Texas
On the Road: Exploring Texas Heritage from Austin to San Antonio
Program No. 25127RJ
Discover Texas heritage — explore the historic districts of Austin, learn about agriculture in the Hill Country and experience traditional dance, music and food in San Antonio.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
16 meals (
7B, 5L, 4D
)
2 expert-led lectures
17 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
D
Stay:
Hampton Inn & Suites Austin-Downtown
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Minimal walking. Please note, participants must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 4:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Meals will be provided at the program hotels and local restaurants. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Take the rest of the evening to continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead.
Day
2
Mexic-Arte Museum, Texas State Capitol, Downtown Austin
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn & Suites Austin-Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, walking up to 3 miles, standing up to 1.5 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
The land we know as Texas has been inhabited by many peoples dating as far back as 14,000 BCE. As explorers and immigrants have settled throughout the region they have brought diverse traditions and a unique collection of histories which we will explore this week. This morning a noted professor will provide a brief introduction to the region’s history and we will see how Texas came to be one of the most diverse states in the nation. We will walk several blocks to the Mexic-Arte museum where we will have a guided visit through the galleries. Here we will see selections that celebrate Mexican culture and learn about the various techniques and traditions that make Mexican art so recognizable. Next we’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert along Sixth Street, where turn-of-the-century Victorian buildings provide a vibrant backdrop for Austin’s famous live music district. We’ll see the Moody Theater, home to Austin City Limits, and step into the lobby of the famous Driskill hotel.
Lunch:
We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll continue our walking tour as we make our way toward the Capitol. We’ll learn about the Capitol grounds and admire the various architectural styles along Congress Ave, with the oldest building dating back to 1856. We'll then enjoy a guided tour of the Texas State Capitol, the largest state capitol building in the United States. A docent will point out some of the buildings principal features as well as enlighten us with stories of the famous figures who have walked it’s halls. Next we will board a motorcoach for a brief driving tour of South Austin before making our way to dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
East Austin, George Washington Carver, Texas Music
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hampton Inn & Suites Austin-Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, riding on coach up to 1.5 hours total, walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll hop on the coach this morning for a driving exploration of Austin’s East Side. We’ll learn how this predominantly African-American neighborhood played a key role in the birth of Austin’s music scene and the steps locals are taking to help preserve their neighborhood history. We’ll drive past the Texas State Cemetery, final resting place of the “Father of Texas”, Stephen F. Austin, before heading to the French Legation Museum for a docent-led tour. This former French diplomatic outpost has witnessed the growth of Austin and served as a symbol of diplomacy and cultural exchange for almost two centuries. We’ll have time to explore the house and grounds including a detached Creole-style kitchen before heading to lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will resume our driving tour with stops at the George Washington Carver Museum and the Texas Music Museum to learn more about the contributions of East Side residents to blues and jazz.
Dinner:
On your own. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for checkout in the morning.
Day
4
Agritourism, Winery Visit, Hill Country
Location:
Fredericksburg/Johnson City
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Fredericksburg Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, riding on coach up to 3 hours total, walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At hotel.
Morning:
Today we will delve into Texas’ agricultural history and visit two establishments that are utilizing old-world techniques to grow healthy and sustainable foods and wines. After checking out of the hotel, our first field trip is to Boggy Creek Urban Farm, an historic East side fixture that grows a variety of vegetables using sustainable, no-till, regenerative practices. We’ll take a step back in time as we tour the farmhouse which is the second oldest home in Austin (and once hosted Sam Houston himself for dinner!) and observe how the owners are making farm-to-table accessible for the whole neighborhood. Our journey continues as we drive into the hill country, famous for it’s orchards and vineyards. We’ll explore the wine-making process from start to finish through a tasting tour at a local vineyard before enjoying a picnic lunch at the property.
Lunch:
Lunch and wine tasting at the vineyard.
Afternoon:
We will continue through the hill country making our way to Fredericksburg, a unique German settlement that’s become a spirited tourist destination. We will drive down Main Street so your Group Leader can point out some of the town’s highlights before heading to our hotel for check-in.
Dinner:
On your own in Fredericksburg. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for checkout in the morning.
Day
5
Fredericksburg Trolley, San Antonio, San Fernando Cathedral
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach/trolley, riding on coach up to 1.5 hours total, walking up to 3 miles, standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and embark on a trolley tour of historic Fredericksburg. Dating to 1846, Fredericksburg is freckled with examples of German architecture that can still be seen in it’s over 700 historical homes. A local guide will take us past some of these homes and regale us with tales of what life may have been like for early settlers.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will get on the coach and head south to San Antonio, a city known for its cultural celebrations and festivals. As the seventh largest city in the US, it has over 300 years of history and is a melting pot of heritages that can be found in the form of art, music, food, and architecture. It is one of two cities in the United States recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. We will orient ourselves with a walking tour of downtown San Antonio and see several historical sites starting with the San Fernando Cathedral. The cathedral is the oldest religious community in Texas and is still an active parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Santa Anna raised the red flag of “no quarter” from the church tower during the siege of the Alamo. We’ll also see the Menger hotel where Theodore Roosevelt once recruited his Rough Riders and the infamous Alamo which played an integral role in the founding of the Republic of Texas. We will end at our hotel and check-in before regrouping for dinner. . Each evening, the hotel in San Antonio hosts a complimentary “kickback” reception with a rotating variety of food and drink daily from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on the second floor. Everyone is invited.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We’ll set out on foot with our Group Leader to San Fernando Cathedral for an outdoor light show by French artist Xavier De Richemont. This 24-minute show tells the story of San Antonio from its beginnings to present day.
Day
6
San Antonio Missions, Chicano Culture, Museo del Westside
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, riding on coach up to 1 hour total, walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board the motorcoach and spend the morning exploring the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. Beginning at Mission San Jose a member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation will be our guide as we learn about the history of the missions and what became of the indigenous groups who were colonized in these mission communities. Here we will experience traditional song and dance and enjoy a lunch of pre-colonial native foods.
Lunch:
At the mission.
Afternoon:
Next we will drive to San Antonio’s Westside where Hispanic roots run strong. We’ll drive past a collection of vibrant murals that celebrate Chicano culture before visiting the newly-opened Museo del Westside, a community museum dedicated to preserving the stories of its residents. The museum specifically highlights the women who have made waves as leaders of social justice and who continue to fight for the conservation of their familial traditions and heritages. We will return to the hotel for a lecture from a member of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. This organization aims to both strengthen connections between descendants of Indigenous peoples and revive native agricultural practices including raising a regenerative herd of Bison in Southeast Texas.
Dinner:
On your own in San Antonio. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Free Morning, Mexican Market, Farewell Dinner
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 1 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning has been set aside for you to enjoy any of San Antonio’s museums or attractions.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will meet at the hotel and walk to Market Square, the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
8
Program Concludes
Location:
San Antonio, TX
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel Checkout by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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