Texas: March 2017
Early this spring was my first ever visit to Texas. I went with my boyfriend, Alec, and his two siblings, Blas and Esmerelda. Our itinerary was a flexible one but, unfortunately, both Alec and I were in the thick of our college courses at the time and still had classwork to keep up with. Nevertheless, we coordinated with our professors and managed to do our work on the go. But enough of that, the fun stuff is what we're curious about here. So, without further ado, here are my top two places from our 2017 Texas Vacation.
South Padre Island
Now, I won't lie. Despite the glorious weather, any beach is expected to be cold in March. That didn't stop me and Alec though. Yes, we made it out to the shore and even found ourselves diving into a few waves. We went through beach entrance five and found the place scarcely populated. Not that I minded. We had stocked up on Smirnoff and sunscreen and were set to go. Unfortunately, we hadn't realized the no-glass-policy which put a damper on the that plan. So learn from my mistakes and take note of the rules at whatever beach you plan on visiting and plan accordingly. Instead, we enjoyed Sandcastle building and, as previously mentioned, lots of swimming.
San Antonio Riverwalk
Another Texas classic is the San Antonio Riverwalk so of course, we had to go. If anyone is looking for amazing photos, this is the spot. Unfortunately, I did not realize this beforehand and let my phone drain to a measly 3%. I luckily had Alec along who had the sense to keep his charged! The lesson here is boyfriends are awesome and so are portable chargers!
So let's talk the Riverwalk. We started on the opposite end of the walk than the mall. This made it so we had a nice shopping break in the middle of the trail. When you get within the general vicinity, you'll find a couple parking ramps. Don't forget to note which one you are at and which level.
From here, you can enter the trail at any of the numerous entrances. The steps will lead down to the winding river and you're suddenly transported somewhere entirely unexpected.
The wildlife is spectacular, the plants are beautiful, and the water is pristine. Spotted along the walk are businesses boasting the best ice cream around and great deals on souvenirs. I was amazed by the blend of Latino and American cultures. There would be a Mariachi band playing right alongside a burger joint; something you don't really see around Minnesota.
Note that prices here are going to be much higher than other places in the city. If you're trying to keep a low budget, you may want to enjoy the walk and then take in the Texan culture at the Whataburger only a couple blocks away. We enjoyed some ice cream during the walk but saved dinner for a little further away.
I truly cannot wait until my next opportunity to visit the area. The glimpse I had was just not enough! The mix of cultures you can experience in the area is unlike anything I've had the pleasure to experience before and one I'll certainly be returning to the next chance I get.
