San Antonio & Texas Hill Country Holiday

Day 1 – Welcome to The Lone Star State!

Optional transfers from our departure points will have us at LAX for a scheduled nonstop flight arriving in San Antonio, Texas this afternoon. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight arrival time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival, we’ll board a deluxe motorcoach and continue to our downtown San Antonio hotel where we’ll enjoy a four-night stay in the heart of the San Antonio River Walk. Formerly the Alamo National Bank, this 24-story, renovated high-rise hotel features 50-foot ceilings, travertine flooring and stained-glass windows along with an outdoor rooftop swimming pool, indoor pool, two whirlpools and a nightly “happy hour” reception. Best of all, the hotel provides direct access to the River Walk, the San Antonio treasure tucked quietly 20-feet below street level providing a serene and pleasant way to navigate the city. This time of year, the River Walk features ‘Holiday Lights on the River Walk,’ a spectacular display of over 100,000 lights draped over the towering bald cypress trees that line the River Walk. In addition, the River Walk is home to Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias, where 2,000 of the centuries-old traditional Mexican Christmas lanterns are hand-lit and line the River Walk. This evening we’ll walk to an included dinner at a locals’ favorite and experience the holiday serenity of the River Walk firsthand. (Dinner)

Day 2 – San Antonio

Following an included breakfast, we’ll join a local guide for a fascinating tour of San Antonio. We’ll visit the San Fernando Cathedral – an enduring symbol of faith and history, this imposing Gothic Revival church has been a part of San Antonio’s landscape since 1731. We’ll see the IMAX film, Alamo – The Price of Freedom, the stirring re-enactment of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo – one of the most pivotal battles in world history. In Alamo Plaza we’ll visit the Alamo, one of the most historically significant sites in the U.S. The Alamo is not only the site of the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history, but also remains one of the ultimate symbols of the spirit of patriotic sacrifice. We’ll enjoy time at leisure for browsing and lunch on your own at Historic Market Square, the three-block outdoor plaza lined with more than 100 locally owned shops and several restaurants providing you the opportunity to take in the sights and flavors of old Mexico and find authentic Talavera pottery, exotic curios and handcrafted works of art. This afternoon we’ll visit Mission San José, founded in 1720 as one of five Catholic missions along the San Antonio River to serve an ethnically diverse society. Fully restored to its original design, this UNESCO Heritage Site is known as the “Queen of the Missions” and for its spectacular rose window. We return to the hotel with the balance of the evening at leisure and dinner on your own at a variety of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. Later this evening, join your tour director and walk to the San Fernando Cathedral to experience San Antonio – The Saga. Take a visual journey through the history of San Antonio during this 24-minute, 7,000-square foot world-class video art installation projected on the façade of the San Fernando Cathedral. (Breakfast)

Day 3 – Austin

After an included breakfast, our local guide will join us as we travel to Austin, the capital city of Texas. This big city with a small-town heart is a graceful river city of wooded hills, tall trees and historic architecture. We’ll visit the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Experience the 1960s through a variety of interactive and engaging exhibits like a replica of LBJ’s Oval Office, telephone recordings of the 36th President and artifacts from Lady Bird Johnson’s environmental efforts. We’ll enjoy an included barbecue lunch at a locals’ favorite in Austin because when it comes to dining in Austin, you can’t leave town without trying some true Texas barbecue! We’ll visit the spectacular Texas State Capitol, a massive Italian Renaissance Revival- style structure that is the largest capitol building in the U.S. (standing 14 feet higher than the U.S. Capitol). A docent-guided tour of the interior will showcase the elegant and ornate details – from the giant brass door hinges to the detailed handrails. We return to San Antonio with dinner on your own. Later this evening, we’ll board a chartered barge and sing Christmas carols as we experience a delightful San Antonio River Walk Christmas lights river barge cruise. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 – Texas Hill Country

Following an included breakfast, we’ll rejoin our local guide and travel into the heart of Texas Hill Country, a laid-back region of rolling hills, wide open spaces and historic towns. Our exploration of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park begins in Johnson City where we’ll visit the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Visitor Center and the Lyndon B. Johnson Boyhood Home, where the President lived from age five until his high school graduation in 1924. On a driving tour of the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas we’ll see LBJ’s birthplace, the one-room school that four-year-old Lyndon attended in 1912, the show barn and the Johnson family cemetery where LBJ is buried. This afternoon we’ll arrive in Fredericksburg, the charming and well-preserved German settlement founded in 1846. Enjoy time at leisure exploring Main Street, filled with historic buildings, quaint shops, restaurants and world-class museums including the National Museum of the Pacific War. We return to San Antonio this evening and enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5 – SAS Shoe Factory, Journey Home

After an included breakfast we’ll visit the SAS Shoe Factory and see first-hand how each pair of shoes goes through up to 100 different steps, performed by approximately 80 different pairs of skilled hands. Enjoy time at leisure at the charming SAS General Store which offers great SAS Shoes discounts along with 5-cent popcorn, 10-cent soda pop and ole time candies! This afternoon we’ll arrive at the San Antonio International Airport for our scheduled non-stop flight returning to Los Angeles this evening. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in Los Angeles, those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-off points. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.