A San Antonio and Austin Girls Trip was the perfect way to spend the last few days of my summer! When my college roommate said she had five days to spare, we booked the flights as soon as possible. There is something life-giving about a girls’ trip, and I was long overdue for one.
San Antonio and Austin are only an hour and a half apart. This proximity was a huge factor in us deciding to visit both cities in one trip. We flew into Austin because the flights were cheaper at the time of booking. Five days allows you to spend two full days in each city with a day split between the two. If you have the time, I would recommend a full week for visiting San Antonio and Austin, with three days devoted to each city and one day split.
What follows is a list of places I recommend checking out in each city. San Antonio and Austin have different vibes, and I loved that this kept our girls trip fun and interesting.
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San Antonio Girls Trip
The San Antonio portion of our San Antonio and Austin Girls Trip focused on taking in the history of the city and pampering ourselves.
Where to Stay in San Antonio
We booked a riverview room with a balcony at the Omni La Mansion del Rio. First of all, I have to say that I have stayed at many Omni hotels, so I knew it would be a good experience. However, the staff at this particular hotel went above and beyond for us girls. (They deserve a HUGE SHOUTOUT! Thank you to Amiri and Josh in Valet, the concierge Daniel, and Carrie and Anthony at the Front Desk.)
Secondly, this hotel is in the perfect location. When you walk out of the back door, you are at the Selena bridge. (TIP: If you wake up around 7 a.m., you can get a great photo before the crowds come.)
Thirdly, when you stay at the Omni La Mansion del Rio, you have two pool options—(1) the one at the Omni and (2) the rooftop pool across the street at the Mokara Spa. With the Texas heat, pool time is a necessity to cool down. Plus, what better way to start a girls’ trip than to book some spa treatments too?
Where to Eat in San Antonio
Also, we took advantage of the tasty room service and enjoyed breakfast most days on the balcony overlooking the River Walk, but there were some notable restaurants we visited too.
- Rosario’s ComidaMex & Bar – With its bright pink décor, Rosario’s is the perfect lunch spot for a San Antonio Girls Trip. It is about a ten-minute walk from the River Walk area. However, we arrived there by car after spending the morning at the Missions. (TIP: Check the smaller back lot to see if a free and easy-in parking spot is available.) If we had more time, we would have come back to enjoy the rooftop lounge. Oh, make sure you order the delicious ceviche.
- Pickerton’s Barbecue – The line at this lively place is for a reason! The brisket is one of the best I have ever had. There are not a ton of allergy-friendly options here, but what I could eat was mouth-watering.
- Tower of the Americas – Chart house restaurant sits at the top of the tower and rotates. If you have not experienced this type of restaurant or if you just want to see San Antonio from above, it is worth making reservations. (TIP: Schedule just before sunset for a glowing photo-op but bring a fan as the temperature gets a little warm in the restaurant during this time.) I enjoyed both the Mango Mojito and the Spinach Salad with its “warm bacon dressing.”
What to Do in San Antonio
As a history major and lover of all things antique, San Antonio had my heart. We made sure to include as many historical stops as we could.
- Narrated River Cruise with Go Rio – I am glad we did this activity first. It was good to get our bearings and get some general history on San Antonio.
- The Alamo – This is probably on your to-do list if you are in San Antonio, but my suggestion would be to pay the $45 for the guided tour. Our tour guide was extremely knowledge, giving us background information, a better understanding of the present-day physical grounds, and an account of the 1836 battle. We even got to access a special room blocked off to the general visitors.
- San Antonio Missions – This was my favorite activity in San Antonio by far! I would recommend visiting all four missions—Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada—as they are all unique and within a handful of miles from each other. The fifth one you saw when you went to The Alamo, but these four are operated by the Roman Catholic Church. That being said, I saw signs announcing times for Mass at the Mission Espada, which would be a great add-on activity to feel truly emersed.
- Historic Market Square – Such a festive area with food and shopping options. A great place to buy a good-priced souvenir. I ended up with a blanket for $11.50 and two sterling rings at $35 each.
- The Saga at San Fernando – This light show depicting the history of San Antonio is projected onto the cathedral at night. (TIP: Get there early to secure a seat at one of the tables in the Main Plaza.)
- Briscoe Western Art Museum – A small but gorgeous museum. If you love cowboys horses, or tales of the American West, this museum is a must see!
Austin Girls Trip
The Austin portion of our San Antonio and Austin Girls Trip focused on shopping, music, and a touch of the weird.
Where to Stay in Austin
We had a hard time deciding where to stay in the capital city, but the plan was to vary it from our San Antonio hotel. Instead of a luxury hotel, we decided to do a trendy boutique hotel called The Line Austin.
From promoted pool parties to vegan breakfast options to crafty pop-up shops, this hotel had quite the vibe. It felt fresh and fun and absolutely perfect for a girls’ trip! (NOTE: The beds are low, so if you have mobility issues consider this before booking.)
Where to Eat in Austin
Most of our Austin dining was concentrated in the South Congress district and at our hotel.
- Veracruz – We ate at The Line Austin location, but there are several other locations throughout Austin. I would say to eat here early in your trip, because you might find, like we did, that this food is so good you want it again and again. My favorites were the Barbacoa Taco and the Mango Agua Fresca.
- Hopdoddy Burger Bar – This chain restaurant was started in the South Congress District of Austin. If you do not have one in your town or if you are a craving a really good burger, check out the flagship restaurant.
- Gueros Taco Bar – Another South Congress restaurant that we enjoyed. The biggest selling point for me was the cashew queso. (Most Mexican restaurants at home do not have a dairy-free queso option, so I was thrilled to get some while in Austin.)
What to Do in Austin
Being that Austin is the “Live Music Capital of the World,” I say start there and follow it up by doing some things to “Keep Austin Weird!”
- Geuros Oak Garden – Yes, the same Gueros as the taco bar. Their oak garden is right next door. Sit under oak trees that are over two hundred years old, enjoy live music, have a drink or two, and get out on the dance floor and under the misters to dance the night away.
- Bat Cruise with Capital Cruises – This was my favorite activity in Austin! Who knew that Austin, Texas is home to the largest urban bat population? Take this sunset cruise to learn more about the history and architecture of downtown Austin, plus you will get a unique perspective of the bats from below. (TIP: Make sure you are traveling to Austin during a month when the bats are there.)
- Cathedral of Junk – Another weird Austin adventure! Located off of Lareina Drive, this unique creation is in the nicest gentleman’s backyard, yes, his backyard. There was a steady flow of visitors while we were there. You access the cathedral at the gate on the right side of the house.
- Uncommon Objects – Of course, I had to do a little antiquing during this girls’ trip. My only regret of the whole trip was not packing an extra suitcase for this shop. This antique shop is packed with treasures. Yes, I saw ironstone there!
- The Roosevelt Room – What girls’ trip is complete without enjoying a few cocktails? This cocktail bar is the best I have ever visited! I loved that the cocktails were presented by the era in which they were developed. My favorite was the Clover Club under the Prohibition Era.
- South Congress – We loved this neighborhood! From live music, food, and shopping, it has it all. There is quite the variety too. Find local-only stores, like Allen’s Boots, to more chain shopping options, like Kendra Scott (her flagship store), Madewell, and Hermes. Gueros and Hopdoddy that I mentioned earlier are located here. Oh, and most noteworthy for a girls trip, there are many photo opportunities by all of the gorgeous murals in this neighborhood.
Last Thoughts on Planning a San Antonio and Austin Girls Trip
Like I said, we did this trip in five days, and I would recommend tweaking that to seven days, with three days in each city and one split. With that extra time, I would have spent more downtime exploring the River Walk and at the Mokara Spa in San Antonio. For Austin, I would have enjoyed more live music in the different neighborhoods and checked out Austin City Limits.
I will also add that we were there during the summer with temperatures over 100 degrees. If you travel there in the heat of the summer like we did, be sure to stay hydrated and cool. Thankfully, I packed my water bottle for the trip, and it fit nicely in my purse. I also purchased a fan that I could not have gone without.
Hopefully, this list helps you plan an epic San Antonio and Austin Girls Trip. (Each suggestion was one that I deemed worthy. The stops that I did not like did not make the list.) If you end up in Texas and try any of these spots, let me know—comment below or tag me on Instragram @inheritedandco .
Be sure to check out my Lifestyle Shop Page for more travel suggestions. Happy Travels!
