Spring Break Texas Style

 After the nightmare experience of traveling to Nevada last spring, I was PUH-RAY-ING this year would look nothing like last year.  Literally, that was the only expectation--just beat the sewer level bar that was set in 2023.  (Such a bad trip). 

So, San Antonio...please don't suck. 

Sometimes growth spurt naps hit you HARD!

Got smart and found Mila a wheelchair in the airport...then put her to work as the conductor of the suitcase train. 

Pool day!  Isaac was able to swim without his life vest for the entire trip and conquered diving for rings and doing flips underwater!  Mila also had major wins in the pool--because we were swimming when the sunken bar was not yet open she was able to 'swim' between all the bar seating safely and bravely swam to me 10 feet without her vest!

San Antonio River Walk...well for us, it was the San Antonio River RIDE and it was absolutely delightful!  We thoroughly enjoyed floating through Texas history on a stunningly beautiful day. 

The Alamo!  I don't know how or why this got into my head, but I have a list of places/experiences that are on my Good Parenting List and for some reason The Alamo is on that list.   I legit drug my children through 97 degree heat and promised them ANY ICE CREAM YOU WANT, if they would let me take this picture (and cross it off my delusional list).  We didn't even go inside (gasp!), but I was proud that I got us there. 

The Sunken Gardens. Beautiful and free.  Two thumbs up!

The most accurate sibling photo of all time!

The antique train ride at the San Antonio zoo is super fun too!

San Antonio Aquarium.  OK...this place needs to be talked about.  I fully understand that Sea World is literally minutes away and there is likely a high aquatic bar to meet, however, the San Antonio Aquarium was simultaneously the most sketch AND coolest place we had ever been to (and PETA should probably be notified...but also don't tell them, I plan to go back next time we are in town.)

First of all, it's in a strip mall.  As we paid, the 12 year old working the desk ask if I wanted to pay $3 to feed the mammals.  ?? What animals? This is an aquarium, right??  We can feed the FISH? That might be cool.  No, ma'am, the ANIMALS.   What?!  I paid the $3 more as an interest tax, and turned the corner to see legit play pens with kangaroos and monkeys and alligators 🤯.  Multiple bus loads of elementary students wandering around with their teachers and zero Strip Mall Aquarium staff to be seen.  To be fair, there was clear signage to insert a coin to feed the animals, so kudos to their unseen administrative department. 

 

By the time we found the million year old tortoise wandering through the hallways, I had decided to lean into the experience.  I grabbed some food from Mr Turtle's bowl and offered it to him.  At that point a 9 year old in what I assume was a staff polo, casually walked by with a "eh, probably won't do that, he tends to bite'.  ?!?!?  Oh!  Ok!  Run free with the alligators and monkeys in their pack-n-plays but steer clear of the aquarium turtle for safety reasons.  Good grief. 

Isaac telling him to go back to his corner. 

Mila feeding the fish!

Pet a goldfish.  Unknown life goal now completed. 

This particular anteater was positioned next to the bounce house area of the aquarium (what?!?!). 

Mila happily played with a kinkajou, while Isaac fed some mantarays (is a sentence I never thought would leave my mouth). 

Chilling with the lemurs. 

For kicks...note the height of this enclosure. Isaac is 5ft tall.  The wall to keep the animals separate from the tiny humans is LESS than five feet tall.  (Who certified this place??)

Like I said, the most sketchy and the coolest place we have ever been.  We spent close to 3 hours here and that didn't even include a visit to the arcade or mermaid birthday experience.  ?!?!

We ate lots of different places, but two thumbs up way up for La Fogata. EXCELLENT food and awesome outdoor tables. Highly recommend. 

San Antonio...you didn't suck.  In fact, you were good to us.  We swam. We were warm. We ate ice cream and effectively our body weights in guacamole, we rested and we had fun.  THANK YOU!