San Antonio, Texas is a city teeming with distinctive neighborhoods full of great restaurant options for family travelers in search of good food and fun. Our family had several terrific meals, but a few stand out. Note that Riverwalk restaurants are typically more expensive than those in the city, but it's worth it on a nice evening, when kids can stretch their legs while you relax at an outdoor cafe. Reservations recommended over holiday periods and weekend evenings.
Boudro's
421 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/224-8484
Shops, restaurants and hotels line the bridges, fountains and abundant foliage of the city's famed Riverwalk. Here families will find Boudro's, a lively dining gem that has long attracted a loyal following of locals, tourists and visiting celebs. One bite and you will understand why. Like the city itself, the menu is a blend of cultures – a little bit Mexican, a touch of Louisiana and a nod to Texas Hill Country. Start with the fresh guacamole made tableside and a prickly pear margarita, then move on to lobster tail fajitas, smoked shrimp enchiladas or blackened prime rib. If you are lucky enough to nab a table riverside, you can watch the barges pass by with passengers taking a tour or enjoying a dinner cruise. (Reservation's for Boudro's popular dinner cruise must be made two weeks in advance). Although there is no children's menu, Boudro's accommodates the smaller set by offering a burger, chicken breast or smaller order of coconut shrimp on request. Plus the bustling scene means there's no need to "shush" a boisterous toddler.
Luke
Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk-Downtown
125 E. Houston
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/226-9000
For a fine dining experience, visit this new Riverwalk Hotel, home to celebrity Chef John Besh’s Cajun-inspired restaurant Luke. As his first venture outside Louisiana, the menu mingles notes of Swiss, German and Italian cuisines, reflecting Besh’s global training. Chef Besh is a father of four boys, so children are welcome on this culinary adventure.
MadHatter's Tea House & Café
320 Beauregard
San Antonio, TX 78204
210/212-4832
Over in Southtown, San Antonio's Art District, sits this unassuming café. MadHatters serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea (over 50 offerings) every day in a funky, eclectic setting that draws a diverse crowd. Many menu items follow the tea theme, such as a tea-smoked Mediterranean chicken salad and blackberry-tea-infused waffles. If that sounds too fussy, there are burgers, sandwiches and soups. Prices are inexpensive, service is friendly and portions are abundant. There is plenty to please kids, from the MadHatter's children's tea to a simple PB&J or a plain turkey sandwich, not to mention the yummy baked goods for dessert.
The Guenther House
205 E. Guenther Street
San Antonio, TX 78204
210/227-1061
Not far from Southtown is the King William Historic District, one of the oldest historic districts in Texas where numerous German families settled in the 19th century. If you're not staying in one of the B&B's (we were at the more modern, family-friendly Radisson Resort Hill Country), a trip to The Guenther House is your chance to dine in one of the neighborhood's historic homes on this lovely stretch of the San Antonio River. Up until 1948, this stately circa 1860 home served as the family estate for the Pioneer Flour Mills founder. Lucky for us, The Guenther House now serves hearty breakfasts (breakfast tacos, waffles, fluffy Pioneer biscuits with gravy) and light lunches (salads, sandwiches and a few entrees) until 3pm daily (2pm on Sunday). You can choose to dine on the trellis-covered patio or in the Victorian-style dining room. If the kids get restless post-pancake, take a stroll through the River Mill Store located in a former bedroom and a music room of the stately home. The store features all kinds of delightful gifts and baking-related items, including mixes for many of The Guenther House goodies.
Mi Tierra Café & Bakery
218 Produce Row
San Antonio, TX 78207
210/225-1262
El Mercado, San Antonio's Market Square, is filled with shop after shop of Mexican and South American jewelry, crafts and apparel. It is also home to Mi Tierra, a San Antonio institution for the past 63 years. Mi Tierra never closes and seems always packed despite its el grande size. Locals and tourists feast on large portions of authentic Tex-Mex food and pastries in a lively, casual setting. Kids love the colorful painted murals on the walls, year-round Christmas lights, sombreros hanging from the ceiling and strolling musicians. In addition to a huge menu serving breakfast (available 24 hours a day), lunch and dinner Mi Tierra offers a kids' menu with the usual suspects (chicken tenders, burger, fried fish) plus some simpler Mexican entrees.
Silo
1133 Austin Highway
San Antonio, TX 78209
210/824-8686
The kids will especially enjoy the elevator ride up to the dining room, as Silo stacks Alamo Heights (a more formal dining room) on top of Nosh (their new tapas bar). The varied menu makes this an easy place for everyone to order and parents will appreciate the lively and ever-changing dining concepts. This group also has another place, 1604, in San Antonio.
New Braunfels Smoke House
6450 N. New Braunfels Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78209
800/537-6932
A showplace for the region's ethnic German heritage; home to a variety of wurst and smoked meat.
Casa Rio Mexican Foods Restaurant
430 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/225-6718
This restaurant is open daily from 11 am-11 pm and serves passable Mexican cuisine; the real draw to the establishment is its excellent location along the River Walk, which affords excellent views of the surrounding area and has done since 1946.
Rio Rio Cantina
421 E. Commerce
San Antonio, TX 78205
210/226-8462
Another Mexican establishment with a great location on the River Walk, calling ahead for reservations is a good idea since it can be difficult to get a table.
Luby's Cafeterias
(14 Locations)
210/654-9000 (Downtown location: 210/223-1911)
This cafeteria chain is spread throughout the city (and throughout all of Texas). Luby's variety of hot and cold dishes, vegetables (the mixed plate of four veggie side orders is a favorite) and cheap, quick dining make it a good alternative for the thrifty or impatient traveler looking for a bite.
Pig Stand
801 S. Presa Street
San Antonio, TX 78210
210/227-1691
A local San Antonio fast-food chain open 24 hours, essentially an old fashioned McDonald's, for pork lovers only. Vegetarians need not bother.
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A destiny I will never forget.
This was by far, the best vacation I have ever been on. I hope be awarded the scholarship so that I can go on to college, graduate with honors, and get a great job so that one day I can show my family what a great place Yellowstone National Park is. Thank you for considering my application!
I hope you enjoy my essay. Thank you for your time.
My favorite city so far!
It's such a beautiful place!
my trip.
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for checking out my blog. 🙂 I hope you enjoy.
With Much Appreciation,
– Zoe McDowell
hello
I have run short on space, yet I managed to squeeze in about 3/4ths of my trip.
Lordsburg and Demming are in New Mexico (I guess I should have edited that), and there are numerous other details I would have liked to have included….
If you're interested in traveling in my footsteps, I highly recommend the Togwotee Lodge and Resort, which is where we stayed during our trip.
While visiting Paris the summer I was fourteen, I was captivated my by its beauty. The city's rich culture, diverse people, and turbulent history fascinated me and captured my imagination. It was there that I discovered the wonder of adventure, and my never-ending love of Paris.
this is my actual scholarship submission. PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE THE PREVIOUS ENTRY. THIS IS MY SUBMISSION. THANK YOU.
This was the most incredible vacation ever! All my classmates who attended agreed and have remembered every memory from Washington D.C. Thank you School Tours of America and my special sponsors Mrs. Nobel and Mr. Fitch.
My trip to new york was wonderful. I even c reated a website to prove it.
http://nothinglikenewyork.shutterfly.com/
I almost did not go on this trip, worrying about what could go wrong, that summer would nearly be over when I returned, and how much it cost. But, I decided to take this trip to see a few of my German friends and their families, not knowing when, otherwise, I would see them again if I didn't take this opportunity. Now that I have returned home, I am very happy to have taken this trip.
My name is Inemesit Effiong.I am an avid reader and an ardent Colin Firth fan. I love outdoor activities, writing poetry, and volunteering. I have had the privilege of volunteering with several clubs like National Honor Society, Rotary Club, Interact Volunteer Club, and The Bridge Run. I enjoy watching Jeopardy with my father (mostly because of Alex Trebek) and I hope to pursue Nursing as a major. I entered this contest because I love exploring and I fell that my experience is very relatable, especially to teenagers my age, who would like to travel abroad, but lack the means or opportunity to do so.
This is a blog about my trip with my mother to New York City
I encourage you, go on a mission trip! You will never regret it. If anything it can help you to figure out your place in this world.
I raised money for this trip during the course of my Freshman year, first by a Bake Sale, which raised over $700, then by giving out poetry that I had written in exchange for donations. They expereince broadened me as a leader and created lasting friendships with other cultures.
This was my Italian experience. It was extremely fun and I can’t wait for the time when I get the chance to return.
Hope you enjoyed my essay! Just wanted to share my beliefs and personal experience. 🙂
Hopefully you can enjoy my post! It's what I believe and is my own personal experience. 🙂
My scholarship entry!
Im glad to share my families trip with you. I hope this inspires you to go on a trip with your family to Hawaii.
My vacation to Spain in general was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done. The culture was rich and the archetecture was far more ornate than anything I've ever seen in the United States. I will defenately go back there some day if I am fortunate enough.
This particular blog was submitted as a scholarship essay to myfamilytravels.com, enjoy!
I truly am grateful for the wonderful opportunity I had to travel to Hong Kong for a month! I'll definitely think about living in Hong Kong in the future!
I hope people can read this travel blog and see for themselves how great the aftermath of war is. Because of war, these children have to suffer every single day. ):
This blog was very fun to write, it let me reevaluate what had happened during the trip and laugh about it once again. Maybe it will inspire someone else to do what what my family did and go through the indescribable little horrors that we all went through. Happy traveling!
If you have ever wondered what a BIG city is, than New York City is the place for you to go! i had a blast there! Check it out!!
I had alot of fun writing this essay.
Europe is a great place to visit!
it looks cool!
Here is my scholarship for the Teen Travel Writing Scholarship of my journey to Alaska!
My trip to London.
I discovered that I was a pretty good photographer while on this trip. I now take all the family vacation pictures!
My trip to Yellowstone was truly amazing! Yellowstone is a must-see for all nature lovers and hikers!
The wedding took place on August 6, 2011.
this was a wonerful trip with friends & family
My experience was amazing here!
My essay describes the emotional connection to the effects of a storm which would seemingly ruins a trip to Lake Michigan.
I wish I could have written more about Germany, but summing up a vacation such as that in only 600 words seemed impossible to me. I would have never guessed I would have learned so much about myself there. We did activitivities I would never seen myself doing in a million years. Many of the students that went on the trip I would not normally be friends with, but at the end of the day no matter how different we were from one another, we were all friends and family to eachother and still keep in touch till this day. I don't know when I will be able to go on such an amazing adventure again, but my advice to whoever comes across this is, if you have the oppritunity, take it. Even if you are apprehensive, take the risk because I'm willing to bet you will learn so much more.
Thank you all for reading this and best of luck to everyone who entered this contest!
We love going to the Hawaiian Islands. Maui was one of our favorites. Molokini Crater is just off of the Maui coast. I couldn't believe at the variety of fish we snorkeled with–we even glimpsed a reef shark! Snorkeling at Molokini Crater was a great experience and was the inspiration for this short essay.
This is my scholarship essay, please confirm that it has been entered. Thank you!
The reason for my visit to Nigeria was because of a death in my family. In the attatched picture, I am in the middle, surrounded by my family members as we walked toward the area where the ceremony was to be held. The whole experience of visiting Nigeria a third time (but as a teenager) opened my eyes and made me realize that there are things in the world bigger than just me and my problems, and it's my job to find a way to give back before time runs out.
This was my family trip to Missouri…never forget how important learning and family is.
I am a young international traveler interested in seeing the dynamics between different cultures acted out out not only through travel but through international relations on a global stage. Trips to Belize and across the world have cemented my belief that nations working together is for the good of everyone on earth.
I wrote this for the Scholarship writing contest.
This is my entry for the FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholorship!
I hope that everyone can learn a little about this unique country from my blog. There are so many more things I wish I could say, but space is limited!