Let’s Rodeo, San Antonio

I’m from southern Texas. I don’t live there anymore, but I go back every summer to visit and every February to rodeo. Well, I don’t actually rodeo, but I attend it.  

This year, however, I did not. Why? Because my 80-year-old mother threatened to go with me. And at the start of the rodeo, she had only received one of her two vaccine shots. With just 50% efficacy after the first shot, I couldn’t risk it. So, we postponed the trip and went for spring break instead.   

I know San Antonio is all about the Alamo and the river walk, and I recommend visiting those places. But in this post, I thought I’d take you to a few lesser-known spots starting with the Mission Trail. 

San Antonio has five missions around the city all connected by a trail running alongside the San Antonio River. If you’re the sporty type, you can rent a bike and spend the day riding between them. And if you’re lucky enough to visit on a Sunday, you won’t want to miss mariachi mass held every Sunday at Mission San Jose. Go. Attend mass, even if you’re not Catholic because listening to the choir sing and the mariachi musicians play in that beautiful, historic setting is a balm to your soul. 

Did you know San Antonio has a Japanese Tea Garden? It does, even though the entrance gate says “Chinese Tea Garden.” The garden is historic, about 90 years old. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the sign was changed to Chinese Tea Garden and the Japanese caretakers were kicked out. That bit of history isn’t pleasant, but I’m so glad they kept the gate. That gate stands witness to both the park’s and the country’s history, and it’s not helpful to brush history under the rug. The park is worth a visit. And admission is free!  

If you like antiques, you’ll want to take a day trip to the hill country. We like Comfort, Texas: a cute little town about a forty-minute drive from San Antonio. The antique stores are country and unpretentious. However, the food at High’s Cafe is surprisingly big city. This cafe serves exotic things like homemade hummus alongside comfort food like meatloaf. The food is fresh, they have a nice wine selection, and their baked goods are worth every calorie. Most of the food in Texas is heavy and beer is the state-sponsored drink, so this place is a nice (and healthy) departure from the typical fare. 

But don’t get me wrong, I love the typical fare especially the Mexican food. If you’ve read my blog, you also know I like pretty. And if you like pretty too, you’ll want to eat at Mi Tierra in Market Square. The food is decent, but it’s not about that. Mi Tierra is about the atmosphere which, in this blogger’s humble opinion, is just as important.

Somebody in that family has a sense of style! Mi Tierra has three parts: 1. A panaderia where you can pick up pan dulce and a cinnamon Mexican hot chocolate to go 2. A restaurant 3. A gorgeous mariachi bar

But, if you prefer to focus on the food itself, my favorite is Chacho’s. I dare you to tell me where I can get a better bean and cheese. Really, I do. I’d love to try it. But, unless you’re going to invite me to your abuela’s house, this is the spot. Their tortillas have to be homemade and their beans! I think the secret ingredient to their beans, beans, the magical fruit is bacon fat. Chacho’s is where I go for breakfast tacos and happy hour and late-night snacking and all hours in between. Be sure to order a margarita. They have perfected the recipe and ratio in the margarita machines. But if that’s not your thing, they also have a rum and coke slushy machine!

Finally, San Antonio is a great place to travel with kids. Mine are older now, but both of my kids love Texas because of fond childhood memories. So, what’s there to do with kids? 

1. The Rodeo! What kid wouldn’t love a stock show and rodeo? There are the animals, the rides, the carnival food (fried Twinkies, fried PB&J, fried pickles), and then, of course, the rodeo: barrel racing, roping, bronco riding, and the main event… Bull Riding. The rodeo moves fast and is super entertaining. Even the “half-time show” holds its own. At half-time, they strap helmets onto pre-schoolers, set them on the backs of hapless sheep, and let them ride around until they get bucked off. It’s pretty hilarious and, at the same time, pretty mean. The kids get dragged through the dirt and often come up crying with globs of dirt stuck in their helmets.   

thefreedictionary.com  “Eat dirt” American idiom, 1. To be subject to insults and harsh treatment. 

And that’s just from the kids’ perspective. The “winner” is the preschooler with the longest ride. The prize is a picture taken with Miss Rodeo Texas. In the next half-time contest, there’s more at stake. Teenagers from 4-H compete to earn scholarship money by being among the first to catch and then wrangle a calf over the finish line using nothing but determination and their bare hands. It can also be kind of painful to watch, but you just can’t look away. Finally, the evening ends with a concert. All this is included with your $15 ticket. What a bargain! So, even if you have six kids, you can most likely rodeo.  

2. Drive Through. Texas LOVES a drive though! And there’s no better drive through than the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. It’s an African safari in the middle of the lone star state. As you enter the park, you buy bags of food to drop out your car window, drawing all kinds of animals like zebra and buffalo for an up-close visit. But watch out for the ostriches! They peck at your windows and door handles, and they’re terrifying.                                       

Incidentally, right next door to the safari park is Natural Bridge Caverns where you can descend into underground caves to view stalactites and stalagmites. Or hang around until evening to watch a bat show at their other neighbor’s: Bracken Cave Preserve. About 20 million bats live in these caves making it the largest colony of bats in the world. It’s no wonder they’re happy to live here because Texas has Lots of bugs.

3. Ride around in the back of a truck bed down some old dirt road. Or better yet, put the kids on your lap and let them drive. Honestly, I think these activities are among my kids’ favorite memories. Right up there with driving a tractor.       

I went with a rule breaker, but it’s not recommended to feed the animals out of your hand.

And I don’t recommend feeding these guys al all.

So, Let’s Rodeo, San Antonio 2022?!