FAMILY FUN
Texas Beauty in Full Bloom E N J OY T HIS S W E E T BLUE B ONNE T S P RING By Janis Turk
In a favorite Texas ballad, the late singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith croons, “…We’ll catch some blackbird wing, and we will fly away together on some sweet bluebonnet spring.” Photo by Steve Rawls
Surely Griffith, born outside San Antonio in Seguin, knew just how glorious spring can be in this big beautiful state. For just about everyone enjoys Texas in the springtime—it is the loveliest time of year—and not just because of our wonderful weather, the fun of Fiesta and the fresh promise of Easter joy. It is because of the natural beauty along every curve of the highways and bends in the byways around San Antonio and the nearby Texas Hill Country. Yes, after the past two colderthan-usual San Antonio winters, Texas’ sweet bluebonnet springtime is back.
of colorful wildflowers just outside our city. Most years, rangers there offer a guided wildflower walk in the spring and a “The Legend of the Bluebonnet” reading and hike—though often this happens toward the end of March. Still, check out the website and calendar for dates, as the peak of wildflower season happens different weeks each year, depending on the rainfall we have had and any recent freezes.
WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE WILDFLOWERS Bluebonnets may come early this year, but there will still be loads of wildflowers along the ON A MISSION TO highways as families HIKE, BIKE & KAYAK drive northwest toward THIS SPRING the Texas Hill Country. Along the San Antonio Nothing like big blue skies, River Walk’s Mission wide-open spaces, fresh Reach, near the San Mission San Jose air and wildflowers to bring Antonio Missions National to light the best of Texas. MidHistorical Park, bluebonnets March to early April can be the best and other Texas wildflowers adorn times to see bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush hike and bike trails. The Mission Reach and other wildflowers that create the illusion of is fun to kayak, ride bikes or take easy hikes and cool blue lakes lining Texas highways. long leisurely walks. Kayak rentals, kayak tours and bike share bicycle rentals are available in Many folks head to Fredericksburg or the Willow town. Rent bikes at Blue Star Bike Rentals and City Loop near Johnson City to see bluebonnet BCycle or have a guided kayak trip from Mission blooms and Indian paintbrush, but the area Adventure Tours, so even if you miss the height around Bandera and Boerne offers handsome of the wildflower season this spring, you can still blossoms as well, and Guadalupe River State have a lovely family outing as you explore the Park has four miles of river frontage and 13 miles San Antonio River and the San Antonio Missions of hike-and-bike trails that ramble among stands National Historical Park. 16 RIO Magazine
thesanantonioriverwalk.com
