Blog

Whether you're looking for a place to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, take holiday visitors, or pick up a meal to enjoy at home, San Antonio has some great options. Many restaurants welcome guests during the holidays and offer dishes that will rival the best Thanksgiving meal you've ever had. Here are three San Antonio restaurants that will keep you well-fed this Thanksgiving. Two Bros BBQ Market Located on 12656 West Ave. in San Antonio, Two Bros BBQ Market offers great food throughout the year. You can eat in, order out, or pickup anytime. The holiday menu features a whole turkey that is perfectly seasoned and smoked to perfection. Add some scrumptious sides like pecan cornbread, Waldorf salad, gravy, green bean casserole, and sour orange cranberry jam, and you won't have to cook a thing. The staff even tosses in a dozen rolls. This meal is meant to feed 10 people, so if you have a small family, you'll have some awesome leftovers. This meal package must be pre-ordered and can be picked up the day before Thanksgiving. Why spend all day cooking when you can have these meat-smoking pros do it for you? more Green Vegetarian Cuisine Every year, Green Vegetarian Cuisine on East Grayson Street hosts a Thanksgiving feast. On the day of Thanksgiving, head down to the San Antonio location from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a Thanksgiving meal made for vegetarians. A perfectly prepared vegan turkey and glazed ham might even make meat lovers think twice. The cost is $30 per person, and you'll be able to eat as much as you like. Seating is first-come, first-served, so you'll want to get there on time. In addition to the vegan-friendly turkey and ham, you can also enjoy classic Thanksgiving dishes like mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, stuffing, and green bean casserole. Make sure to finish it all off with a slice of pumpkin or pecan pie. Boudro's Texas Bistro Take the whole family out for the night at Boudro's Texas Bistro on Thanksgiving day. For $40 per adult and $18 per kid, you can enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Located at 421 E. Commerce St., this San Antonio favorite is serving up a mouth-watering meal. Start with a pumpkin butternut squash bisque or a salad with cranberries, ham, and brie. The turkey is roasted with herbs and served with fried Brussels sprouts, cornbread stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, and orange-cranberry relish. If you're not a fan of turkey, you can choose the smoked pork tenderloin served with sweet potatoes and collard greens. Finish off this five-star Thanksgiving meal with a piece of sweet potato pecan pie. Picky eaters will appreciate that they can choose anything off the regular dinner menu if they're not interested in these special holiday meals. Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy family and great food. If you're not a fan of cooking, why stress? Head to one of these three restaurants to enjoy top-notch meals without the hassle of making them yourself. Image by elsie.hui is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Museums can be a good place for anyone to explore, but some are aimed more toward children while others are designed more for adults. After all, most kids don't really have the patience or the experience to appreciate artwork or old historical artifacts. So if you want to take your family out to a museum in San Antonio, Texas, and your kids are too young to enjoy an art gallery, head to one of these kid-friendly museums instead. The DoSeum San Antonio's premier children's museum is called the DoSeum and sits right along Broadway Street north of the downtown district. The DoSeum offers plenty of exhibits kids of all ages can enjoy, including a few rotating exhibits that keep things fresh. For instance, the Spy Academy challenges skills like creating and breaking codes, using maps, and using logic, and the Innovation Station is all about coming up with new ideas and learning by doing. Ticket prices are a flat $14 for every visitor one year old and up, and the usual hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. more The Witte Museum The Witte Museum is another Broadway Street destination, and it's right across from the San Antonio Zoo. Witte is a historical museum, but it keeps things interesting for kids by offering a surprising range of exhibits. The Texas Wild Gallery features dioramas of the different animals and plants that live in all the different Texas biomes. The Dinosaur Gallery has fossils and displays, and the Body Adventure exhibit is all about health and wellness. Hours on most days are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tickets are $12 for most adults and $9 for kids ages 4 to 11. Ripley's Believe It or Not Just across North Alamo Street from the Alamo itself is Ripley's Believe It or Not, a museum franchise that originally started as a newspaper feature. The first permanent museum was opened in Florida, but the one in San Antonio is definitely worth visiting with the whole family. The collection fills up three floors with some of the many strange artifacts Ripley gathered together over the years, including authentic shrunken heads. Ripley's is partners with the wax museum next door, but a ticket for the museum costs $22 for adults and $14 for kids. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days. The Texas Air Museum The Texas Air Museum is at the southern end of San Antonio on Stinson Field. It's unique for an air museum thanks to its large collection of early aircraft: the biplanes and triplanes made of wood and canvas that filled the skies before World War I. The museum also has aircraft from later eras, especially ones built or designed in Texas. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tickets cost just $4 for adults, $2 for teens, and $1 for younger kids. These are just a few of the museums in the San Antonio area. Depending on what your kids like, there are all kinds of other places where you can take them. Image by William Warby is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

The Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum has been a favorite attraction in the San Antonio area since 1918. It features a collection of odd artifacts, unique exhibits, and plenty of engaging entertainment for guests of all ages. These are just a few of the best things to see and do at the Ripley's Odditorium. Louis Tussaud's Waxworks Louis Tussaud's Waxworks features over 200 lifelike wax figurines of popular celebrities, historical figures, and fantasy characters. Take your photo with your favorite wax figures including Britney Spears, Harry Potter, and Frankenstein. Explore the different themed areas with themes including Hollywood, Lone Star Heroes, and US History. Print your photos before you even leave the building right from your mobile phone. Tickets to the Waxworks museum are just $21.99 for adults and $13.99 for children. Ripley's 4D Moving Theater Ripley's 4D moving theater offers you a movie-going experience unlike anything you have ever experienced before. The full-size stadium uses advanced digital effects and moving seats to take you on an immersive experience in a series of virtual worlds. The seats move in a total of eight directions, allowing you to feel every single movement within the movie. Current movies you can attend include Cosmic Fighters and The Deep. more Ripley's Odditorium The Odditorium features over 18,000 square feet of the oddest and most interesting artifacts. Ripley was well-known for traveling the world in search of the most unique of items. Just a few of the items you can find in the San Antonio collection include a two-headed animal artifact and a 19th-century vampire killing kit. The Odditorium also has artifacts from the Berlin Wall and the largest tire you will find anywhere in the world. Each of the rooms in the three-floor Odditorium is themed, allowing you to explore the areas that are of the most interest to you. The self-guided tour is ideal for all ages and takes approximately one hour to complete. Bring along your camera to record all of the unusual and memorable things you will see. This experience promises to be engaging and educational. Attempt Arena Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to be in the Guinness Book of World Records? This is your chance to see how you stand up against the world's leaders. The  Attempt Arena is included in the Ripley's Guinness World Records ticket at just $21.99 per adult ticket and $13.99 for kids. The Attempt Arena is the first in the world and has challenges like the loudest screamer and who can stack the most golf balls. The attraction includes seven separate interactive challenges. Guests can practice or submit their scores to the leaderboard. If you are able to achieve a record-beating score, you can register it right there with a certified representative of the Guinness Book of World Records. Ripley's Believe It or Not! is open year round. Visitors can purchase single tickets for just one attraction or cut admission costs by purchasing combo tickets. The attractions are constantly changing and it is worth visiting over and over again. Ripley's Museum Image by cliff1066 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The city of San Antonio, Texas, has a unique culture with a mix of German, Mexican, and African cultures each making it what it is today. Explore the history and local culture of the city at any of these top San Antonio museums. Buckhorn Museum The Buckhorn Museum celebrates Texas history with wildlife exhibits, an on-site cafe, a shooting gallery, and two separate museums. The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum showcases many local and national wildlife over the years. The 40,000 square foot collection now consists of over 520 different species of wildlife including Irish Elks, a black marlin, and many other exotic animals. The Texas Ranger Museum is a newer attraction that just opened its doors in 2006. The Texas Ranger collection features authentic handguns, shotguns, and badges from original Texas Rangers. Guests can further explore how life in San Antonio once was with a replica jail cell, blacksmith, and saloon. Immerse yourself in the times by grabbing a drink or bite to eat at the saloon. more The Witte Museum The Witte Museum honors Texas's local nature, science, and culture. The museum has many interactive exhibits with each of them spanning across important historical times in Texas. The first exhibit, the Predators Vs. Prey, educates guests about the pre-historic times when dinosaurs roamed the lands. There are also exhibits that span over the last 300 years of San Antonio culture. Attendees can learn about early Spanish settlements and the Battle of the Alamo. The museum also puts on frequent events throughout the year. A few upcoming events include the Sunday Jazz at the Witte, Super Saturdays, and the upcoming 6th Annual Witte Unlocked which is scheduled for July 25, 2018. The Alamo The Alamo is one of the most historically significant events in Texas history. Although most Texans know a little about this important event, the Alamo offers a unique educational experience that is also entertaining. Entrance is free and includes a 45-minute guided tour throughout the museum. Attendees can explore the preserved historical structures that played an important role in Texas liberty. There are daily presentations and regularly changing exhibits. Just a few of the current exhibits on display today at the Alamo include the Fortress Alamo; The Key to Texas, the Long Barrack Experience, and an interactive digital battlefield experience. Be sure to check out the gift shop with unique souvenirs to remember your experience and to honor the preservation efforts of this important San Antonio building. Institute of Texan Cultures The Institute of Texan Cultures celebrates the unique cultural makeup of the San Antonio area. It honors diversity with music, food, art, and dance. The center offers entertaining programs all year long including events like Viva Hemisfair and a special paint to the music event. They also have a large collection of historic Texas items on display.  Attendees can stroll the museum on their own or sign up for a larger guided tour. San Antonio, Texas, has a vibrant culture with many museums worth visiting. Further your knowledge of this beautiful city by visiting any of these museums. Image by Ken Lund is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

San Antonio is perhaps best known for the Alamo, a winning basketball franchise, and the River Walk, but you may not know that it's also one of the most diverse culinary scenes in the country. Blending influences from Mexico, Texas, and other places around the globe, the grub here is on another level. If you're a foodie, but you don't have the time to visit all the top-rated restaurants, a food tour is the answer. Not only can you sample the best cuisine in one night, but you'll get a personal touch. Taste of San Antonio Food Tour If the thought of eating at the touristy spots or an Applebee's makes you cringe, the Taste of San Antonio Food Tour is right up your alley. Guided by a trusted local guide, you'll explore eateries and get experiences usually only reserved for San Antonians. One-part food tour and one-part city tour, the Taste of San Antonio zigs and zags through the city on foot, letting you walk off some of the favorite delicacies and recent newcomers to the area. more At $55 for a three-hour tour, Taste of San Antonio is a bargain. The tour is every Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., and meets in front of the St. Anthony Hotel at 300 E. Travis St. Make sure to book a reservation 48 hours in advance to hold your spot. SA Food Tours Established in 2016 by two friends, SA Food Tours is one of the newest options in the city.  However, owners Jordan Gonzales and Michael Ehl know their stuff. Both are financial analysts by day and foodies on nights and weekends, sharing their passion for local cuisine with you, even after a hectic work week. This tour specializes not only on food in downtown San Antonio but also the history of the area and the plans for the future. The tour guides are fun and friendly, while also having a wealth of knowledge about their hometown. While you learn about the city between restaurants, once you arrive at the restaurant, it's all business. The best part here is the diversity of selections. You just might find yourself at a bakery, alehouse, and Tex-Mex restaurant in just the first half of the journey. Prices start at $50 for three-hour tours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Food Chick Tours A proud member of the Global Food Tourism Association and one of the more established food tours in San Antonio, Food Chick Tours takes you through the best of the best restaurants in San Antonio with food columnist Julia Celeste. Rather than focusing on the history of the city, she focuses her discussions around the rich culinary heritage of San Antonio and how that's shaped the scene today. Choose from tours that include brunch, dinner, Tex-Mex, smokehouses, barbecue, tamales, and sweets. If none of that strikes you, Julia will cater something specifically for you. Prices start at $100 per person. From tacos to barbecue and everything in between, the San Antonio food scene is the experience you've always wanted. Just make sure to put on a pair of loose-fitting pants before you sign up for one of these awesome culinary tours. Marriott Street Tacos by nan palmero is licensed under CC BY 2.0

While Austin, Dallas, and Houston get the lion's share of attention from tourists visiting Texas, don't let that deter you from a visit to San Antonio. With delicious food, an active festival scene, and terrific nightlife, the city has an atmosphere unlike any other. Surprising to some, it also has an excellent museum scene for you to get some culture. The next time you're feeling curious, inquisitive, or you just need to clear out the cobwebs, check out these must-see museums in San Antonio. The Alamo No trip to San Antonio is complete without a visit to the Alamo. Constructed in 1718, the Alamo is the city's most-visited and most-famous building. This year, it celebrates its 300th anniversary, so there's no better time to make the trip. A guided or audio tour allows you to dive into the history of the building, as well as the famous battle that saw around 200 Texans fight the Mexicans to the last man. The Alamo also has a special rotating exhibit throughout the year that sheds light on the history of the building, the Battle of the Alamo, the combatants of the eponymous battle, and efforts to preserve Texas' legendary mission. more You can visit the Alamo free of charge, but to get the most of your tour, hop on a one-hour guided tour for $15, or a self-guided audio tour for just $7. Hours for the Alamo are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 26 to Sept. 4 (peak season), and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m from Sept. 5 to May 2. The DoSeum If you have kids, don't miss out on your chance for an interactive, educational journey to the DoSeum. Opened in June of 2015, it's the newest museum in the city, featuring sparkling facilities that both you and your children will love. Featuring three floors of excitement, the DoSeum teaches math, science, engineering, and technology with a hands-on approach. It's so much fun, they won't even know they're learning something new. Admission is $14 for ages 1 and up. Visit the DoSeum Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum Pollock, Picasso, Dali, and Renoir are just a few of the timeless artists who produce pieces people pay millions to add to their collections. However, you shouldn't count out San Antonio's own Barney Smith. The 97-year-old Smith was a lifelong plumber, but when he retired, he wasn't quite sure what to do with his time. That's when he started to create toilet seat art. The resulting artwork is part ingenuity and part collage, carefully and painstakingly put together on a toilet seat or lid. Each of the lids has a theme, and Barney will even show you around himself. Note that even if you fall in love with a toilet seat, none of them are for sale. However, admission is free, so it's a definite win-win. Whether you need to entertain the kids, indulge the history buff within, or see some downright bizarre artwork, San Antonio has the spot for you to get your museum fix. Alamo Image by P_Linehan is licensed under CC BY 2.0