Frommer's® San Antonio & Austin

354 Pages·2005·9.17 MB·English

by  Edie Jarolim

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San Antonio
& Austin
6th Edition
by Edie Jarolim
Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
01_577646 ffirs.qxd 3/29/05 2:37 PM Page i
01_577646 ffirs.qxd 3/29/05 2:37 PM Page i
San Antonio
& Austin
6th Edition
by Edie Jarolim
Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
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About the Author
Edie Jarolimis the author of Arizona For Dummiesand one of the coauthors of
Frommer’s Texas. She has written for a variety of national publications, including
the New York Times Book Review, America West Airlines Magazine, Art & Antiques,
Bride’s, National Geographic Traveler,and the Wall Street Journal.
Published by:
Wiley Publishing,Inc.
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any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-7764-2
ISBN-10: 0-7645-7764-6
Editor: William Gibson
Production Editor: Ian Skinnari
Cartographer: Roberta Stockwell
Photo Editor: Richard Fox
Production by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services
Front cover photo: Alamo Mission exterior
Back cover photo: Racks of J.R. specials at Paris Hatters, San Antonio
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5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
List of Maps vii
What’s New in San Antonio & Austin 1
1 The Best of San Antonio 7
1 Frommer’s Favorite San Antonio 3 San Antonio Dining Bets . . . . .10
Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
2 Best San Antonio Hotel Bets . . . .9
2 Planning Your Trip to San Antonio 12
1 Visitor Information . . . . . . . . . .12 6 Planning Your Trip Online . . . . .20
2 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Frommers.com: The Complete
What Things Cost Travel Resource . . . . . . . . . . . .22
in San Antonio . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 7 The 21st-Century Traveler . . . . .22
3 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Online Traveler’s Toolbox . . . . .24
San Antonio Calendar 8 Getting There . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Flying with Film & Video . . . . . .27
4 Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 9 Tips on Accommodations . . . . .28
5 Specialized Travel Resources . . .17 10 Recommended Reading . . . . . .30
3 Getting to Know San Antonio 31
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 One-Day Ticket, Yeah! . . . . . . .38
The Neighborhoods in Brief . . . .36 Fast Facts: San Antonio . . . . . .40
2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . .37
4 Where to Stay in San Antonio 44
Deal Well, Sleep Well . . . . . . . .45 4 Fort Sam Houston Area . . . . . . .57
1 Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 5 Northwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
2 King William Historic District . . .53 6 West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Family-Friendly Hotels . . . . . . . .55 7 North Central (Near
3 Monte Vista Historic District . . .56 the Airport) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
5 Where to Dine in San Antonio 64
1 Restaurants by Cuisine . . . . . . .65 4 Monte Vista Area . . . . . . . . . . .74
2 Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Family-Friendly Restaurants . . . .76
San Antonio’s Movable Feasts . . .70 5 Alamo Heights Area . . . . . . . . .76
It’s Always Chili 6 Northwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
in San Antonio . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Frozen Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
3 King William/Southtown . . . . . .73 7 Only in San Antonio . . . . . . . . .81
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iv CONTENTS
6 Exploring San Antonio 83
Suggested Itineraries . . . . . . . .83 6 Strolling Around Downtown
1 The Top Attractions . . . . . . . . . .84 San Antonio . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
The Alamo: The Movie(s) . . . . .90 Walking Tour: Downtown . . . .104
2 More Attractions . . . . . . . . . . .94 7 Organized Tours . . . . . . . . . . .107
3 Parks & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . .98 8 Staying Active . . . . . . . . . . . .107
4 Especially for Kids . . . . . . . . . .99 9 Spectator Sports . . . . . . . . . . .109
5 Special-Interest Sightseeing . . .101
7 Shopping in San Antonio 111
1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . .111 Love Potion No. 9 . . . . . . . . .117
2 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . .111
8 San Antonio After Dark 122
1 The Performing Arts . . . . . . . .122 Conjunto: An American
2 The Club & Music Scene . . . . .125 Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
3 The Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . .127 4 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
9 The Best of Austin 132
1 Frommer’s Favorite Austin 3 Best Austin Dining Bets . . . . . .134
Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132 Netting the Best of the
2 Best Austin Hotel Bets . . . . . .134 Austin Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
10 Planning Your Trip to Austin 137
1 Visitor Information . . . . . . . . .137 3 Tips for Travelers with
2 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137 Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Austin Calendar of Events . . . .138 4 Getting There . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
What Things Cost in Austin . . .139 5 Recommended Reading . . . . .143
11 Getting to Know Austin 145
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145 2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . .152
The Neighborhoods in Brief . . .150 Fast Facts: Austin . . . . . . . . . .155
12 Where to Stay in Austin 158
1 Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159 4 Northwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
It Pays to Stay . . . . . . . . . . . .165 5 West/Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
2 Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 Family-Friendly Hotels . . . . . . .172
3 I-35 Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . .167 6 South (Airport) . . . . . . . . . . . .173
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CONTENTS v
13 Where to Dine in Austin 174
1 Restaurants by Cuisine . . . . . .175 5 East Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
2 Downtown/Capitol . . . . . . . . .176 6 Northwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
3 South Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 7 West/Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
4 Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186 8 Only in Austin . . . . . . . . . . . .193
Veggie Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Reel Barbecue . . . . . . . . . . . .194
Family-Friendly Restaurants . . .189
14 Exploring Austin 195
Suggested Itineraries . . . . . . .195 5 Strolling Around the University
1 The Top Attractions . . . . . . . . .196 of Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Going Batty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 Walking Tour: UT Austin . . . . .214
2 More Attractions . . . . . . . . . .202 6 Organized Tours . . . . . . . . . . .219
3 Especially for Kids . . . . . . . . . .212 7 Staying Active . . . . . . . . . . . .222
4 Special-Interest Sightseeing . . .213 8 Spectator Sports . . . . . . . . . . .224
15 Shopping in Austin 226
1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . .226 First Thursdays . . . . . . . . . . . .230
2 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . .226
16 Austin After Dark 240
But There Are No Limits on the 3 The Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . .248
Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . .241 4 Films . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250
1 The Performing Arts . . . . . . . .242 Celluloid Austin . . . . . . . . . . .250
2 The Club & Music Scene . . . . .243
Label It Successful—
Austin’s S×SW . . . . . . . . . . .245
17 Touring the Texas Hill Country 252
1 Boerne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252 Wine Not? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266
A Taste of Alsace in Texas . . .256 Going Back (in Time)
2 Bandera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257 to Luckenbach . . . . . . . . . . . .269
3 Kerrville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .260 5 Lyndon B.Johnson Country . . .269
A Bit of Old England 6 The Northern Lakes . . . . . . . .271
in the Old West . . . . . . . . . . .261 Driving the Bluebonnet
Bats & Ostriches Along a Back Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274
Road to Fredericksburg . . . . . .263 7 San Marcos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277
4 Fredericksburg . . . . . . . . . . . .263 8 New Braunfels . . . . . . . . . . . .281
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vi CONTENTS
Appendix A:San Antonio & Austin in Depth 286
1 San Antonio Past & Present . . .286 2 Austin Past & Present . . . . . . .291
Dateline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286 Dateline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .291
Did You Know? . . . . . . . . . . .291
Appendix B:For International Visitors 297
1 Preparing for Your Trip . . . . . .297 Fast Facts: For the International
2 Getting to the U.S. . . . . . . . . .304 Traveler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .306
3 Getting Around the U.S. . . . . . .305
Appendix C:Useful Toll-Free Numbers & Websites 311
Index 314
General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .314 Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . .330
Accommodations Index . . . . . .329
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List of Maps
San Antonio & Austin 3 Downtown Austin
San Antonio at a Glance 34 Accommodations 161
Downtown San Antonio Greater Austin Accommodations &
Accommodations 47 Dining 168
Greater San Antonio Accommoda- Downtown Austin Dining 177
tions & Dining 58 SoCo Dining 185
Downtown San Antonio Dining 67 Downtown Austin Attractions 197
Downtown San Antonio Greater Austin Attractions 198
Attractions 85
Walking Tour: The University
Greater San Antonio Attractions 86 of Texas 215
Walking Tour: Downtown Downtown Austin Shopping 227
San Antonio 103
Greater Austin Shopping 228
Downtown San Antonio
The Texas Hill Country 254
Shopping 113
Fredericksburg 265
Greater San Antonio Shopping 114
The Northern Lakes 273
Austin at a Glance 148
The Bluebonnet Trail 275
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An Invitation to the Reader
In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful places—hotels, restaurants,
shops, and more. We’re sure you’ll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share
the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed
with a recommendation, we’d love to know that, too. Please write to:
Frommer’s San Antonio & Austin, 6th Edition
Wiley Publishing, Inc. • 111 River St. • Hoboken, NJ 07030
An Additional Note
Please be advised that travel information is subject to change at any time—and this is
especially true of prices. We therefore suggest that you write or call ahead for confirma-
tion when making your travel plans. The authors, editors, and publisher cannot be held
responsible for the experiences of readers while traveling. Your safety is important to us,
however, so we encourage you to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a
close eye on cameras, purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets.
Other Great Guides for Your Trip:
Frommer’s Texas
Frommer’s USA
Frommer’s Exploring America by RV
Frommer’s National Parks of the American West