The last thing I want to do is encourage cliches, but the last couple months have been insane! I know everyone and their mother says that, so don't get me wrong, I'm lucky and recognize I have no reason to complain. That said, after a two month marathon of wrapping up work projects, organizing our move, and prepping for our trip to Alaska, things are finally starting to wind down, and the stillness is intensely comforting.

Prior to our move, the hubs spent a month commuting between CA & TX, which meant our weekends were precious time to enjoy some our favorite destinations in TX.

If you haven't yet visited, don't underestimate TX as a getaway destination! San Antonio is one of our favorite cities to weekend, and I swear that riverwalk is magic in moonlight!

Moving forward Glitterary will feature more travel destinations with local tips to inspire and guide your adventures, and to get us started, below is a quick bucket list to San Antonio...

// SAN ANTONIO //

Scene: Riverwalk - at night! Don't get me wrong, you should definitely visit the riverwalk in daylight - it's much better for pictures, but there is something about the riverwalk at night that seduces you - it's magic, and once you experience it, you know :)

Instagram: The Alamo A National Historic Landmark, the Alamo is an old Spanish Mission built by Catholic missionaries in 1744. Most famous for the 1836 Battle of the Alamo (Independence of Texas from Mexico), "Remember the Alamo" became the cry of the Texans for the remainder of the war.

Foodie Moment: Zinc Bistor & Wine Bar Open late, this quaint bistro is nestled in a historic building more than a century old. The menu is simple bistro fare with an upscale southwestern flare. With an french emphasis on champagne, the bar menu is endless, and the specialty cocktails are divine! If you'll be dining in the courtyard, be sure to ask about the fine imported cigars ;)

Rest & Relax : Omni La Mansion del Rio Est. 1853 as a school, which later became St. Mary's College, and in 1966 was purchased by two former students to be remodeled as a luxury hotel, just in time for Hemisfair, San Antonio’s 1968 World Fair. Did I mention it's on the riverwalk?...

Explore: Pearl District Up and coming neighborhood surrounding Pearl brewery. Here, many historic buildings have been restored as restaurants and shops with a new trendy energy. Not a tourist destination, and not necessarily representative of San Antonio's history, rather a blend of the culture that's come to be. If you want to hang with the locals, enjoy the weekend farmer's market!

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Winter holidays create our favorite time of year, but they can also be the busiest time of year. In the middle of all the baking, turkey basting, decorating, and "Elf" quoting, sometimes all we want is quiet, sweet relaxation. Unfortunately, in the midst of holiday gift shopping and limited vacation time, a trip across country can be hard to come by, at least for a few more months.

In celebration of Thompson's grand opening, this month Steph and Paul (the hubs) were able to enjoy a little pre-holiday staycation– the calm before the storm. With its residential feel and inclusive ambiance, Thompson quickly proved to be a stylish retreat from the hustle and bustle, and the perfect home away from home.

Set in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast, Thompson boasts breathtaking views of the city, and presents the perfect local for a stroll down Chicago's Magnificent Mile, or window shopping on Oak St. When the weather's unkind, Thompson's sophisticated and off-beat decor creates a warm and soft invitation to view Chicago's grandeur from the comfort of it's blue velvet chairs (thank you Tara Bernerd). We can only imagine sipping hot cocoa while watching the snow fall!

The evening of our stay we enjoy a fun little night cap soirée in one of Thompson's modern and trendy penthouse suites. After some wine and "pillow talk" with friends, the evening concluded with the sweetest turn down service we've seen since our honeymoon. Milk, cookies, and a monogramed bath robe courtesy of Monogrammed Bathrobes.

In the crazy calendar we keep, we were set to fly out for Texas early the following morning. While we already had travel arrangements, we'd be lying to say we didn't do a quick Google search for a Thompson Hotel in the area.

Truth is we've already recommended Thompson Chicago to our closest family and friends. Like most of our favorite things, Thompson Chicago is more than a product/service, it's the extension of a lifestyle brand dedicated to creating an experience in an understated yet sophisticated manner.

For more information about Thompson Hotels and locations, click here. // Thompson Hotels Manifesto. // Dining: Nico Osteria (December 2013)

This is a sponsored post, however, all opinions are our own. The integrity of this site is far more important to us than any compensation or brand partnership. – D&S