The Pearl Archives - Plan to Explore https://plantoexplore.com/tag/the-pearl/ Your Resource for Easy Travel Tips Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:52:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://plantoexplore.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-P-1-32x32.png The Pearl Archives - Plan to Explore https://plantoexplore.com/tag/the-pearl/ 32 32 Interesting Things To Do Off the Beaten Path in San Antonio, Texas [Updated 2025] https://plantoexplore.com/san-antonio-texas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=san-antonio-texas https://plantoexplore.com/san-antonio-texas/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2021 20:14:10 +0000 https://plantoexplore.com/?p=2610 I’ve been to San Antonio, actually multiple times before, since it’s so close to Austin.  I’m guessing when you think of San Antonio, Texas you think of two things  – The Riverwalk and The Alamo.  While those are great (albeit touristy) spots, we had visited both before and wanted to change things up. I love seeing alternate parts of a town and discovering hidden gems. Oh and don’t forget food, lots of good food.  Read on to find out the top interesting spots off the beaten path in central San Antonio. Where to Stay in San Antonio, Texas Airbnb is the way to go for an alternate place to stay! There are lots of great hotels on the Riverwalk, but an Airbnb lets you walk around a neighborhood and really feel the vibe “off the beaten path.”  Tobin Hill is a great choice for central San Antonio, still close to everything but not in the tourist center. You can walk to several areas from here including St Mary’s Strip, North Riverwalk Trail, and The Pearl.  There are also a lot of hotels closer to the Riverwalk itself. You can find historic locations, a “haunted hotel” (The Menger), and modern spots as well. Click here to book!  Tobin Hill Airbnb Check out more places to stay below through Booking.com. If a hotel is more your speed, they have great deals on stays in San Antonio!  San Antonio Weather & When to Visit San Antonio is one of those cities you can visit almost year-round. Winters are mild (usually), with Spring and Fall really being an ideal time for mid-range temperatures.  Summer is hot. I would not visit in July or August unless you plan to do most things indoors or in some type of water.  Pro tip: I constantly use weatherspark.com to check the weather, typical rainfall, even humidity of a city in a particular month. It helps me decide when I want to visit throughout the year!  The Historic Pearl Brewery & District The Pearl is such a fun spot. Restaurants, shops, farmer’s market on the weekend, and drinks while you wander around. I mean what more can you ask for?  Beautiful historic buildings make up this area, all from when this was a working brewery. The Pearl Brewery operated and made beer from 1883 – 2001. It’s fun to walk around and look into the old buildings to see what was retained. Great places to see some of the history are inside Hotel Emma, Southerleigh Kitchen and Brewing, and Cured.  Pearl Brewery – Where to Eat & Drink I’m not sure if you can really go wrong with food in this complex. It’s known as a culinary hot spot, and there are so many places I want to go back to try.  Bottling Dept Food Hall – A great spot for to-go food to eat on the lawn or at tables out front. Food is affordable and delicious. Options range from pizza to ramen to Caribbean food. We opted for the latter at Mi Roti and loved their Roti wrap. Another spot we tried wass Chiliquil for breakfast tacos. Full take-away bar on-site.  Southerleigh Kitchen & Brewing – Get craft beer from this restaurant and stay for the food. We have only had appetizers here, but they were good. You can also purchase beer from a stand right outside and wander around with it. Yes, please.  Down on Grayson – Technically not within the Pearl but right next door, we really loved their outdoor patio. The food and cocktails were outstanding, and the price much more affordable than some of the Pearl locations.  Supper – This upscale restaurant is a perfect spot for a celebration, birthday, or just a fancy night out. Their small menu has items that are all done well, and they offer a superb wine list.  Lick Ice Cream – I’m not sure how we never managed to go here in Austin, where Lick was founded, but we finally visited! Delicious top ingredient ice cream. I had their cream cheese kolache flavor, and the kiddo had chocolate peanut butter with brownie chunks in it. I mean come on.  Down on Grayson Pearl Brewery – Things To Do Besides eating, which is really the main thing to do here, there are a few other fun options.  Pearl Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, local vendors set up shop all along the walkways. On Saturday the market features produce, meat, hummus, coffee, and more. Sunday lends more towards local artisans for shopping. We tried empanadas that were fantastic!  Lounge on the lawn – Right outside the Bottling Depot is a big lawn for lounging and playing. Sit on the turf or grab a table on the perimeter and hang out with a cold beverage. Also great for people watching. We felt like we were back in a city center in Europe! San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden Within Brackenridge Park, North of downtown is the Japanese Tea Garden. Opened in an abandoned limestone rock quarry in 1942, this has become a beloved garden in San Antonio.  Normally lush, green, and beautiful, it was a bit brown when we visited due to icy weather the week before. A fun place to explore, winding pathways lead to bridges that take you over green lagoons.  Notes: FREE. We spent about half an hour to 45 minutes exploring. Good shoes are necessary, and if you have a kid do not even consider bringing a stroller.  St. Mary’s Strip St. Mary’s is kind of like the little sister to the Riverwalk with bars and restaurants (with much better quality food) lining the street. We had time to check out a few cool spots while we were there.  Singh’s Vietnamese – Really great Vietnamese food, we tried the pulled pork Bahn Mi and Brisket Bun. Definitely give their egg rolls a try, so delicious.  Little Death Wine Bar – Such a unique place! Wine store inside, and patio/parking lot for drinking outside, this is a great place to hang out. They specialize in natural and orange wine. If you don’t know what either of those is, please Google ASAP. 🙂  Burger Boy – That old school burger joint spot with a drive-thru to order and pick up. I didn’t eat there personally, but my son had a quality looking hot dog, crinkle cut fries and their specialty drink the Orange Freeze.  Notes: I heard great things about a few other restaurants along this strip, but didn’t have a chance to try them all! Check out NOLA Brunch & Beignets, or Tacos El Regio.  Also, I can’t speak to the bar scene because 1) I have a small child and, 2) We visited during COVID and only did outdoor activities.  Little Death Wine Bar Want to protect your data while you’re traveling? I highly recommend Surfshark VPN, and have been using it now for years.  A VPN conceals your IP address so hackers cannot access any of your data. I use it in airports, at coffee shops, and even if I want to access a website I’m not sure about!  Click here to check it out!  Historic Spanish Mission Trail I didn’t know what to expect but really loved the Historic Mission Trail. Picture stone church structures from the 1700s with history and green space to roam.  With five missions to visit, this can be a full-day itinerary or you can choose a few to focus on as we did. On this trip, we visited Mission Concepcíon and Mission San José. All are dotted along Mission Road/Parkway through Southern San Antonio.  If you prefer to get some exercise, each mission is connected through a hike and bike trail. There are even BCycle bike rental spots at various locations to make it easy to hop on one and tour.  Notes: If you don’t want to hike or bike, you will need a car to visit these locations. Comfortable shoes recommended, but most of the grounds are relatively flat. I recommend bringing snacks and water along as there are no “concessions.”  Mission Concepcion Mission San Jose What do you think about these San Antonio travel tips off the beaten path? Let me know in the comments! After my third trip to San Antonio, I’m excited to go back now more than ever. I really believe that experiencing a city from a new point of view can change your whole opinion!  Whether your visiting as a solo traveler, a couple, or as a family, there is something for everyone in San Antonio.  Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you. I really, really appreciate your support and could not continue this blog without you! 

The post Interesting Things To Do Off the Beaten Path in San Antonio, Texas [Updated 2025] appeared first on Plan to Explore.

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I’ve been to San Antonio, actually multiple times before, since it’s so close to Austin.  I’m guessing when you think of San Antonio, Texas you think of two things  – The Riverwalk and The Alamo. 

While those are great (albeit touristy) spots, we had visited both before and wanted to change things up. I love seeing alternate parts of a town and discovering hidden gems. Oh and don’t forget food, lots of good food. 

Read on to find out the top interesting spots off the beaten path in central San Antonio.

Where to Stay in San Antonio, Texas

Airbnb is the way to go for an alternate place to stay! There are lots of great hotels on the Riverwalk, but an Airbnb lets you walk around a neighborhood and really feel the vibe “off the beaten path.” 

Tobin Hill is a great choice for central San Antonio, still close to everything but not in the tourist center. You can walk to several areas from here including St Mary’s Strip, North Riverwalk Trail, and The Pearl. 

There are also a lot of hotels closer to the Riverwalk itself. You can find historic locations, a “haunted hotel” (The Menger), and modern spots as well. Click here to book! 

Where to stay San Antonio, Plan to Explore
Tobin Hill Airbnb
Check out more places to stay below through Booking.com. If a hotel is more your speed, they have great deals on stays in San Antonio! 

San Antonio Weather & When to Visit

San Antonio is one of those cities you can visit almost year-round. Winters are mild (usually), with Spring and Fall really being an ideal time for mid-range temperatures. 

Summer is hot. I would not visit in July or August unless you plan to do most things indoors or in some type of water. 

Pro tip: I constantly use weatherspark.com to check the weather, typical rainfall, even humidity of a city in a particular month. It helps me decide when I want to visit throughout the year! 

The Historic Pearl Brewery & District

The Pearl is such a fun spot. Restaurants, shops, farmer’s market on the weekend, and drinks while you wander around. I mean what more can you ask for? 

Beautiful historic buildings make up this area, all from when this was a working brewery. The Pearl Brewery operated and made beer from 1883 – 2001. It’s fun to walk around and look into the old buildings to see what was retained. Great places to see some of the history are inside Hotel Emma, Southerleigh Kitchen and Brewing, and Cured. 

San Antonio, Texas - Pearl Brewery, Plan to Explore
Pearl Brewery - Where to Eat & Drink

I’m not sure if you can really go wrong with food in this complex. It’s known as a culinary hot spot, and there are so many places I want to go back to try. 

Bottling Dept Food Hall – A great spot for to-go food to eat on the lawn or at tables out front. Food is affordable and delicious. Options range from pizza to ramen to Caribbean food. We opted for the latter at Mi Roti and loved their Roti wrap. Another spot we tried wass Chiliquil for breakfast tacos. Full take-away bar on-site. 

Southerleigh Kitchen & Brewing – Get craft beer from this restaurant and stay for the food. We have only had appetizers here, but they were good. You can also purchase beer from a stand right outside and wander around with it. Yes, please. 

Down on Grayson – Technically not within the Pearl but right next door, we really loved their outdoor patio. The food and cocktails were outstanding, and the price much more affordable than some of the Pearl locations. 

Supper – This upscale restaurant is a perfect spot for a celebration, birthday, or just a fancy night out. Their small menu has items that are all done well, and they offer a superb wine list. 

Lick Ice Cream – I’m not sure how we never managed to go here in Austin, where Lick was founded, but we finally visited! Delicious top ingredient ice cream. I had their cream cheese kolache flavor, and the kiddo had chocolate peanut butter with brownie chunks in it. I mean come on. 

Down on Grayson, San Antonio, Texas, Plan to Explore
Down on Grayson
Pearl Brewery - Things To Do

Besides eating, which is really the main thing to do here, there are a few other fun options. 

Pearl Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, local vendors set up shop all along the walkways. On Saturday the market features produce, meat, hummus, coffee, and more. Sunday lends more towards local artisans for shopping. We tried empanadas that were fantastic! 

Lounge on the lawn – Right outside the Bottling Depot is a big lawn for lounging and playing. Sit on the turf or grab a table on the perimeter and hang out with a cold beverage. Also great for people watching. We felt like we were back in a city center in Europe!

San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden

Within Brackenridge Park, North of downtown is the Japanese Tea Garden. Opened in an abandoned limestone rock quarry in 1942, this has become a beloved garden in San Antonio. 

Normally lush, green, and beautiful, it was a bit brown when we visited due to icy weather the week before. A fun place to explore, winding pathways lead to bridges that take you over green lagoons. 

Notes: FREE. We spent about half an hour to 45 minutes exploring. Good shoes are necessary, and if you have a kid do not even consider bringing a stroller. 

Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio, Texas, Plan to Explore

St. Mary's Strip

St. Mary’s is kind of like the little sister to the Riverwalk with bars and restaurants (with much better quality food) lining the street. We had time to check out a few cool spots while we were there. 

Singh’s Vietnamese – Really great Vietnamese food, we tried the pulled pork Bahn Mi and Brisket Bun. Definitely give their egg rolls a try, so delicious. 

Little Death Wine Bar – Such a unique place! Wine store inside, and patio/parking lot for drinking outside, this is a great place to hang out. They specialize in natural and orange wine. If you don’t know what either of those is, please Google ASAP. 🙂 

Burger Boy – That old school burger joint spot with a drive-thru to order and pick up. I didn’t eat there personally, but my son had a quality looking hot dog, crinkle cut fries and their specialty drink the Orange Freeze. 

Notes: I heard great things about a few other restaurants along this strip, but didn’t have a chance to try them all! Check out NOLA Brunch & Beignets, or Tacos El Regio. 

Also, I can’t speak to the bar scene because 1) I have a small child and, 2) We visited during COVID and only did outdoor activities. 

Little Death Wine Bar
Surfshark VPN

Want to protect your data while you’re traveling? I highly recommend Surfshark VPN, and have been using it now for years. 

A VPN conceals your IP address so hackers cannot access any of your data. I use it in airports, at coffee shops, and even if I want to access a website I’m not sure about! 

Click here to check it out! 

Historic Spanish Mission Trail

I didn’t know what to expect but really loved the Historic Mission Trail. Picture stone church structures from the 1700s with history and green space to roam. 

With five missions to visit, this can be a full-day itinerary or you can choose a few to focus on as we did. On this trip, we visited Mission Concepcíon and Mission San José. All are dotted along Mission Road/Parkway through Southern San Antonio. 

If you prefer to get some exercise, each mission is connected through a hike and bike trail. There are even BCycle bike rental spots at various locations to make it easy to hop on one and tour. 

Notes: If you don’t want to hike or bike, you will need a car to visit these locations. Comfortable shoes recommended, but most of the grounds are relatively flat. I recommend bringing snacks and water along as there are no “concessions.” 

Mission Concepcion, San Antonio, Texas, Plan to Explore
Mission Concepcion
Mission San Jose, San Antonio, Texas
Mission San Jose

What do you think about these San Antonio travel tips off the beaten path? Let me know in the comments!

After my third trip to San Antonio, I’m excited to go back now more than ever. I really believe that experiencing a city from a new point of view can change your whole opinion! 

Whether your visiting as a solo traveler, a couple, or as a family, there is something for everyone in San Antonio. 

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you. I really, really appreciate your support and could not continue this blog without you! 

The post Interesting Things To Do Off the Beaten Path in San Antonio, Texas [Updated 2025] appeared first on Plan to Explore.

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