Downtown San Antonio - Friday

Our last full day on vacation and we haven't been to downtown San Antonio yet...so today was the day. We were going to do true tourist things, visit the Alamo, ride down the river, and go to the river walk.

We were in store for another hot day, so off to the Alamo first. Now we can all say, "Been there, seen that, took the picture!" Last time Thomas and I visited we didn't get to go into the main building, because the line was so long. This time we were able to go in no problems, it was pretty interesting walking around inside and thinking about how this building had come under fire. The actually have the original doors inside and you can see the big bullet holes. We also walked through the little room where the women and children hunkered down during the attack. Very interesting, to see that part of history.

After visiting the Alamo, we went to the river walk to go on the river cruise boat ride. This is a nice ride down the river of the river walk area and shares some interesting facts about the river walk. Unfortunately, it was really hot on the boat and we couldn't enjoy it as much as we would have liked.

The scenery along the river walk is gorgeous. The vibrant colors and bustling of the people is so alive and fun. Its really great to enjoy in so many different ways!

After walking the river walk for awhile we went up to the main street level and came across this museum that had huge stuffed animals and tons of animal heads. We went looking for the Childrens Museum to occupy some time, but unfortunately the museum was closing in about 45 minutes and wouldn't have been worth the money for that amount of time.

So where to next? We weren't quite ready to eat so we asked around for a playground and found one about 10 blocks away...what a long hot walk! When we finally arrived the kids played for awhile before we decided it was time to head back for dinner. Notice how tired Tylers face looks! On the way back, sprinklers were on so Thomas and Ken ran and pulled the kids through them which gave them all laughs.

Our birthday tradition is the birthday person gets to chose what restaurant they want to eat at and today we were celebrating Christy's birthday. She very eagerly chose a restaurant called Dicks. She fully admits she has a warped sense of humor and said this place was right up her alley. I was a little fearful of this place, but was along for the ride!

This is not a typical restaurant in that they are not super sweet to you, catering to your every whim. They are rude to you and play jokes on you, but all in fun and they do get your food to you and cater to your needs even if they grumble.

A guy was going around making balloon hats for the kids...Maleah got a twirly hat, Tanner a knife hat, and Tapanga a heart hat. Tyler didn't want a hat, he is sensitive to noise and doesn't like the noise balloons make as you are moving them around.

One of the main things Dicks does is make these hats with sayings on them for the guests. We each got one of these. (They can be a little vulgar, don't read anymore if you don't want to see it.) Thomas' and Kens went together. Thomas' says "I love catching bubbles in my mouth." Where Kens says "I call my balls bubbles". Christy's says "All I want for my b-day is for the burning rash to go away!"

KG's says, "When I'm in the shower I think about Broke Back Mountain!"Most people going into this restaurant know how this restaurant operates. There was a group of tables that was celebrating a birthday over to the side of us and one of the people over there did not want to wear her hat, so she got the balloon treatment!Maleah got a hat that said, "My breath smells like dog poo!"

Moms hat read, "This ain't the first salad I've tossed!"

If you ask for napkins, they get a handful of them and throw them at you! I set Tanner up and told him to ask for napkins and this is what happened!I wish I had a picture of this, but if you say something about there needing to be more toilet paper in the bathroom they have a leaf blower hooked up to a wire. On the wire they will put toilet paper on it and turn the machine and blow the hole roll of toilet paper on you. Its pretty funny to watch.

I had lucked out and didn't look like I was going to get a hat, until someone said something to the waiter. My hat read, "Smoked more sausage than Jimmy Dean!"

They may have been rude and crude, but they do know how to cook! The food was delicious and dessert was also. I think they may have been a bit nicer to us because we had all the kids, but it wasn't as bad as I feared.

They must go through a done of paper and supplies, many people get hats and thrown napkins at!

Our whole group outside the restaurant on the river walk (mom had already thrown her hat away). Thomas and Ken walked along the river walk wearing their hats and it was funny to watch peoples reactions. Some people would start busting out laughing, while others looked so confused, and many others were like "you've been to Dicks".

Downtown San Antonio and the river walk is beautiful. We actually found stuff to do at the mall and came back down after dark and when all the lights are on its even prettier! What a great day and great place to spend time with family!