I have a love affair with the Alamo City. Living in San Antonio for 10 years, I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the incredible food. I also literally fell in love, but the story with that guy should be a Lifetime movie.

It will always feel like home to me. I’m already planning my annual San Antonio Rodeo visit in February and being a part of the inaugural Women Who Wander Outdoor Retreat in Uvalde County the last weekend of March. Each time I’m back, I find something has changed in this fast growing city. But, there are five things that never seem to change and are the reasons for my love affair with San Antonio. Each one of them I got to experience on my recent trip for the Valero Alamo Bowl and to ring in 2019.

Number 1: Breakfast Tacos

I could have a love affair with San Antonio based on breakfast tacos alone. When you taste one in a homemade tortilla made with love, you’ll instantly know why. I’ve tried breakfast tacos other places, including throughout Texas, and nowhere on Earth has breakfast tacos as good as what you’ll find in San Antonio. They’re cheap and oh so good. Breakfast tacos are simple comfort food at its best. If the Alamo is the heart of San Antonio, then breakfast tacos are its soul. It’s the masa in the tortillas that’s the difference. Since I don’t eat meat anymore I’m partial to potato, egg, and cheese tacos or bean and cheese tacos. One of my favorite places to grab a breakfast taco is Taco Garage on Broadway. I lived in Alamo Heights during my 10-year stint in San Antonio so it’s always great to enjoy breakfast in the old ‘hood. Plus, the joint, which used to be an auto shop, is just cool.

Number 2: Huevos a la Mexicana

There’s a saying, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” I happen to be a big breakfast fan. Like my dad, I could eat breakfast food for any meal. So on any trip to San Antonio, eating breakfast out is a must for me. This past trip my friend Kerry and I went to brunch at Las Palapas. They serve breakfast all day so its definitely one of my favs. I was 100% in for Huevos a la Mexicana. It’s eggs with onion, tomatoes, and jalapeños served with beans and fresh tortillas. It’s pure Tex-Mex comfort food at its best. I have to go into a food coma at least once on any visit to San Antonio!

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Number 3: Margaritas

Once you’ve had a margarita in San Antonio, you know you’ve hit the crème de la crème of the cocktail. What makes them special is there’s no sweet and sour mix. Margaritas in San Antonio are made with fresh ingredients. Less really is more when it comes to making a perfect ‘rita. One of my favorite places in town to grab a margarita is Soluna. I go for the chispa made with tequila, lime juice and Cointreau strained over ice. That’s it – simple, delicious, and you can only have one or two! While I was back in San Antonio, some friends gathered for a Sunday Funday brunch and yes, it was really fun after two chispas!

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Number 4: Spurs

I became a huge Spurs fan shortly after I moved to San Antonio in 2000, so I’m a longtime fan of the Silver and Black. On this trip it was a treat to go to the Spurs-Celtics game on New Year’s Eve and getting to yell Go Spurs Go! It was a blast watching the Spurs get a win while sitting second row and just a few seats down from The Admiral. David Robinson is a Spurs legend and really nice in person. I always love seeing the Spurs Coyote get a rise out of the crowd as one of the top mascots in any sport!

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Number 5: It’s Military City USA

The Alamo City is also dubbed Military City USA. It’s home to USAA and Joint Base San Antonio made up of Randolph AFB, Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis. Patriotic pride runs high in the city. My father was Army and my brother was Navy so the sacrifices servicemen and servicewomen and their families make mean a lot to me. It’s a goosebumps moment when the National Anthem plays in San Antonio.

So there are five reasons I have a love affair with San Antonio. But, my biggest reason for my love of the city is its people. San Antonio will forever feel like home to me, especially because of friends who are family.