Feb 9 - Feb 15, 2025
Starting at
2,399
Texas
On the Road: San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and Austin
Program No. 1045960MEADV-0219
Explore Texas with experts on a larger-than-life adventure as you discover Tex-Mex in San Antonio, learn about music and politics in Austin and visit LBJ's Hill Country ranch.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Mar 23 - Mar 29, 2025
Starting at
2,499DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Feb 9 - Feb 15, 2025
Starting at
2,949Not seeing the date you're looking for?
To be notified if dates of this program become available, click the button below.
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
7 days
6 nights
15 meals
6B 4L 5D
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner, Cathedral Light Show
San Antonio, Texas
2
Texas History, Alamo-Downtown, River Barge Cruise
San Antonio, Texas
3
Spanish Missions, West Side, Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg/Johnson City
4
Pacific War Museum, LBJ Ranch & Park, Arrive Austin
Austin, Texas
5
Downtown Austin, LBJ library
Austin, Texas
6
Wildflower Center, Live Music Performance
Austin, Texas
7
Program Concludes
Austin, Texas
At a Glance
Is everything bigger in the Lone Star State? Or is it just a big myth? Learn just how normal Texans really are on this adventure exploring Texas history, culture and politics — from richly diverse San Antonio to the LBJ Ranch in Hill Country to the state capital of Austin. The Old West’s six-guns are gone, but influences of the 26 ethnic groups that settled Texas beckon at every turn.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles daily. Must be able to climb stairs and board motor coach with minimal assistance. Standing in museums for up to two hours a day.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Take a study cruise along the River Walk in festive San Antonio to find out how the city blends new development with historic preservation of cultural treasures.
- Delve into the life of our 36th president at the LBJ Ranch and its Hereford cattle on the banks of the Pedernales River.
- Get the lowdown on politics in Austin, and find out why the city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” with a private performance from a Grammy Award-winning artist.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Floyd Domino
Floyd Domino is an American musician known for his work in the genre of Western swing. Born in California, Floyd’s close association with Western swing coincided when he joined the group Asleep at the Wheel at 19. After seven years with the band, he still joins them for featured performances. While Floyd is widely recognized for the revival of Western swing, he began his career in jazz, boogie-woogie, swing and blues piano. The Floyd Domino Jazz Trio showcases a unique blend of jazz and blues.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Floyd Domino
View biography
Floyd Domino is an American musician known for his work in the genre of Western swing. Born in California, Floyd’s close association with Western swing coincided when he joined the group Asleep at the Wheel at 19. After seven years with the band, he still joins them for featured performances. While Floyd is widely recognized for the revival of Western swing, he began his career in jazz, boogie-woogie, swing and blues piano. The Floyd Domino Jazz Trio showcases a unique blend of jazz and blues.
Carolina Castillo Crimm
View biography
A retired professor of history, Dr. Caroline Castillo Crimm won many local and state-wide awards, including the prestigious Piper Award as one of the best teachers in Texas. Dedicated to Texas and Hispanic culture, her Spanish family came to Texas originally in 1792 although she was born and raised in Mexico City. The author of “De Leon: A Tejano Family History,” she has appeared on PBS and “The History Channel.”
Bill Perryman
View biography
A fifth generation Texan and an award-winning teacher, Bill Perryman is known throughout Texas for his historical portrayals of heroic figures in Texas and American history and for his teacher trainings, seminars and educational explorations of historic San Antonio. He is the founder of History In Person Theater which is an official arts program for the Texas Commission on the Arts. Bill’s passion for history captivates audiences!
Ken Erfurth
View biography
Ken Erfurth is a life-long resident of San Antonio whose interest in the region’s history, culture, and architecture began at an early age. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and is a registered architect. He has been conducting educational adventures in San Antonio for various groups for over 20 years. In recent years, Ken has used photography to document the unique visual aspects of his native city and surrounding area. His images have been exhibited and published in multiple forums.
Janie Cadena
View biography
Janie Cadena, a Texas native, is a descendant of early German settlers. She was bitten by the travel bug at an early age and has lived and explored countries around the world. She has worked as a travel agent for 30 years and is a Certified Travel Counselor. Because of her love of history, Janie appreciates the opportunity she has had to see many of the world's historic places. She even lives in a historic house built by her ancestors in the 1860s and 1890s.
Tom Alter
View biography
Tom Alter is an assistant professor at Texas State University where he specializes in labor and Texas history. He received his BA in history from Indiana University, his MA in history from Texas State University, and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tom is the author of “Toward a Cooperative Commonwealth: The Transplanted Roots of Farmer-Labor Radicalism in Texas” (University of Illinois Press, 2022).
Mary Muenster
View biography
Mary Muenster is a native Texan who has lived in San Antonio since 1992. After working for Pan American World Airways as an International Flight Attendant, she moved to San Antonio to teach at one of the city’s top public high schools where she also served as the Social Studies Department Chair. Mary's passion for geography — physical and cultural — expanded beyond classroom walls and is what attracted her to settle down in the Alamo City. She has visited more than 50 countries on six continents.
Sheila Mehta
View biography
Sheila Mehta, a recent addition to the LBJ Presidential Library, has spent her career in education. She joined the Library after almost 15 years as a high school social studies teacher. Her academic background lies in U.S. history, social studies, and relationships between conflict and society. Sheila helps visitors, students, and educators learn more about the Johnson administration and nuances of the 1960s, complementing the Library’s mission to be a “center for intellectual activity… while meeting the challenges of a changing world.”
Suggested Reading List
(11 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
On the Road: San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and Austin
Program Number: 10459
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
S. C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.
Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream: The Most Revealing Portrait of a President and Presidential Power Ever Written
Widely praised and enormously popular, Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream is a work of biography like few others. With uncanny insight and a richly engrossing style, the author renders LBJ in all his vibrant, conflicted humanity.
As Texas Goes: How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda
Gail Collins, the best-selling author and columnist for the New York Times, visited Texas and discovered that in Texas, where Bush, Cheney, Rove, & Perry had created a conservative political agenda that is now sweeping the country and defining our national identity. Through its vigorous support of banking deregulation, lax environmental standards, and draconian tax cuts, through its fierce championing of states rights, gun ownership, and, of course, sexual abstinence, Texas, with Governor Rick Perry’s presidential ambitions, has become the bellwether of a far-reaching national movement that continues to have profound social and economic consequences for us all. Like it or not, as Texas goes, so goes the nation.
Seat of Empire: The Embattled Birth of Austin, Texas
The founding of Austin sparked one of the Republic’s first great political battles, pitting against each other two Texas titans: Lamar, who in less than a year had risen to vice president from army private, and Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto and a man both loved and hated throughout the Republic.
The Alamo Remembered, Tejano Accounts & Perspectives
Austin City Limits: 25 Years of American Music
This book documents in words and pictures, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes images, the performances of the more than five hundred stellar recording artists who have appeared on the show. This book features a foreword by Lyle Lovett and over 200 color illustrations.
Big, Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas
Written by a great story teller, this readable, monumental work is exactly what the title implies: a comprehensive history of Texas complete with wonderful historic photographs and a focus on the stories of individual people. Not for the fainthearted, the time invested in reading this is well-spent. Actually, the book is so readable that devouring it is a pleasure. It has been described as “a must read for Texas aficionados.”
Texas, My Texas: Musings of the Rambling Boy
In a collection of essays about Texas gathered from his West Texas newspaper column, Lonn Taylor traverses the very best of Texas geography, Texas history, and Texas personalities. In a state so famous for its pride, Taylor manages to write a very honest, witty, and wise book about Texas past and Texas present.
Friedrichsburg: Colony of the German Furstenverein
Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Laws That Changed America
Lyndon Baines Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr., were thrust together in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Both men sensed a historic opportunity and began a delicate dance of accommodation that moved them, and the entire nation, toward the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Drawing on a wealth of newly available sources -- Johnson's taped telephone conversations, voluminous FBI wiretap logs, previously secret communications between the FBI and the president -- Nick Kotz gives us a dramatic narrative, rich in dialogue, that presents this momentous period with thrilling immediacy. Judgment Days offers needed perspective on a presidency too often linked solely to the tragedy of Vietnam.
Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth
Reviled by some and applauded by others, this controversial popular history focuses on factors related to the history of the Alamo. A saucy, journalistic-style read, it provides a perspective on how Texans think, information about the current redesign of Alamo Plaza, and a great bibliography for further study.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
7 days
Program Begins
San Antonio, Texas
Program Concludes
Austin, Texas
Meals
15
| 6B |
4L |
5D |
Activity Level
Is everything bigger in the Lone Star State? Or is it just a big myth? Learn just how normal Texans really are on this adventure exploring Texas history, culture and politics — from richly diverse San Antonio to the LBJ Ranch in Hill Country to the state capital of Austin. The Old West’s six-guns are gone, but influences of the 26 ethnic groups that settled Texas beckon at every turn.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Take a study cruise along the River Walk in festive San Antonio to find out how the city blends new development with historic preservation of cultural treasures.
- Delve into the life of our 36th president at the LBJ Ranch and its Hereford cattle on the banks of the Pedernales River.
- Get the lowdown on politics in Austin, and find out why the city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” with a private performance from a Grammy Award-winning artist.
Featured Expert
Floyd Domino
Floyd Domino is an American musician known for his work in the genre of Western swing. Born in California, Floyd’s close association with Western swing coincided when he joined the group Asleep at the Wheel at 19. After seven years with the band, he still joins them for featured performances. While Floyd is widely recognized for the revival of Western swing, he began his career in jazz, boogie-woogie, swing and blues piano. The Floyd Domino Jazz Trio showcases a unique blend of jazz and blues.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Carolina Castillo Crimm
A retired professor of history, Dr. Caroline Castillo Crimm won many local and state-wide awards, including the prestigious Piper Award as one of the best teachers in Texas. Dedicated to Texas and Hispanic culture, her Spanish family came to Texas originally in 1792 although she was born and raised in Mexico City. The author of “De Leon: A Tejano Family History,” she has appeared on PBS and “The History Channel.”
Bill Perryman
A fifth generation Texan and an award-winning teacher, Bill Perryman is known throughout Texas for his historical portrayals of heroic figures in Texas and American history and for his teacher trainings, seminars and educational explorations of historic San Antonio. He is the founder of History In Person Theater which is an official arts program for the Texas Commission on the Arts. Bill’s passion for history captivates audiences!
Ken Erfurth
Ken Erfurth is a life-long resident of San Antonio whose interest in the region’s history, culture, and architecture began at an early age. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and is a registered architect. He has been conducting educational adventures in San Antonio for various groups for over 20 years. In recent years, Ken has used photography to document the unique visual aspects of his native city and surrounding area. His images have been exhibited and published in multiple forums.
Janie Cadena
Janie Cadena, a Texas native, is a descendant of early German settlers. She was bitten by the travel bug at an early age and has lived and explored countries around the world. She has worked as a travel agent for 30 years and is a Certified Travel Counselor. Because of her love of history, Janie appreciates the opportunity she has had to see many of the world's historic places. She even lives in a historic house built by her ancestors in the 1860s and 1890s.
Tom Alter
Tom Alter is an assistant professor at Texas State University where he specializes in labor and Texas history. He received his BA in history from Indiana University, his MA in history from Texas State University, and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tom is the author of “Toward a Cooperative Commonwealth: The Transplanted Roots of Farmer-Labor Radicalism in Texas” (University of Illinois Press, 2022).
Mary Muenster
Mary Muenster is a native Texan who has lived in San Antonio since 1992. After working for Pan American World Airways as an International Flight Attendant, she moved to San Antonio to teach at one of the city’s top public high schools where she also served as the Social Studies Department Chair. Mary's passion for geography — physical and cultural — expanded beyond classroom walls and is what attracted her to settle down in the Alamo City. She has visited more than 50 countries on six continents.
Sheila Mehta
Sheila Mehta, a recent addition to the LBJ Presidential Library, has spent her career in education. She joined the Library after almost 15 years as a high school social studies teacher. Her academic background lies in U.S. history, social studies, and relationships between conflict and society. Sheila helps visitors, students, and educators learn more about the Johnson administration and nuances of the 1960s, complementing the Library’s mission to be a “center for intellectual activity… while meeting the challenges of a changing world.”
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles daily. Must be able to climb stairs and board motor coach with minimal assistance. Standing in museums for up to two hours a day.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(11 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
15 meals | 6B | 4L | 5D |
3 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner, Cathedral Light Show
Location:
San Antonio, Texas
Meals:
D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Minimal walking to/from cathedral.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 4:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Meals will be provided at the program hotels and local restaurants. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. The Group Leader will give us a presentation on San Antonio, explaining how the River Walk was developed and explaining how various cultures converged on the area to make it the unique place that it is today. Each evening, the hotel in San Antonio hosts a complimentary “kickback” reception with a rotating variety of food and drink daily from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on the second floor. Everyone is invited.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We’ll set out on foot with our Group Leader to San Fernando Cathedral for an outdoor light show by French artist Xavier De Richemont. This 24-minute show tells the story of San Antonio from its beginnings to present day. After returning to the hotel, take the rest of the evening to continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead.
Day
2
Texas History, Alamo-Downtown, River Barge Cruise
Location:
San Antonio, Texas
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
Activity Note
Getting on/off a public bus. Walking up to 3 miles, climbing up/down stairs to access River Walk area, standing in museum up to 2 hours. Getting on/off a barge; cruising 1/2 hour minimum.
Breakfast:
In the hotel’s second floor mezzanine.
Morning:
Since Spanish conquistadors first landed on this soil more than 500 years ago, there have been fascinating stories of conflicts and compromises, love affairs and bitter hatreds among our many peoples. A noted professor will lead us on an enthralling, fast-paced, two-hour journey through Texas history from its earliest beginnings to the modern day. We will be drawn into the lives of those early citizens and find ourselves torn by the challenging choices people of the day had to make in order to survive. Those never-to-be-forgotten stories of the past will help us understand the Texas we will see over the next few days. Next, we’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to San Fernando Cathedral and step back in time to the 18th-century Spanish colonial era. The cathedral was built from 1738-50 by settlers from the Canary Islands who had been granted land by Spain’s King Philip V. The cathedral is the oldest religious community in Texas and is still an active parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio Santa Anna raised the red flag of “no quarter” from the church tower during the siege of the Alamo. We will gain an appreciation for the efforts of the historical conservation society in preserving the city’s past while encouraging new development.
Lunch:
We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will continue our walking exploration of downtown San Antonio with our local expert. The Spanish colonial mission we know as the Alamo was established in 1718, and moved to its current location in 1724. Its history is fascinating and complex. After its gallant defense by 182 Texans against General Santa Anna’s army in 1836, “Remember the Alamo!” became a rallying cry for Texas independence. We’ll hear the story of the Alamo, then visit the Shrine, view artifacts, and watch a short movie. We will also visit the historic Menger hotel, across the plaza from the Alamo. The Menger, the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi, was established in 1859 and set the standard of luxury for its day. Historic events that took place here include Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders cavalry brigade recruitment. Our expert will take us inside for a peek at the elaborately appointed lobbies and the Menger bar, to see memorabilia from TR’s time. We’ll understand more about Texas pride as we visit these historic sites. From here, we will have some time to explore the area independently or return to the hotel on foot along the river.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Stepping outside to the River Walk— the heart of the city — we’ll catch a narrated barge ride on the San Antonio River, located 20 feet below street level and just steps from the famed Alamo. We will learn about the history of the area and the blend of old and new from our barge driver as we float along the river. Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.
Day
3
Spanish Missions, West Side, Fredericksburg
Location:
Fredericksburg/Johnson City
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Fredericksburg Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and ride to San Antonio Mission National Historical Park, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Led by our expert Group Leader, we’ll explore the missions that make up this complex and learn about the early settlement and efforts of the Spanish to convert local people to the Roman Catholic Church and an agricultural form of life. We’ll see how the Spanish used “acequia” (irrigation systems) to develop self-sustaining agricultural communities along the San Antonio River. Among the highlights is Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo — the so-called “Queen of the Missions” — carefully restored by the WPA in the 1930s.
Lunch:
We will ride to the largest Mexican marketplace in the U.S., and have an authentic Tex-Mex meal at one of San Antonio’s most popular restaurants.
Afternoon:
We will drive through the city’s historically rich west side to learn more about Hispanic culture. We’ll enjoy colorful murals while our Group Leader shares information about governmental efforts to help some of the area’s poorest residents. Find out why so many San Antonio residents and politicians are proud of their west side roots. We’ll reboard our motorcoach and ride into Texas Hill Country. As we’re arriving in Fredericksburg, the Group Leader will provide a brief orientation to the town. We’ll then check in to our hotel. There will be some time for independent exploration before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
4
Pacific War Museum, LBJ Ranch & Park, Arrive Austin
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hyatt House Austin Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, up to 3 hours total riding time. Standing in museums for up to 2 hours and walking up to 4 miles over the course of the day.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and ride to the National Museum of the Pacific War, the only museum in the continental United States dedicated solely to the battles of the Pacific theater during World War II. During our self-directed exploration, we will immerse ourselves in Pacific history and gain an increased appreciation for the contributions of those who served as we also learn about American and Japanese cultures of the time.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Fredericksburg. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
We will ride to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park along the banks of the Pedernales River where Hereford cattle, white-tailed deer, and turkey abound. The LBJ National Historical Park contains a visitor center, reconstructed boyhood home, cemetery, and the Johnson residence, known as the Texas White House. National Park Rangers will be on hand and tell us more about President Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird, and their Texas home. Please note the White House and Hangar Visitor Center are currently under renovation and may not be accessible.
Dinner:
We’ll stop for a tasty barbecue dinner and some music in a quaint Hill Country town.
Evening:
After dinner, we will continue our ride to Austin, where we will check in to our hotel. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Day
5
Downtown Austin, LBJ library
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hyatt House Austin Downtown
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles; city streets and sidewalks, moderate elevation change. Getting on and off the motor coach. Riding in coach for up to 30 minutes throughout the day. Extent/duration of walking and other activities during independent exploration according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll head out with a local expert on a walking field trip to explore the downtown Austin area and learn about the city’s history and what it means to “Keep Austin Weird.” We’ll walk down a bit of Sixth Street and stop in the historic Driskill Hotel that opened in 1887.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we board the coach for a field trip to the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum. An archivist will give us a presentation on the history of presidential museums and libraries in the United States, as well as the origins of the LBJ Museum, the first to be located on a university campus. After the presentation, we’ll have time for independent exploration. We’ll be able to listen to recordings made during Johnson’s years in the White House that reveal much about his personality and style, and illustrate why he was able to rise to power and accomplish what he did during his career. We’ll be able to learn more about Lyndon Johnson, the man, and the impact his programs still have on society today, after the passage of Great Society legislation in the 1960s.
Dinner:
On your own. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Wildflower Center, Live Music Performance
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hyatt House Austin Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on and off the motor coach. Walking for up to 1.5 miles on dirt and paved pathways. Riding in the coach for up to 50 minutes throughout the day. Extent/duration of walking and other activities during independent exploration according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning at the hotel we will be joined by a local professor who will provide an overview of Texas Politics. We will learn about the major players throughout history and how their views and ideologies have shaped this great state. We’ll then depart for a field trip by motorcoach to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes. The center, which is connected to the University of Texas at Austin, is referred to as the “Botanic Garden of Texas” for its focus on conserving native plants; it is well known for its outreach programs, sustainable gardens, and research. We’ll explore parts of the 284-acre center with experts from the Wildflower Center.
Lunch:
Lunch at the Wildflower Center
Afternoon:
We will return to the hotel by motorcoach after lunch. The afternoon will be free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Meeting back in the hotel, we’ll gather for a special treat as a Grammy-award winning musician gives us a private performance in our meeting room.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
7
Program Concludes
Location:
Austin, Texas
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 PM
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
MEALS
15 Meals
6 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 10, 2024 - Nov 16, 2024
- Feb 09, 2025 - Feb 15, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
- Mar 09, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
- Mar 23, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
- Apr 13, 2025 - Apr 19, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
- Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 11, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
- Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 25, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
- Nov 09, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025 (San Antonio, Texas to Austin, Texas)
Participant Reviews
Based on 21 Reviews
Sort By:
If you want an introduction to the wonderful city of San Antonio and an brief survey of Texas history via lectures, Fredrickburg and the LBJ Museum this trip is for you!
— Review left October 27, 2024
What an interesting and entertaining trip! It exceeded all expectations.
— Review left February 19, 2024
At this time of political divisiveness, this trip provided important political perspective about how change happens, for better or worse. It also enabled me to understand Texas's evolution which is so different than my own state (NJ). Fascinating.
— Review left November 19, 2023
The program showed many aspects of this important area of the country. Many issues of various kinds were presented, which opened my mind and made me think a lot and engage in some interesting discussions. Dr. Crimm’s opening presentation will set you up for them.
Our Program Director, Jane, was very warm and approachable, and always had time for me, often engaging in thought-provoking discussions with me about
Texas history, politics, and much more, as well as about WWII when we were in a remarkable museum in the middle of a small town.
Strong points were the variety of food (Tex-Mex, BBQ, Italian, German); music was covered in various forms and places; much history and politics were examined which provoked a lot of thinking for me; and of course, seeing the iconic places of Texas.
A shout-out for the reading list! I especially loved "Forget the Alamo!," a very controversial book you won't find in Texas (it seems) that made me think much about the current state of Texas perspective and attitude, and "As Texas Goes..." (by Gail Collins) which does the same thing. I brought up these books with various guides and loved getting their reactions!
— Review left March 10, 2023
A great program with excellent leaders, tour guides and lecture presenters. If you are interested an overall view of Texas, this is a good program to start with.
— Review left February 21, 2022
I rate the Oct 10-16, 2021 On the Road: San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and Austin trip with 18 participants, 4.7/5. Excellent Group Leader Janie Cadena provided expert, fun San Antonio and Austin presentations and commentary everywhere-in the bus, on field trips. Janie arranged wonderful substitutions such as a stop at Luckenbach, Texas) (pop 3: Where Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach), and filled-in as a knowledgeable field trip guide for Covid created glitches. I so appreciated that Janie used her personal time to get Ubers and join me-a SINGLE-for “free times in Austin”: Lance Lipinsky live music and chicken fried steak at the Broken Spoke honky-tonk dancehall (should have stayed for the 8pm Two Step lesson); concert with “Asleep at the Wheel” and George Strait; and Esther’s Follies (I purchased tickets months in advance). Outstanding were Dr. Crimm’s “Texas contrasting cultures” presentation, Dr. Seicraig’s “Texas political history” presentation (The Lone Star State: 1836 Texas became independent from Mexico: finally in 1845 the U.S. Congress permitted Texas to enter the U.S. as a slave state), and Emily Gimble’s musical performance (she is the Official Texas State Musician of 2020). The field trips were very good with pleasant surprises: my favorites were: private narrated barge ride on San Antonio River; LBJ Ranch; and Mission San Jose’ (built 1720-1770) with statues of Mary’s father and mother holding baby Mary, carved on the church entrance. The Indians who lived at Mission San Jose’ for protection, took 50 years to build the community and do the stone work and Rose Windows on the church. The three hotel locations were good for walking in day light for “free times” such as to the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Meals were good: the salmon and chicken dumpling soup at the Thompson Conference Center-University of Texas at Austin was the best. A friendly, always on time, group of participants (A shout out to Chris and Veronica).
— Review left January 8, 2022
Highly recommended. Material great, the group leader Janie Cadena was the Jewel of the trip
— Review left October 18, 2021
This program was one of the first to occur after the closure for Covid. I felt that everything was done to ensure our health safety. Everyone followed the guidance of Jainie Cadena, the Road Scholar group leader.
It was truly a fantastic tour with lots of intellectual stimulation, plus downright fun events.
— Review left October 17, 2021
The well paced program took me to parts of Texas where I had never been, provided engaging instructors, gave me a fuller picture of LBJ and provided inviting and central accommodations.
— Review left March 17, 2020
A perfect combination of Texas history, culture, and tourist attractions!
— Review left March 17, 2020
There is a ton of early American history packed right in the middle of the state. If you are interested in history, presidents, museums, and the like, then this trip is for you. Learning about the early residents of the lands, the settlement of the German community, and the properties of the 36th President of the US, are all a part of this experience. And, you will see one of the finest US Capitols in the country. Furthermore, there is an introduction to the Austin music scene, that could be a journey by itself. At the end of the week you will understand why there is US history and then there is Texas history.
— Review left March 14, 2020
I have been on at least 20 Road Scholar programs, mainly domestic destinations and always have had great experiences. I have never been disappointed.
— Review left November 26, 2019
This program was excellent! I enjoyed Texas much more than I expected. learned a great deal from the lectures, which brought alive the field trips and made them much more meaningful. The group leader was fabulous and set such a positive tone for the whole week. It was a perfect balance of learning and experiencing.
— Review left November 24, 2019
This was a great introduction to San Antonio, Texas Hill Country and Austin. I went on this trip because of an interest in LBJ, and desire to see the Ranch and the LBJ Library, but I left with a new appreciation for the history of South Texas. It was surprisingly satisfying to see the Alamo and the other missions.
Our tour guide, Janie Cadena, was amazingly nice, knowledgable, and also lots of fun.
— Review left November 24, 2019
I highly recommend this trip to anyone with an interest in history. It is packed full of rewarding experiences. The Texas people were all welcoming and friendly. And as usual, Road Scholar travelers are interesting people to meet and spend time with!
— Review left May 3, 2019
Road Scholar Texas Hill Country Tour was great. Very interesting and fun. KT Cockerell a very personable leader. Thanks KT!
— Review left April 7, 2019
A beautiful overview of Texas history in three wonderful settings.
Really enjoyed seeing all three places and staying in "top notch" hotels. Wonderful coordinator - KT Enjoyed all the missions we saw as well as the nighttime barge trip in San Antonio.
— Review left April 2, 2019
Extremely insightful and stimulating program
— Review left April 1, 2019
I highly recommend Road Scholar trips to anyone who wants to experience a wonderful adventure.
— Review left March 30, 2019
This was our first Road Scholar trip and we chose it because the historical and political aspects were appealing. Due to the government shut down, adjustments were made. However, we still found the program to be exemplary. The lecturers, leaders and programs were wonderful. I also require gluten free meals and was trying this to see if I could be accommodated. While hotel free breakfasts are always a challenge, the provided lunches and dinners exceeded my expectations and were excellent. I appreciated the variety and quality. Our transportation was very comfortable and the hotels were centrally located. We learned more than we could have doing this itinerary on our own and appreciated all of the extra things that would not have been available to use traveling without a group.
— Review left January 21, 2019
I didn't know much about Texas History, nor did I know how much I would like learning about it until the presenters started to explain the state's history in a fascinating and engaging style. Now I understand
much more than I even expected to learn and so much wiser for it. Thank you,
— Review left January 20, 2019
