After spending a delightful Christmas morning with family, Bryan and I embarked on another Non-Rev adventure. We arrived at the airport around 1:00 pm for a quick jaunt to see San Antonio Christmas Lights for an overnight Christmas Day! The flight loads looked promising and we were excited to return to this beautiful city.

Check-in

With our flights going smoothly, we booked our favorite hotel in San Antonio, the Canopy by Hilton Riverwalk. (See blog post about advice when making bookings!) Upon check-in, the front desk gave us water for being gold members. We also were given a drink token for the bar, and a welcome beverage packaged like an adult Capri-Sun. We were warmly welcomed and informed that we had received an upgrade to one of the best rooms in the hotel! It was on the 18th floor, overlooking the Riverwalk.

The Room Overlooking San Antonio Christmas Lights

The room entrance had a storage and a coffee area. It had a window that continued along the expanse of the hallway to the bathroom and bedroom. The bathroom had a sink area separate from the shower, and the shower featured a rainfall and a handheld shower head. Moving to the bedroom, we were mesmerized by the view. It was on the corner of the building, and we could see the dazzling lights twinkling over the Riverwalk. Horses were pulling Cinderella-esque carriages with LED lights, and the city was alive! Our room had a lovely chaise lounge to witness it from above, but we wanted to get where the action was.

Riverwalk: San Antonio Christmas Lights

We had not been aware, until perhaps Christmas Eve, that the San Antonio Riverwalk even had a Christmas display! We wandered the path, marveling at the dramatic display and the people walking by with light-up balloons and cups. I found out this past week while working with another electrician that to do electrical work near the Riverwalk, the installation must be at night. They also have to use nets over the river and lifejackets. It must have been quite the job to wire all the lights, and the results were impressive! It was almost as though we were walking through a dreamland. I had read articles about the spectacular lights in New York City and other big cities, but was never even aware that San Antonio should be on our radar for Christmas lights! It must be a well-kept secret!

Riverwalk in the Daytime

Having completed our walk, we returned to the hotel to grab a glass of wine on the rooftop bar, gazing from above. After we awoke the next day, we opted to walk the river, yet again, in the opposite direction. We had never ventured in this direction before! It was less commercialized and more local-friendly. On the path, we encountered a few sunning turtles and a heron! It was a beautiful morning and a peaceful walk. Although it was not as hot as I expected for Texas, it was still pleasantly warm. San Antonio would be a great day trip to escape the cold of winter if you live in a colder region.

Apply for an American Express Card with this link. With your new Card, you could earn a welcome bonus (125,000 points!) and I’ll earn a referral bonus. Terms Apply.