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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00 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. 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. Everyone is invited.
Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a catered welcome dinner.
Evening: Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Walking up/down steps to reach the River Walk, walking up to 3 miles throughout the day over paved and uneven terrain; standing up to 2 hours at a time.
Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Morning: We'll be joined by a local entrepreneur who will discuss the traditions of Las Posadas, a nine-day festival preceding Christmas which has been celebrated in Mexico for over 400 years. We will review the important elements of the holiday and the influence it has had on the American traditions of Christmas. 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.
Lunch: We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant.
Afternoon: 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 free time to explore the area independently or return to the hotel on foot along the river.
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: 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.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles over the course of the day; city streets and sidewalks, level terrain; walking up/down steps to reach the River Walk.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: 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.
Lunch: At a popular restaurant in Market Square, we'll enjoy a plated lunch.
Afternoon: Free time. After lunch and our tamale demonstration, you make choose to explore Market Square or walk back to the hotel on your own. 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.
Dinner: On your own.
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.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 70 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Walking up to a mile, standing up to 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. We will ride to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park and the quaint Hill Country town of Fredericksburg, with stops along the way.
Lunch: At a spot along the way (depending on weather), we’ll have box lunches.
Afternoon: After lunch we will explore 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.. Next, we’ll ride into the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg 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.
Dinner: 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.
Evening: Holiday lights are a tradition in Hill Country. As we return to San Antonio, we’ll have opportunities to see how small towns celebrate by decorating the courthouse square and other public spaces.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1 hour (depending on traffic). Walking up to 2 miles over the course of the day, standing up to an hour at a time; city streets and sidewalks, level terrain.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: 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 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.
Lunch: On your own at the Pearl.
Afternoon: After lunch we'll ride to the King William Historic District, where we’ll hear 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 farm lands that were originally part of the Alamo complex in mission days. Next, we'll ride back to the hotel for some time to relax and rest before dinner.
Dinner: We’ll walk a few blocks to a popular local restaurant for our Farewell Dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
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!