The San AntonioReview

You board the 30-minute ride at a location that is less than a mile from the Crockett Hotel. On the narrated cruise, you will pass under bridges, hear about the rich history of the area, and get some insight into the atmosphere of San Antonio’s famous River Walk. Your tour guide will smoothly handle the boat while also highlighting points of interest during the ride. With the summer heat in full force, the cool boat tour is the perfect way to relax while getting acquainted with the city. Be sure to pay attention because you will pass lots of local attractions that you will want to check out during your visit. This San Antonio tradition is the perfect experience for first-time visitors as well as seasoned veterans of the city.

Traditionally, the Bishop of Ireland is portrayed in green robes, which is why on March 17, 2020, the San Antonio Riverwalk will be dyed green in the spirit of the season. All throughout the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, there will be booths and shops along the Riverwalk selling specially themed items. Additionally, the Murphy’s River Parade, a one-of-a-kind event, will take place on March 18. You and your family will be delighted by all of the festivities and entertainment, including drummers, bagpipe players, Irish dancers, singers, and lots of Irish music. So break out that “Kiss Me I’m Irish” shirt and join the fun at the San Antonio Riverwalk St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

The musical fun starts with Cody Johnson on February 6. The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar and the Circle will perform on February 7, and they will be followed by Carly Pearce and Michael Ray on February 8. Country star Dustin Lynch closes out the Saturday fun on February 8, and Aaron Watson and Jon Pardi close out the weekend with performances on February 9. The fun continues the following week with shows from Chris Young, Lauren Alaina, Colter Wall, Becky G, and ZZ Top. The weekend of February 15 features two performances from global superstar Keith Urban. Other highlights of the concert calendar, which concludes on February 22, include Bush, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, and even KC and the Sunshine Band. You will not want to miss your favorite artist in action at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

The star of the show is the 3-level indoor go-kart track that is unlike any racetrack you have ever experienced before. Those looking for a little more low-key excitement will enjoy the arcade full of vintage and modern favorites. Your group can play a game of laser tag or even take on another group, or you can enjoy the zipline for high-flying adventure. The XD Dark Ride is an immersive 3D experience where all of your senses are engaged as you try to defeat the enemy of the day. After a day full of fun and games, you can unwind at Duckpin Bowling for a leisurely end to a jam-packed day.

Additionally, performances of The Nutcracker have since become a part of holiday traditions all over the world. On December 19, 20, and 21, ARTS San Antonio will be presenting the American Midwest Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker. This expertly choreographed and exquisitely performed ballet will be housed at the Lila Cockrell Theatre, an incredible performance space that is only about half a mile from the Crockett Hotel. The world-famous ballet is filled with unforgettable characters, unbelievable sets, and a classical score by one of the greatest composers of all time. If you and your family are looking for a great holiday experience this year, then you will want to catch The Nutcracker by American Midwest Ballet.

Located about 40 minutes from the Crockett Hotel, The South Texas Maize is housed at Graff 7A Ranch. The maize, or maze, is the star of the show. Sprawling 7 acres, the maze is changed every year to offer a new challenge for you and your family. In addition to the maze, there will also be harvest-themed treats, corn poppers, and lots of games to keep the little ones entertained all day long. The South Texas Maize will be open all month long, and it is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to enjoy some fall fun and kickstart the holiday season.

There will be over 450 beers from more than 125 breweries from all over the world that will be showcased at this event. In addition to lagers, ales, stouts, porters, and pilsners, among many other types of beers, there will be special collaborations and casks designed just for the festival. While you are enjoying samples of your old favorites and trying some new offerings, there will be music, games, food trucks, and local vendors for you to visit. Whether you have been attending the San Antonio Beer Festival for 14 years or this is your first chance to participate, you are sure to have fun finding your new favorite brew.

With rich characters like the bell ringer Quasimodo, the beautiful Esmeralda, and the deeply conflicted Claude Frollo, it really should not have been a surprise at all. From September 15 until October 15, The Hunchback of Notre Dame will be performed on the stage of the Playhouse. This beautiful performance space is only about 10 minutes from the Crockett Hotel. In the adaptation from page to stage, the actors have captured the essence of the characters and utilize their talents and stage presence to add even more emotional depth to the classic tale of architecture, love, and loss. The story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame has withstood the test of time, and this adaption only adds to the incredible legacy of Victor Hugo’s work.

On August 19, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band will be playing a show at the beautiful Majestic Theatre, just half a mile from The Crockett Hotel, so you could easily walk to the show and enjoy the cooler evening air. Lovett is a storyteller at heart, and he uses his music as a way to share the stories from his life. He combines a wide range of genres and influences like country, jazz, swing, folk, blues, and gospel to create one of the most unique sounds in all of popular music. When he performs with his Large Band, all of his natural talents shine through in unforgettable performances. You will not want to miss this Grammy Award winner in action on the Majestic stage.

To start, there is the traditional Discovery Tour where a knowledgeable guide will lead you through the caves and explain some of the formations and sights along the way. There is the Hidden Passages Tour that allows visitors to experience some of the rarer formations in the cave as well as complete darkness after the sun goes down. This incredible natural wonder is only about 35 minutes from the Crockett Hotel, and all of the family fun is definitely worth the drive. In addition to the tours of the caves themselves, there is a canopy challenge, an incredible 5000 square foot outdoor maze, and the Mining Company where you can do some mining for yourself and maybe even find some treasures. There is truly something for every member of the family at Natural Bridge Caverns.

Brooks Koepka just successfully defended his 2018 PGA Championship by winning again this year. Plus, the US Open is only a few weeks away. All of this means that golf is in full swing, and everyone, from the scratch golfer to the once a year player, is itching to play like the pros. One of the most unique and interesting golf experience available in San Antonio is TopGolf. TopGolf is only about 25 minutes from The Crockett Hotel. In this driving range style golf game, you hit specially chipped golf balls into various holes spread located at different distances. The holes themselves are surrounded by nets in the form of a dart board, and those special, chipped balls allow you to keep score with a computer screen located right in your tee box. There are a variety of games for you and your group to choose from, and the clubhouse has delicious food and drinks available all day long.

From May 3-June 8, The Magik Theatre will be bringing the Wonka World to life on stage. The beautiful performance space is less than half a mile from The Crockett Hotel, and you will be delighted to see their take on the Roald Dahl classic. The cast will perform your favorites songs from the film like “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “Pure Imagination,” “Good Fortune,”  “I Want It Now,” and “The Candy Man,” and you are sure to find yourself humming along as they do. If you are looking for a chance to introduce your kids to the theater and to a Hollywood classic, then The Magik Theatre performance of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is the perfect event for you.

In the 100 plus years since that inaugural event, Fiesta San Antonio has grown into a 10-day event celebrating all of the things that make the city great while still remembering those heroes from the Alamo. One of the events scheduled for this year is Fiesta Fiesta Hemisfair which features live music, kid-friendly activities, local arts and crafts for sale, and lots of delicious food from some of the best chefs in San Antonio. Other events planned include Taste of the Republic on April 18, Crown the King on April 19, the Texas Cavaliers River Parade on April 22, Battle of the Flowers Parade on April 26, King William Fair on April 27, and Fiesta Flambeau Parade also on April 27. No matter which event you are able to attend, you and your family are sure to have an incredible time.

Soon enough, flowers will be blooming, animals will awaken from their winter slumber, and the air will once again be filled with the delightful music of songbirds. On March 18th, at 9 AM, you can celebrate the arrival of Spring at the San Antonio Botanical Garden at their monthly bird walk. This beautiful garden facility is only about 10  minutes from the Crockett Hotel. The bird walk is a guided tour through the gardens. Your knowledgeable guide will help you identify local birds, of course, but also other native animals and plants. As you enjoy the serenity and freedom of nature, your guide will provide interesting information about all of the wildlife that you will encounter. The friendliness of the guides combined with the beautiful scenery makes the bird walk at the San Antonio Botanical Garden the perfect stop for a relaxing experience.

Authorship questions aside, Shakespeare is regarded as one of the finest writers of the English language of all time. One of his most popular, entertaining, and critically acclaimed plays is the Tragicomedy, The Tempest. The Tempest, one of The Bard’s final plays, tells the story of the sorcerer Prospero and his magical efforts to ensure that his daughter Miranda rightfully inherits the throne in Milan. This incredible adaptation will be performed by the Classic Theatre of San Antonio at the venue with the same name which is only about 10 minutes from the Crockett Hotel. If you are a Shakespeare fan, a lover of all things literature, or a fan of stage plays in general, then you will not want to miss this superb performance of The Tempest that will run from February 17 until March 12.

If you are looking to be healthier in 2019, then you should try Gardens and Yoga at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Located just 10 minutes from the Crockett Hotel, the Botanical Garden is the perfect place for yoga enthusiasts of all experience levels to practice their favorite poses. AC Power Yoga puts on the Gardens and Yoga event on the third Saturday of every month from 10-11 AM. The combination of the peaceful garden scenery and patient, knowledgeable instructors makes Gardens and Yoga a great place to work on your fitness. For this rain or shine, one of a kind class, all you need to bring is your yoga mat, sunscreen, and a willingness to learn and have fun. AC Power Yoga has designed the class to be a worthwhile experience for people of all ages and abilities.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the Christmas season is all of the beautiful light displays all around town. The San Antonio Zoo, located only about 10 minutes from The Crockett Hotel, has one of the most unique Christmas lights displays in the entire city. All month long, the zoo will be decorated with thousands of incredible twinkling lights. If you want to see any animal friends during your visit, be sure to get there before dusk. Otherwise, once the sun goes down, all of the holiday fun starts. You and your family can stroll through light displays and spectacular light shows. There will also be special games and activities like camel rides, a snow globe you can climb inside, the holiday express train ride, and a reindeer ring toss. Plus, there will be plenty of holiday treats like Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, and even s’mores for you to enjoy.