Stone Oak Park

Are you an active individual or family who is new to the Stone Oak area? Fortunately for you Stone Oak has an amazing public park that is accommodating to any member of the family. The park is located near Canyon Ridge Elementary off 281 on Stone Oak Parkway. 

The park features hiking trails, covered picnic areas, an open air amphitheater, playscape and complimentary doggie bags. There's also informational workout stations with built in equipmet. Don't forget to check out the bear cave too. Be aware that there is a north and a south entrance located on each side of Stone Oak Parkway.

The north entrance features a 1 mile trail where you can enjoy some of the south Texas wildlife in the middle of stone oak. As you begin the north trail you will pass by the bear cave and walk into a great open area full of deer, cotton tail rabbits and amazing flowers. 

The South entrance features the playscape, amphitheater and then goes into a 1.2 mile trail. This trail is a lot more developed than the North side of the park and is adjacent to some of the homes in the Villages of Stone Oak. You will also get to travel through an underpass that was built at the end of the trail under Evans Rd that just makes this experience unique.

You will be able to enjoy a variety of plants and wildlife as you walk through the trails as well as get to meet and great local residents and their pets.  The park hours are from 7am to sunset and it is open seven days a week. It is a great park for the whole family to enjoy and take in the nature around! 

Staycation in San Antonio

I remember the day I stepped off the plane in San Antonio. It was a dreary, damp day in November but my first impression of San Antonio, was far from morose.  It was far enough into the Holiday season to invoke a feeling of cheerfulness as we ventured down to the San Antonio River Walk and all its luminous glory. I was awe struck at all the lights and joyful celebrants partaking in the entertainment, shopping and eateries. It reminded me of my childhood visit to Disney World – almost magical.

My visit was supposed to be a short one, followed by a return to my hometown and a possible return at a much later date. Needless to say, my visit turned into an almost immediate return with no departure date in sight.  Let’s just say, I have been here almost 20 years and have no plans of leaving. I have raised three sons here and hope to see my grandchildren grow up here as well.

I decided over that very weekend that San Antonio had everything I desired for my family. It was rich with diversity, history, quality schools, and an economy that was constant and steady. It was a large city with a small town feel.  It boasted of a place you could vacation without going farther than 20 minutes from your own doorstep. This part was most appealing.

While I could never convince all of my family to take up roots and move here, some have come and stayed and love it as much as I do, but most just love to visit because of all it has to offer families to enjoy in a safe environment.

Growing up, when I imagined vacationing, I would imagine myself in Disney World, on Broadway in New York City, laying on a beach in Hawaii or the Bahamas or skiing in Colorado. Of course, I have done most of these, but some of my fondest memories with my own children have been “staycationiong” right here in our lovely city.  

Think about it, we have an innumerable venues to enjoy throughout the year and a multitude of seasonal festivities to explore. I would also like to mention, we have no shortage of sports teams to keep our adrenaline flowing. So if you are sitting around the house with nothing to do, or so you think; take a look at a few of the things our little city has to offer families that just don’t like to travel, but love to have fun and make memories:

Family Theme and Water Parks

v  Seaworld and Aquatica Water Park

v  Six Flags Fiesta Texas

v  Schlitterbahn

v  Splashtown

v  Morgan’s Wonderland

Resort and SPAs

v  JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and SPA

v  Hyatt Hill Country Resort and SPA

v  Westin La Cantera Resort and SPA

Sports Team

v  San Antonio Spurs Basketball

v  San Antonio Silver Stars Women’s Basketball

v  San Antonio Missions Baseball

v  San Antonio Rampage Hockey

v  San Antonio Scorpions Soccer Team

v  San Antonio Talons Arena Football 

Tours

v  San Antonio Grand Tours

v  King William Carriage Tours

v  San Fernando Carriage Tour

v  San Antonio Wine Tour

v  Alamo Trolley Tours

v  San Antonio Hill Country Tours

v  Rio San Antonio Riverwalk and Cruises

v  Alamo Reflections Tour

v  Battlefield Tour of the Alamo

v  Downtown San Antonio Segway Tour

v  San Antonio City Lights Ghost Tour

v  San Antonio and Alamo Helicopter Tours

v  San Antonio 60 minute Trolley Tour

v  Travis Park Carriage Tour

Art and Museums

v  Institute of Texan Cultures

v  Mcnay Art Museum

v  San Antonio Children’s Museum

v  San Antonio Museum of Art

v  Steve’s Homestead Museum in King William

v  Witte Museum

v  Buckhorn Museum and Texas Ranger Museum

v  La Villita Historic Arts Village

Miscellaneous

v  Natural Bridge Caverns and Wildlife Ranch

v  Enchanted Springs Ranch

v  Old West Chuck Wagon Ride and Show

v  Ripley’s Believe it or Not Haunted Adventure

v  Embassy Miniature Golf

v  Ice and Golf Center Northwoods

v  K1Speed Raceway

v  Botanical Gardens

v  San Antonio Zoo

v  Animal World and Texas Snake Farm

Go ENJOY!!

 By: Laurie A. Holiday

Sources: VacationsMadeEasy.com; TripAdvisor.com; VisitSanAntonio.com;