San Antonio is Open
Socially distant, yet close to home. Photos and story by Laurette M. Veres
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T ’S THE PERFECT TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP. The most popular destination in Texas has often been San Antonio and Alamo City's locals are rolling out Texas-sized safety measures to put you at ease.
OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A BALCONY VIEW
FROM THE WESTIN OVERLOOKING THE RIVER WALK; THE WESTIN IS ON THE QUIETER SIDE OF THE RIVER; A COUPLE POSING FOR PHOTOS ON MARRIAGE ISLAND; THE LUXE ACCOMODATIONS AT THE WESTIN.
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WHERE TO STAY The River Walk is the second most popular attraction in San Antonio. (The Alamo ranks number one.) When selecting a hotel, proximity to the River Walk is always essential. The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio (westinriverwalksanantonio.com) meets all the right criteria for a destination river front property. It’s located on the quiet side of the river, which allows for tranquility on your patio, yet you are steps from the bustling restaurant and bar scene. Several balconies on the second floor overlook the River Walk, a serene setting highlighted by brightly lit tour boats. Just to the left, as you head to the action, you’ll pass the infamous Marriage Island. Expect to see weddings here every day of the week. As you arrive at the hotel, remember masks are mandatory in all public areas and only two people can be on an elevator. We were pleased to still see a bustling and active lobby, and even two brides taking photos on the grounds. When you enter your room, look for the sticker taped to the doorjamb “cleaned and sealed for your protection”. This is your assurance the room is ready for you. The plush accommodations feature pillowtop mattresses and marble bathrooms. Brown and gold tones create a relaxing vibe and spending time on your balcony looking out over the River Walk is the best part. Beat the heat at the Westin’s pool where there's always a party, just remember reservations are required to ensure social distancing.
OUTDOOR EXPLORATION The San Antonio Botanical Garden (sabot.org) is a welcome respite from the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can easily spend half a day at this treasure trove of local flora and fauna. Don’t miss the vegetable and herb garden, home to the chef program for healthy eating. Cooking classes have been temporarily converted to an online format, but when they return to the property again, amateur cooks are welcome to collect fresh herbs right from the garden. The family adventure garden is the perfect place to keep your distance while the children run and play. Kids love the teepees, rolling hills, and the splash pad. Not your ordinary splash pad, it looks like a real Texas river replete with boulders and waterfalls. For your safety, a Botanical Garden representative monitors the splash pad activities and limits the capacity to 20, which leaves plenty of time to explore the rest of the outdoor beauty. The most notable features are the five glass conservatory buildings. Each is a tribute to a local plant; the fern grotto looks like a plant scene from Jurassic Park. Another explains life in the desert. Photographers flock to this area for some of the best photo ops in town. Keep walking and you’ll see San Antonio’s first water reservoir from 1877, now an amphitheater. Take a short jog up a hill to one of the highest points inside the loop to take in great skyline views. To get a true picture of Texas’ past, the native Texas area has pioneer homes on property highlighting three areas: South Texas, the Hill Country and the Piney Woods. The setting is remarkable and the landscapes change to mimic the locations. The temperature really does go down as you stroll the Piney Woods. Over 300 species of birds have been sited at
The River Walk is the second most popular attraction in San Antonio. (The Alamo ranks number one.) When selecting a hotel, proximity to the River Walk is always essential.
