11 reasons to escape the San Antonio bustle with a day trip to Dripping Springs

JUST WEST OF WEIRD

Treaty Oak Distilling Facebook

As a Dripping Springs native, I like to think I know it pretty well. The town has come a long way from being known as the place “just west of weird," exploding in recent years into a suburb of Austin (though many would frown upon that designation). If you’re driving on Highway 290, viewing the Dripping Springs water tower with its “Gateway to the Hill Country” motto in bold letters serves as a personal welcome for residents and newcomers alike.

Despite the rapid recent growth in the Austin area, Dripping Springs still has many of the small-town features that its local residents — and transplants — all love. Many of the culinary staples I enjoyed as a teenager are still thriving, years after the COVID-19 pandemic threatened local businesses statewide. The annual April Founders Day Festival has been a must-see for families for decades.

Those in search of a new day trip spot should consider these 11 places to visit in Dripping Springs.

Where to Eat

Homespun Kitchen & Bar
Homespun is a farm-to-table American restaurant with European influences that serves brunch, lunch, and dinner with live music and kid-friendly spaces. Chef Michael St. Germain is behind all menu choices, applying his experience from San Francisco restaurants and bringing critical acclaim for his burgers, according to the restaurant's website. With weekday specials, fresh-made desserts and over 300 whiskeys to choose from, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy. Reserve at homespunkitchenandbar.com.

Oak Creek Cafe
Who can say no to some good Southern comfort food? Oak Creek Cafe has been operating at the corner of Sportplex Drive and Highway 290 for several years. Must-try menu items include the chicken fried steaks, biscuits and gravy, and mushroom Swiss burger. The cafe regularly posts photos of its large plates of comfort food on Facebook, and Google reviewers love it as a breakfast spot above all.

Rolling in Thyme & Dough
A personal favorite: Rolling in Thyme & Dough’s original Highway 290 location is in the center of Dripping Springs, offering delicious pastries, breakfast, and lunch options. Fan favorites include the smoky chipotle breakfast sandwich, the TX two-step sandwich for lunch, and any of the freshly-baked pastries. They also have weekly BYOB bistro nights on Wednesdays in the spring, utilizing fresh ingredients from the Dripping Springs Farmers Market.

Mazama Coffee Co
Since its founding in 2012, Dripping Springs’ first independent coffee shop has been caffeinating the town for over a decade. They micro-roast their own beans from Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Brazil. They also have a bakery to provide customers with well-loved baked goods and lunch. Mazama’s was named the Best Coffee Shop of Dripping Springs from 2018-2021, according to their site.

The Great British Baking Company
This cozy food spot is a newer addition to Mercer Street. The Great British Baking Company adds to the growing food culture in town with their homemade sticky toffee pudding, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, and rotating soups. All of their menu items are made right behind the checkout counter in their open kitchen. Don’t forget to browse their selection of imported British goods, and make sure to take home a parfait or chocolate mousse in a jar.

What to Do

Dripping Springs Chocolate Company
The Wilson family created their chocolate business as a way to support local economies in Nicaragua after a family mission trip. In their mission statement, they aim to create the best chocolate while “improv[ing] the lives of the farmers and communities that grow the cacao.” They’ve since expanded their initial chocolate offerings to spice rubs, dessert and hot cocoa mixes, and chocolate-covered snacks.

The Sated Sheep
As a self-described “psychologist-turned-fiber-junkie,” this yarn shop owner has created her own community surrounding fiber crafts and a love of knitting. Allison’s shop has been a must-see for any visitors looking to pick up a new hobby, or wanting to grab a glass of wine and watch other knitters or crocheters create works of art. The shop offers affordable classes for any skill level, private lessons, and workshops for special events.

Vintage Soul
If you’ve never met Julie Crawford, you’re missing out on one of the most bubbly and welcoming personalities in Dripping Springs. Whether you’re in her Mercer Street shop or watching her weekly “Try-on Tuesday” Instagram stories, Julie makes everyone feel confident in her clothes and accessories. And let’s be honest, everyone loves information about true garment sizing before you try it on or buy online.

Starrs on Mercer
Two sisters with zero retail experience collaborated in 2015 to build a bustling “modern day department store” on Mercer Street. Born out of a love for shopping and convenience, Starrs on Mercer is a one-stop shop for women’s, men’s, and baby clothing, plus accessories, and gifts. The Starr sisters have since opened a travel agency, Starrs On The Go, to expand their endeavors.

Treaty Oak Distilling
You can’t write about Dripping Springs without including some popular distilleries. When it was founded in 2006, Treaty Oak says it was only the fourth distillery operating in the state. The distillery sits on a 28-acre property on Fitzhugh Road with plenty of space for children to explore while you sit back and enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail. Tours of the distillery are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and classes are available on select Saturdays every month.

Desert Door Distillery
What was once a barren plot of land on Darden Hill Road has now developed into the only sotol distillery in the United States. Desert Door hosts a range of live music weekly, offers tours on weekends, and also has a rental space for private events. With a variety of cocktails and tacos made by James Beard award winner Jesse Griffiths and Spoke Hollow Steward, it’s definitely a go-to for any day trip itinerary.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

H-E-B celebrates superfans in new lighthearted commercial series

H-E-B gets it

Ben Affleck having more fun at Dunkin' than at the Grammys. Maya Rudolph hawking candy-coated clams. Tubi creating the most disarming horror villain since M3gan. For better or worse, Super Bowl ads get people talking. No wonder a hometown grocer would want to get in on the game.

In H-E-B's latest bid to prove that "no store does more," the San Antonio-based grocery giant debuted two Big Game ads riffing on its fandom's unyielding passion. In the series titled "If You Know, You Know," friends of H-E-Buddy go to great lengths to enjoy the company's signature products.

A couple wearing hats large enough for Pharrell to appreciate sneaks That Green Sauce into a stadium. A driver buckles up her precious little one — a tub of Creamy Creations ice cream. And a traveler presents a suitcase filled with flour tortillas to airport security (TSA also featured this one on its social media channels this week).

To add some pathos to the vignettes, Dallas-based Plot Twist Creativity scored the commercial to the immortal LeAnn Rimes hit "How Do I Live." (Or at least, we think it was Rimes' version. Trisha Yearwood also released the song in 1997 for Con Air. It was a whole thing.)

Though exaggerated for comic effect, the sentiment isn't that far from reality. Since launching the H-E-B family of brands in 1992, the company now has thousands of privately labeled products. At least in Texas, they helped transform store brands from dreary black-and-white generics to covetable items of their own.

Of course, few regional grocery chains have as much fun with branding as H-E-B. The fandom now gobbles up items like tortilla-scented candles and onesies for H-E-Babies. The customer zeal regularly helps the corporation land on national lists like dunhumby's recent survey of best U.S. grocers.

"At H-E-B, we appreciate that our customers have come to know and love our H-E-B brand products," sums up Ashwin Nathan, H-E-B Group Vice President of Marketing. "The love and fanaticism that H-E-B customers have for our brand and our products is like no other, and we think many of our loyal H-E-B fans will see themselves in these commercials."

Missed the championship game/ Rihanna pregnancy announcement? H-E-B says the commercials will air in select Texas markets through February.

Photo courtesy of Lawn Love

San Antonio hops into top ten spot for family-friendly vacations

FUN FOR THE FAM

San Antonians looking to create lasting memories with their families don’t need to look further than their own state. In a new report from lawn care company Lawn Love, San Antonio scored No. 10 in the Best Cities for Kid-Friendly Vacations, behind Houston (No. 8), and ahead of Dallas (No. 11), Austin (No. 29), and Fort Worth (No. 44).

200 of America’s largest cities were ranked using 23 metrics, including affordability, family-friendly accommodations, attractions, transportation options, and more. Houston ranked highest of all Texas cities: Classified as the third safest city for kid-friendly vacations, Houston earned the No. 6 spot in the category of “getting around" and No. 5 for most amusement and theme parks (a three-way tie with San Diego, California and Denver, Colorado).

San Antonio was hot on Houston's heels, just making the top 10 with its highest ranking in "having fun" (No. 5), the highest of any Texas city. It also had a high ranking in safety (No. 8), and all its scores were above average, including the lowest ranking in "eating" (No. 97). The Central and Southern Texas city competed with the Northern Texas city of Dallas, which did best in "staying" or the number of family-friendly accommodations (No. 11), price notwithstanding. It also did well in "having fun" and safety (both No. 14).

Austin did better than average on most metrics except affordability (No. 115 of 200), scoring best for "getting around" (No. 30) and "having fun" (No. 36). Fort Worth lagged behind its four Texas counterparts, but still made the 78th percentile and beat cities like Killeen (the worst in Texas at No. 192). It did very well in "staying" (No. 16) and better than average in all other metrics than eating (No. 116), which sees to have dragged the overall ranking down significantly.

When planning your next vacation, Christina Sharp, faculty member at MiraCosta College in California, says there are no rules that say all family members have to agree on what to do.

"Let folks carve out time for themselves and the activities they want to do and ensure that there are activities for everyone to do together," she suggests. "My 92-year-old father-in-law didn’t want to go to the beach – and that was fine. We went while he read. But we all did take walks, eat meals, and watch TV together – and it was wonderful."

Sharp also recommends families plan ahead when deciding their mode of travel, and to limit use of technology once at their destination in order to connect and bond with each other.

The full top 10 list of best US cities for kid-friendly vacations includes:

No. 1, New York City, New York
No. 2, Orlando, Florida
No. 3, Miami, Florida
No. 4, Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5, Chicago, Illinois
No. 6, Tampa, Florida
No. 7, San Francisco, California
No. 8, Houston, Texas
No. 9, Los Angeles, California
No. 10, San Antonio, Texas

More information about Lawn Love’s report can be found at lawnlove.com.

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Frontier Airlines clears unlimited travel pass for takeoff from San Antonio this summer

Wherever, whenever

Cheap flights are at San Antonio's fingertips as Frontier Airlines offers its all-you-can-fly summer and annual passes. The “Go Wild” passes really do offer unlimited flights to unbounded destinations — both international and domestic — starting May 2.

Both passes are currently deeply discounted. The summer pass, which runs from May 2 to September 30, is available for $399 (compared with $999), and the year-round pass starting on the same day is going for $1,299 (formerly $1,999).

This deal is best for people who travel light and plan fast. Booking options allow domestic flights to be purchased one day in advance, while international gives a little more leeway, with 10 days, and neither include luggage allowances. Still, bags can be purchased as usual, and since the passes cost about as much as an average or slightly higher flight in their respective farthest reaches, it would only take a few uses to practically pay for itself.

Another consideration is blackout dates; not an insignificant number. There is at least one every month, with other, more restrictive months like March, 2024, blacked out on about a third of dates. The pass also auto-renews, so buyers will need to pay attention or be prepared to extend their travel marathon.

Flights travel direct from Austin to Denver or Las Vegas and back; Everything else will take a connection. Austinites can also consider driving to Dallas, which provides 18 more direct route options to locales including New York City, San Diego, Ontario, and Cancun.

This straightforward deal prioritizes flexible travelers, but offers extensive usefulness to someone willing to work around common travel dates and spend a few extra dollars to pack comfortably. More information about the “Go Wild” passes is available at flyfrontier.com.

Photo by David Morris on Unsplash

Where to see the once-in-recorded-history green comet approaching San Antonio

Seeing green

The world is buzzing with news of an approaching astronomical body, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), more often referred to in the news and social media as "the green comet." Its most recent appearance was 50,000 years ago — compared to the about 200,000 years since modern humans emerged.

"While the pictures of it have been impressive, its visual appearance differs greatly," explains Joe Wheelock, public program specialist at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin. "Currently you might glimpse it with the unaided eye as a fuzzy patch of light[,] but you would need to be away from city lights. Binoculars or a telescope would improve the view, and you might even glimpse a faint tail."

As tempting as it is — and as much fodder as its made on social media — this experience will not be easy for most Texans to photograph and share. "The pictures that have been posted on various websites were taken by experienced astrophotographers and in most cases cameras designed for astrophotography," Wheelock warns.

Some logistics to note when planning a viewing:

The comet will be closest to Earth (thus, likely the most visible) on February 1.
Wheelan says placement will also be good in late January and early February, and it will be best viewed after midnight. Since the new moon was on January 21, every day the moon will compete with it a little more.
The McDonald Observatory posts daily stargazing tips, so viewers will have a few chances at seeing something special, even if the comment doesn't work out.
Getting out of San Antonio is the best bet against light pollution.

Those who are willing to make a trip out of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity should consider their best chances at out running the city lights. The closest popular option to San Antonio proper is McAllister Park, which sometimes hosts stargazing events. For a more structured approach, the Curtis Vaughan Jr. Observatory at the University of Texas at San Antonio hosts first Friday stargazing nights after sunset. The McDonald Observatory, although it is an entity of the University of Texas at Austin, is in Fort Davis, about 400 miles from San Antonio.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) maintains records of some of the world's least light-polluted skies and works to protect them, ensuring that these places stay available for reliable stargazing retreats. There are four IDA-certified Dark Sky Parks in Texas: Enchanted Rock (90 miles from San Antonio), South Llano River (120 miles), Copper Breaks (370 miles), and Big Bend Ranch (490 miles).

In addition to the certified parks, there is a smaller group of Dark Sky Sanctuaries, which are especially dark and carefully protected. There are two in Texas: Devil's River State Natural Area (170 miles) and Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (390 miles).

For more in-depth reading on the comet's trajectory and context, Wheelan suggests an article in Sky & TelescopeSky & Telescope.

Hotel Emma/Facebook

San Antonio's top 10 travel stories of 2022 highlight haute hotels and flights of fancy

2022 In Stories

Editor's note: As 2022 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined San Antonio this year, and that includes travel — in and out of the Alamo City. Some of San Antonio's best hotels got the recognition they deserved, while locals landed exciting new travel options by plan and bus. Here are the top 10 travel headlines of 2022.

1. Stunning San Antonio hotel checks in as Texas’ best in prestigious U.S. News ranking. Hotel Emma, arguably the crown jewel of San Antonio’s Pearl district, sat high on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best hotels in the country, ranking as the No. 7 top hotel in the U.S. and the No. 1 Texas property. The 146-room riverfront property, which opened in 2015, repeatedly appeared at or near the top of rankings for the state’s best hotels.

2. Swanky San Antonio spot checks in as one of the hottest new hotels for 2022. San Antonio’s Thompson Hotel - Riverwalk booked the No. 12 spot on TripAdvisor's list of the Hottest New Hotels in the U.S. for 2022. The top 25 list comes from the site's 2022 Travelers' Choice Awards, in which travelers reviewed new hotels they experienced in 2021. Travelers gushed over the Thompson's design, as well as its in-house dining and bar.

The Thompson Suite. Image courtesy of Thompson San Antonio

3. San Antonio airport launches plan to add more international nonstop flights. A multimillion-dollar fund launched in July hopes to expand international service from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) by courting direct flights to cities in Canada, Europe, and beyond. The Air Service Development Fund, launched by greater:SATX (and all funded by the private sector) will begin with a $3 million investment, with a goal to establish “marketing and in-kind partnerships” to attract additional flights to the Alamo City.

4. Affordable luxury bus service rolls into San Antonio with $15 fares. Starting in April, San Antonio became the eighth Texas city served by RedCoach. The San Antonio stop is at 165 Bowie St., near the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter. San Antonio riders may travel to five Texas locations: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Richardson, and Waco. Fares are priced as low as $15 each way.

5. Spirit Airlines flies into San Antonio with 2 new destinations in 2023. After its highly anticipated debut at San Antonio International Airport (SAT), Spirit Airlines celebrated its official launch of service on November 17 with a special announcement. Adding two new destinations to its departures list, the budget airline will fly from San Antonio to four total cities daily, starting in 2023.

6. Step inside the Upside Down at Texas mall's new Stranger Things experience. An immersive experience based on the Netflix hit Stranger Things premiered in may at Grapevine Mills mall in North Texas. It includes some of the show's most recognizable locations, "gnarly merch, and rad activities."

The first-ever Stranger Things Store opened at Grapevine Mills on May 25. Facebook/Stranger Things Official Store

7. Low-cost airline relaunches nonstop flights from San Antonio to 2 major U.S. cities. Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines lifted off with nonstop service from San Antonio to two major cities: Atlanta and Philadelphia. Frontier previously offered nonstop service from San Antonio to the two cities but subsequently dropped both routes.

8. These are the 9 best hotels in San Antonio, says Condé Nast Traveler. Condé Nast Traveler published a list of what it claims are the nine best hotels in San Antonio. In no particular order, they are: Hotel Havana, Thompson San Antonio, Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, The St. Anthony, Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk, La Cantera Resort & Spa, Hotel Emma, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, and Menger Hotel.

9. 2 happy campers unplug to recharge at a tiny cabin Getaway in East Texas’ Piney Woods. Getaway Outposts are “resorts” of trendy tiny homes that let city folk escape into nature in a slightly upscale way — to turn off digital devices, relax, and recharge our internal batteries — “rustic without having to rough it,” they advertise. Brooklyn, New York-based Getaway operates some 20 Outposts across the United States, including three in Texas less than two hours out of major cities.

10. Texas' only ski-lift bike park takes you to new heights in the Hill Country. At Spider Mountain Bike Park in Burnet, what goes up must come down. Located on Lake Buchanan about two hours north of San Antonio in the Hill Country, the attraction is the only year-round ski-lift bike park in the U.S. (In fact, it’s the only place in Texas with a ski-lift, period.)

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Texas rises through the ranks of most innovative states, says new report

MOVING ON UP

The Lone Star State has again taken a step up on an annual report that ranks the most and least innovative states in the country — this time cracking the top 15.

Texas ranked No. 15 in personal finance site WalletHub's 2023’s Most and Least Innovative States ranking. It's a steady improvement for the state, which ranked No. 16 in 2022 and No. 17 in 2021.

The report analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia and how each performed across 22 key metrics, including population of STEM professionals, venture capital investment activity, number of technology companies, patents per capita, and more. The data was pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation, National Center for Education Statistics, United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other records.

Here's how Texas performed at a glance:

No. 18 – for share of STEM professionals
No. 16 – for projected STEM job demand by 2030
No. 25 – for eighth grade math and science performance
No. 21 – for share of science and engineering graduates aged 25 or older
No. 13 – for share of technology companies
No. 31 – for R&D spending per capita
No. 18 – venture capital funding per capita

For the 11th year, Texas won Site Selection Magazine's Governor's Cup, the governor's office announced earlier this year. The award, which Texas has won 19 times since its inception in 1978, recognizes the nation’s top-performing state for job-creating business relocations and expansions.

"Texas truly is America’s economic engine, and we stand apart as a model for the nation. When choosing where to relocate or expand their businesses, more and more innovative industry leaders find themselves at home in our state," Governor Greg Abbott says in a news release about the award.

"I congratulate the exceptional economic development teams at the local, regional, and state level who have worked so diligently to attract and retain these growing businesses and the jobs they create in diverse communities across this great state," he continues.

The most innovative states included the District of Columbia, which ranked at No. 1, followed by Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, and California, respectively. The least innovative state was identified as Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively.

Source: WalletHub

Access to quality education is a significant contributor to each state's innovation economy, the experts say in the report.

"Investing in education, particularly K-12 but also at the University level, it is no accident that innovative ecosystems develop in states with strong education systems and research universities," says David L. Deeds, professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. "These institutions build strong capable modern workforces that attract capital, and jobs and create innovations. The benefits do not happen overnight, in fact, they take years if not decades, but consider what The UC’s or the University of Texas at Austin have meant for the development of premier innovative ecosystems."

San Antonio reels in big names for South Side poetry festival

FREE VERSE

From Dr. Carmen Tafolla's This River Here to Miss Congeniality, San Antonio has long provided fodder for poets and moviemakers alike. Now, the two art forms are coming together during a spectacular cultural event at the Mission Marquee Plaza.

The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office will once again salute rhythm and rhyme during Viva Poesía: Palabras, Música, y Cultura on April 1, 6-10 pm. The annual bash, made possible in part by the City's Department of Arts and Culture, kicks off National Poetry Month by honoring the artistic influence of local poets.

In honor of the Mission Drive-In's 75th anniversary, this year's theme will be "For Reels! A Poetic Tribute to the Movies." Guests can hear original works from a star-studded lineup, including San Antonio's past Poet Laureates Tafolla, Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson, Jenny Brown, and Dr. Octavio Quintanilla. Local spoken word artists Eddie Vega, Rooster Martinez, Arrie Porter, Isabel Brown, and Ollie McCrary will also perform pieces created especially for the event, celebrating the magic and nostalgia of films.

During the event, Department of Arts and Culture Director, Krystal Jones, will introduce San Antonio's new Poet Laureate, Nephtali De León, to San Antonio's literati. Emceed by Anthony "The Poet" Flores, Viva Poesía will also feature live performances by local comedians, the Wonder Theatre, the San Antonio Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, Como Las Movies, and more.

The family friendly event will also offer engaging activities for the younger set, like make-and-take art activities and interactive workshops led by local artists and poets. Plus, pop-up vendors will serve grub and drinks throughout the evening.

The event is free and open to the public, with free on-site parking. More info about Mission Marquee Plaza and its jam-packed 2023 season can be found online.

"Vast artistry, rich culture, and vibrant traditions make San Antonio a city filled with diverse creativity," said District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran via a release." The entire family is invited to experience the sights, sounds, and festivities of Viva Poesía…."

San Antonio home sales continue to decline in February, latest report shows

REAL ESTATE REPORT

Home prices went up and sales went down in February, an inauspicious prediction for both homebuyers and sellers in San Antonio’s real estate market. That’s according to the latest market report from the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR).

The latest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data shows steady price increases in the San Antonio area. The average home price is now at $365,679, an $8,700-plus increase from 2022. Median home prices have hit $310,000, which is a smaller increase from last year, but $50,000 more than 2021.

Despite new home construction skyrocketing at the same rate, existing home sales have dropped by 28 percent. Homes are also staying on the market much longer than they did in February 2022, at around 70 days.

SABOR’s 2023 board chair Sara Briseño Gerrish shared her insights on the current market.

“The months of inventory is being reported at 3.3 and 93.5% of homes closed of their original listing price,” she said. “To close February, there were 3,531 new listings, 2,407 pending listings and 9,712 active listings.”

To add to February’s home sale woes, Bexar County saw a 16.4 percent decline with only 1,612 closed listings, while average prices increased 4.4 percent to $341,204.

Statewide, only 21,838 homes were sold in February, a 14 percent decrease year-over-year.

The full report can be found on sabor.com.

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