Things to Do

Romance Your Sweetheart on This Unique Hill Country Road Trip

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Thanks to our friends at Chevrolet,  our company’s owner and his wife were able to celebrate their 6th Wedding Anniversary on another fun Hill Country road trip! Starting out the journey at Fair Market in Austin, Mitch and Meg experienced all the amazing features of the 2018 Chevy Traverse they’d be driving, as well as the entire crossover lineup that Chevy has to offer, including Equinox and Trax. The onboard Wi-Fi made a huge impression on Meg. “That has upped my expectations in a vehicle,” she said. “It’s worth its weight in gold, in my opinion.”

Chevy’s safety features were every bit as impressive. Chevy is dedicated to keeping teen drivers safe on the road. The Teen Driver setting mutes the radio until seatbelts are buckled and also sends parents a report card on the speed and driving habits of their teen behind the wheel. Perhaps the most important feature of all, considering the intensity of Texas summer heat, is Chevy’s reminder when you leave something in the backseat. If that “something” happens to be a child, this feature could mean the difference between life or death.

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Photo: Chevrolet.com

After setting out on the road in the Chevy Traverse, Mitch and Meg stopped off at Wildseed Farms. This award-winning wildflower farm is located near Fredericksburg and is the largest of its kind in the nation. There the couple walked through some of the most breathtaking wildflowers in the Lone Star State, including a healthy offering of Texas bluebonnets. Their tour of the grounds complete, the couple returned to the Chevy and drove into Fredericksburg. Strolling along the sidewalks of this picturesque Hill Country community, they visited the charming shops and German bakeries that make the town such a pleasure to visit.

Following a delicious meal at Otto’s German Bistro, they headed for San Antonio, one of the most vibrant cities in the Hill Country. “We got there just after the Battle of Flowers Parade,” Meg said. “Just in time for the Battle of Flowers After Party, hosted by, you guessed it, the Pearl. It was so much fun!” The couple delighted in experiencing everything the Pearl District had to offer. This “city within a city” was nothing less than amazing, and the service everywhere was impeccable.

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Photo: Facebook/Fiesta San Antonio

“We got to experience the city at its liveliest during Fiesta,” Meg said. “It’s so hard to say what the best part was… The music, the food… Oh, the food! I discovered tacos al pastor while we were there. They were so good!” They strongly recommended the tacos al pastor and micheladas from La Gloria at the Pearl. The Boiler House also served up a truly mouth-wateringly tasty meal.

One of the events that stood out as a highlight of their trip was NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio). This four-night festival takes place in the heart of downtown San Antonio. The celebration of the city’s rich and wide-ranging cultural legacy draws more than 240 food, drink, and atmosphere booths. Over a dozen musical acts took part this year. San Antonio’s heritage was alive and well and on full display for what was the 70th presentation of the festival, which funds historic preservation efforts of the San Antonio Conservation Society. The society has successfully prevented historic buildings from being torn down and has preserved unique architectural aspects of the city, including the Spanish Colonial Missions. Their efforts have helped to make San Antonio a leading tourist destination in the state.

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Photo: Flickr.com/Brandon Watts

Meg and Mitch spent Friday evening exploring San Antonio, then retired to their luxurious accommodations at Hotel Emma in the Pearl District. The next day, they were out and about once again, taking in everything the city had to offer. Saturday afternoon, they stopped by one of the most hallowed of all Texas landmarks—the Alamo. The couple paid their respects to the brave men who died there. The historic structure holds a powerful place in the minds of all Texans, and a visit can truly be a powerful emotional experience. If you haven’t visited the Alamo, it’s one to add to your bucket list for sure.

The couple capped off the evening with a stroll through the beauty of the River Walk. This network of walkways along the banks of the peaceful San Antonio River lends an atmosphere of pure romance to any occasion, none more so than a wedding anniversary. Lined with all manner of restaurants and shops, the Riverwalk is a vital part of the city’s unique appeal. Heading back to their room at Hotel Emma, the happy couple basked the afterglow of a perfect Texas road trip, a journey through the heart of the Hill Country made possible by Chevy.