I'm sure you all read and enjoyed Peter Ansorge's article in last month's EN about the San Antonio River Walk and the Alamo. He stated the local endurance riders would be providing the membership with articles about next year's convention--so here is a quick note about the hotel. The Crowne Plaza, site of the 2006 AERC national convention, has recently undergone a $6.2 million renovation and it is gorgeous.

Peter and I visited the hotel and met with the hotel's convention coordinator. She is very excited to have this group of "horse people" and eager to meet our needs. The hotel lobby and other common areas are beautifully decorated and quite cozy. The banquet/seminar room and other committee rooms are in close proximity. Just a short walk through an underground tunnel puts you at the trade show pavilion.

The restaurant, with its Spanish decor, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is an intimate lobby lounge as well as a lively sports bar with large screen TVs, great beers and deli menu. All of this is under one roof which is great in the unlikely event of inclement weather. I cannot forget the well-equipped exercise room and heated pool as examples of the great guest amenities.

Just a few steps out the door puts you on the Riverwalk. A river taxi is available or you can walk. The beautiful Riverwalk has numerous restaurants with every kind of food in every price range.

San Antonio is a huge tourist town with numerous hotels in every price range. During my visit to the Crowne Plaza, I discovered much to my surprise that none of the downtown hotels provide shuttle service to and from the San Antonio airport. However, this short taxi ride is only $20 for one to four passengers. You won't need a rental car if you are staying downtown as everything is within walking distance--especially for fit endurance riders!

Temperatures should be perfect for walking as the average high in late February is 70¡ with lows averaging in the high 40s. Stay tuned for more convention news!