TRAVEL

The World is Ready for You

Get back into the swing of travel by planning a getaway in your own backyard

BY CHRIS WARREN

A

fter a year-plus of pandemic-induced isolation, my family’s definition of fun and adventure had shrunk to include mostly pixelated images on a screen or occasional socially distant bike rides and walks through the park. So as we settled into our seats at SeaWorld San Antonio’s Orca Stadium for the soon-to-start performance by the killer whales and their human keepers, it was hard to predict how we would react to sights and sounds emanating from actual living beings.

With music pulsating in the background, the first fin came zipping into the stadium. A few moments later, a massive blackand-white orca rocketed through the surface of the water. This reentry into the world was the equivalent of a dive into very cold water—equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.

But this was just what we were after. Prior to the pandemic, ours was a family that liked to travel for new experiences—to New England for a taste of history and California for outdoor adventures. That all stopped in 2020, but as infections dropped and vaccinations rose, we decided it was time to venture out once again.

The good news for San Antonians is that you don’t have to go far to rekindle a love for travel; think of a staycation as both

At SeaWorld San Antonio, Turtle Reef plus the show featuring sea lions, dolphins and other creatures balance fun and environmental advocacy; the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa features a nineacre water park.

training wheels for longer trips and a reminder of the abundance of attractions that make this city a magnet for tourists.

At SeaWorld, we particularly appreciated the sensory overload of the animal shows that deftly balance entertainment and education.

We also wanted to experience staying at a hotel again. For that, we ventured to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Though just a short drive from downtown, the resort feels very distant from the urban center.

Arriving on a Sunday evening, we spent our first night strolling the quiet grounds and enjoying a less quiet but still very fun meal at the resort’s sports bar, High Velocity, where the bank of massive TVs rivals any Vegas sports book. During the day, my 10-year-old twins divided their time between the resort’s tall and speedy water slides and the languid lazy river that circumnavigates the on-property water park. If the bustle of downtown is more your style, consider the newly opened Canopy By Hilton, which boasts a terrace bar and local art throughout plus close proximity to the Alamo, San Fernando Cathedral and Briscoe Western Art Museum.

A world beyond your living room is waiting. Dive back into it by starting in your own backyard.