Travels with Tish Girlfriends’ Getaway Guide

Midwest Airlines and PayPal have teamed up to help you get away to your favorite destination with an extra $50 in your pocket. It’s too good to pass up this summer. Midwest has no blackout dates, either. That’s $50 off per ticket on your reservation. So if 4 of you fly, you’ll save $200! Like I said — too good to pass up! You’ll need to purchase your tickets online and use the special promo code. Get that promo code here and get away for a few days with your friends.

It’s not out of the question — you can still fly for the July 4th holiday at great faresl Midwest Airlines is trying to keep flying affordable. Check out Midwest Airlines special offer for this weekend’s holiday. Fares are as low as $218 roundtrip.

Double Savings

Plus — and only on Midewest Airlines — you can save an additional $50 if you purchase tickets with PayPal!

Don’t pass this up! Book now and get your holiday trip going!

Independence Day Special - 20% Off at eBags.com from July 4th through July 6th

If you have any inclination to take a fun shopping getaway before Christmas, NOW is the time to act! Midwest Airlines just released a short-term sale that will get you to great shopping cities at an unbelieveable fare. The news of the sale came through this morning in its weekly fare special e-mail.

Kansas City to New York is just $148! Washington, D.C. is $149 ! San Antonio, Atlanta, Boston — $158! These are ROUNDTRIP fares!

Milwaukee to New York is just $138. Washington, D.C. and Boston — $148. San Antonio is $159. Kansas City is $99. All Roundtrip!

Omaha to New York is $169 RT. Washington, D.C. is $149 roundtrip.

So many cities are included in this special sale and you should know that some of them do start at $99 roundtrip. That leaves  a whole lot more cash in your pocket for shopping and hotel!

Here’s the deal: You must travel between November 28 and December 12. Perfect dates for Christmas shopping! Buy your ticket before December 5 — today is best if you want to ensure you get seats at these terrific rates! (You know that airline seats at the very best fares are always limited.) And you have to stay over a Friday or Saturday night. No problem — there’s lots to do in New York,  D.C., San Antonio, Kansas City and Milwaukee!

Click here for the details on these fares. Use promo code GGG if you do book tickets (so Midwest will know you heard about the deal here). Then call your girlfriends, pull out your weekender bag and get your shopping list ready. What a fun and spontaneous way to get your holiday shopping done!

Check my postings on New York, Washington (Georgetown), Kansas City , San Antonio and Milwaukee for some getaway recommendations. Then check  the special offers and discounts (on the right sidebar) available for you in some of these cities. And, by the way, please do report back on your getaway experience! We’d love to hear what you liked best!

LaVillita is a delightful historic village on the edge of downtown San Antonio, and only a few blocks from our B&B. It’s an arts and crafts community set in small, charming old buildings. It’s worth a stroll through the area. One shop we found particularly intriquing was Monte Wade Fine Arts. Many excellent art pieces and uniquely designed furniture items. The “steel art” of metal artist Frank Seckler was extraordinary. His accessory tables were beautifully designed and bore many-colored patinas.

Southwest School of Art & Craft
Located on the River Walk, north of the downtown cafes and shops, is this absolutely charming campus for what is now the Southwest School of Art & Craft. What we found most interesting is that it was originally an Ursuline convent and San Antonio’s first school for girls. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as one of the outstanding examples of French architecture in the country. No admission and you can wander the building, courtyards and grounds at your leisure.

Our favorite places on this trip included this former Ursuline convent school, the Guenther House and the River Walk. But on the next trip, we would likely tour the Alamo (in the downtown area) and the 9-mile Mission Trail which starts at the Alamo, heading south visiting four missions built in the 1700s. But there just was not enough time on this trip.

NEXT STOP: A New Perspective on Kansas City

TIP: We also visited the Mercado or Market Square as well. Ate at Mi Tierra with my San Antonio friend, Estelle. It is very much like an authentic restaurant in Mexico. It was fun, inexpensive ($34 for three of us) and tasty. We enjoyed the strolling mariachi band that played tableside. But if you’ve ever been to Nogales, Tijuana or other near-border Mexican town, you may want to skip shopping in the Mercado.

Before I picked the Historic King William district , I checked with my friend, Estelle, to see if she considered it a safe area — and she did. In some cities, “historic area” can also be code for “in transition” from a rundown area to a renovated one. And safety can be a concern. This historic district is very nice, but shows some signs of age. The sidewalks are narrow — some needing repair from “historic” to a more modern, smooth walkway. But that didn’t diminish the experience.

Along Alamo Street we found several chic little clothing shops, a church that had become a theater and cafe and the Blue Star Arts Complex. Blue Star is housed in former warehouse buildings and includes a brewery, performance space, art studios, galleries and artsy shops. We were told that on the first Friday of each month, Blue Star hosts an Art Walk on the street with exhibitions, food vendors, etc. Unfortunately, we visited too early on a Monday morning for any of these shops to be open. (By the way you’ll find that some — not all — San Antonio shops/galleries/restaurants are closed on Sunday.)

Across from the Blue Star Arts Complex, a few blocks south on Alamo from the Gardenia Inn, is The Guenther House, the home of the founding family of Pioneer Four Mills. It is now a museum, restaurant and gift shop. No admission is charged to enjoy the beautiful grounds and rooms filled with exquisite antiques. The restaurant, on the lower level, offers outdoor dining. Being associated with a flour mill, the shop offers a terrific array of gourmet baking and cooking items, ready-to-make mixes in flour sack bags, jam, jellies and other fun items. A great place to pick up gifts.

We caught the streetcar trolley just outside the Guenther Inn parking lot and headed to the north end of the River Walk — for just 80 cents.

NEXT:La Villita, Arts and Authentic Mexican Dining

TIPS:
1) Recommended Restaurants. Our innkeeper at the Gardenia Inn highly recommended these nearby restaurants — Azuca (Cuban/Latin American), Rosario’s(Mexican), El Mirador (Tex-Mex), Tito’s(Tex-Mex Homestyle) and Madhatter’s (great salads).

2) Southtown. The King William Historic District is located in Southtown – an arts area. Check this link for more information about the area and for a calendar for events when you visit.

Our flight to San Antonio was easy, with a brief stop in Kansas City. (Milwaukee, Kansas City and San Antonio are such easy airports to negotiate.) Followed the signs to Ground Transportation and inquired about a shuttle service. Booked a $24 roundtrip on Satrans so that our return trip would be covered. I chose to stay off the River Walk to experience a bed & breakfast in the King William Historic District, just a few blocks from downtown and about 2 blocks from the River Walk. It turned out to be a great decision.

The Gardenia Inn offered rooms with two beds, perfect for Cathy and I. Checked them out online, but called to make the reservation to ensure the extra bed accommodation as well as a private bathroom. The inn’s Web site had very good photos of each room or suite.

We were given a 3rd floor suite with large sitting room that included a sleigh-style daybed, alcove with a double bed and a huge bedroom with a king bed and a private bathroom. (About $140/night) Small refrigerator was stocked with soda and water at no extra cost. There was another similarly stocked refrigerator in the 2nd floor sitting area that was available to all guests. A very nice touch. The inn was very clean and comfortable, nice linens, great pillows and lovely antiques.

Susan Elich, the innkeeper/owner, served up a wonderful homemade breakfast of oatmeal/cranberry pancakes, fresh fruit, fresh-squeezed OJ, bacon and excellent coffee. China, lace tablecloth, great conversation with Susan. (I would love to get that pancake recipe!)

The Gardenia Inn afforded us a very convenient and comfortable place to return to during the day. We had our own front door security code so we could come and go as we pleased. On departure day, it was nice to sit in the living room as we waited for the shuttle.

The Gardenia Inn is located a few doors off Alamo Street in the heart of a charming district of historic homes, many converted into B&Bs. Our innkeeper told us of 3-4 very good restaurants within a block or two, but we didn’t have a chance to try them.

NEXT: Arts, History and a Brewery

Special Tip: Mention this Travels with Tish blog when you book a room at the Gardenia Inn and Susan Elich will make sure to put some fresh flowers in your room before your arrival.