Texas

On the Road: San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and Austin

Program No. 10459RJ
Explore Texas with experts on a bigger-than-life adventure as you discover Tex-Mex in San Antonio, learn about music and politics in Austin and visit LBJ's Hill Country ranch.

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At a Glance

Is everything bigger in the Lone Star State? Or is it just a big myth? Learn just how normal Texans really are on this adventure exploring Texas history, culture and politics — from richly diverse San Antonio to the LBJ Ranch in Hill Country to the state capital of Austin. The Old West’s six-guns are gone, but influences of the 26 ethnic groups that settled Texas beckon at every turn.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles daily. Must be able to climb stairs and board motor coach with minimal assistance. Standing in museums for up to two hours a day.

What You'll Learn

  • Take a study cruise along the River Walk in festive San Antonio to find out how the city blends new development with historic preservation of cultural treasures.
  • Delve into the life of our 36th president at the LBJ ranch and its Hereford cattle on the banks of the Pedernales River.
  • Get the “low-down” on politics in Austin, and find out why the city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” with a private performance from a Grammy award winning artist.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Carolina Castillo Crimm
A retired professor of history, Dr. Caroline Castillo Crimm won many local and state-wide awards, including the prestigious Piper Award as one of the best teachers in Texas. Dedicated to Texas and Hispanic culture, her Spanish family came to Texas originally in 1792 although she was born and raised in Mexico City. The author of “De Leon: A Tejano Family History,” she has appeared on PBS and “The History Channel.”

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Floyd Domino
Floyd Domino View biography
Floyd Domino is an American musician known for his work in the genre of Western swing. Born in California, Floyd’s close association with Western swing coincided when he joined the group Asleep at the Wheel at 19. After seven years with the band, he still joins them for featured performances. While Floyd is widely recognized for the revival of Western swing, he began his career in jazz, boogie-woogie, swing and blues piano. The Floyd Domino Jazz Trio showcases a unique blend of jazz and blues.
Profile Image of Carolina Crimm
Carolina Castillo Crimm View biography
A retired professor of history, Dr. Caroline Castillo Crimm won many local and state-wide awards, including the prestigious Piper Award as one of the best teachers in Texas. Dedicated to Texas and Hispanic culture, her Spanish family came to Texas originally in 1792 although she was born and raised in Mexico City. The author of “De Leon: A Tejano Family History,” she has appeared on PBS and “The History Channel.”
Profile Image of Bill Perryman
Bill Perryman View biography
A fifth generation Texan and an award-winning teacher, Bill Perryman is known throughout Texas for his historical portrayals of heroic figures in Texas and American history and for his teacher trainings, seminars and educational explorations of historic San Antonio. He is the founder of History In Person Theater which is an official arts program for the Texas Commission on the Arts. Bill’s passion for history captivates audiences!
Profile Image of Ken Erfurth
Ken Erfurth View biography
Ken Erfurth is a life-long resident of San Antonio whose interest in the region’s history, culture, and architecture began at an early age. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and is a registered architect. He has been conducting educational adventures in San Antonio for various groups for over 20 years. In recent years, Ken has used photography to document the unique visual aspects of his native city and surrounding area. His images have been exhibited and published in multiple forums.
Profile Image of Tom Alter
Tom Alter View biography
Tom Alter is an assistant professor at Texas State University where he specializes in labor and Texas history. He received his BA in history from Indiana University, his MA in history from Texas State University, and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tom is the author of “Toward a Cooperative Commonwealth: The Transplanted Roots of Farmer-Labor Radicalism in Texas” (University of Illinois Press, 2022).
Profile Image of Sheila Mehta
Sheila Mehta View biography
Sheila Mehta, a recent addition to the LBJ Presidential Library, has spent her career in education. She joined the Library after almost 15 years as a high school social studies teacher. Her academic background lies in U.S. history, social studies, and relationships between conflict and society. Sheila helps visitors, students, and educators learn more about the Johnson administration and nuances of the 1960s, complementing the Library’s mission to be a “center for intellectual activity… while meeting the challenges of a changing world.”
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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.
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7 days
6 nights
15 meals
6 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner, Cathedral Light Show
San Antonio, Texas
D
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Minimal walking to/from cathedral.

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. Orientation: 4:00 p.m. 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. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Meals will be provided at the program hotels and local restaurants. 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. The Group Leader will give us a presentation on San Antonio, explaining how the River Walk was developed and explaining how various cultures converged on the area to make it the unique place that it is today. 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: At the hotel.

Evening: We’ll set out on foot with our Group Leader 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. After returning to the hotel, take the rest of the evening to continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead.

DAY
2
Texas History, Alamo-Downtown, River Barge Cruise
San Antonio, Texas
B,L,D
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

Activity note: Getting on/off a public bus. Walking up to 3 miles, climbing up/down stairs to access River Walk area, standing in museum up to 2 hours. Getting on/off a barge; cruising 1/2 hour minimum.

Breakfast: In the hotel’s second floor mezzanine.

Morning: 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 our many peoples. A noted professor will lead us on an enthralling, fast-paced, two-hour journey through Texas history from its earliest beginnings to the modern day. We will be drawn into the lives of those early citizens and find ourselves torn by the challenging choices people of the day had to make in order to survive. Those never-to-be-forgotten stories of the past will help us understand the Texas we will see over the next few days. Next, we’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to 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 gain an appreciation for the efforts of the historical conservation society in preserving the city’s past while encouraging new development.

Lunch: We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will continue our walking exploration of downtown San Antonio with our local expert. The Spanish colonial mission we know as the Alamo was established in 1718, and moved to its current location in 1724. Its history is fascinating and complex. After its gallant defense by 182 Texans against General Santa Anna’s army in 1836, “Remember the Alamo!” became a rallying cry for Texas independence. We’ll hear the story of the Alamo, then visit the Shrine, view artifacts, and watch a short movie. 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. Our expert will take us inside for a peek at the elaborately appointed lobbies and the Menger bar, to see memorabilia from TR’s time. We’ll understand more about Texas pride as we visit these historic sites. From here, we will have some time to explore the area independently or return to the hotel on foot along the river.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: Stepping outside to the River Walk— the heart of the city — 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. Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

DAY
3
Spanish Missions, West Side, Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg/Johnson City
B,L,D
Fredericksburg Inn & Suites

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; standing up to 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and ride to San Antonio Mission National Historical Park, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Led by our expert Group Leader, 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.

Lunch: We will ride to the largest Mexican marketplace in the U.S., and have an authentic Tex-Mex meal at one of San Antonio’s most popular restaurants.

Afternoon: We will drive through the city’s historically rich west side to learn more about Hispanic culture. We’ll enjoy colorful murals while our Group Leader shares information about governmental efforts to help some of the area’s poorest residents. Find out why so many San Antonio residents and politicians are proud of their west side roots. We’ll reboard our motorcoach and ride into Texas Hill Country. As we’re arriving in Fredericksburg, the Group Leader will provide a brief orientation to the town. We’ll then check in to our hotel. There will be some time for independent exploration before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
4
Pacific War Museum, LBJ Ranch & Park, Arrive Austin
Austin, Texas
B,D
Hyatt House Austin Downtown

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, up to 3 hours total riding time. Standing in museums for up to 2 hours and walking up to 4 miles over the course of the day.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and ride to the National Museum of the Pacific War, the only museum in the continental United States dedicated solely to the battles of the Pacific theater during World War II. During our self-directed exploration, we will immerse ourselves in Pacific history and gain an increased appreciation for the contributions of those who served as we also learn about American and Japanese cultures of the time.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Fredericksburg. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: We will ride to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park along the banks of the Pedernales River where Hereford cattle, white-tailed deer, and turkey abound. The LBJ National Historical Park contains a visitor center, reconstructed boyhood home, cemetery, and the Johnson residence, known as the Texas White House. National Park Rangers will be on hand and tell us more about President Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird, and their Texas home.

Dinner: We’ll stop for a tasty barbecue dinner and some music in a quaint Hill Country town.

Evening: After dinner, we will continue our ride to Austin, where we will check in to our hotel. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.

DAY
5
Downtown Austin, LBJ library
Austin, Texas
B,L
Hyatt House Austin Downtown

Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles; city streets and sidewalks, moderate elevation change. Getting on and off the motor coach. Riding in coach for up to 30 minutes throughout the day. Extent/duration of walking and other activities during independent exploration according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll head out with a local expert on a walking field trip to explore the downtown Austin area and learn about the city’s history and what it means to “Keep Austin Weird.” We’ll walk down a bit of Sixth Street and stop in the historic Driskill Hotel that opened in 1887.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we board the coach for a field trip to the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum. An archivist will give us a presentation on the history of presidential museums and libraries in the United States, as well as the origins of the LBJ Museum, the first to be located on a university campus. After the presentation, we’ll have time for independent exploration. We’ll be able to listen to recordings made during Johnson’s years in the White House that reveal much about his personality and style, and illustrate why he was able to rise to power and accomplish what he did during his career. We’ll be able to learn more about Lyndon Johnson, the man, and the impact his programs still have on society today, after the passage of Great Society legislation in the 1960s.

Dinner: On your own. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Wildflower Center, Live Music Performance
Austin, Texas
B,L,D
Hyatt House Austin Downtown

Activity note: Getting on and off the motor coach. Walking for up to 1.5 miles on dirt and paved pathways. Riding in the coach for up to 50 minutes throughout the day. Extent/duration of walking and other activities during independent exploration according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning at the hotel we will be joined by a local professor who will provide an overview of Texas Politics. We will learn about the major players throughout history and how their views and ideologies have shaped this great state. We’ll then depart for a field trip by motorcoach to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes. The center, which is connected to the University of Texas at Austin, is referred to as the “Botanic Garden of Texas” for its focus on conserving native plants; it is well known for its outreach programs, sustainable gardens, and research. We’ll explore parts of the 284-acre center with experts from the Wildflower Center.

Lunch: Lunch at the Wildflower Center

Afternoon: We will return to the hotel by motorcoach after lunch. The afternoon will be 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. Meeting back in the hotel, we’ll gather for a special treat as a Grammy-award winning musician gives us a private performance in our meeting room.

Dinner: At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
7
Program Concludes
Austin, Texas
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 PM

Breakfast: At the hotel. 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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