windows down

This winding Hill Country road outside San Antonio was voted one of the best scenic routes in the country

There's nothing like the feeling of being on the wide open road.

www.cycletrader.com

If a long, out of state vacation isn't in the cards for you in the midst of your summer travel planning, perhaps a short road trip could be a great compromise. There's nothing like the feeling of being on the wide open road and enjoying the grand beauty of the Texas Hill Country with the windows down, especially if you make it out early enough to watch the sun rise on the drive.

Cycle Trader, a classifieds sites for motorcycles, named The Twisted Sisters outside San Antonio as one of the best routes in their recent "Top Destinations for Your Next Motorcycle Road Trip" report. The Twisted Sisters spans about 130 miles along Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 with dozens of bends, drops, and inclines to keep drivers on their toes the entire time.

While on the drive, Cycle Trader suggests making a few stops to fully immerse in the Hill Country culture.

"Along the way get some barbecue, pay a visit to the Lost Maples State Natural Area, and get up to date on your motorcycle history at the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum," the report says.

If you want to turn the drive into a day trip, consider adding the Devil's Sinkhole Natural State Area to your list of stops, and if you decide to stay overnight, the Historic Leakey Inn isn't too far away.

The route isn't exclusive to just motorcycles, four-wheeled vehicles are also welcome, but you'll likely need to be more alert about your surroundings. Most importantly, make sure the gas tank is full before embarking on the drive.

Motorcycle rental and tour company EagleRider provided some advice for drivers considering a Twisted Sisters trip.

"Be forewarned that some of the blind curves are unexpectedly sharp, making you feel like you’ve been snapped by a slingshot," EagleRider said. "Have fun, yet ride with caution as this is purely ranch country. There are cattle guards in between ranches, not to mention free-range cattle and deer. Plus there might be ranchers moving slowly in their pickups."

The Twisted Sisters was the only Texas route included in Cycle Trader's report. Several other well-known routes were chosen across every region in the United States.

Other prominent road trip routes include:

The Pacific Coast Highway
The Tail of the Dragon
Montana Highway 200
Blue Ridge Parkway
U.S. Route 1
Route 66

The full list of best destinations for motorcycle road trips can be found on cycletrader.com.

Road Trip san antonio hill country driving

Airline News

San Antonio gets nonstop flights to this Washington, DC airport

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

undefined

American Airlines will soon introduce long-awaited nonstop flights between San Antonio (SAT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). One flight will be scheduled daily, starting in March.

Tickets for the new service will be available on sale starting December 23 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The route was tentatively announced in October, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has now formally approved the application by American Airlines.

“This new service will offer convenient nonstop access to our nation’s capital for San Antonians, while helping further connect customers to our comprehensive global network," said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a press release. "American thanks the many elected officials and citizens who supported our application, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard this new service soon.”

Flight 1718, reflecting the year San Antonio was founded, will depart SAT at 6:35 am and arrive in DCA at 10:41 am. Flight 1947, reflecting the year the U.S. Air Force was established, will depart DCA at 7:45 pm and arrive in SAT at 10:43 pm.

“This long-awaited connection to our nation’s capital is a game changer for our community, opening doors to countless opportunities for travel and economic development,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m grateful to those who have championed this effort and for the bipartisan support of our representatives in the Senate and House, whose advocacy was instrumental in making these flights a reality. We look forward to the positive impact this nonstop service will have for years to come."

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh echoed the sentiments about economic development and pointed out some growth already happening in San Antonio. The release also notes that San Antonio is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA.

“Serving the fastest-growing city in the country, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers throughout 2024. This nonstop service to and from DCA addresses a need for our military, business, educational and research communities, among others. It also promotes competition and offers more travel options for passengers flying to and from San Antonio, enhancing connectivity as we continue making progress on the airport Terminal Development Program.”

flights airport