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Friday, December 12, 2008

San Antonio, Texas - places bars and hotels

These brief notes are intended to help anyone in a wheelchair travelling to San Antonio, Texas. They are based purely on my own observations so they encompass only places I have been myself. Hopefully if you are a disabled traveler or wheelchair user you will find them useful.

Riverwalk
The Riverwalk area is one of the main tourist attractions of San Antonio (along with The Alamo - which is pleasingly close). It consists of over 2 miles of pleasant water side walking (rolling) with numerous bars and restaurants.

The City of San Antonio has done a pretty good job of making the Riverwalk area wheelchair accessible. However, you do need to plan your route with a little care to ensure you start and end near a ramp or elevator to access the riverwalk. There is a good website with a map ( http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/maps/index.asp ) that indicates where the ramps and elevators are situated. There is one section (just East of the South Presa bridge) where the water level path comes to an abrupt halt at a gate. However, there is a ramp (some 50yds behind the point where you reach the halt) to a higher level that leads you past this obstruction and down to the river level again. The path can be rough in places, and there is one location where there are water comduits cut through the path whihc makes navigation very difficult (West of the Hyatt Regency on the Northern side of the river).

Most restaurants at the water level have access - again the Riverwalk map will help out here.

Worth a visit and a pleasant way to spend an evening.

The Cove (606 W. Cypress Av)
Eclectic and entertaining bar set behind a laundry and car wash. A great antitode to the tourist traps around the Riverwalk. Roughly finished, wide selection of beer, good food and live music. This place is rough and ready - don't expect white linen! But it is clean and has easy level access. The toilets are accessible with a large cubicle (no grab rails). The only issue might be getting to the toilets between the closely packed lines of tables. Arrive early and sit near the band.

Highly recommended.

Swig Martini Bar (111 W. Crockett St.)
Upmarket bar just by the Riverwalk. There are steps at the Crockett St. entrance, but if you turn into N. Presa there is another alley on your right with level access to the bar. The restroom is large and accessible.

Howl at the Moon (111 W. Crockett St.)
Just beside Swig is the entrance to Howl at the Moon (www.howlatthemoon.com ). There is an elevator up to the first floor (the main bar and entertainment is up here). The table area is difficult to move around in as the tables and chairs are very close together. The restrooms are accessible.

Coyote Ugly (409 E. Commerce St.)
Access to Coyote Ugly is possible from E. Commerce St. There are six or seven steps into the bar, but they do have wheelchair lift although it is not always operational. Better to walk a few step down E. Commerce St, turn right into N. Presa and walk about half a block. There is a small shopping mall on the right, and a path through here to the Riverwalk area behind. (There is a small step and you have to look for the curb cut - but it's there!). Go through the mall and turn right again. This brings you to the back door of Coyote Ugly which has level access. Restrooms are accessible.

Mi Tierra (218 Produce Row)
This mexican restaurant is located in Market Square. there is level access from both front and back, and the restrooms are accessible. The restaurant is large and colorful, and navigating between tables is reasonably straightforward.

Recommended.

Mela (4987 NW Loop 410)
Indian restaurant - excellent food. Easy level access and large accessible restrooms. Large tables, easy to navigate and sit at.

Recommended.



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