San Antonio Travel and Leisure Guide 2008 - (Page 54) City Nature & Hill Country NIGHT SCENES Just a short drive north of downtown, the Scobee Planetarium at San Antonio College offers star-studded celestial entertainment. Friday night shows may feature guided tours of the constellations and planets in the current night sky. After the last show, the audience is invited outside to look through the new Observatory Telescope, weather permitting. Shows begin promptly (and tickets are cash only), so plan to arrive 20 minutes early when the doors open. When you’re ready to enjoy dinner and nightlife, go downtown or to Southtown – the neighborhood immediately south of downtown – for an array of restaurants where you can sit outside and continue to take in the sites. At Acenar on Houston Street, enjoy Tex-Mex with a fusion twist on a terrace overlooking the River Walk, or sip a drink on the stone terrace of the nearby ultra-swank Vbar, also offering gorgeous views. For a one-of-a-kind view of the River Walk, dine on the multi-tiered patio at the Little Rhein Steakhouse overlooking the river as it curves toward the Arneson River Theatre. The private, tropical courtyard of Zinc provides a quiet sanctuary from city clatter. Southtown’s artsy bohemian energy bubbles up on the First Friday Art Walk, when food and crafts booths line Alamo Street, shops and galleries stay open late and live music fills the air. For outdoor dining, try La Frite Belgian Bistro, El Mirador, the coffeehouse Casa Chiapas, Madhatters Tea and Azuca Nuevo Latino Restaurant, where you can salsa or meringue after dinner on weekends. IF YOU GO (as referenced in text) Acenar, 210-222-2362, acenar.com Arneson River Theatre, 210-207-8610, lavillita.com/arneson Azuca Nuevo Latino, 210-225-5550, azuca.net Casa Chiapas, 210-224-2606, casachiapassa.net El Mirador, 210-225-9444, elmiradorrestaurant.com La Frite Belgian Bistro, 210-224-7555, bistrovatel.com/lafrite.html Little Rhein Steakhouse, 210-225-2111, littlerheinsteakhouse.com Madhatters Tea, 210-212-4832, madhatterstea.com Scobee Planetarium, 210-733-2910, accd.edu/sac/ce/scobee Southtown, southtown.net Vbar, Hotel Valencia, 210-227-9700, hotelvalencia.com Zinc, 210-224-2900, zincwine.com For complete listings, visitsanantonio.com HILL COUNTRY OUTDOORS The idyllic Texas Hill Country, with its clear rivers and abundant wildflowers, starts just north of San Antonio and offers recreation year-round, from hiking and biking to rock climbing and cave tours. Visitors interested in Hill Country biking tours can join Saturday or Sunday rides with the San Antonio Wheelmen. One of the prettiest places nearby is the 8,622-acre Government Canyon State Natural Area, where 40 miles of hiking and biking trails lead to rugged canyons, scenic From left: First Friday Art Walk in Southtown and Texas Hill Country bluebonnets. 54 VISITSANANTONIO COM O. http://acenar.com http://lavillita.com/arneson http://azuca.net http://casachiapassa.net http://elmiradorrestaurant.com http://bistrovatel.com/lafrite.html http://littlerheinsteakhouse.com http://madhatterstea.com http://southtown.net http://hotelvalencia.com http://zincwine.com http://visitsanantonio.com http://visitsanantonio.com
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