I’ve lived in San Antonio for 5 years now. Despite the fact that this Northeasterner is still having trouble with 70-degree Christmases, I have to admit, the weather has really grown on me. I’m now one of those weird people who pulls out a jacket when the temps fall below 70. And to think that just 5 years ago, we were throwing on shorts with all of the other Washingtonians as soon as temps hit 60.

Weird.

But temperatures aren’t the only thing I’ve had to adapt to since moving to San Antonio. Actually, to say it like that sounds off because I’ve come to LOVE and embrace, wholeheartedly, a lot of things about San Antonio. This city is quite different from the cities in the Northeast and Northwest -beyond degrees and elevation- and there are so many things to do and see in San Antonio that can’t be found anywhere else.

If you are wondering what makes San Antonio different from other cities, here’s what this Transplant loves about her new city…

(And stick around to get a FREE taste of San Antonio by entering to win 4 $5 gift cards to a restaurant that started and thrives in San Antonio!! See below.)

6 Things to Love about San Antonio (From a San Antonio Transplant)

I was not compensated for this post but did receive 2 $5 gift cards to be able to taste and review food from Taco Cabana. All opinions are my own.

Breakfast Tacos

Had no idea what these were before I met my San Antonian husband and breakfast hasn’t been the same since. If you haven’t tried a PROPER breakfast taco, you just might need to fly to San Antonio to have the experience. This egg, bacon, potato, and cheese wrapped up in a flour tortilla (it’s a flour tortilla, people… not a “wrap”) is the best thing that ever happened to my taste buds. If bacon isn’t your thing, no worries, there are a multitude of variation for these breakfast tacos to include egg and cheese, egg and chorizo, barbacoa and egg, bean and cheese…. there are seriously so many combinations.

The Weather

My kids can play outside year round, we only freeze for maybe one week a year, and no matter where you go during the summer, the AC is more than adequate. San Antonio is a great place to live because you are not as limited to what you can do because of weather. Want to take a hike? Minimal preparation makes that possible year round and there are a plethora of public parks to visit. There are also enough community pools and splash pads to keep everyone wet during the summer and places like SeaWorld, Fiesta Texas, Splashtown, Morgan’s Wonderland, and Schlitterbahn have longer seasons than their counterparts/competition in other states.

The Riverwalk/Downtown

From history to nightlife, the Riverwalk and surrounding area has it all. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had visitors and have had to do the obligatory sightseeing tour, but lucky for us, San Antonio has a lot to offer and enough to fulfill that obligation in one day. LOL

Quite simply, the Riverwalk is beautiful. Complete with a variety of restaurants, bars, shopping, and entertainment, it appeals to people of all ages. The Alamo, Missions, San Fernando Cathedral, Tower of the Americas and Menger Hotel are only a few steps away and historic buildings like the Governer’s House and Bexar County Courthouse are nearby. There are treasures to find at the Market Square, great things to experience at the Aztec and Majestic Theatres and there is no shortage of tasty San Antonio food throughout downtown.

It’s definitely worth the experience and bringing visitors to see it makes me very proud to live in a place that boasts so much pride in both its history and culture.

Fiesta

It seems like all cities have their own unique annual celebrations. In San Antonio, one of these is Fiesta. Before I got here, I had actually never heard of San Antonio Fiesta, but it’s become one of the things I love about the city. From the Battle of Flowers that started it all in 1891 to the modern day parades, musical performances, cultural presentations and carnivals- Fiesta is a celebration of the city, it’s history and culture. It’s definitely something to experience and if you’re in San Antonio during Fiesta (this year is 4/19-4/30), you need to check it out.

During Fiesta, the community comes together to celebrate and you’ll find Fiesta Medals popping up all over San Antonio. These medals are offered by various businesses in the area and can be purchased as part of an annual Fiesta Medal collection.

Loyalty

Despite running the risk of sounding like a loser- I’m just gonna say it:

I’ve never loved a supermarket like I love HEB.

That’s a statement I’m sure a lot of San Antonians would agree with, too. There is a fierce loyalty to HEB Supermarkets here and I now completely understand why. First off, HEB is a wonderful company. There is nothing they won’t do for their customers and I love their loyalty to us. From disaster relief efforts to combo locos (need to feed a family of 7 on $10? HEB got you.) and their spectacular everyday customer service, HEB has my loyalty for life. Did I mention that they also have their own affordable line of organic products? There is no comparison to other supermarkets (and you won’t find much competition here- HEB has a majority of the market on lockdown because, well- no one wants to shop anywhere else).  HEB provides great service, makes it easier and more affordable to provide good food for our families, and they help out the community wherever they can. That’s a good company that deserves loyalty.

In addition to HEB, San Antonians love their Spurs. The loyalty there is as thick as blood both in the community and on the team. There’s nothing more I can even say about the love affair between this city and their basketball… much like the team’s beloved coach and a man of few words himself…Popovich.

Tex Mex

You haven’t had Tex Mex quite like what’s in San Antonio. There are so many good places to eat here and even places that could be considered fast food have some delicious offerings!! A few chains that started in San Antonio and have grown to other states because of the fact that the food is just delicious and appeals to many. For myself, having lived in the Northeast and the Northwest, I can testify that there really is no comparison (no one here considers Taco Bell a contender in any Tex Mex competition) and it’s just something you have to try on your own.

Are you ready to taste a little of what San Antonio has to offer? Enter the:

Taco Cabana & a Family Pack Giveaway!!

Taco Cabana is one of these yummy Tex Mex places that San Antonians love. After the opening of the first store in San Antonio, Taco Cabana has been offering delicious food at reasonable prices since 1978 and have spread throughout Texas and Florida. They offer yummy taco options with fresh ingredients in a quick way.

They are also innovative with their menu and are always trying new things. For a limited time (2/5/18-4/5/18), they are offering  3 new variations of Loaded Grilled Shrimp Tacos. I tried them all and…. YUMMMMMMM. For $2.99 each or $7.99 for 3, you can enjoy:

Piña

“Seasoned Shrimp in a fresh flour tortilla, topped with warm, sweet pineapple pico de gallo.” While I’m not a pineapple person so much, this taco was definitely pleasing to the taste buds. It’s made me reassess my salsa/pico de gallo preferences and has made me want to explore more exotic options.

Rancho

“Seasoned shrimp in a fresh flour tortilla, topped with creamy jalapeño ranch, fresh lettuce, and handmade pico de gallo.” This one was definitely my favorite. The way all the ingredients came together to orchestrate the perfect bite was amazing.

Diabla

“Seasoned shrimp drizzled with a spicy chipotle diabla sauce in a fresh flour tortilla and topped with sweet & spicy jalepeño picked red onions, crumbled queso fresco and fresh chopped cilantro.” I’m not one for spicy things, but this taco was a perfect blend of spicy and yummy. My husband loved it.

Overall, I was impressed with the new Loaded Grilled Shrimp Tacos and think they make a wonderful addition to the Tex Mex offerings at Taco Cabana and in San Antonio. They’re a great solution to a quick, delicious, and affordable meal- so if you’re in the area, you should check them out!

BONUS: Enter below to win 4 FREE $5 Guest Appreciation Cards to try out the new tacos!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Taco Cabana’s Fiesta Medals

If you’re looking to add to your collection, Taco Cabana also has three different Fiesta Medals that they’re releasing this year- STARTING TODAY!!! Check them out on Facebook for medal information to include types and locations.

Are you a San Antonio Transplant? What do you love about your new city? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Pam

Pamela is a Freelance Writer, Blogger, WAHM of 3, and Veteran Military Wife living in Southwest Texas. Raised in the Northeast and having lived a few years in the Pacific Northwest, she likes to write about mom life, parenting, frugal living, experiences, and WINE. (Lots of wine!) When she’s not busy chasing toddlers around, you can find her on the blog or on social media. Check her out on Instagram: instagram.com/wineandlavender