The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
My ties to San Antonio began in 1997 when my family relocated here from Denver, Colorado for my dad’s job. We settled in Fair Oaks Ranch, but in 2005, my dad’s career took us to Northern Virginia, where we spent the next eight years. Despite the move, we returned often to visit my grandparents and friends in Fair Oaks Ranch, keeping my connection to the Lone Star State alive.
When it came time to apply to colleges, I saw it as my opportunity to return to Texas. Trinity University, my dad’s alma mater, immediately felt like the right choice after visiting campus and meeting the track coach. By fall 2013, I had made the cross-country road trip back to San Antonio, and I haven’t looked back since!
One of my favorite aspects of attending Trinity was its urban setting. Being part of the San Antonio community was effortless thanks to the opportunities the university provided. I got involved on campus as a member of the track team, recruitment chair for a local sorority, a resident assistant and a supervisor for intramural sports. Off campus, I worked at TPC San Antonio and EnergyX Fitness.
It wasn’t until June 2023 that I found my true home in Alta Vista, along with my 8-year-old rescue pup, Bexar. I have my dad to thank for discovering the Zillow listing of my house in January 2023, when it was a major project home. Lucky for me, someone else took on the heavy lifting, and by the time I got the keys in June, all that was left were cosmetic updates. Inspired by years of watching my mom tackle home projects, I’m proud to show off my kitchen remodel, prickly pear garden and custom fence.
What initially drew me to Alta Vista was its familiarity, but the close-knit community and the buzz of new growth are what make me want to stay. My favorite part of Alta Vista is how central and walkable it is, yet still quiet and private. Bexar and I often take coffee walks to our favorite local spots like Drippy’s, Local Coffee Founders and Extra Fine. In the evenings, we switch it up for a glass of sauvignon blanc at High Street or Little Death.
In the last 11 years, I’ve experienced a few of San Antonio’s most unique neighborhoods — from the vibrant streets of Alamo Heights to the bustling downtown scene around Hemisfair and the quieter corners of Castle Hills. One of my favorite pastimes is visiting new and unique coffee shops, quaint cafes and upscale dining options that pop up regularly to join the burgeoning culinary scene. The myriad fitness studios, running trails and outdoor spaces make living an active lifestyle attainable. I am currently working as an instructor at the new-to-San Antonio Lagree Studio, Urban Lagree nearby.
Looking back at the long journey that brought me here, I’m reminded that putting down roots in my 1940s bungalow is just the beginning. From childhood visits to now owning my own home, I’m proud to call San Antonio home — and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
