Texas
The Best of San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country
Program No. 22272RJ
Find out why San Antonio and the Hill Country are true Texas as you explore the River Walk and Texas Hill Country, enjoy authentic cuisine and learn about Lyndon B. Johnson.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
14 meals (
6B, 5L, 3D
)
5 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your Road Scholar name tag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. 4:00 p.m. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Each evening, the hotel in San Antonio hosts a complimentary “kickback” reception with a rotating variety of food and drink daily from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on the second floor. Everyone is invited.
Dinner:
Welcome dinner at the hotel.
Evening:
After dinner, a local expert will join the group to lead a presentation about the San Antonio River and the importance of protecting our waterways. We’ll learn about the importance of the river in the city’s development and how what was once an ugly creek prone to flooding has become San Antonio’s best known achievement.
Day
2
Texas History, Downtown SA, The Alamo, Cathedral
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Walking up to 4 miles over the course of the day over city sidewalks and some uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, climbing up/down stairs to access River Walk area, standing for up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Morning:
Our local expert will explore San Antonio ethnic diversity throughout history. Since Spanish Conquistadors first landed on this soil more than 500 years ago, there have been fascinating stories of conflicts and compromises, love affairs and bitter hatreds among Texas peoples. We will explore the area's complex history from colonial times to the present. Next, we’ll set out on a downtown walking field trip with a local expert to explore some of San Antonio’s most iconic sites. We will start our field trip at San Fernando Cathedral and step back in time to the 18th century Spanish colonial era. The cathedral was built from 1738-50 by settlers from the Canary Islands who had been granted land by Spain’s King Philip V. The cathedral is the oldest religious community in Texas and is still an active parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio Santa Anna raised the red flag of “no quarter” from the church tower during the siege of the Alamo. One of the most interesting of the cathedral’s holdings is what purports to be the final resting place of Davy Crockett, William Travis, and Jim Bowie. We will also visit the historic Menger hotel, across the plaza from the Alamo. The Menger, the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi, was established in 1859 and set the standard of luxury for its day. Historic events that took place here include Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders cavalry brigade recruitment. We will gain an appreciation for the efforts of the historical conservation society in preserving the city’s past while encouraging new development. As we meander along the famous River Walk on our way to lunch, we’ll learn about the development of the River Walk and its impact on the transformation of the area.
Lunch:
We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will visit the Alamo, the famous Spanish colonial mission that was established in 1718, and moved to its current location in 1724. Its history is fascinating and complex. We'll hear the story of the Alamo, then visit the Shrine, view artifacts, and watch a short movie. We’ll visit other nearby points of interest as time allows and understand more about Texas pride as we visit these historic sites. From here, we will have some free time to explore the area independently or return to the hotel on foot along the river.
Dinner:
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
The Group Leader will accompany those who would like to walk across the plaza adjacent to the hotel to San Fernando Cathedral for an outdoor light show by French artist Xavier De Richemont. This 24-minute show tells the story of San Antonio from its beginnings to present day.
Day
3
Alamo Curation, Witte Museum, San Antonio Missions
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles; climbing up/down stairs to access River Walk area of city and restaurants. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour over the course of the day.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
We will be joined by local historian and former Alamo curator to hear about the rich history of the Alamo. Next, we'll head to the Witte Museum, San Antonio's most visited museum. We will explore a vast number of topics such as military history, natural history, art, US and world history, Texas history, geology, and more.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we'll ride to the San Antonio Mission National Historical Park, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Led by a local expert, we’ll explore the missions that make up this complex and learn about the early settlement and efforts of the Spanish to convert local people to the Roman Catholic Church and an agricultural form of life. We’ll see how the Spanish used “acequia” (irrigation systems) to develop self-sustaining agricultural communities along the San Antonio River. Among the highlights is Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo — the so-called “Queen of the Missions” — carefully restored by the WPA in the 1930s.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
LBJ's Life and Legacy, River Barge Ride, Free Time
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Getting on/off a river barge. Walking up to 1 mile; climbing up/down stairs to access River Walk area of city and restaurants. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
In preparation for our field trip to the LBJ Boyhood home tomorrow, we’ll be joined by a university professor who is a specialist in late 20th century American history for a presentation on former President Lyndon B. Johnson and his administration. President Johnson’s vision for a more just and honorable country contributed to the passage of the most important civil rights legislation in the 20th century. We’ll hear how Texans celebrated this legacy on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the watershed legislation passed during the mid-1960s. Next we'll catch a narrated barge ride on the San Antonio River, located 20 feet below street level and just steps from the famed Alamo. We will learn about the history of the area and the blend of old and new from our barge driver as we float along the river.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Walk back to the hotel on your own.
Dinner:
On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
LBJ Boyhood Home, Fredericksburg, Pioneer Museum
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 150 miles, approximately 4 hours, over the course of the day. Walking up to 4 miles, standing for 1-2 hours at a time. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach at the hotel for a full day exploring Texas hill country. Our first stop will be Lyndon B Johnson's boyhood home. LBJ lived at his home in Johnson City until his high school graduation in 1924 - the home is furnished as it would have been over 100 years ago. National Park Rangers will be on hand and tell us more about Lyndon, Lady Bird, and their Texas home. After our field trip, we’ll ride to Fredericksburg.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will embark on a guided visit of the Pioneer Museum. This museum and historical site will send you back in time to the mid-19th and 20th centuries, surrounded by buildings and artifacts that reflect life of a German pioneer immigrating to Texas. You will have some time after the Pioneer Museum to explore Fredericksburg on your own.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Sam Houston, Briscoe Western Art Museum, Free Time, Farewell
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles over the course of the day over city sidewalks and some uneven surfaces, climbing up/down stairs to access River Walk area, standing for up to 1 hour at museum. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet.
Morning:
We'll start by learning about the life and legacy of Sam Houston. Though born a Virginian, his life’s journey would lead him to places and situations unparalleled by most Americans of his day. Well-known for leading the Texans to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, he earned a place in American History that few can surpass. From Virginia to Texas, from Tennessee to the Cherokee Nation, our expert presenter will bring to life the triumphs and tragedies of legendary Sam Houston. Next, we will walk to the nearby Briscoe Western Art Museum for a guided exploration of the museum's collection of artifacts and art depicting the Great American West.
Lunch:
At the hotel
Afternoon:
Free time.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Linger over dinner or return to the hotel and prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
7
Program Concludes
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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