San Antonio is Open

Socially distant, yet close to home.

Photos and story by Laurette M. Veres

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.

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME FOR A ROAD OUTDOOR EXPLORATION

TRIP. The most popular destination in Texas The San Antonio Botanical Garden (sabot.org) is a has often been San Antonio and Alamo City's welcome respite from the Covid-19 Pandemic. You locals are rolling out Texas-sized safety can easily spend half a day at this treasure trove of measures to put you at ease. local flora and fauna. Don’t miss the vegetable and herb garden, home to the chef program for healthy

WHERE TO STAY eating. Cooking classes have been temporarily

The River Walk is the second most popular converted to an online format, but when they return attraction in San Antonio. (The Alamo ranks number to the property again, amateur cooks are welcome one.) When selecting a hotel, proximity to the River to collect fresh herbs right from the garden.

Walk is always essential. The Westin Riverwalk, The family adventure garden is the perfect

San Antonio (westinriverwalksanantonio.com) place to keep your distance while the children run meets all the right criteria for a destination river and play. Kids love the teepees, rolling hills, and front property. It’s located on the quiet side of the the splash pad. Not your ordinary splash pad, it river, which allows for tranquility on your patio, yet looks like a real Texas river replete with boulders you are steps from the bustling restaurant and bar and waterfalls. For your safety, a Botanical Garden scene. Several balconies on representative monitors the the second floor overlook the River Walk, a serene The River Walk splash pad activities and limits the capacity to 20, setting highlighted by brightly lit tour boats. Just is the second which leaves plenty of time to explore the rest of the to the left, as you head to the action, you’ll pass the most popular outdoor beauty. The most notable infamous Marriage Island. Expect to see weddings here attraction in features are the five glass conservatory buildings. every day of the week. As you arrive at the San Antonio. Each is a tribute to a local plant; the fern grotto looks hotel, remember masks are mandatory in all public (The Alamo like a plant scene from Jurassic Park. Another areas and only two people can be on an elevator. We ranks number explains life in the desert. Photographers flock to were pleased to still see a bustling and active lobby, one.) When this area for some of the best photo ops in town. and even two brides taking photos on the grounds. selecting a hotel, Keep walking and you’ll see San Antonio’s first water

When you enter your room, look for the sticker taped to proximity to the reservoir from 1877, now an amphitheater. Take a the doorjamb “cleaned and sealed for your protection”. River Walk is short jog up a hill to one of the highest points inside

This is your assurance the room is ready for you. The always essential. the loop to take in great skyline views. plush accommodations To get a true picture feature pillowtop mattresses and marble of Texas’ past, the native Texas area has pioneer bathrooms. Brown and gold tones create a homes on property highlighting three areas: South relaxing vibe and spending time on your balcony Texas, the Hill Country and the Piney Woods. The looking out over the River Walk is the best part. setting is remarkable and the landscapes change

Beat the heat at the Westin’s pool where there's to mimic the locations. The temperature really always a party, just remember reservations are does go down as you stroll the Piney Woods. required to ensure social distancing. Over 300 species of birds have been sited at

BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: ONE OF THE FIVE GLASS CONSERVATORY BUILDINGS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS; MASKS STAY ON DURING RIDES AT SIX FLAGS; LAURETTE'S SONS VIEWING TURTLES AT SEAWORLD; THE TWINS AT THE FIRST PERMANENT DINO EXHIBIT AT THE WITTE MUSEUM. South Texas’ birding area. The limestone in the hill country depicts the importance of aquifers to the residents. The Auld Home shows visitors a charming homesite from the 1800s where seven children were raised.

To learn more about the types of landscaping that grow well in San Antonio, the cottage gardening area features Spanish courtyards and more. Walk through the Wisteria Arbor, or take a seat on a bench and enjoy the shade as you make your way to the great big lawn and the soothing Japanese Garden. The large lawn also plays host to children’s story times, with social distancing, of course.

INDOOR LEARNING

San Antonio’s oldest museum, The Witte Museum (wittemuseum.org) focuses on the history of San Antonio, from the dinosaurs all the way up to the beautiful gowns of the Fiesta celebration. Before you enter, note the dinosaur that properly wears a dinosaur-sized mask. You’ll be greeted with an explanation of the slight changes the museum has made as they welcome the new normal. Typically, it's an interactive museum, but today each guest receives a stylus to press the buttons on the exhibits to learn about the Comanche Hunters, ranchers and oilmen from Texas’ past. Did you know Texas is the only state in the Union to have Farm to Market roads? They are the result of a 1949 bill guaranteeing funding for the roads that help farmers bring their crops to town. Step into the distant past as you explore the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery, the first permanent dinosaur gallery in the 90-year history of the Witte. You will explore the animals that lived here more than 110 million years ago.

SIX FLAGS FIESTA TEXAS

You’ll feel great visiting this amusement park where every activity is outdoors. Large entry tents now contain walkthrough thermometers, guests are asked to wash their hands frequently and masks are mandatory throughout the park. When is the last time you remember your kids being the only kids on the merry-go-round? In many cases, you’ll be the only family on a ride. Feel secure knowing the rides close often for sterilizing. Six Flags is committed to the following six healthy axioms:

1. WEAR YOUR MASK. 2. WASH YOUR HANDS. 3. COVER YOUR COUGH. 4. KEEP YOUR SPACE. 5. SANITIZE OFTEN. 6. HAVE FUN.

And, no, your mask does not come off while riding a roller coaster!

SEAWORLD AND AQUATICA

My first visit to SeaWorld (seaworld.com) was in its inaugural year, 1988. At that time we saw a show or two and enjoyed a few exhibits. But this brand has grown and changed so much since the early

days. Most notably the roller coasters. Educational shows in the Ocean Discovery area teach about dolphins and beluga whales. As SeaWorld fans across the world will attest, the stars of the park are the killer whales who put on a spectacular show and get most of the audience wet. Speaking of the audience, SeaWorld does a great job distancing groups and dismisses by section to keep social distancing practices.

As luck would have it, A Taste of Seven Seas food event was taking place during my recent SeaWorld trip. Culinary adventures from France, Germany, Greece and Italy popped up around the park. We enjoyed crepes while in France, braised beef in Germany, shrimp flatbread in Italy and a lamb burger in Greece. Chefs were on hand to prepare some of the best amusement park fare I’ve ever tasted. A ticket to SeaWorld also includes the waterpark Aquatica so plan accordingly. There are cabanas, a wave beach, lazy river and some seriously fierce water slides. The Tonga Twister has four slides, two are open air and two are enclosed. The enclosed rides are a thrill for your senses as flowers float by, music blasts through the speakers and colors change rapidly.

DRIVE THROUGH ZOO

The San Antonio Zoo (sazoo.org) offers Drive Thru Zoo, a one-of-a- kind experience where families can see the zoo while in the comfort, safety and security of their own vehicle. The experience includes a guided educational audio tour.

WHERE TO EAT

History and taste converge on E. Houston Street just minutes from the Westin at La Panaderia (lapanaderia.com). This historic building is home to one of the freshest and most popular pastries in town, created by Mexico City-raised owners. Trip Advisor calls this the number one bakery out of more than 50, and we can see why. The most popular lunch item is the Mexican Cubana Torta bursting with cilantro mayo, chipotle mustard, ham, bacon, Swiss cheese, kielbasa sausage and pickles. The pride and joy, the Tequila-Almond Croissant, was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Perfectly flaky, with an almond filling and toasted almonds on top, it reminds you of everything great. Think flaky croissant meets stuffed donut, meets delicious fruit pastry.

For dinner, head over to the Food Hall at the Pearl. As a former brewery operating from 1883 to 2001, Pearl is now a hotel, living and recreational area just outside downtown. The Food Hall is all to-go service and offers plenty of seating on the lawn. Mi Roti serves bowls and wraps of authentic Caribbean cuisine. For this build-your-own concept, we selected the Jerk chicken, coconut rice, and a choice of 12 toppings. The bowl was messy, but deliciously bursting with flavor. The Pearl is located on the Riparian portion of the River Walk, just a casual and beautiful stroll from home sweet home, The Westin, Riverwalk San Antonio. H

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