Categories: 5-Star Yummies, Christmas, Fast-food restaurants, Holidays, Ice Cream & Yogurt, Reviews, Sightseeing / Travel

River Walk Holiday Lights

I’m almost embarrassed to admit it was nearly 2 weeks into December before my sweetie and I finally got into the holiday spirit. What’s weird is I’d been listening to Christmas music for about a month. LOL. Well that weekend, we got around to doing a bunch of festive stuff. For one, we braved shopping centers. Don’t ask how we stayed sane from walking across full parking lots in the rain, and gave overzealous shoppers ample space within the aisles, and patiently waited in line behind carts filled to the brim. Being out shopping was pretty much an ordeal, but didn’t let it dampen our spirits. Nope, not one bit ’cause later that evening, we assembled our beautiful Christmas Tree! Although… after what we had been through earlier, it took some coaxing on my part to get Chip out the door to buy more garland before closing time. :p

The next day, we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” on DVD. We had been wanting to see the Holiday Lights along River Walk in downtown, so we regularly checked the hourly weather forecasts. It had poured the day before and that night didn’t look very promising either. We caught a break early evening when the drizzly forecast was pushed back to the wee hours of the morning! It was then or never since rain was predicted for the following weekend.

Our first stop was dinner…

We love their chicken

Afterwards, our holiday-light gazing began on Market Street in downtown San Antonio.

Casa Rio restaurant (with the outdoor colored umbrellas) was the very first business to open along the River back in 1946

Just before I spotted a sign for iiiiice creeeeeeam!

37 flavors!  Woohoo!  The Krazy Kolors was gnarly duuuude!  We shared the 2 scoops of Peanut Butter Chocolate…yum!
Krazy Kolors is “radical red, yummy yellow and blazin’ blue vanilla ice cream with a flavor that will knock your socks off”

VIDEO CLIP (below): I shot a short video (using my digital camera) of boat carolers while gettin’ brain freeze eating ice cream in 40-degree temps. Haha.

We ventured inside a Gift Shop since we hadn’t yet purchased a San Antonio magnet… and we live here!

Take a looksie at these cool collectibles: “Texas-size” beer mug, and hilarious magnet :p
I’m seriously considering going back and buying that magnet next time we’re in downtown

The magnet we chose, now prominently stuck to our fridge amongst the others

Omni La Mansión del Rio

Omni La Mansión del Rio (on left)

Just past the Omni La Mansión del Rio

Riverwalk Plaza Hotel

Westin Riverwalk Hotel

This is probably somewhere near the Arneson Amphitheater

The pink lights came on a few seconds I snapped the top photo (blue lights)

VIDEO CLIP (below): Moments later, I shot a one minute video (using my digital camera) of a moving lights display on a bridge.

Back to where we (almost) started:  Casa Rio restaurant

The night was still young, so we went exploring.  Good thing I was wearing my comfy sneakers and gloves.

The Torch of Friendship (left);  Marriott Rivercenter hotel at a distance (right)

Tower of the Americas (left); Tower Life Building (right)

Historic marker for Commerce Street Bridge (left);  View of the bridge (right)

The red and green lights on the Marriott Rivercenter hotel were sooo beautiful; photo taken around the time we were panhandled

Inside the Rivercenter Mall (stores were already closed for the night)

Gazebo near The Alamo

How close were we? Here’s a map illustration (thanks Google!):

I was standing roughly where the X is when I snapped the previous photo

On our walk back to the parking garage, I talked Chipster into going to Mi Tierra restaurant for some goodies before heading home. It was a perfect way to cap off our awesomely *festive* weekend.

Mi Tierra Café & Bakery (they’re open 24/7)

Clockwise from left:  Candied pumpkin, gingerbread cookie, fudge topped with pecans, and lemon empanada
My picks were the candied pumpkin and fudge……yummmmmmm!

I just checked River Walk’s website…and the holiday lights will stay up through this Saturday, January 7th.

Up next will be Voodoo Doughnut in Portland.

First Tennessee Bank

RANDOM PHOTOS: US Grant Hotel

RANDOM PHOTO: US Grant Hotel (with red lights)

Bathhouse Row with Xmas lights (at night)

Sherwood’s Trail of Holiday Lights

Christmas lights along Main Street

Christmas Trolley

Capital Hotel’s Christmas Tree

Peabody Christmas Tree

Mountain Dew Christmas Tree

Sherwood’s Trail of Holiday Lights

Dreamin’ of a Dessert Xmas -> New Year (Dessert #6)

Tags: Blue Bell, Casa Rio, Commerce Street Bridge, El Pollo Loco, magnets, Marriott Rivercenter hotel, Mi Tierra, Mr Ice Cream, Omni La Mansión del Rio, River Walk, Rivercenter Mall, Riverwalk Plaza Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, Torch of Friendship, Tower Life Building, Tower of the Americas, Westin Riverwalk Hotel, xmas lights