89th Annual Meeting Area Information

Westin La Cantera Resort The Westin La Cantera Resort is located in Northwest San Antonio, and is about 15 miles from the airport and about 17 miles from the Alamo (downtown.) It takes approximately 20 – 25 minutes to drive from the airport to the resort and closer to 25 – 30 minutes to drive downtown. San Antonio is served by many taxis in the downtown area, as it is a tourist destination, but in the area of La Cantera, there are not a lot of taxis always available. For this reason, if one wants to travel around a bit, a rental car would be a good option. While the resort is not “isolated”, the immediate area is occupied by office buildings and the Fiesta Texas theme park. Not far away (1/2 mile), however, is The Shops at La Cantera shopping center (see below) which is a very upscale shopping “mall” with many high-end shops. Not much farther away is The Rim shopping center, which is not as upscale but does boast a Bass Pro Warehouse and several restaurants.

The resort boasts two golf courses, the “Resort Course” and the “Palmer Course.” The resort course runs around the resort, and partly plays off a cliff next to the roller coaster at Fiesta Texas. It has hosted the Texas Open several times. The Palmer Course is a little way off the resort, and is a more natural “Texas Hill Country” course with lots of rolling hills. Both are fairly nice to play.

The resort also has a Spa and a number of nature trails which wind through the hills, with great views of the hill country.

Shopping
Nearly adjacent to the resort (but down a rather steep hill) is the Shops at La Cantera shopping center. This is the most upscale shopping center in San Antonio, and is open air rather than a mall (but the same concept.) It has a wide array of shopping, and has a number of restaurants. (see below) The shops range from Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom’s to the Apple Store and Sony Style. If the weather is nice is a great place to walk around.

The Rim shopping center is across Interstate highway 10 from Fiesta Texas and perhaps a mile away from the resort. While not quite as upscale or pedestrian friendly as La Cantera, it does contain some interesting shops and restaurants. There is a gigantic Bass Pro Warehouse with lots of dioramas with stuffed animals and the like. There is also the “Palladium” which is a huge multiplex theatre with a café/adult section on the top floor where you can get something decent to eat and a drink while you watch the movie. Or, go to Lariat at the Rim and buy a pair of classic Lucchese boots (handmade in Texas!)

Dining and Other Stuff
There are a number of dining choices in the area, but there are some really great and interesting restaurants a short ride/drive away from the resort. We will list the restaurants by area below.

The Resort
Francesca’s at Sunset: a really good hotel restaurant. Promotes “Farm to Table” food and includes some game on their menu. (such as rabbit and antelope) Has large windows looking towards the sunset over the hills. One of the few hotel restaurants that we visit to eat at occasionally.

The Shops at La Cantera
Bravo Cucina Italiano: Pretty good chain Italian fare in the mall. Has an outside area for seating which is quite pleasant when the weather is nice. Long wait at night.

P.F. Chang’s: Chain chinese in the mall, also with outdoor seating. Gets very busy in the evenings, often have to wait.

Grimaldi’s Pizzaria: New York based chain pizza in the newer part of the mall, actually pretty good by most standards.

Yard House: Chain with hundreds of beers on tap, pretty good food. Also with outside seating.

Mariposa: Café for ladies lunch in Neiman Marcus. Open daily from about noon to 4 P.M. Very good for lunch.

Kona Grill: Again, chain seafood, with Hawaiian/Pacific Rim emphasis. Reasonable food.

The Rim
Maggiano’s Little Italy: Above-average chain Italian.

Islamorada Fish Company: Restaurant inside the Bass Pro Warehouse. Has a cool giant aquarium as one wall. Supposed to be pretty good (never been there) if you don’t mind hangin’ with the bubbas.

Farther Afield (But worth your while!)
Leon Springs (about 6 miles north on IH 10 from the resort – a straight shot – exit Boerne Stage Road)

Rudy’s Barbecue: The original Rudy’s Barbecue and gas station. All cooked over an open pit and you order by weight and they put it on paper with white bread. You get your drink at the store next door and sit on pick nick tables inside our out. While it is a bit formulaic and now a chain, it is hard to beat Rudy’s smoked turkey breast or sausage. Eating while smelling the smoke from the pit makes it even better!

Fralo’s Pizza: Just on the left after you exit on Boerne Stage Road. All seating outside, but they put up a tent if it’s cold. BYOB, they’re right next to the elementary school and Texas won’t give ‘em a liquor license. Excellent pizza with just about any topping you can imagine. Very informal. Great on a nice evening.

The Grill at Leon Springs:
Long time French restauranteurs who moved here from their downtown bistro about two years ago to the original Macaroni Grill building (no relation at all to the Macaroni now, however). Named one of the best new restaurants in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine in 2008. Has an outside porch with music. Great Bistro-style food, they serve only the freshest seafood, and nightly have Thierry’s Culinary Corner (the chef’s best dishes based on what’s currently fresh and available.) Nice but not gigantic wine list. Probably our current favorite restaurant. If you get a chance, eat here! (Dress is “casual elegance” but it is pretty casual – nice shorts often seen on men, its Texas!) 210-698-8797 and online at www.leonspringsgrill.com.

Loop 1604 – The resort faces the corner of I.H. 10 and Loop 1604. There are a few places not too distant that are worth the short drive.

Paesano’s 1604
East of the resort about 4 – 5 miles. Take the Northwest Military Hwy exit off of 1604. A local San Antonio institution run by the Cosniak brothers. A very nice outdoor area, and nice large indoor. Noisy Italian, but very good and fun. Get the Shrimp Paesano. www.paesanos1604.com

Wildfish Grill – On Loop 1604 near Paesano’s. High-end chain seafood. We haven’t been there but supposedly is very good. On 1604 east at Huebner road.

Helotes
Not much here but Floore’s. Now a suburb of San Antonio, but off of Bandera Road about 7 miles via 1604 West/South from the resort.

John T. Floore Country Store: A famous Texas music venue. Willie Nelson got his start here and plays here yearly (Texas Monthly lists seeing Willie at Floore’s as one of its “Bucket List” of things all Texans should do before they die! We saw him here last May and he was so stoned he could barely play!) Gary P. Nunn (started with Jerry Jeff Walker) plays here on Saturday the 20th – get tickets ahead if you want to go – it will be packed! No reserved seating. Beer and Texas food. A classic Texas dance hall. Closed on Monday. www.liveatfloores.com

Grey Forest
4 miles as the crow flies, but 10 miles by road, probably a 15 or 20 minute drive – ask as concierge for directions!

Grey Moss Inn:
A great old place out in the country. This is an old stagecoach stop and the building looks like it is falling down, but has been a restaurant since 1929. Their specialty is steaks grilled outside on an open mesquite grill which is right in the front as you walk in. (get them to “pepper” it!) Over 500 wines on the “Wine Spectator Wine List of Excellence”. Optional outside seating under the giant oak trees. A real San Antonio tradition. One of our favorites. 210-695-8301 or on the web at www.grey-moss-inn.com. A note of caution, if you drive out here OBEY THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS (30 mph) or you will be ticketed in the tiny burgh of Grey Forest where the restaurant is located.

A Drive – But these are some cool places which are easy to get to from the resort.

Boerne - A charming little German town directly up I.H. 10 from the resort. Home to a lot of small shops and a few nice restaurants. 16 miles out I.H. 10 west.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Restaurant – Go to Boerne and take a right on Highway 46 (also called River Road). A neat little place with good beer and a nice wine list. Has an outside porch looking at the “town lake”. Food is generally good, service is generally slow. But hey, come here on a beautiful afternoon and don’t worry if the service is slow. Enjoy the award-winning beer and a huge plate of nachos or german sausage with cheese.

The Creek Restaurant – On Cibolo creek in Boerne. Generally good food, varied menu of seafood and meat.