San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo...worthwhile?

[dmbrand]

My sister and I will be in San Antonio from Feb 6-11 for a getaway. Neither one of us has been here, so we both have been doing our vacation "research." She is all hot on going to this rodeo; I am not, in the very least, a fan of anything country. But, I can have fun if it is a party atmosphere, with things to see/do besides roping cattle! From the website, it appears to be akin to a large fair.

Also, is it accessible from the Riverwalk via walking, or cab? I think we are foregoing the rental car this trip. I have been reading past posts; thanks to all who gave restaurant recommendations, those will be very helpful!

 

[pianodinosaur]

I have never been to the San Antonio Rodeo and Livestock Fair but I have been to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock affair on several occasions. There are different activities every day. Money is raised for college scholarships. However, if you don't like anything country, you might find it very boring.

However, if you are interested in the amenities of a big city and love history and art, you will love the River Walk. The Menger hotel is right next door to the Alamo. This is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the rough riders. The bar where it was done has not changed is furniture since that time. It really is exquisite. My personal favorite place to stay in San Antonio is the Hilton Palacio del Rio, but I am biased as an HGVC Member. The Westin and the Gunther are both Starwood hotels and are excellent. The Gunther is listed as an historic hotel and the lobby is magnificent with its antique furniture. We have also had good experiences staying at the Hyatt and the Marriotts.

 

[PA-]

The rodeo is not near downtown. But it is nice. In addition to the rides in the midway, there are lots of interesting exhibits. And there is a rock or country music concert after the rodeo. Lose your attitude and enjoy.

 

[dmbrand]

We are pretty excited about this trip. Definately planning on the rodeo one day.

Couple of questions: Is the San Antonio Zoo a nice one? And, is "Southtown" a fairly safe part of the city? There is some place there that my sister wants to visit(at night).

Thanks for the feedback!
DawnB

 

[Texas Traveler]

I would say "go to the rodeo"! But not just the rodeo - the art exhibits, the shopping, the informational booths, all of it. We go every year because our kids show livestock.

 

[PA-]

Yes, the zoo is world class, well worth seeing.

 

[PA-]

Never heard of southtown.

 

[amygdala]

South of downtown can get a little sketchy. There is one part called the King Williams district that is a gentrified old neighborhood and they have some upscale shops and artists and whatnot. Other than that, avoid anything south of the I-10/35 part of town. (If memory serves, one of the Spanish missions is in a particularly rough neighborhood.)

The rodeo (I only went to the SA rodeo one year) is nice as they go. Big enough to have a variety of interesting activities, but not so big as to be problematic (I'm thinking of Houston's rodeo). Most people pick what day they go by who the concert is going to be. You get there early, walk around and look at the animals and other exhibits, then filter back to the arena and watch calf roping or bull riding or whatever, and then the concert begins in the early evening.

You would definitely not want to walk there (too far from Riverwalk), but often they have a special bus set up for the event. When are you going? Battle of the Flowers must be coming up soon; that's a local holiday. It's like a whole week, actually, and they have float parades on the Riverwalk. I think it's like in April, but it's been a while since I've thought of that.

Alamo Heights, a well-off neighborhood north of downtown, has a nice art musuem, and also is the home of Trinity University (one of them, anyway).

And of course there is Seaworld and Fiesta Texas (both are like 20 plus minute drives from downtown).

 

[amygdala]

P.S. Zoo used to be nice. Kind of run down now. Not the worst zoo in the country or anything, but not really anything special. It's in Brackenridge Park which is right around where Alamo Heights is. Homeless people sometimes live in Brackenridge Park, so I wouldn't go too close to dark or anything, but it's a nice patch of green in the middle the sort-of-suburbs.

 

[dmbrand]

The King Williams area must be what my sister was speaking of. That will be on the itinerary for one night. We leave for San Antonio Fri 2/6(tomorrow)! Soooo looking forward to air temps above 10 degrees!

I was looking forward to maybe biking the trail that connects a few of the missions; but sadly was informed that it isn't safe. I will size it up when we get there; common sense will rule.

Have a good weekend all!
DawnB