Today we’re seeing the 4th of the 5 missions in San Antonio, Mission San Juan. What you see in the header image is just about all there was to see there. (Last week’s mission was, hands down, the biggest and most interesting.)
I was hoping we might get a chance to hear the bells ring, but alas, we did not.
When we finished poking around Mission San Juan, we headed off to the final mission (you’ll get to see it next week) and then, finally, lunch! That’s right, we made it through all five missions in about three hours, and we really did take all the time we needed in order to see what there was to see. (I will admit we skipped gift shops though. Gift shops plus kids is just a losing proposition all around as far as I’m concerned, because it makes you have to be mean mom “No. We don’t need <insert random junk item they found>. No, you don’t need candy.”
I hate gift shops.
Are you a gift shop browser?
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Here’s a more zoomed out photo of Mission San Juan from near the parking lot. Complete with an interesting sign!
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Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Toni Shiloh did a countdown to Risking Love.
On Tuesday, Jaycee Weaver talked about perfect love in an imperfect world.
On Wednesday, Deb Kastner filled us in on her new chapter.
On Thursday, Mary Manners talked about paying it forward.
On Friday, Autumn Macarthur brought us bodyguards, scientists, and cowboys.
On Saturday, Staci Stallings talked about the gap.
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Valerie Comer
Tuesday: Sally Bayless
Wednesday: Jackie Castle
Thursday: Alexa Verde
Friday: Narelle Atkins
Saturday: Janet Ferguson
Lunch was BBQ. Because Texas. It was yummy.
New Releases
June 2019
The Texan’s Secret Daughter (Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch) by Jolene Navarro
Only Together (The Imagination Series 5) by Staci Stallings
The Art of Rivers (A Coastal Hearts Novel) by Janet W. Ferguson
Risking Love (Maple Run 4) by Toni Shiloh
The Cowboy’s Convenient Marriage (Montana Ranches Christian Romance 4) by Valerie Comer
Homecoming Blessings (Dalton Brothers 3) by Merrillee Whren
Memories: Savannah Sweethearts Books 6-8 (Savannah Sweethearts Boxed Set 3) by Jan Thompson
Hope for Christmas (Hope Ranch 1) by Elizabeth Maddrey
My Wayfaring Billionaire (Grimwood Legacy 3) by Jackie Castle
Tender Wishes and Butterfly Kisses (Honeysuckle Cove 8) by Mary Manners
July 2019
Starting Anew (Life Unexpected 3) by Melanie D. Snitker
Call You Home (Savannah Sweethearts 10) by Jan Thompson
At First Spark (The Spark Brothers 4) by Liwen Y. Ho
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKStab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
When we were finished with the missions, we went to the Botanical Gardens – they have a fun children’s garden, complete with a row of fairy houses for kids to play in.
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
I like souvenir shopping when I am on holiday/vacation. I like to find things to remember the trip. (Like from Gettysburg I have a hoodie and keychain plus a few other items). I like something useful like a t-shirt, sweater etc. Oh and in America when my friend took me to Cracker Barrel I found candy I LOVE and got more of when I went to a different one on tour. I like to try some of the candies we don’t have. I also will look for items that are good for gifts. (at Monticello I got some note cards on special which made a great gift).
Now that all our children have grown, I do like gift shop browsing. When we had our children, like you, we would avoid them for the same reasons. I like to purchase a small trinket from them now, but I also like seeing all the “junk” they have. I also enjoy watching other people as they browse. It can be very entertaining.
I used to live in California and remember learning about the Missions. I was told that each of them was set about a day’s journey apart from each other.
Hi Elizabeth! As a pastor’s family, we traveled a lot with a limited budget. Depending on the length our trip and to teach our boys money management and delayed gratification, each received an envelope with $5 or $10 to last the trip. The boys learned to take a long look at what they really would like as a memento from our trips or do they want to save the money for a bigger gift at home. A win win and save my sanity, since I enjoy browsing gift shops for 10 – 15 minutes if they are not to busy. Often gift shops carry unique books and gift items – not just your typical souvenirs. I often visit local gift stores at the children’s museum. I also like the gift shop at Cracker Barrel. For myself I purchase unique souvenirs – on a trip to Germany my souvenir was an embroidered table doily. My trip to Japan a pearl necklace pendant from the fishing area we visited. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes. Enjoy your weekend.
We do get a magnet of every place we visit. So I am not totally anti souvenir. Those sound like great purchases (and I’d probably be more gift shoppy if we were visiting another country.)
There is definitely good people watching in gift shops. I’m the loud mom,in case you wonder, “No. Put that back. Seriously.” :)
We do get a magnet for everywhere we go as a family.
Yes! We learned that and it was fun to talk to the kids about a day’s journey then and what would be involved vs today when we could zip from one to the next in about ten minutes.
Oh that’s such a great idea. Totally implementing that next trip. :) (The boys do have a monthly salary for their chores, so it’s not as if they aren’t learning money, but I hadn’t thought of extending that to a trip. Which is smart.)
Those sound like lovely souvenirs!
I love browsing gift shops, but then I don’t have any kids :-) These days I look for interesting books, and usually wait until I’m home to find a cheaper copy on Amazon :-) A few times I’ve supported the local economy. I too look for items to give as gifts.
Whenever we travel we always have to check out the gift shop, and I would prefer to avoid them all together.
Haha. You can often get them cheaper in Amazon.
I do get dragged in there sometimes – but yeah it’s tough with kiddos.
I do like some gift shops, but not all!! I don’t like the ones at Disney, things are WAYYYYY overpriced!! I like to get something to show I’ve been somewhere, just as a keepsake. One of the best gift shops I’ve been to was at the Juliette Gordon Low house in Savannah. They had some really neat things that weren’t expensive. A friend got me started with postcards as a way to buy something inexpensive but a great memento! Also, things that are themed with what I did on vacation are good, too. A few B & B’s I’ve stayed at have coffee mugs with pics of the B & B on them. Those are great! With kids, I can see that gift shops wouldn’t be good!
Postcards are a great idea! You can frame them or do a scrap book – or some combination. They’re small and light — love it!
Hi Elizabeth, I’m with you on gift shops plus children being a bad idea. Now my teens are older, and have their own money, it’s not such a big deal. :)
So just a matter of time :) that’s good