Tag Archives: activities

What To Do in SA This Winter

San Antonio Riverwalk

Unlike most of the United States, which is already suffering from freezing temperatures, in San Antonio, it’s time to get out of the house and take advantage of this perfect time of year.

Holiday Delights

Enjoy the Holiday River Parade on November 24 in style this year. Many restaurants offer dinner packages, and there really is no better view of the parade. The best part is you don’t have to fight the crowds. Choose from restaurants such as Biga on the Banks, Boudro’s, Hotel Valencia and more. You can book your reservation here.

Although our riverwalk is a top tourist attraction, it’s easy to forget how beautiful it is, especially when they light it up during the holidays with over 100,000 lights. It’s truly a winter wonderland in Texas. You can also take a special river boat tour and see our amazing city from a whole new perspective!

Lost Maples

If you’ve never heard of Lost Maples, you’re missing out. This state park, just a few hours from San Antonio, is a gorgeous respite from city life. This hidden grove of Uvalde bigtooth maple trees is best during a two week time period in the fall when it turns bright red and gold, but it’s a fantastic place to visit all year round. Winter is a great time to go camping or explore their 10 miles of hiking trails. You can also fish the Sabinal River or Can Creek, but keep an eye out, you might see our Stone Creek Custom Homes’ guys hooking some bass.

December Permaculture Class

Learn all about natural gardening from a pro – Sylvain Clavieres of Talking Tree Farm. They offer free permaculture classes at the farm (located near Converse), typically every month. The next one will be on Sunday, December 3 from 4 to 6 pm. Find out  how to start your own garden or discover sustainable techniques that will help you replenish the one you already have. The best part is they bring in a chef to prepare lunch using all of the delicious produce grown at the farm. This one is a must for a fun afternoon with the family. For more information, go to talkingtreefarm.com.

Cheese Please

IF you love cheese, get up close and personal with it at River Whey Creamery’s “Hands On Cheesemaking Class,” on January 21st. Learn how to make a lemon juice coagulated cheese, whole milk ricotta and a cultured cheese from nationally award-winning cheesemaker, Susan Rigg. Sign up early at riverwheycreamery.com.

When you’re done adventuring, give us a call at 210-494-5400 and let’s discuss how you can love San Antonio even more in your new custom home. You can also fill out our online form to request more information.

 

Halloooooweeeeen in San Antonio

sugar

If, like many others, Halloween is your favorite holiday of the year then you probably already have your day of spooks and surprises planned out. If, on the other hand, you’re still trying to figure it out, check out our list of must-do’s in San Antonio for Halloween.

Pumpkin Patch

Start the festivities off right by visiting University Methodist Church’s pumpkin patch, which takes place every day from 9 am to 8:30 pm, and is a great family adventure no matter what your age! The pumpkin patch is located at 5084 DeZavala.

Fright Fest

Six Flags’ famous Fright Fest is back this year with even more light-hearted scares. If you dare, step into their various haunted houses, including a medieval torture chamber filled with, they claim, hundreds of tortured souls. Their “Buried Alive” haunted house takes you through creepy tunnels and passageways towards the undead while “Wicked Hollow” takes you into a mysterious forest of deadly wolves and witches. Make sure to get some cotton candy after because nothing will dispel nightmares better than pink, fluffy sugar!

Dia de Los Muertos

On October 30, from 4-7:30, Cherry Street Bicycle Co-op will be hosting a free block party and ride to the cemetery on the Eastside in honor of those who have passed. Besides creating an altar, they’ll have face painting for the kiddos. Bring your own bike or they’ll have one for you. They will be shutting down the New Braunfels corridor from Nolan to Burnet and fill the streets with engaging family-friendly fun! Other activities include a costume contest, moon bounce, haunted house, games for all ages and other entertainment.

13th Floor

If Haunted Houses are your thing, then nothing gets you screaming more than the 13th Floor, considered the #1 Haunted House in America. This year, 13th Floor is introducing a new attraction called “Feral Moon,” that features a cursed cemetery filled with crypts and tombs where a dark werewolf roams free!

Cemetery Tour

If you like real thrills as opposed to fake chills you’ll love the cemetery tour at 517 Paso Hondo San Antonio put on by the Sisters Grimm Ghost Tour. Here you can walk amidst authentic tombstones, escorted by a costumed docent. Learn about the history of some of San Antonio’s sons and daughters as you travel back in time.

Hangar Halloween Dog Costume Contest

For a little levity, enter your pretty pup into the coolest contest in town. Dress them up like ghosts and goblins and let the crowd vote for their favorite pooch. The top three dogs that receive the loudest cheers will win first, second and third place. Registration begins at 4:30 on October 30. The contest starts at 5:30.

If you survive the frights, call us at 210-494-5400 for your ideal custom dream home. If you wish to be added to our private email list for our newsletter, please sign up here.

 

Christmas in San Antonio

Riverwalk_Christmas_05-2

San Antonio is a magical city to live in during the Christmas holiday, especially once the lights are up on the river walk! Spending an evening downtown can actually make you feel like you’re on vacation somewhere exotic. Strolling along the river, stopping for dinner and drinks or simply some fudge and a caramel apple from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is a special winter treat, but there are plenty of other delights to be found this season:

Windcrest Light Up

If you’ve lived in San Antonio for long, then you have probably already had the pleasure of driving through the Windcrest neighborhood on the northeast side of town to see all the Christmas lights. If not, then make this a new tradition. They’ve been delighting families since the 1950’s. We recommend bringing some hot cocoa (in safe containers) and cookies for the slow drive through the twinkling lights! Windcrest is adjacent to the Interstate 35/Loop 410 interchange, just 15 minutes from downtown San Antonio.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Show

Besides enjoying the almost 2 million lights that illuminate the river walk each Christmas season, downtown is also a hub of Christmasy activity throughout the month of December. One of the more popular events is the Holiday Arts & Crafts show that takes place on December 11th from 11 am to 11 pm on the river walk (extension) near the Chamber of Commerce. You can shop for pottery, jewelry and other fine art made by local artisans.  http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/

Christmas Music & Other Fun

When it comes to live Christmas music, The Tobin has got San Antonio covered. This year, they will be showcasing a number of performances, including Conspirare Christmas with special guest Matt Alber on December 8, Robert Earl Keen’s ‘Merry Christmas from the Fam-O-Lee’ on December 15, the San Antonio Symphony’s ‘Holiday Pops,’ on Dec. 18-20, and everyone’s favorite, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (the musical) on Dec. 21-24. For more details on these and other events, visit their website. www.tobincenter.org

If all you really want for Christmas is a brand new house, then don’t send Santa a letter – just give us a call at 210-494-5400. To be added to our private email list to receive the newsletter, please sign up here.

Ghoulishly Great Halloween Events in San Antonio

pumpkin

Fall is finally here, and if you haven’t made plans yet for Halloween and you’re looking to have a little more fun this holiday than just passing out candy to trick-or-treating kids in Batman and ballerina costumes, here are a few exciting events you won’t want to miss!

All Hallows Eve Dinner & Ghost Tour at the Menger

The Sisters Grimm puts on an annual event inside the Menger – one of San Antonio’s most historic hotels known for its ghostly past. Guests get to feast on a special three course dinner inside the haunted Colonial Room Restaurant and dine by candlelight at the Halloween-inspired dinner table.

After dinner, a tour guide will take you through the hotel and recount stories of its past. Step inside the King Ranch Suite, reported to be the most active and haunted room inside the hotel. Following the Menger, you can go on a “Ghost Walk” of the downtown area. Available dates are October 23 and 24 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 pm and Oct. 30 and 31 at 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. Go to the website to buy tickets.

Braune Farms Real Pumpkin Patch

Local farm, Braune Farms, will be open to guests who wish to experience a real pumpkin patch on October 17, 18, 24, and 25 from 11am to 4 pm, weather permitting. This is a great opportunity for the kiddos to enjoy picking out their own pumpkins, and see what they look like growing on the vine. The festivities include a hayride, face painting, a petting zoo with baby animals and access to a farm stand where you can buy seasonal veggies as well as handmade pumpkin pie and bread, made with Braune’s pumpkins. Braune Farms is located at 1300 Link Road, Seguin, TX.

South Texas Maize

Not far from San Antonio, in Hondo, Texas, you and your friends and family can get lost in a maize maze – that is, a labyrinth of corn stalks. It opens this year on September 19, and also sells pumpkins, food, offers hayrides, campfires and more. Click the link for details.

13th Floor Haunted House

If chills and thrills are what you’re looking for in October, the 13th Floor Haunted House is your best bet for a truly scary adventure. This year they’re showcasing two new attractions: “Into the Void” and “Burial Ground,” that sound just too creepy for us!

The fun starts on September 25 and runs through November 14, with some blackout dates during the week, so be sure to visit the website.  The closer it gets to Halloween, the more crowded they get, so we recommend spending the extra cash to get immediate access.

Happy Halloween!