dancers to Cajun musicians there’s something for every taste and style.

While you’re wandering through the colorful grounds of the Institute, enjoying the entertainment, you’re bound to work up an appetite. That won’t be a problem. You can also sample a delicious range of authentic cuisines that will dazzle your taste buds. The thirty food tents provide fare from many cultures. Sample delights like huli-huli chicken, honey-soaked Baklava, grilled Bratwurst, gumbo and Native American fried tacos. The profits all go to benefit local ethnic communities.

But that’s not all, why not try your hand at learning how to clog dance, shuck corn or perform a hula dance? If you’re feeling up to it you can take a challenge in the watermelon seed spitting contest. You and your family will appreciate the challenges and hardships of pioneer ranchers through the Fort Concho re-enactment during which costumed interpreters reproduce the historic frontier settlement. Your children will enjoy having a taste of what it was like in an old fashion school room where children of yesteryear learned to read and write.

Many traditional crafting techniques are also on display at the festival. You can watch items being made as well as pick up souvenirs such as hooked rugs, Treenware and scrimshaw. You will feel like you have traveled back in time to experience unique ethnic groups and their traditional cultural practices. Come along and join in the festivities, and celebrate your Texas heritage.

Corinna Underwood - A freelance writer for more than twelve years - I write for many outlets throughout Europe and the United States, covering a range of topics including organic gardening, sustainable living, and kinetico water softener.

Summer Events in San Antonio

Now that summer has arrived, it's time to take advantage of the daylight hours and enjoy the events and festivals that San Antonio has to offer. From outdoor concerts to cultural celebrations, there's plenty to do in the city. Check out some of these wonderful events taking place right in your own background: 

All throughout the summer, the San Antonio tradition of Fiesta Noche Del Rio takes place, featuring Mexican, Spanish, Argentine and Texan song and dance performances on Friday and Saturday nights at the River Walk's Arneson River Theatre.

The grand opening of the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation South Texas Heritage Center is at the end of May, but you can take the tour any time after. The center provides a permanent home for exhibitions and collections about the early days of the Rio Grande when Spanish explorers first arrived in South Texas, continuing on to the birth of the American Cowboy.

On the first weekend in June, the San Antonio Summer Art & Jazz Festival will return for the ninth year. The free three-day event has a great lineup of local jazz artists, regional foods, and arts and crafts fair. The following weekend is the Texas Folklife Festival, hosted at the Institute of Texan Cultures in HemisFair Park. Over 40 ethnic groups gather together to showcase authentic food, music, dance, and crafts.

Juneteenth – on June 19 – will celebrate the day Texas freed slaves after receiving word of the Emancipation Proclamation. A picnic, festival, and Freedom Fair commemorate the events. For traditionalists, the Fourth of July Celebration is just around the corner, with fireworks for Independence Day, plus Freedom Fest at Market Square.

If you've been waiting to dine out, take advantage of Culinaria: Restaurant Week 2012. Look online to find great deals at top local restaurants in San Antonio. If you miss the first weekend in June, then go in July to the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival, which has been running for 16 years on Friday evenings at the Wonderland of the Americas Amphitheater.

In August, come see over 90 canoe teams compete in the FORD Canoe Challenge. From local Boy and Girl Scout troops to San Antonio city officials, celebrities, and corporate teams, everyone is paddling out to win that weekend.

Lastly, the summer ends with the kickoff of football season. The Texas Football Classic pairs off ten of the top high school football teams in the state – many which have already gone to the state championships – to compete at the Alamodome. Past schools have played in state championships, so get ready to see future NFL quarterbacks and running backs fight to get the ball into the end zone.

Author Bio:

Nadia Osman – Based in Los Angeles, Nadia writes travel articles for websites and blogs, as well as home furnishings and appliances such as a San Antonio home watersoftener company.

San Antonio Camping & Outdoor Recreation

Summer's here, and with the sun shining and flowers in full bloom, it's the perfect time to get back to nature. Camping is a great way for the whole family to get together and experience the great outdoors. Most camping exists in state parks, of which there are over 140 scattered throughout the different regions of Texas. Whether you're packing a van full of kids, planning a couple’s getaway, a trip with friends, a solo excursion, or a day trip to get out of the city, here are some of the best places to go camping in and around the San Antonio area:

Enchanted Rock – North of Fredericksburg, this place has a huge, granite monolith that's a favorite for hikers and climbers, plus lots of different hiking trails. If you tire of nature, head in to the city of Fredericksburg for a day excursion.

Canyon Lake – While it's a bit of a drive outside of San Antonio, the scenic beauty of Canyon Lake is well worth the drive. With 80 miles of shoreline, there are all kinds of exciting outdoor activities to take up here, from fishing and swimming to canoeing, boating, jet skiing, wakeboarding, and other water sports. It's also got some of the best whitewater in Texas along the Guadalupe River above the lake.

Blanco State Park – On the banks of the Blanco River, this is pure Texas Hill country, with bass fishing all year around. The drive is up 40 miles north of San Antonio.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park – Who says there are no mountains in Texas? Guadalupe Peaks is the highest peak in Texas at 8,749-feet. Hiking and bird watching are among popular activities, as is generally observing the wildlife.

Padre Island National Seashore – For over 100 miles up and down the Texas coastline, Padre Island is barrier island offers excellent spots for bird watchers, plus hiking, fishing, and biking along the island.  Corpus Christi connects to the north end of the park via the John F. Kennedy Causeway.

Paradis Canyon – In Rio Medina, this site has tubing, canoeing, paddle boating, and fishing await you at this campsite west of San Antonio. Great for a quick day trip out into nature!

Pedernales Falls State Park – Located between San Antonio and Austin, the Pedernales Rives cascades over layered limestone to create a beautifully scenic view. Go hiking, tubing, fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, mountain biking, or swimming in the river.

Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area – For those that really want to get away from it all, this is literally in the middle of nowhere. This vast spread of land – over 260,000 acres – covers all kinds of unique desert habitat and archaeological sites plus float trips down the Rio Grande.

Author Bio:

Nadia Osman – Based in Los Angeles, Nadia writes travel articles for websites and blogs, as well as real estate and home furnishings, and home appliances such as a water softener San Antonio company.

Stay-cations in San Antonio

Taking vacations is getting harder to do nowadays.  Gas and airline prices, hotel prices, and food prices are all on the rise.  Planning a family vacation is no easy task, either!  Packing up the family for a week long getaway is a difficult endeavor.  If you live in the San Antonio area, however, you can have a great stay-cation!   Staying close to home means you won’t have to endure hours of driving or flying, you can pack your own food, and yet still have a day full of memories!  Some attractions even have “Free days” where you can enjoy their amenities for free!

If you’re looking to spend a day out in the downtown area of San Antonio, The River Walk offers a respite from the heat.  Full of beautiful shops and galleries, you can even tour this national treasure by boat!  You can listen to free music, watch glass blowers, and take in the surroundings.

Sea World and Six Flags are both amusements parks that you can visit in the San Antonio area.  Full of rides and fun, these two parks would be a great destination for any family.

The McNay Art Museum has free admission Thursday nights and is also free the first Sunday of the month.  This museum has post-impressionist and modern pieces, theater-centered works, medieval offerings, Native American art and more.

San Antonio Children's Museum lets you bring four children free with a paid adult admission on the third Thursday of the month, 5-8 pm.   This incredible museum has over 80 interactive exhibits for you and your family to enjoy!

San Antonio Museum of Art has free admission Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The San Antonio Museum of Art is housed in a castle-like building that was formerly the Lone Star Brewery. It is known for antiquities collections and the 30,000 square-foot Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art.

Witte Museum has free admission Tuesdays 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. This museum is San Antonio's premiere museum of South Texas history, culture and natural science. Located on the banks of the San Antonio River, the Witte offers permanent exhibits that include dinosaur skeletons, cave drawings, wildlife dioramas and even several historic homes.

If you’re looking to get outside the San Antonio area, there are quite a few sights to see within a 90 minute drive.  Castroville is a beautiful, historic town 30 minutes away.  This town has walking trails, historic tours, and wonderful shopping galleries.

Cibolo Nature Center, about 30 minutes away, is where families can learn hands-on about the Texas landscape and its unique climate at the center’s 100 acres of Hill Country wilderness.

Canyon Lake is a wonderful spot for a day trip.  A 45 minute drive will take you to the banks of a beautiful lake, surrounded by shops, wonderful restaurants, and breathtaking viewpoints.

Bandera would be a wonderful place to go to indulge your inner cowboy!  The city of Bandera is just an hour away, and offers daily horseback riding and trail hikes through the beautiful Hill Country and rodeo shows every night.  You can spend the day on a working dude ranch and eat off the chuck wagon!

Staycations can be a great way to get away from the everyday, discover new and interesting attractions in your area, and save your hard earned money!

Megan Wilson, a California girl gone country, lives in (Very) Rural Kentucky with her husband, daughter, and myriad of cats, dogs, cattle, horses, and chickens.  She’s worked as an administrative assistant for a Kinetico Water Systems retailer, environmental consulting firm, and now is a stay-at-home mommy and blogger!

Fun is always bigger in Texas!

If you’re planning a trip to the San Antonio area, get ready to have some fun!  San Antonio has been investing quite a bit into their tourism lately, and it shows.  No matter your interest, San Antonio has some great offerings.

If you’re in the mood for some culinary adventures, San Antonio has its own wine region!  They also boast a food walk, a dinner boat cruise, and you can even take culinary boot camp classes at the Culinary Institute of America.  Have a 4 legged friend?  There are even dog friendly restaurants.  Three food festivals mark San Antonio’s calendar-the Fiesta in April, Culinaria in May, and Restaurant Week in August.  Texas is home to some of the world’s most popular chefs, so you’re bound to find some great food!

One of the most popular destinations in San Antonio is the River Walk.  What started as a vision in the early 1920’s has become a National landmark.  Hailed by Travel & Leisure as the Nations Coolest River Walk, this is definitely a landmark you won’t want to miss.  You can take a boat guided tour, bike the walk, or just take a self-guided stroll.  This River Walk has restaurants, flour mills, museums, and historical landmarks; it definitely should be on your must see list. 

For families, and especially families with special needs, Morgan’s Wonderland should be a main attraction.  This park is 100% wheelchair accessible, and even has wheelchair swings!  There are outdoor music gardens, a fishing wharf, sensory garden, and even an off-road track.  The Children’s Museum in San Antonio is also a wonderful place to visit.  With over 80 interactive exhibits, and a very affordable admission price, you can spend a whole day here!  Sea World, Splash Town, and Six Flags Fiesta are also in the area and will guarantee a day of fun for your family.  Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Active types will enjoy touring the San Antonio area by climbing into a helicopter, strapping on a parachute, or by touring the city by river cruiser, trolley, Segway, or horse-drawn carriage.  There are over 50 golf courses in the area as well.  If the Texan in you is begging to come out, you can go to a working dude ranch, get some custom boots made, or go to a genuine honkey-tonk and learn the two step!

You can’t go to San Antonio without being engulfed in colorful history.  Five Catholic Missions from the early 18^th century dot the riverbanks.  These five landmarks are the biggest concentration of missions in the nation:  The Alamo, the San Jose Mission (Which is still an active parish), Mission Conception, San Juan Mission, and Mission Espada.  You can tour all of these and walk to each one on paths lined by beautiful gardens.

Simply put, San Antonio has a diverse culture, with a host of interests for every walk of life!

Megan Wilson, a California girl gone country, lives in Rural Kentucky with her husband, daughter, and myriad of cats, dogs, cattle, horses, and chickens.  She’s worked as an administrative assistant for an AC Repair company, environmental consulting firm, and now is a stay-at-home mommy and blogger.

South Texas Brush Country

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, commonly referred to as Cabeza de Vaca, lived from 1490 until 1557.  He was a Spanish explorer and a proto-anthropologist, who explored the New World.  He and 600 other men left Spain early in 1527.  On April 15, 1528 the expedition landed close to Tampa Bay, Florida.

In a short amount of time many in the expedition perished.  He and forty of his men shipwrecked either on or close to Galveston Island, which they called “Malhado” (Misfortune) or The Island of Doom.

In a very short time only Cabeza de Vaca and three other men on that expedition remained.  Over the years different American Indian tribes from the upper Gulf Coast enslaved them, but the Spaniards escaped and spent eight years exploring the northeastern Mexican states and what’s now the state of Texas.  While exploring the South Texas Brush Country Cabeza de Vaca said that he arrived in a barren no man’s land because the landscape seemed so thorny, desolate and bereft of life.

But looks are deceiving.

Thriving Nature

In a lot of other places around the world the indigenous species are dying.  However, this is not the case in Texas Brush Country, where Nature is thriving.  Per acre, more wildlife roams through this area than on any other place in the United States.  Because it is so rich in biodiversity it has become one of the most favored destinations for nature lovers.

Today wildlife photographers and bird watchers consider this region of South Texas to be one of the easiest places in the world to capture photographic images of wildlife.  Were you to leave the comforts of the air conditioning in your car or SUV and venture outdoors amidst the fragrant huisache bushes and mesquite trees you would find a thriving, vital environment rather than a desolate area. 

Although 95% of the region is privately owned, some of the landowners have established sanctuaries that include feeding stations and watering holes.  They’ve also built photo-blinds for the photographers.

It’s in this region that you’ll find the non-venomous black indigo, which is otherwise known as the giant yet gentle Texas Indigo Snake.  These snakes are non-aggressive; the longest of which on record is around nine and a half feet.

These giants are so gentle that a lot of people have taken them home as pets.  That may be why these snakes – whose meal of choice is rattlesnakes – are now classified as a threatened species.

When you’re in the South Texas Brush Country and look overhead you will often be treated to the sight of a Harris hawk that’s silhouetted against the stark blue sky as it hunts for snakes and rodents.  Scientists have recently found that Harris hawks sometimes act like pack animals and form a group of two to four birds when they go hunting.

If you’re in the area at night you will hear the coyotes howl.  Their howls are a signal for members of their family to get together to go hunting.  You might also catch them coming out during the day, so keep your eyes open for photo opportunities.

If you’re going to South Texas you might also go hunting yourself for the legendary javelin, a gentle creature that looks rather vicious because of its sharp tusks.  These animals are almost blind and rely on each other and their sense of smell to find the beans and prickly pear cacti that comprise most of their diets.

This is just a small sampling of the wildlife that has made this area so popular with nature and wildlife photographers.  Go there with your camera and you will enjoy an outdoor experienced like no other.  You will be amazed by how many animals pass in front of your lens.

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