Finding Fantastic: Exploring the Pearl District in San Antonio. Cross Country Road Trip Part 1

This blog post is the first of a series of posts detailing the cross country road trip me and some friends completed in early January of 2020. This road trip took us from Houston, Texas to Los Angeles, California and lasted for six days. Along the way, we stopped at many National Parks and enjoyed the beauty of the US as we made our way through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and eventually to California. This post is about my experiences in the Pearl District in San Antonio.

The Pearl District is an aesthetically pleasing area located Northeast of downtown San Antonio and the river walk. If you are looking for something less crowded and touristy than the river walk, Pearl District is a great option. This area is centered around the old Pearl brewery from the 1800s that has since transformed into a hotel and restaurant. The area offers ample parking with a few open lots spread around. When we were there on January 6th, 2020, the parking was free.

One major thing to do in the Pearl District is to eat! The Pearl District has many places to grab a quick bite to eat or places to sit down and enjoy a nice meal. We chose the Food Hall because it had a wide variety of options. This included drinks from the bar, ramen, hamburgers, southern style chicken, juices, doughnuts and healthier choices like salad. I ended up at The Good Kind and enjoyed a delicious caprese panini. My friends chose Tenko Ramen which they really enjoyed.

Besides the food, a fountain/splash pad is located right in the heart of the Pearl District. Perfect for those hot summer days, this is a way for children and adults alike to cool off and have some fun. Additionally, the Pearl District had some beautiful flowers in bloom, especially those surrounding the brewery fountain.

Fountain near the Pearl Brewery

I would recommend the Pearl District for its good food and aesthetically pleasing layout. It's a nice place to go to escape the bustle of the river walk while still enjoying good views and restaurants.