The Holiday Season in San Antonio: Lighting Up the River Walk

Program Registration: 3:30 p.m. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in our reserved meeting room 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 the Group Leader as well as local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Our Group Leader will also present an introduction of San Antonio, explaining how the River Walk was developed and offering a short explanation about how various cultures converged on the area to make it the unique place that it is today. 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 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., the hotel hosts a complimentary “kickback” reception on the second floor with food and drink; all are invited.

At the hotel.

At your leisure

At the hotel.

Our local expert will explore Texas history and culture from a Tejano perspective. 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. We will explore the area’s complex history together. Next, we’ll embark on a field trip by foot with a local expert to explore some of San Antonio’s most iconic sites. We’ll also learn about the development of the River Walk and its impact on the transformation of the area. We will 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 stop at a nearby restaurant.

After lunch, we will continue our walking exploration of historic San Antonio. 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. We’ll hear the story of the Alamo, then visit the Shrine, view artifacts, and watch a short movie. Our local expert will take us to other sites of interest in the area. At San Fernando Cathedral we will 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. From here, we will have some time to explore the area independently or return to the hotel on foot along the river.

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.

We’ll step outside the hotel to the River Walk — the heart of the city — for a private, narrated barge ride on the San Antonio River. Situated 20 feet below street level and just steps from the famed Alamo, we’ll see how stone pathways connect shops, restaurants, hotels, and museums with a blend of architecture that reflects the development of this centuries-old metropolis. The barge pilot will tell us about the history of the area and the structures we pass as we float along the river amid thousands of holiday lights that sparkle all along the way.

At the hotel.

In preparation for our field trip to the LBJ Ranch 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 this watershed legislation passed during the mid-1960s. We will then depart on foot for Historic Market Square, which is the largest Mexican marketplace in the U.S. This three-block area consists of more than 100 locally owned shops and stalls. We’ll have some time to explore the market independently following lunch.

At a popular restaurant in Market Square.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You may choose to explore Market Square or walk back to the hotel on your own.

On your own.

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 the present day. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach at the hotel for a full day exploring Texas hill country. We will ride to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park that 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 Lyndon, Lady Bird, and their Texas home. Please note: The White House and Hangar Visitor Center is currently under renovation and may not be visible. Next, we’ll ride into the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg.

On your own in Fredericksburg.

In Fredericksburg, we’ll have time for a self-directed exploration to see and do what interests each of us most. This small city founded by German settlers in 1846 is on the National Register of Historic Places. You may be interested in visiting the National Museum of the Pacific War, located in the historic hotel run by the family of Admiral Chester Nimitz (reservations recommended), or you may wish to learn about the early history of the area at the Pioneer Museum Complex or the Vereins-Kirche (Society Church), the oldest public building in town. Our Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

On the drive back to San Antonio, we’ll stop for a barbecue dinner with live music and see the town square with holiday lights.

After dinner, we will return to San Antonio, and the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll set off on a field trip to the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. We’ll explore some of the missions that make up the historic park and learn about early settlement and efforts of the Spanish to convert local people to the Roman Catholic Church and an agricultural lifestyle. We’ll see how the Spanish used “acequia” (irrigation systems) to develop self-sustaining agricultural communities along the San Antonio River. Next, we will ride to the historic Pearl district. This 23-acre property was the site of the original Pearl Brewing Company founded in 1883, and it has been transformed over recent decades into a popular community and business hub. The site now includes a food hall, a brewery, a hotel, concert space, shops, a Culinary Institute of America campus, and residences. Our Group Leader will give us an introduction to the Pearl and then we’ll have some time to explore on our own.

On your own at the Pearl.

After lunch, we’ll ride to the King William Historic District, where the Group Leader will tell us interesting stories of immigrants and others who were instrumental in the economic development of the city. We’ll see mansions and cottages of varied architectural styles built by successful families after the Civil War and walk along the San Antonio River and adjacent farmlands that were originally part of the Alamo complex in mission days.

We’ll walk a few blocks to a popular local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

We will conclude our program with a visit to the Botanical Gardens where we will explore a holiday wonderland boasting over 1 million Christmas lights. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

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!